Secret Lives of Dinosaurs Program

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The SECRET LIVES of DINOSAURS and the

Adventures of a Paleontologist

With DR. DEAN LOMAX, and special guests

ELAINE HOWARD and JIMMY WALDRON

THEATRE STAFF

Founder & Executive Director Jason Goedken

Founder & Artistic Consultant Whitney Morse

Artistic Director Angel Creeks

Director of Operations Jon Cronin

Director of Business Sean Graham

Director of People, Projects & Culture ....................... Leslie Becker

Development Director .......... Yasmeen Stogden

Marketing Director ........Monica Berdecio, MA

Senior Manager of Technical Operations Clay Becker

Booking & Contracts Manager Sierra Weiss

Assistant Production Manager Madi Carr

Audiovisual Supervisor –Touring Productions........................ Luke Bezio

Deck & Facilities Coordinator .. Tony Fairchild

Lighting Supervisor ................... Ally Southgate

Associate Lighting Supervisor ..... Dio Raquel Jr.

Production Swing Nichole Pollack Manager of Patron Services Alec Speers

Assistant Manager of Patron Services .............................. Tina Carroll

Assistant Manager of Patron Services ...........................Lonnie Goertz

Assistant Manager of Patron Services Savannah Rose Parker

Analyst, Sales & Customer Support .................... Kristin Fortuna

Marketing & Social Media Coordinator Natalie Bollinger

Marketing Account Manager Erika Nelson

Graphic Designer Krissi Kugler

Web Designer David Sponseller

Lead Housekeeper Victoria Doss Ad Sales marketing@significantproductions.org

SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS BOARD

President Elliot Sussman, MD, MBA

Vice President Marcus Bridgewater

Treasurer Donna Taylor

Secretary .............................................................................................................. Elizabeth Constant

Board Member

Jason Goedken

WHITNEY MORSE on

The Sharon®L. Morse

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Dear Patron of the Arts,

Welcome to The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center!

This year marks a very special milestone—10 years since The Sharon first opened its doors. What began in 2015 as a bold dream has grown into a vibrant home for live performance, rooted in the adventurous and artistic spirit of my grandmother, Sharon L. Morse.

Over the past decade, we’ve been honored to earn your trust, show by show, standing ovation by standing ovation. Whether you’re here tonight to experience a beloved Broadway tour, a favorite artist, or something entirely new, know that every performance has been thoughtfully curated by our passionate team of artists and arts administrators.

As we celebrate our first ten years, we’re also stepping into an exciting new chapter: The Sharon is now proudly powered by Significant Productions, a registered nonprofit dedicated to creating meaningful, memorable arts experiences in our community. With this new foundation, we’re not only preserving what makes The Sharon special, we’re building toward a future filled with bold ideas, diverse stories, and even more opportunities to surprise and delight you.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We’re so glad you’re here. Enjoy the show, and here’s to the next ten years of discovery, connection, and applause.

See You at The Sharon,

Significant Productions

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OUR MISSION; SigPro cultivates a diverse collaborative community with a focus on artists' well-being that strives to provoke thought and spark conversation through high quality performing arts.

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THE SECRET LIVES OF DINOSAURS

Unearth the real behaviours of prehistoric animals as we join acclaimed palaeontologist, author, and TV presenter Dr Dean Lomax on a remarkable journey through the grand cycle of life in deep time. Focusing on the direct evidence of astonishing behaviours recorded in some of the world’s most extraordinary and unusual fossils, Lomax provides a glimpse into the real-world stories of prehistoric parenting, the quest for survival, and the endless struggle between predator and prey. From fighting dinosaurs to mosasaur mealtimes and a two-headed fossil reptile, these unbelievable fossils challenge what we thought we knew about the prehistoric world. Along the way, discover Dr Lomax's unconventional career as he shares stories of excavating prehistoric animals, discovering new species and presenting TV shows. –Based on Dr Lomax’s new book, endorsed by Slash from Guns N’ Roses as “Fantastic, engrossing & funny”, we are given a unique view of the private moments of long-extinct creatures as never before.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A and a book signing with the author.

Speaking Tonight:

From left to right: Jimmy Waldron, MA.Ed, Dr. Dean Lomax, Elaine Howard

DR. DEAN LOMAX

Dr Lomax is an internationally recognised British palaeontologist, multi-award-winning author and TV presenter affiliated with the University of Manchester and the University of Bristol, England. He travels across the world excavating and researching dinosaurs and other ancient animals, discovering and naming new species and regularly appears on TV as an expert and presenter, notably co-hosting the primetime TV series Dinosaur Britain. As a TV host and science communicator, he has presented TV shows and worked with notable figures such as Sir David Attenborough and Stephen Fry. He has been a series consultant and an executive producer for multiple TV documentaries. Dr Lomax is the author of more than ten books and many academic papers, is a leading authority on ichthyosaurs (ancient marine reptiles), and won a gold medal for science communication at the Houses of Parliament. — In 2021, he led the excavation of the ‘Rutland Sea Dragon’ (pictured), the most complete skeleton of a large prehistoric reptile ever found in the UK.

