Marylata Elton works at her computer on a project for her production company, Marquand Music, Inc. She lives in Jacksonville and is a new board member for Collaborative Theatre Project.

It was her first ballet, but it wasn’t her first rodeo. Her mother had made a point of regularly exposing her eight children to the joys of music, dance and other creative endeavors.

But there was a transcendent moment just before the curtain went up that sparked a dream in young Marylata.

Just before the performance was about to begin, she watched intently as, one by one, the dancers took their positions, their ballet slippers poised in the slender crevice between stage and curtain. It etched an indelible memory that would guide the trajectory of her life.

“It’s a memory that has stayed with me,” Marylata Elton said.

From that moment, she wanted to become a ballet dancer. But it was not to be. She has, however, enjoyed a multi-faceted career on the music side of the entertainment industry, spanning 40 years and encompassing award-winning feature films, collaborations with a number of legendary musical artists, and her own Grammy nomination.

“The transition from ballet to music was seamless,” she said.

Today she is a resident of Jacksonville, a new member of Collaborative Theatre Project’s board of directors, and manages music projects long-distance for clients in Hollywood and elsewhere.

Visits with relatives who had relocated to Jacksonville from California was the impetus for moving here herself.

“I fell in love with the town,” she said. “In 2014, I purchased a home to live near family.”

Soon after the move, she discovered what a mecca the Rogue Valley is for music and the performing arts — an exciting revelation for a woman whose life was all about the entertainment business.

She soon became a supporting member of four high-profile performing arts groups.

“I took my time learning about these organizations, to see where I would put my time and talent,” she said.

Steven Dominguez, a CTP board member and director of its children’s theater program, invited her to an opening night performance of Lauren Gunderson’s “Ada and the Engine.”

“I was blown away by the production, the cast, and the theater,” she said. It was an easy “yes” when she was invited to join the board.

She sees opportunity for CTP and other small theater companies in the current environment, especially after a period of predominantly “screen entertainment” imposed by the pandemic.

“It opened the door to audiences craving live performances,” she said. “We here in the valley are discerning patrons of the arts. By its choice of plays and content, CTP has tapped into quenching the thirst of theatergoers, including those who have been under-valued by some of our larger competitors.”

Elton and longtime partner Danny Jacob own Marquand Music, Inc., a music production company “always within arm’s reach of Hollywood,” she said. Jacob is a guitarist and three-time Emmy-nominated composer.

She began her career in 1978 at A&M Records where she managed album recording costs for the label’s many artists. Later she struck out on her own as an independent coordinator, working on more than 20 albums for Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Diana Ross and many others.

She spent many years at DreamWorks, joining the company in 1995, shortly after its inception. The first seven years she served as senior vice-president of music, overseeing the creative and corporate aspects of the music and songs for the studio’s animated feature films. As its first music executive, she developed the feature film music department from the ground up.

She went on to serve as artistic director of music for seven DreamWorks animated features, including the computer-animated blockbuster, “Shrek,” which won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Elton was nominated (with Michael Ostin) for a Grammy in the category of Best Compilation Soundtrack for her work as producer on the film’s multiplatinum-selling soundtrack album.

A project for which she is particularly proud is the film, “Prince of Egypt.”

“I hold that dearest in my heart,” she said. “Song composer Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked” and “Godspell”) won DreamWorks’ first Oscar for the film version of the song, ‘When You Believe.’ Collaborating with film composer Hans Zimmer was a highlight. Hans and I co-produced the vocals to create a unique signature sound for DreamWorks.”

Another favorite project was “The Road to El Dorado,” the film that reunited Elton John, Tim Rice and Zimmer.

“They are seasoned, award-winning creators, with grace and very professional,” she said. “Yet, I’ve never laughed so much as when working with Elton John in the studio.”

She hopes to put all that experience to work for CTP as a board member.

“I’ve learned how to bring out the best in artists and their creative process,” she said. “By overseeing music budgets, I know it’s possible to deliver the creator’s vision without breaking the bank.

“Being a long-time patron of the arts helps me to understand the strengths and weaknesses of productions,” she said, “and the importance of community involvement to support the arts.”

Elton believes recent changes will improve the visibility of CTP’s location at the Village at Medford Center.

“Large planters recently were removed from the entrance to the theater,” she said. “The window is dressed with costumes from the upcoming performance. And a new awning and marquee are in the works.”

Visibility and community awareness are high on Elton’s priorities as a new board member.

“It’s my mission to rid conversations of ‘I didn’t even know it was there,’” she said. “Secondarily is the goal of creating more financial support.”

To that end, the board had a meet-and-greet at Tap & Vine in Medford recently.

“Although it was a casual affair, ideas flowed easily around the table,” she said. “These passionate, experienced people believe whole-heartedly in collaborating, true to the name of the theater.”

Elton has a couple of personal projects in the works as well. Disney has ordered 40 more new episodes of “Phineas and Ferb,” an animated musical comedy television series.

“My production company created the music for the original four seasons,” she said. “So, in essence, we’re getting the band back together.”

Locally, she is working with choreographer Erica Bury on finding music for Miss Diana’s School of Ballet’s upcoming performance of “Beauty and the Beast,” set for June 29-30 and July 1 at North Medford High School auditorium.

After 40 years in the music industry, she is finally returning to her first love, ballet.

For more information and to purchase tickets for “Beauty and the Beast,” go to missdianas.com. For information about shows and tickets for CTP performances, go to ctpmedford.org.