Faculty and Staff

Classes: Acting 2, Directing, Scene Study

Bio: Deena Conley is the Chair of Performing Arts at SUNY Cortland. She has lived and worked all over the country--Directing highlights include: The Last Five Years (collaboration with Cortland Repertory Theatre), Cabaret, Lysistrata, Over the River and Through the Woods, The Cake, Urinetown, Fool for Love, Chicago, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Twenty-Fifth Annual Spelling Bee, A Little Night Music, Next to Normal, Sweet Charity, Rabbit Hole, and The Widow’s Blind Date. Ph.D. in Directing from Wayne State University, MI.

Classes: Acting 1, Fundamentals of Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre Performance 1 & 2

Bio: Kevin T. Halpin is in his 25th year at SUNY Cortland, having relocated his family here to establish and develop the Musical Theatre Program in August 1999. Prior to Cortland, Kevin was Director of Dance and Musical Theatre Specialist at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. As a performer, Kevin is a proud member of Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild having worked across the U.S, in New York City, in Europe and the Caribbean. As a Society of Directors & Choreographers director/choreographer, his work has been seen throughout the U.S. and New York City. Some favorite professional credits include West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Producers, and his award-winning production of Chicago. Long time Cortland audience members may remember his Performing Arts Department productions of Spring Awakening, Violet, Pal Joey, A Little Night Music, Sweeny Todd, Crazy for You and Chicago. More recent shows include Blithe Spirit, Company, Seussical, and the New Works Development Partnership with CreateTheater productions of The Bone Harp, By Any Other Name and the NYC New Works Festival Multi award winning, In Emily’s Words, In Emily’s Words won several awards in the NYC New Works Festival, including Best Musical. www.kevinthalpin.com

Classes: Applied Voice, Studio Rep. Class, Choral Union

Bio: David has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, the DiMenna Center, the Times Center, Bargemusic, Merkin Hall, Symphony Space, and with such companies as the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Baltimore Opera, Lake George Opera, Syracuse Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, the Kitchen Theatre, the Palace Theatre (Stamford, CT), the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Symphoria, the American Modern Ensemble, the Society for New Music, the Center for Contemporary Opera, and Opera Ithaca. He is a graduate of Peabody Conservatory of Music and Cornell University. World premiere performances include Winter Songs and Night Songs by Robert Paterson, Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening by Lowell Liebermann, and the Cocoa Cantata by Robert Paterson and David Cote. He created the role of The Commissioner in Michael Dellaira’s The Secret Agent with the Center for Contemporary Opera at the Danny Kaye Playhouse in New York City, with subsequent performances in Szeged, Hungary and Avignon, France. Other performances with CCO include the role of John Henry in William Mayer’s A Death in the Family in Szeged, and numerous workshop performances. David has performed frequently with the Society for New Music in music of Stephen Paulus, Persis Parshall Vehar, Karel Husa, and Charles Fussell. His recorded performances may be heard on the Albany and AMR labels. www.davidnealbassbaritone.com.

Classes: Technical Theatre

Bio: Scott Holdredge is a full time faculty member and Scenic Designer at SUNY Cortland in the Musical Theater Program. In the summer he is the Scenic & Lighting Designer at Franklin Stage Company. He also helps run the student intern and young professionals program. Scott has designed scenery and lights for Anchorage Opera, Scenic Designs for Cortland Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Opera, Syracuse University, and a few area high school theatres. Scott’s work has been seen in New York City, Los Angeles, Alaska, and San Diego across the genres of theatre, corporate events, theme parks, haunted houses and film.

Classes: Basic Musicianship 1 & 2, Seminar in Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre in American Culture

Bio: Ben Kapilow works as Assistant Professor/Music Director for the Performing Arts Department at SUNY Cortland. Prior to SUNY Cortland, he spent 7 years working as Resident Music Director of Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, an Equity theatre in the Philadelphia area. He has also worked as a music director and pianist at Syracuse Stage, Walnut Street Theatre, Candlelight Theatre, Fulton Theatre, and Temple University. As a composer, his works have been published by Chorister's Guild, Alfred Music, and Heritage Press, and his piece "The Bells" was selected for JW Pepper's Editor's Choice in 2024.