A significant portion of his work involves public outreach, where he has delivered numerous public lectures over the past ~17 years, including a major TED talk that showcased his excavation of the ‘Rutland Sea Dragon’. Dr Lomax has delivered major lectures and book signings across the UK, Europe and in the US, filling out theatres with 100s and up to 1000’s of people in attendance. As an academic, he is one of the very few professional palaeontologists with a large following on social media, specifically, Instagram and Facebook. His talks may range from focusing on his unconventional career as a palaeontologist, from digging up dinosaurs, naming new species and writing books to presenting TV shows. However, he is always keen to promote different ways that scientists and even children alike can get involved. For example, one of his recent major studies focused on a potentially blue whale-sized ichthyosaur, which his team called Ichthyotitan. This was in part discovered by an 11-year-old girl, who Dr Lomax included as a co-author in the study.

For more information, please visit: www.deanrlomax.co.uk

JIMMY WALDRON, MA.ED

Jimmy Waldron, MA.Ed. is a paleontologist, educator, and founder of Dinosaurs Will Always Be Awesome (DWABA, Inc.), Central Florida’s only mobile natural history museum. With over 20 years of experience in formal and informal education— including teaching in Orange County Public Schools and leading STEM programming at the Orlando Science Center— Jimmy combines his passion for paleontology with engaging, hands-on learning.

He has conducted fieldwork in Wyoming, Alberta, and the UK, and co-authored the description of Ichthyotitan severnensis, the largest known marine reptile. Through

DWABA, Jimmy uses life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, real fossils, and interactive programs to make science accessible and exciting for audiences of all ages. Recognized by the Association of Science and Technology Centers as an Emerging Museum, DWABA has partnered with institutions such as the Orlando Science Center, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and United Arts of Central Florida. Jimmy’s dynamic presentations blend scientific expertise with humor, storytelling, and audience participation, inspiring curiosity and sparking a lifelong love of learning.

For more information: IG: @DinosaurPodcast | www.dwaba.org

ELAINE HOWARD

After spending decades battling low self-esteem and a negative mindset, Florida-based attorney-turned-dinosaur-hunter Elaine Howard accidentally discovered her passion for dinosaur fossils in 2005, and her life has never been the same. Elaine has since become certified in fossil lab and fieldwork by the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, participated in numerous dinosaur digs, and written a book about her adventures and much more.

Elaine’s experience culminated in her book, Passion in the Bones, which encourages others to find and follow their own passion. For the past six years, Elaine has served as Executive Producer of the award-winning documentary “Why Dinosaurs?” which had a Hollywood premiere in 2023. Elaine is also a certified coach and motivational speaker who has been featured by Lake and Sumter Style Magazine as one of the Extraordinary People of the community.

As a viral Instagram content creator (@dinosaurlaine), Elaine enjoys sharing her passion with the world in a fun and inspiring way. Many of her posts recounting her adventures have gone ‘viral’, reaching millions of people worldwide. Her story is interlocked with world-renowned paleontologist Dr Dean Lomax, who she met in 2008 in Wyoming, when he was starting out on his own journey as a passionate 18-year-old following his dream. Dr Lomax subsequently wrote the foreword for Elaine’s book and even dedicated one of his own books, “Dinosaurs 10 Things You Should Know”, to Elaine and her remarkable journey. Elaine’s story goes to show that anything is possible when we are moving forward with passion and purpose.

“Dean R. Lomax has written a fantastic book that is as educational as it is entertaining ... one of the most fun nonfiction dinosaur books I’ve read. The artwork by Bob Nicholls and photos and diagrams are all really well done and informative.”

—Slash, Guns N’ Roses

“Every fossil tells a story, and in this beautiful book Lomax and Nicholls present some of the most dramatic and engaging snapshots from the four-billion-year history of life, each one underpinned by actual fossil evidence. Lomax’s enthusiastic and conversational prose pairs perfectly with the stunning photorealistic artwork that has earned Nicholls his reputation as one of the world’s great paleoartists.”

—Steve Brusatte, New York Times best-selling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

“Lomax brings the past alive. In this beautifully illustrated book, we meet a host of weird and wonderful extinct creatures, together with the scientists who have unlocked their secrets.”

—Alice Roberts, academic, author, and broadcaster

“The dinosaurs, mammoths, ammonites, and other creatures that inhabit this book are not just strange and impressive but are aptly brought to life in all their affectionate, gross, and surprising detail.”

—Riley Black, author of When the Earth Was Green and The Last Days of the Dinosaurs

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