History of SSC

Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors Amy Alvino and Elyse Rodriguez met as undergraduate students in the BFA Acting program at Elon University in Fall 2004. They lived in the now demolished Jordan Center and remained friends throughout their tenure at the university. After graduation, they went their separate ways and reunited in 2021 when they found themselves living in the same place: Summerfield, NC.

During a coffee meet up, Amy and Elyse discussed their experiences with the local theatre community and their wish that a closer theatre option existed. At that time, the closest community theatres were 20-30 minutes away depending where one resided in the northwest area, computing to 40-60 minute roundtrips for each night of rehearsal. This driving commitment on top of the 2-3 hour rehearsal was enough to stop potential talent from participating in productions or potential patrons from attending a show. That realization inspired them to create Summerfield Stage Company with a clear cut mission: bring community theatre to the northwest area.

We launched our debut show in October 2023: Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to five sold out audiences. Since that time, we have steadily increased our reach and our offerings to the community always keeping our mission at the heart of what we do. We created a youth program in Fall 2024 when we found that access to the arts for youth in our area was limited by a family’s income. We also established a youth performance troupe, The Starlights, to bring the arts out into the community.

Summerfield Stage Company continues to grow each year and we hope to leave a lasting community theatre in this previously neglected area. The arts are for everyone and we are honored to serve our mission within the Northwest Guilford County community.

Meet the Team

Co-Founder & Co-Artistic Director

Amy Alvino

Having performed on stages all over the country, Amy is thrilled to be back home making theater magic in Guilford County. Select NYC & Regional credits include: Dream Street (original Off-Broadway Cast), Urinetown (Hope Cladwell, SBP), Titanic (Swing, Signature Theatre), South Pacific (Nellie, Chalice Theatre), Addams Family (Morticia, Temple Theatre), Titanic (Caroline, 42nd Street Moon), Fiorello (Ensemble, 42nd Street Moon), Jesus Christ Superstar (ROLT), Passion (Custom Made Theatre), All Shook Up (Matilda, Yorktown Stage), A Christmas Carol (Yorktown Stage). Recent local credits include Sound of Music with Creative Greensboro and Elvis: The Musical at WSTA. Amy studied at Elon University and T. Schreiber Studio Acting Conservatory. When not at the theater, Amy is busy raising two kids and running her retail store, Pebble & Pear!

Co-Founder & Co-Artistic Director

Elyse Rodriguez

Elyse is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Summerfield Stage Company. Elyse wears many hats - she's a Speech-Language Pathologist at Pearce Elementary and Guilford Elementary, a film actor represented by Talent One, and a theatre actor involved with various companies in the Triad. Recent favorite roles include Lady Macbeth in Macbeth and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (Camel City Playhouse), Emma Woodhouse in Emma (SSC), and Scuttle in The Little Mermaid (KLT). Elyse holds an MA in Speech-Language Pathology from UNCG, a BFA in Acting from Elon University, and has a graduate certificate in Early Childhood Mental Health from UNCC. In her spare time, you can find her taking and posting endless pictures of her Akita, Dougal, and Malamute, Frida.

Executive Board Member / Youth Program Director

Aliya Gardella

Aliya is so excited to be apart of Summerfield Stage Company's Board of Directors. She loves all things theatre, music, Disney and has a strong passion for the arts. Aliya is a 4th Grade Teacher at Guilford Elementary and a private voice and piano instructor in her home studio Treble Studios by Aliya. She loves being SSC’s Youth Director and Co-Director of The Starlights. Some of her favorite theatre experiences have been Florinda in Into The Woods (KLT), Aquata in The Little Mermaid (KLT), music directing Descendants The Musical (HPCT) and Legally Blonde Jr (SSC). When not working with theatre or her students Aliya enjoys spending time with her awesome and supportive husband Taylor, their beautiful daughter, relaxing with their Shih Tzu’s Sasha and Raine, going to the arcades, shopping, writing, reading, binge watching her favorite shows, and blasting showtunes!

Executive Board Member - Executive Director

Brandon Lloyd Hicks

Brandon Lloyd Hicks is the Executive Director of Summerfield Stage, where he combines a lifelong love of theatre with practical leadership and a strong sense of community. Brandon has been involved in theatre since the age of 11 and has spent more than two decades onstage, behind the scenes, and in arts leadership roles.

He brings a wide range of experience as a performer, director, producer, and arts administrator, along with previous service as Chairman of the Board for Spring Theatre and Stained Glass Playhouse. In those roles, he focused on growing audiences, strengthening partnerships, and helping organizations operate sustainably while staying true to their artistic mission.

Brandon is also the founder of Mystery Men Productions LLC, an interactive theatre company known for immersive, audience-driven experiences. His entrepreneurial background shapes his approach at Summerfield Stage, blending creativity with smart planning, community outreach, and a focus on making theatre welcoming and accessible.

As Executive Director, Brandon is excited to build on Summerfield Stage’s legacy, support local artists, and create engaging theatre experiences that bring people together.

Executive Board Member - VP of Production

Jordan Jones

Jordan serves as the Vice Chair of Production here at Summerfield Stage Company. He has been involved with numerous shows on and off the stage, including many with SSC, and values the opportunity to support the organization from both an artistic and governance perspective. His involvement reflects a personal connection to the theatre and a shared commitment to its role in serving the community.

Executive Board Member - VP of Fundraising

Director of Theatre for Young Audiences

Nicole Weintraub

Nicole Weintraub moved to North Carolina from New York after graduating with a BFA in Theatre Performance and a MS in Secondary Education from Niagara University. Since moving to NC, she has enjoyed taking part in several community theatre companies both behind the scenes as well as onstage. Previous roles include The Wolves of Ravensbruck (Gizela) and Sound of Music (Swing) with Creative Greensboro; Much Ado About Nothing (Conrad) with Goodly Frame Theatre; Drinking Habits (Sister Mary Catherine) with TGRC; A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mustardseed) and Richard III (2nd Murderer/Archbishop/Herbert) with Shared Radiance.

Executive Board Member

Heather Sykes

Heather has been a performer, patron, volunteer, and stage mom in the Greensboro/Summerfield theatre space for over 25 years. Some of her favorite previous roles are Marmee (Little Women), Glinda (The Wizard of Oz), Ariel (Footloose), Yonah (Children of Eden), and Holly (The Wedding Singer). She has a passion for community theatre and is excited to do her part to help bring quality, affirming, inclusive performance and production opportunities for all. Outside of the theatre, Heather is a busy mom of 2 teens and works as a Senior Editorial Manager.

Executive Board Member

Tranace Daye

Tranace is a Greensboro-based healthcare leader and proud “theater mom.” Originally from New Jersey, she moved to North Carolina while attending North Carolina A&T State University, where she later earned her BSN. She holds a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from UNC Wilmington and currently serves as the Clinical Manager for Cone Health’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center.

Tranace became involved in the arts when her daughter began ballet at age two and has since volunteered behind the scenes on costumes, makeup, and production support for numerous performances. Some of her favorite moments include watching her daughter perform as Heather Duke in Heathers and traveling to JTF 2025 in Atlanta.

She is excited to serve on the Summerfield Stage Company Board of Directors, bringing strong problem-solving skills, budgeting expertise, and leadership experience. Outside of work and theater, Tranace enjoys traveling, hiking, snorkeling, and trying new foods.