Melissa Murphy
Executive Director
Proud to call Nantucket home, Melissa has lived on island since 1982 and was a 1993 graduate of Nantucket High School. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and graduated from Eugene Lang College in Manhattan with a degree in Arts in Context. After living in Portland, Maine for eight years, Melissa returned to Nantucket in 2008 and began her work with the Dreamland in May of 2009. An active member of the Nantucket community, she was elected to the Nantucket School Committee in 2009. While she continues to volunteer her time to various organizations, Melissa values the time spent with her family the most. She is proud and excited to bring the transformative power of film and the performing arts to the Nantucket community.
Donald Dallaire
Director of Special Events
Donald graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a BFA, Theater Major – focus in performance; Vocal Performance Minor. Upon graduating, Donald spent several summers performing in regional summer stock theaters along the east coast. His favorites have included Seacoast Repertory Theater (Portsmouth, NH), the historic Glove Theater (Gloversville, NY), and of course both Theater Workshop of Nantucket and the Dreamland Theater. In 2007 Donald secured his first lead role in TWN’s production of Moby Dick: the musical. He returned the following summer to perform in Grease (TWN) and then he returned once more to join the Dreamland in their first production of The Sound of Music. Since then Donald has become a year round resident and full time employee with the Dreamland Foundation. He has applied his artistic and organizational skills – which reach far beyond performance – to several community organizations. Donald has served as Co-Chair for the Tim Russet Summer Groove committee (Boys & Girls Club); he has been a judge for the Jr. Mr. Pageant (NHS), and he has been a mentor to and choreographer for students in both the Jr. Miss Pageant and the High School Musical. Donald will continue to be seen both behind the scenes and in the spotlight at the Dreamland Foundation and anywhere else an artistic touch is needed in the community.
Tiffany B. Gallo
Education Coordinator & Program Assistant
Tiffany was born and raised in Warwick, Rhode Island. At 8 years old she stepped on stage as one of 50 orphans in the Rhode Island Youth Theater’s production of Annie, and even though she was three rows deep and so far stage right she was practically in the wing, she proclaimed to her mother, “I like it up there.” Tiffany spent the next 12 years performing with and directing other students in these performance-based programs. Upon graduating from High School, Tiffany went to the University of Rhode Island as a Feinstein Scholar and graduated with honors, BFA in Theater – focus in Directing. Since then she has continued to share her passion for education and the arts with students in theaters along the East Coast, finally settling down in beautiful Nantucket. Her favorite projects have included Beauty and The Beast (Belle – URI), Pinocchio (Director – Glove Theater, NY) and Guys & Dolls (Director – NDF/Nantucket High School). Tiffany is grateful to the Dreamland for the opportunity to do what she loves every day, and to share her passion for the arts with the students of Nantucket.
Traci Finnerty
Business Manager
Traci is a native of California who, by a stroke of luck, washed ashore on Nantucket in the early 80’s. After attending Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA and Universidad Complutense in Madrid, she graduated with a B.A. in Spanish. Having previously lived in Boston, Traci worked as a certified project manager in software development and network services before returning to Nantucket full-time in 2003. Upon returning to the island, Traci served for many years as the Business Administrator for a local commercial general contractor and most recently, as the Office Manager for Island Lumber Company, Inc. Traci is an avid runner and racer. You may spot her and her Jack Russell Terrier running somewhere on the trails or shores of Nantucket.
Stephen Gallo
Theater Manager
Originally of Warwick, RI, Stephen moved to Nantucket in the spring of 2012. With over 15 years of restaurant and management experience Stephen is pleased to apply his skills to the position of Theater Manager. He hopes to share his enjoyment for film and the performing arts with everyone who comes to the Dreamland. Additionally, Stephen looks forward to learning more about his new community and establishing roots for his growing family. In his spare time Stephen loves testing his culinary skills in the comfort of his own kitchen and watching ESPN with his new son.