Active in education, he has presented at the Pennsylvania Music Teacher's Association Conference, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, and the Expand Online Summit, and has been featured on the TopCast Podcast, Josh Wright Piano Podcast, Piano Pantry Podcast, the Piano Parent Podcast, and Pianist Academy. He has published articles in Piano Magazine and the Colourful Keys Blog.

He received an MM in Music Composition from the Peabody Institute and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Swarthmore College with a BA in Music and Psychology.

Classes: Applied Voice, Studio Rep. Class

Bio: Lynn Craver, is a versatile coloratura soprano and actress. She has performed roles including Belinda in Dido and Aeneas, Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Hélène in Une éducation manquée, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Madame Hertz in Der Schauspieldirektor, Marion in The Music Man, Marie in Cendrillon -Viardot, Erste Dame in Die Zauberflote, Laurie in Oklahoma!, Frasquita in Carmen, Desiree Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, and The Governess in The Turn Of The Screw among others. An active member of the Ithaca arts community, Lynn is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of Opera Ithaca, served as Development Assistant for the Kitchen Theatre, was Production Coordinator for the former Ithaca Opera, and has performed with community arts organizations including the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Triphammer Arts Inc., Kitchen Theatre Company, and Ithaca Community Orchestra. Also dedicated to the art of teaching, Lynn is a member of the voice faculty of the Performing Arts Department at SUNY Cortland, is the Director of the Apprentice Artist program at Opera Ithaca, and teaches a private voice studio in Ithaca, NY. Lynn earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in voice performance from Ithaca College.

Bio: Mark Reynolds (he/him) is a Costume Designer/Director. Mark’s costume designs have appeared in over 30 production’s here at SUNY Cortland. Favorites include: Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, Lysistrata, Blithe Spirit, Spring Awakening, Possessing Harriet, and Sweet Charity. Regional design credits include, The Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Timeline Theater, Theatre by the Lake, The Hangar, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, among others. His work is published in Theatre as Human Action: An Introduction to Theatre Arts by Thomas S. Hischak. Artist in Residence: Gannon University and University at Buffalo. SUNY Cortland directing credits include: Love Billy, The Children’s Hour, Top Girls, The Laramie Project, Sunday in the Park with George, The Glass Menagerie, The Crucible and The Rocky Horror Show. He had the privilege of being an improv instructor for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. Mark is currently serving as senior class advisor for MT25 Senior Showcase and as Board President at Cortland Repertory Theatre. BA; Costume Design, University at Buffalo. Insta @gunclemark 'Art is risk'.

Bio: Over the last 25 years, Joel’s designs have been seen and heard throughout the United States, including Arizona, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. Following a lighting Design Fellowship at Lincoln Center Institute, highlights have included an Assistant Lighting Design credit for the original Off-Broadway production of “The Vagina Monologues” with Eve Ensler and Lighting Designer for “Borrowed Light” from Net of Souls III at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. While in New York City, Joel served as Assistant Lighting Designer for numerous designers including Beverly Emmons and Clifton Taylor. Joel also designed lights for the Asian premiere of the chamber opera “Wenji,” co-produced by the Asia Society and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Locally, Joel has designed for Cortland Repertory Theatre and The Kitchen Theater Company in Central New York.

Bio: Simone is the Technical Director here at SUNY Cortland.  He came to Cortland by way of Syracuse Stage, Colgate University, Glimmerglass Opera, Orpheus Theatre, SUNY Oneonta, and many more.  From Architecture to Industrial Design, from auto restoration to hobbies with his kids, he dives head first into unique projects with passion and dedication.  He loves the creative journey from napkin sketch to reality and working with the students in making dreams come true.

