About Us
Introduction
The name of the organization shall be “The Octavian Foundation for the Arts” doing business as “The New Octavians” and shall be a non-profit 501c3 corporation governed by the Articles of Incorporation. The principle address for the foundation will be 1905 W Thomas St. Suite K, Hammond, LA 70403, and the mailing address shall be P. O. Box 2555, Hammond, LA 70404.
The purpose of this organization is to provide educational activities for youth and adults in the area of performing arts, culminating in live stage productions produced for audiences of all ages who live in Tangipahoa Parish and Northshore surrounding areas. Our goal is to provide quality instruction and first class performances.
Brent Goodrich, Executive Director
Brent Alan Goodrich is the Executive and Artistic Director of The Octavian Foundation for the Arts, also known as The New Octavians. A resident of Hammond, Brent is a voice, piano, and acting teacher as well as a stage director for the Foundation. He also serves as the director for the Octavians’ musical theatre competition team.
Brent is an alumnus of Southeastern Louisiana University, where he earned the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Vocal Performance. During his graduate studies at Southeastern, Brent taught the class MUS101, was a featured soloist in Bach’s Aus der Tiefen rufe ich and Handel’s Messiah, and performed Olin Blitch’s solo from Floyd’s Susannah.
Brent has staged and music directed numerous musicals and operatic productions, including: Les Misérables, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Christoph Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, Singin’ in the Rain, Jekyll and Hyde, Mozart’s The Impresario, and the premiere performance of Pamela Bankston's "Frizzy Frieda on Stage."
Brent’s notable stage performances include: The Mikado (Pooh-Bah), Gianni Schicchi, Sweeney Todd (Judge Turpin), Pirates of Penzance (Major General), Hänsel und Gretel (Father), The Rocky Horror Show (Frank-N-Furter), and the world premiere of Gwyneth Walker’s Evangeline (Father Felician).
Brent has worked and performed with McNeese State University’s Opera and Music Theatre Company, Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point, The Lake Charles Civic Ballet, 30 by Ninety Regional Theatre, and Playmakers Regional Theatre.
Brent’s students have won several singing and theatre competitions, including: National Association of Teachers in Singing (National Finalists), The Donald Wood New Orleans Opera Vocal Competition, and iTheatrics’ Junior Theatre Festival (Overall Outstanding Production, Overall Outstanding Performer, Best in Dance, Best in Ensemble, and Most Outstanding Male Performer, and Most Outstanding Female Performer).
Brent looks forward to many more years of teaching music and theatre on the Northshore with the copious amount of talent on this side of the lake.
Margaret Dorignac, Voice, Executive Admin Assistant
Margaret Dorignac is currently pursuing a degree in Vocal Music Education at Southeastern Louisiana University. She has been performing with The New Octavians for several years and now serves as the group’s Marketing Director as well as a private voice teacher. Margaret has been recently seen on the Southeastern stage as Hag in Little Women and as the First Spirit in Die Zauberflöte. She loves working alongside the talented members of The New Octavians and looks forward to continuing to grow and make music with them.
Steven Goodrich, House Manager
Steven Goodrich is the House Manager for The New Octavians. A Hammond resident, he brings a strong background in management, hospitality, and customer service. Steven has been involved in the performing arts his entire life, having studied clarinet and worked in stage directing and theatrical production from a young age. He is passionate about serving the community and supporting the continued growth of The New Octavians.
Shala Waguespack, Dance
Mrs. Shala received her teachers certificate in 1997 after only 7 years of dance from Softley Dance Academy. During her dance career she attended various dance competitions and conventions. She achieved first place ribbons and trophies and won the title of Miss Footloose among others. In addition to competitions, she performed in the opening ceremony of the Olympics, The Hunchback of Notre- Dame Disney Parade, was the co-director of The Gold Dusters Dance Team and even had the privilege of choreographing a stage routine for Chris Owens. She continued her certification in dance by testing with Louisiana Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America and served on numerous committees including representative at large. She attended The University of New Orleans in which she obtained a degree in Psychology. Her goal is to inspire her students to learn proper technique, discipline and above all to teach them the love of dance in a family friendly atmosphere where they can be the best version of themselves.
Olivia Lowentritt, Dance
Olivia Lowentritt is entering her Junior year at Southeastern Louisiana University. She is studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with the hopes of pursuing a career in Speech Language Pathology. Olivia has been dancing for 17 years at Fellom Ballet in Hammond, Louisiana. She has studied Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Pointe, Musical Theatre, Tap, and Modern. In addition to instruction at Fellom Ballet, Olivia was a member of Hawkettes Dance Team at Archbishop Hannan High School. After graduating high school Olivia returned to Fellom Ballet as a teacher for the creative class. Olivia has been a student choreographer for The New Octavians since 2017. Her work in The New Octavians production’s of Singin in the Rain and James and the Giant Peach has been accredited by the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, Georgia for dancing and choreography. She is passionate about dance and choreographing. She loves working with Brent Goodrich and The New Octavians and is excited to serve as the dance instructor.