About Our Roving Adjudicators
Frances Ruoff, Breezy Point, has a commitment to theatre that spans 30+ years, as a professional actress and director in New York. As a member of Screen Actor's Guild, Actors Equity and AFTRA she has appeared on TV and in numerous theatre and film productions. Having received an MFA in Directing from Brooklyn College her first and foremost love is directing for the theatre. Frances was Artistic Director for the Diocesean Theatre Guild's Repertory Co. and The Sunshine Players. She is presently directing for the Rockaway Theatre Co. and teaching Theatre and English courses at Kingsborough Community College/CUNY. Frances has received great satisfaction working with TANYS and its members and looks forward to serving many more years as a TANYS adjudicator.
Paul Nelson, Olean, has been adjudicating for the Theatre Association of New York State (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 non-professional 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, and was honored by TANYS with the Mary Eva Duthie Award for significant contributions to community theatre in New York State. Ms. Luther 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 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 the 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.