Bio: Benjamin M. Wells comes to SUNY Cortland after spending the previous two decades in public education, having previously taught Choral/Vocal Music, Music Theory and Music History in Cortland Enlarged City School District. He directed the Cortland Youth Bureau Drama Program from 2003-2023 and continues as an active member and adjudicator for the New York State School Music Association. Ben holds a Master of Music Degree in voice performance from Syracuse University as well as a Bachelor of Music Degree in Education from Nazareth College of Rochester with a double major in voice and harpsichord, and a minor in bassoon. He can often be seen involved in musical theatre around Central NY including on stage with companies such as CNY Playhouse and Rarely Done Productions, playing piano in the pit for local college and high school productions or designing and constructing sets or costumes. Beyond his many theatre activities, Ben is also a passionate volunteer and board member at the Cortland County Historical Society.

Bio: Adara is an Ithaca and NYC based professional stage and screen actor/director who primarily performs in regional theatre. She recently performed in GOOD PEOPLE by David Lindsay-Abaire and TROUBLE IN MIND by Alice Childress at Franklin Stage Company, and Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT at The Cherry Arts. Adara is the 2022 NY Emmy award-winning host of the WSKG-TV show Expressions. Visit: www.adaraalston.com 

Classes: College Community Orchestra, Music in Western Society

Bio: Max Buckholtz began playing the violin at the age of three under the direction Mary Cay Neal (the founder of The Buffalo Suzuki Strings) with whom he toured beginning at the age of ten to: England, Scotland, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, The Former Soviet Union and Hungary under Dr Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy of world peace through music.

Max has worked for the Dance Department at Cornell University since the mid 90’s serving as a Dance Accompanist, Performer and Composer. He has also served as a guest/artist lecturer at Cornell University and Ithaca College lecturing and performing Jewish Moldavian, Romanian Lauteri, Turkish and Indian Music, and has advised students participating in The National String Project at SUNY Potsdam: Crane School of Music. Other appointments include accompanying dance installations in Rome, Italy and collecting Jewish Moldavian Music from Botosani, Romania with a grant from Ithaca College.

Creative collaborations include working with Indian Fulbright author and scholar Kiran Nagarkar, composing music to go along with selected readings from the book Gods Little Soldier which aimed to transcend religious misunderstandings; and composing music to accompany the poetry of Palestinian Mahmoud Darwish in conjunction with the premiere of Desert of Light written by Palestinian/Syrian playwright Rama Hayder.

Classically trained, Max has served as Concertmaster, Associate Concertmaster, Principal Second Violinist and Mandolin Soloist for numerous New York State Orchestras.

In addition to his academic life Max is involved in music education and self publishes ethnic string scores through newdaymusicscores.com to expose children to the idea of multi-culturalism.

Bio: Mark Carpenter began my professional theatre career as a scenic carpenter for Tri Cities Opera in Binghamton New York, eventually taking an assistant technical director position. Also a current card holding member of IATSE Local 54 out of Binghamton. Now my pleasure to be a part of SUNY Cortland performing arts department creative team.

Classes: Working Actor, Senior Showcase

Bio: Bob Cline is the founder of Bob Cline Casting in New York City. There, he was recently named as one of New York’s 10 Best, by Broadway World. Bob has cast film, TV, commercials, over 70 national tours, and hundreds of regional theatre productions across the country. Bob's casting credits include: The National Tours of Shrek, Elf, Young Frankenstein, Beauty and the Beast, Oliver, Annie, Bye, Bye Birdie, Hairspray, Rent, Drowsy Chaperone, Full Monty, Music Man, 39 Steps, Showboat, Victor/Victoria, and Oklahoma -to name a few. Regionally, Bob has had his hands in casting shows at over 30 LORT Theaters, including, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, The Pioneer Theatre Company, The Fulton Theatre, Maltz-Jupiter Theatre, The Olney, Theatre By The Sea, and many more. As a director, Bob had the pleasure of directing Betty Buckley, Tom Cavanaugh, Tuc Watkins, Christy Carlson Romano, Martha Plimpton, and Elaine Stritch in Ben Andron's White's Lies both at the Jerry Orbach Theatre and New World Stages in NYC.

