About the Ren!

The Band

Jason M. Bailey (Music Director/Piano/Arrangements/Orchestrations) aka The Bearded Maestro, is a Musician/Performer/Composer in Orlando. Jason teaches private voice, is the music director for Renaissance Theatre Company, and works as a freelance accompanist. His original show credits include arranger/orchestrator/music director for OHP, Lennox Ave, Gorgeous, Oscar Wilde and Jesus Christ Walk Into a Gay Bar, Bright Young Things (winning Critics Choice for Music Direction), From Here, and Flying Lessons, which played Off-Broadway. Jason has music directed for many theatre’s and schools including UCF, Rollins College, Osceola Arts, CFCArts, Wayne Densch, WPHS, and Trinity Preparatory School. He has taught musical theatre for DPAC, Orlando Rep, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Missoula Children’s Theatre, and CFCArts. Jason has also performed with theatres around the country including Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, American Family Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Salem Repertory Theatre, and CFCArts. www.thebeardedmaestro.com

Chris Kampmeier (Drums) is the co-founder of Renaissance Theatre Company as well as a computer and sound engineer. He had the incredible fortune to be A Nearby Guitar Player just as Donald and Jason began their songwriting relationship with From Here at the Orlando Fringe Festival in 2019, then Flying Lessons at the New York Musical Festival (drums and percussion), the first expanded run of From Here, and sound/music for many of the other original shows Donald listed below. Welcome to the Ren!

The Crew

Donald Rupe (Writer/Creator/”Director”) is the co-founder of Renaissance Theatre Company with Chris Kampmeier (and a lot of help from their friends). An accomplished theatre-maker based in Orlando, Donald has written and helped to create a number of successful theatrical productions (mostly musicals with Jason M. Bailey), including: Nosferatu; Bright Young Things; From Here (fromhere.com); Flying Lessons (critically-acclaimed at the New York Musical Festival in 2019); Oscar Wilde and Jesus Christ Walk into a Gay Bar; Once I Laughed; Lenox Ave. and others. Donald also founded a community theatre program at another company in Orlando, where for five years he ran a traditional season of productions with much success. Donald's numerous directing credits span the better part of twenty years and many wonderful companies throughout Central Florida. Rupe was also an accomplished educator, having served on the part-time faculty of Valencia College for over a decade and as an award-winning high school educator. Donald received his degrees in Theatre from New York University and Florida State University. 

Philip Lupo (Lighting) is a regional Lighting, Sound, and Video Designer whose previous work at Renaissance includes Nosferatu and Office Holiday Party.  Other design credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Orlando Shakes), Monster Stomp (SeaWorld Orlando), and Into the Woods (DreamCatcher Theatre).  His non-theatrical lighting projects can be seen in television stations from Palm Beach to Las Vegas.  Philip also serves as the Production Manager and Technical Director for Florida State Junior Thespians, helping develop the performers and designers of tomorrow.  He  could not be more excited to be working with Renaissance to bring this exciting work to Central Florida audiences. Get in touch at www.philiplupo.com.

Joey Coombs (Scenic Painting) is a scenic artist and designer based in Orlando. Originally from Ocala, he has lived in Orlando for the last two years, and has been working for the Ren for one. He is thankful to the Ren staff, design team, and build crew for bearing with his chaotic routine, working around his messy paint supplies left everywhere, and in general for dealing with him being “too much”; but is especially thankful for all of their hard work and for making this iteration of Office Funeral Party possible. Previous paint charge credits include Beauty and the Beast at the Garden Theater and Indecent at the University of Central Florida. Joey has painted for all shows at the Ren (except for last year’s Nosferatu), most notably the lobby for Gorgeous, the mural in From Here, and the mural and turntable in Lenox Avenue, and the Church in Nosfera2. He has also helped create the photo op sets for our weekly drag show, Off the Record, highlights of which include Femmebot Fatale, Planet OTR (just the lights), Sweetener, and Renaissance at the Renaissance.

Nick Erickson (Sound Engineer) born and raised on the west coast, Nick discovered sound design for theater at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. After graduating he spent his early career freelancing in Portland OR where he worked at theaters such as Third Rail, H2M, P.E.T.E., Profile Theatre.  Nick received his MFA in Sound Design for Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University in 2018, before moving to Florida, to become the resident sound and projections designer for the Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol.  Four years later, he's here, seeking new horizons in the wilds of Orlando! When he's not doing sound, Nick can be found holding his PS4 controller too tightly, watching his cats cuddle and rearranging his music studio. 

J.Marie Bailey(Costume Design) didn’t give us a bio, but we wanted to make sure you knew she does alot of stuff for the Ren, including costumes. That’s why she didn’t give us a bio; she was probably too busy.

Rebekah Lugo (RENtals/Box Office/Production) is absolutely thrilled that her real life job is at the Renaissance Theatre Company. She has had a wonderful time working with this delightful cast and crew. She’d like to thank her friends and family for all of their support during this time in her life and she hopes you enjoy the shenanigans of the office.