About Our Roving Adjudicators
Frances Ruoff, Breezy Point, has a commitment to theatre that spans 50+ years as a professional actress and director in New York City. As a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity, she has appeared in numerous films, TV soap operas, network shows and theatrical productions. Frances holds a BA in Speech & Theatre and an MFA in Directing from Brooklyn College, and studied with Lee Strasberg. She was Artistic Director for the Diocesan Theatre Guild's Repertory Co. and The Sunshine Players, and studied adjudication with Robert Alonzo, Shirley Cockrell and Annette Procunier. Frances has served as President of TANYS, was VP of Adjudication Services and Training Coordinator for many years, and rewrote the TANYS Adjudication Handbook with Joel Lord. Since retiring from teaching drama and English at Kingsborough Community College (City University of New York), she serves on the Eastern States Theatre Association (ESTA) board, and is Region II Representative on the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) board. Frances has reviewed original works for AACT’s New Play Festival and serves on AACT’s membership committee.
Paul Nelson, Olean, has been adjudicating for TANYS for more than 24 years. He has also served as an adjudicator for the Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware and Pennsylvania state theatre festivals. Additionally, he has had the privilege of adjudicating at the New England Regional Festival (Region I), the Mid-Western Regional Festival (Region III) and most recently at the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) National Festival in Carmel, Indiana. He is a lifelong member of Alpha Psi Omega and has been recognized theatrically as a recipient of the Robert E. Sinclair Award for Performance, the Cothurnus Award for Outstanding Theatrical Work, and the Daryl L. Hanson Award for Musical Theatre. Paul has also been recognized by TANYS and the Eastern States Theatre Association (ESTA) for his work as an actor and director. He has been honored by TANYS with the Mary Eva Duthie Award for outstanding contributions to theatre across New York State, and by AACT for his work to promote and grow non-professional theatre across the country.
Joan Luther, Naples, has been active in all aspects of educational, community and professional theater for over 40 years. In addition to serving as a TANYS Roving Adjudicator, she served two consecutive terms as President of the TANYS Board of Trustees, currently serves as VP of Festival for TANYS, and was honored by TANYS with the Mary Eva Duthie Award for outstanding contributions to theatre in New York State. Joan also attended AACT’s National Adjudicator training seminar in Charlotte, NC in 2007.
Arnold Galin, Rome, holds a BA in Speech and MA in Theatre and Communications from SUNY Albany. He has been active with the Catham Dinner Theatre in Blassville and the Oneida Area Little Theatre. Arnie has been involved with the Rome Community Theatre for 30 years and has directed and acted in over 50 productions. He is also the drama director at Rome Free Academy (Senior High School.)
Robert (Bob) Frame, Skaneateles, is a Past President of TANYS. Bob holds a BA in Theatre from SUNY Oswego and recently retired from his role as Director of Theatre Operations at Cayuga Community College (CCC) in Auburn. He is a freelance actor, director, lighting designer, technical director and theatre consultant who has received numerous awards from ACTF and TANYS for his work. A 1995 recipient of the TANYS Mary Eva Duthie Award and winner of the J. Richard Mahlstedt Festival Directing Award, Bob was recognized and welcomed as Fellow of the American Association of Community Theatre in 2021. He is still the producer/director for Harlequin Productions of CCC, which specializes in doing new, unpublished scripts. Bob is both a Roving Adjudicator and Technical Adjudicator.
Loraine O'Donnell, Boonville, is a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York City. She has worked as a professional actor, singer, director, playwright and designer in hundreds of productions for more than 40 years. Starting her career in New York City on the Off-Broadway and cabaret circuit, she has worked on regional stages all over the country from the Arvada Center in Colorado to Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, NY. For 10 years she was the Executive Artistic Director of the D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre, a professional theatre in Buffalo, NY where she was also the creator/founder of D’Youville University’s MFA in Dramatic Arts program, the only MFA in Acting program in New York State outside of New York City. She is currently the Executive Director of Constable Hall, the historic 1819 house museum that was the inspiration for the beloved poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
Constance Lopez, Copake, has a lifelong passion for and commitment to the performing arts. She has studied ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance, beginning at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, then at NYCA and HVAPA after moving to Copake. She’s studied acting at The Roundabout in NYC and Shakespeare with Rodney Douglas at New Day Rep, and has worked with Juilliard-trained vocal coaches. Connie's Off-Broadway performance credits include: The Real Desperate Housewives at the Laurie Beechman Theater, The Widow and the West Indian Workman at the Black Box, and Natalia Pushkin in Pushkin - A Poet’s Search for Honor at the Westbeth. She also appears annually as Mrs. Stahlbaum in the HVAPA production of The Nutcracker. Her film and TV credits include: Niagara, Niagara; I Know This Much Is True; Things Heard and Seen and The Good Mother. Connie is a member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. She is a co-founder of The Two Of Us Productions and has created and directed children’s theatre programs in upstate NY.