All three shows he has directed for the Vital Theatre Company, in New York, Medusa; Bright, Apple, Crush; and Kiss and Tell have been nominated and/or won the Sam French Festival. Other recent favorites include: Once on this Island, In the Heights, Parade, Sweet Charity, Jesus Christ Superstar, Gypsy, Ragtime, A New Brain, Violet, Songs for a New World, Titanic, Rent, The Full Monty, Crimes of the Heart, Into the Woods, To Kill a Mockingbird and A Christmas Carol. Nights when he is not directing shows, he can be found directing students in one of the three audition classes he teaches weekly in NYC through the Actor’s Loft. Most Importantly, Bob is a proud faculty member in Pace University’s Theatre program in charge of the Senior BFA Musical Theatre majors, for almost 10 years.

Classes: Applied Voice, Studio Rep. Class

Bio: Bill Daugherty – has had a dual career in both performing and teaching Musical Theater. He earned a BFA in Acting from Missouri State University and Webster Conservatory (in his hometown of St Louis). He played Nicely Nicely Johnson in the first European tour of Guys and Dolls and was one-half of the celebrated musical comedy team Daugherty & Field. Select Credits include: Damn Yankees (dir: G. Abbott), Side by Side by Sondheim, Annie Get Your Gun, Naughty Marietta, Candide, Pippin, Man of LaMancha, Moon Over Buffalo, Fiddler On The Roof, … Forum, Evita, Rumors, The Little Foxes, Arsenic and Old Lace,Almost Maine and most recently as Marryin’ Sam in Li’l Abner. His directorial credits include: Titanic, Scrooge – The Musical, How To Succeed..., Annie, Grease, Oliver! and five original critically acclaimed Off-Broadway musicals for his production company, Thoroughbred Productions. Bill was nominated for an OBIE, won 4 MAC and 2 Bistro Awards and a Nightlife Award for his first solo album. He has performed in concert halls worldwide including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Die Kleine Komedie and 12 years running at the 92nd St. Y’s Lyrics & Lyricists series as well as 14 consecutive years in Broadway Unplugged at Town Hall. He is a published author, producer and recording artist. One of his original musicals was selected by Stephen Schwartz for an ASCAP workshop. For nearly two decades he taught at NYU’s CAP21 Conservatory (former students include: Anne Hathaway, Kristen Bell, Matthew Morrisson and Lindsay Mendez). He is currently with both Nazareth College (2014) and SUNY Cortland (2016) in CNY. He was a founding member of Bravo Channel’s ‛Camp Broadway’ and has taught master classes nationwide in Vocal Technique/Vocal Performance/Audition Repertoire and Audition Technique/Voice for the Actor and is on the board of directors for The Auburn Players in Auburn, NY. billdaugherty.com

Classes: Jazz 1 & 2, Ballet 4, Theatre Dance 1 & 2, Dance Audition Skills through History and Style

Classes: Music in Western Society, World Music, Intro to Music Theory, Class Piano

• Bio: Armand J. DiScenna has previously taught Music History and a Colloquium in Gregorian Chant at SUNY Oswego, Italian and Honors courses at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, and is currently Lecturer in Music Theory here at SUNY Cortland.

• He is Organist and Choirmaster for historic St. Mary's Church here in Cortland, where he also directed the Cortland Camerata. Armand is also the coordinator of, and an instructor with the Syracuse Diocesan Organist Training Program. Previous liturgical music experiences include Director of the Office of Music and Liturgy for the Diocese of Syracuse, NY, as well as former Asst. Choirmaster at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse.

Classes: Applied Voice, Studio Rep. Class

Bio: Amanda Dunlap is an applied voice instructor within the musical theatre department. Amanda received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education for Voice and Flute from Ithaca College in 2003, and her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from New York University in 2005. She has been a vocal music teacher for twenty years, instructing students from preschoolers through adults. She previously served as an adjunct voice professor at New York University, and she taught vocal music in public and private schools for sixteen years. Amanda produces and directs several musicals annually for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and community theater. She maintains a home voice studio in Syracuse, where she lives with her husband and their four children. In her spare time, Amanda narrates audiobooks and also teaches musical theatre dance classes at a dance studio near her home. Amanda is an active performer in the Syracuse, Utica and Rome areas. Some of her past favorite roles include Mother Superior (Sister Act), Rosalie Mullins (School of Rock), Claire (Ordinary Days), Donna (Mamma Mia!), Norma Cassidy (Victor/Victoria), Marian Paroo (The Music Man), Maria Rainer (The Sound of Music), Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls), and Kathy Seldon (Singin in the Rain).

Classes: College Singers & Choral Union (Accompanist)

Bio: After receiving her MM in opera in Chicago, Rachel spent several seasons with the Chicago Symphony before moving to New York in 2011 to begin a teaching career and is excited to bring that same passion for music to the Cortland community. Past roles include Mrs. Grose (Turn of the Screw), Lisette (Il Mondo della Luna), Mother Superior (Sound of Music), and various scene studies in NYC.  She would like to thank her fiancé, Ken, and all her students for their love and support.

Bio: Stacey holds a BA in Fine Arts and Art History from SUNY Geneseo and a MS in Arts Administration from the University of Oregon. Her career took her around the United States until she settled in Cortland, New York with her family, and established her own local sewing and alterations business, Magpie Custom Creations, in downtown Cortland. Costume construction is Stacey's first love, and she is thrilled to be a long term member of the Department of Performing Arts.

Classes: Applied Piano

Bio: Marina Gorelaya was born in Ukraine where she received her training as a classical pianist and musicalogist. She earned a Master’s Degree at the Kharkiv National University of Art (Conservatory) and a Doctorate in Music at the Kyiv Conservatory.

Dr. Gorelaya moved to the United States in 1996. She was engaged as a pianist at Syracuse University then as a piano instructor and accompanist at SUNY Cortland. She works with local schools, choral ensembles, college orchestra and the Center for the Arts in Homer while frequently participating in community arts festivals. She offered many solo concerts at SUNY and other sites in the county. She frequently showcases her students in concerts as well.

Teaching piano for over 40 years, Dr. Gorelaya developed her own method to work with the students. Her system, based on psychology and cognitive approach, includes knowledge of music theory and different styles of piano music altogether with sight-reading and fingers’ dexterity.

Classes: Ballet 1-3, Tap 1

Bio: Cindy has worked as a performer, teacher and choreographer, in both professional and educational theatre, for over 25 years. A member of Actor’s Equity Association, she has performed in New York City and regional theatre across the country. She has taught Master classes for national and regional dance organizations in New York and Illinois. While on faculty at Millikin University in Illinois, Cindy taught ballet, choreographed for the Dance Ensemble, School of Music Opera productions, and many Mainstage productions. In her native Long Island, she was director of Ballet at private dance schools, as well as choreographer for teen/adult dance companies. Cindy has choreographed many shows at Cortland Repertory Theatre, including Brigadoon (Salt Award nomination), Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease, 1776 (Salt Award nomination), The Full Monty (2013 Broadwayworld.com “Best Choreographer” Central New York), and Rat Pack Lounge. Cindy is currently dance faculty at SUNY Cortland, Performing Arts Department, and received the SUNY Cortland Excellence in Teaching Award in 2015. She ran the department’s Dance Demonstration, and has been associate director/choreographer for many Mainstage productions. Cindy is a member of IDEA- dance studio owner association.

Classes: College Singers, Voice for the Stage, Music in Western Society, Introduction to Music Theory

Bio: Renee Heitmann is a critically acclaimed soprano, hailed for her “clear, beautiful, angelic” sound, dramatic delivery, and ability to breathe life into the roles she takes on.  She is a frequent guest of the Mid-Columbia Symphony and Mid-Columbia Mastersingers in Washington State, and often invited back to sing in the greater Yakima River Valley.  

She has spent the last decade of her career in New York City working with private students of all ages and abilities, as well as leading a number of adult choirs.  She is knowledgeable in both the classical and music theatre worlds, and her experience as a director/producer as well as a performer gives her a well-rounded approach to teaching. She specializes in audition prep and real-world application, as many of her students go on to have professional career paths.

Renee currently resides in Syracuse, N.Y. with her two dogs and also teaches in the Performing Arts Department at Hamilton College.

Classes: Jazz 1 & 2, Tap 1 & 2

Bio: Audrey Holmes is a dance educator, choreographer and dancer originally from Owego, NY. She is a Phi Beta Kappa scholar who holds an MFA in Choreography/Performance from SUNY Brockport (2020) and has two Bachelor’s degrees in Theatre & Dance and English: Creative Writing from Wells College (2017). With 26 years of dance and performance experience, Audrey has taught both in private studios and in academia. Since 2019, Audrey has been a proud and active member of the New York State Dance Education Association (NYSDEA) and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). From 2019-2020 she was selected to serve as the Student Representative for NYSDEA, acting as a voice for both undergraduate and graduate students studying dance across NYS. After Audrey graduated from grad school, she took on another volunteer role on the NYSDEA board and became its Director of Fundraising from 2021-2023. In spring of 2020, Audrey began teaching dance at Wells College. In 2022, she received the Award for Excellence from Wells College for her combined work as a dance lecturer and COVID-19 compliance officer who kept campus COVID-free for the first ten weeks of the fall ’21 semester. The very next year, Audrey was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award from the same institution. Audrey became part of the dance faculty at SUNY Cortland in 2024 and just completed five years of teaching dance in higher education. She loves teaching and having the opportunity to share her passion with others. As Audrey often says, “never miss a chance to dance!”

Classes: Intro to Theatre

Bio: Lyndsie Jones is in her third year as an adjunct at SUNY Cortland. She is a graduate of SUNY Potsdam (BA Drama) and Emerson College (MA Theatre Education). Directing and teaching theatre has been her passion. In 2002 she co-founded the Oswego Children's Theater where she directing shows for 18 years. In addition to her work at SUNY Cortland, she is also an elementary theatre and Spanish teacher at Trinity Catholic School. Lyndsie has directed and choreographed for many theatre companies in the CNY area. For the last 12 years she has been directing for the Whitney Point High School Drama Club. Favorite directing credits include: "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" (Whitney Point High School Drama Club), "Brundibar" (Oswego Opera Theater) and "Once Upon a Mattress" (Oswego Children's Theater).

Bio: Mr. Montgomery received his Bachelor of Music in piano and conducting from University of North Carolina-Greensboro and Masters of Music in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying from the University of Illinois where he studied with renown accompanist John Wustman. He has performed as conductor, music director and stage director with most recently Rochester Lyric Opera, Greensboro Opera, Virginia Opera, Illinois Opera Theater, New York City Opera, and Ithaca Opera, and has toured extensively with the National Opera Company. In the world of musical theater he has also served professionally as music director in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Carolina and locally with  SUNY-Cortland, Kitchen Theater, Cornell Theater, Cornell Savoyards, Running to Places and the Hanger Theater. He is currently a staff vocal coach/accompanist for the Musical Theater program at SUNY-Cortland.

Classes: Intro to Theatre (Online)

Bio: Born in Houston, Texas, John relocated to Melbourne, Australia in 2004 and studied all facets of dance, singing and acting at the May Downs School of Dancing under Renie Ann Martini and Centrestage Performing Arts School under Ian and Leanne White. He went on to graduate from the Federation University Arts Academy in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre. His Australian theater credits include Funny Girl (The Production Company), Merrily We Roll Along (Watch This!), Jesus Christ Superstar (The Production Company), He Said She Said (Lion Heart Dance Company), Songs for Swingin’ Lovers (Stageart) and ‘Action’/‘Riff understudy’ in West Side Story on Sydney Harbour (Opera Australia). John is an inaugural member of the Melbourne Shakespeare Company, having performed in their productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear. As a choreographer, credits include Black rock (EbbFlow Theatre Co), Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, The Winter’s Tale and The Comedy of Errors (Melbourne Shakespeare Company). John has also been teaching since the age of 19 at many Australian dance studios, renowned college programs and full time performing arts courses, educating students in jazz, tap, musical theater dance and acting. They include Federation University Arts Academy, May Downs School of Dancing, Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, Transit Dance, Cheryl Witchell School of Dance, Theatre Blacks, ShowFit and Centrestage Performing Arts School. John now lives in New York City and has had the opportunity to perform in Guys and Dolls, Something Rotten and made his Off-Broadway debut in Amid Falling Walls for the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, where he served as Dance Captain. Other regional credits include Fiddler On The Roof, A Chorus Line, Tootsie and 42nd Street.

Bio: Nichole Schwartz is a dedicated Administrative Assistant with 1 year of experience supporting Performing Arts faculty, staff, and students, in the fast-paced Musical Theater Major. She thrives on managing complex schedules, working with incredible coworkers and amazing students, watching them grow, and ensuring operations run smoothly. Outside the office, you’ll often find Nichole indulging in culinary and craft cocktail adventures and advocating for single mothers and children through the United Way. In her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time with her rescue dog, Milo.

Bio: Pianist Emmett Scott teaches private students out of Ithaca, NY and works with musical theater students at SUNY Cortland. In the past he has toured with renowned bands such as Big Mean Sound Machine and Dreamt, while continuing to perform with Swamp Kids and New Planets.

Emmett Scott is an actively performing musician in Ithaca, NY. He received a BA in jazz studies from Ithaca College, and has since been accompanying and teaching in the Ithaca and Trumansburg area. Emmett has been a member of such Ithaca groups as Big Mean Sound Machine, Dreamt, the Ndor Band, Swamp Kids, the Galactic Band, and various Jazz ensembles and combos for hire. Proficient in classical, jazz, folk/rock, and hip hop, Emmett splits his time teaching private lessons and accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists at Ithaca College. Emmett is passionate about fostering a love of music in both beginners and experienced players, and teaching with aspects of theory, aural training and sight reading for a well rounded musical education.

Classes: Acting 3: Scene Study

Bio: Shirley Serotsky currently serves as Producing Artistic Director of Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY. A native of Rochester, NY, Serotsky has vast experience as a director, dramaturg, artistic leader and educator. She has served as staff dramaturg and public programmer for Mosaic Theater Company, and as a co-director of the Director’s Intensive for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Between 2008-2016 she served in a series of leadership positions (including Interim Artistic Director for the 2015-2016 season) at Theater J, a professional theatre company committed to producing timely, and often politically-charged, new plays and revivals. Shirley has taught and mentored students in the fields of directing, acting, improvisation, dramaturgy, play analysis, theatre appreciation, new play development and auditioning techniques in both a classroom setting and for resident theatre education programs.

Selected directing credits include: The How and the Why, Another Way Home, The Call, Yentl, The Argument, The Hampton Years, The History of Invulnerability, The Moscows of Nantucket, Mikveh (which received two Helen Hayes Nominations for Best Actress), and The Rise and Fall of Annie Hall (which received a 2009 Helen Hayes Nomination for Best New Play) (Theater J); Rapture, Blister, Burn (which received a Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actress) (Round House Theatre); The Jungle Book (Adventure Theatre); a 21/24 Signature Lab Workshop presentation of The Break (Signature Theatre); Working: The Musical (Keegan Theatre); Blood Wedding (Constellation Theatre); A Man, His Wife, and His Hat and Birds of a Feather (which won the 2012 Charles MacArthur Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play, The Hub Theatre); Juno and the Paycock (Washington Shakespeare Company); Reals, Five Flights and Two Rooms (Theater Alliance); Crumble and We Are Not These Hands (Catalyst Theater); References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot (Rorschach Theater, for which she received a 2007 Helen Hayes nomination for outstanding direction); Sovereignty (The Humana Festival of New Plays). Training: BFA, North Carolina School of the Arts; MFA, Catholic University.

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