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OUR EDUCATION STAFF |
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| GRCT's faculty members are all professionals: artists
passionate about sharing their chosen discipline. Classes and teachers
are carefully matched to give the students the best instructor for their
age/skill level. |
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Franklene
Baker is a graduate of GVSU and received her Masters degree from
Aquinas College. She coordinates Pregnancy Resource Center’s Drama
Team, and is a Business Management Instructor for GVSU. She also works
part-time as a GRCC’s Woodrick Diversity Learning Center Trainer.
Since 2001, she has been involved in the GR Theater Community, acting,
singing and dancing through BTV Productions, Kennedy Management Resources
(KMR) Diversity Theater, and through local community theaters. She has
also landed key roles in; Dream girls, A Raisin in the Sun, and
the 2003 Grand Award winning Beehive. |
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Sheri
Beth Dusek started her acting career by taking classes at Grand
Rapids Civic Theatre & School of Theatre Arts! She then attended Theatre
School at Columbia College and studied improvisational theatre with The
Second City in Chicago. She has nearly 20 years experience as an actor,
director, creative consultant, teacher and acting coach. She teaches acting
for Early Elementary and Improv for all ages. |
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Laura
Fisher graduated from Stephens College with
a BFA in theatre, and went on to work in the entertainment department
of Walt Disney World for the next several years. Laura joined GRCT's faculty
in 2002 and teaches acting for grades 2-7, plus make-up workshops.
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Neva
James received her formal dance training in
NY with world-renowned Alvin Ailey. She's performed with East coast touring
companies, on television, and was a featured instructor at Indiana University
Northwest. Neva teaches Hip-Hop and Jazz for teens and adults, and directs
the Performance Dance Troupe.
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| Sarah
LaJoye received her Bachelor's degree in
Theatre Performance from Michigan State University. She is a freelance
talent who has stage-managed, choreographed, and performed locally with
many different theatre groups. Sarah is teaching voice to grades 4 and
5.
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| Mary
Lohman Mary Lohman began her dance training
with the School of the Grand Rapids Ballet under the direction of Charthel
Arthur and Robert Estner. Her continued studies took her to the Joffrey,
Boston, and Cleveland Ballet Schools, culminating as a scholarship student
of David Howard in NYC. Ms. Lohman has danced professionally with the
Hartford Ballet, CT., Kintz Ensemble, The Grand Rapids Ballet Company
and UICA Dance Collaborative. With the Grand Rapids Ballet, she was
privileged to perform principal roles in many premier ballets, including
Our Town with Phillip Jerry, Mien Himmel with Winthrop Corey
and as “Lucy” in Dracula. Ms. Lohman has contributed
as a dancer and choreographer at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Circle
Theatre, Actor’s Theatre and Opera Grand Rapids. She was privileged
to portray “Cassie” in A Chorus Line at Grand Rapids
Civic Theatre. As an instructor at the Grand Rapids Civic School of
Theatre Arts, she teaches ballet, ballroom and theatrical dance. Ms.
Lohman also currently serves as a faculty member at Grand Valley State
University.
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Gary
Mitchell has appeared in numerous area community
theatre productions and won the 2000 Grand Award for his leading performance
in Conversations With My Father. An instructor at GRCT since
1998, Gary teaches characterization, scene analysis, and performance
for High School students and adults.
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Ed
Nelson is a veteran of most community theater
stages in the area. Ed has been particularly active in children's theatre
and especially with GRCT's Traveling Troupe. Ed teaches acting & musical
theatre for ages 4 through grade 5. |
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Penelope
Notter (GRCT Associate Director) has over 100 professional, community
and university theatre productions to her credit. She won the Grand Award
for Outstanding Direction for her production of Little Shop of Horrors!
Penny’s GRCT directing credits include Cinderella, Peter
Pan, The Sound of Music, Enchanted April, A Year with Frog & Toad,
The Miracle Worker and Miss Nelson is Missing. As a board
member for the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) she has
chaired the National Workshop Committee and been featured in their monthly
publication, Spotlight. Penny teachers advanced acting for teens
and adults. |
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Angela
Peavey teaches acting and dance for grades
K-6. She's performed with Disney, done freelance independant films and
radio commercials. Angie has studied at Second City but started studying
acting right here at GRCT! |
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Malinda
Petersen earned her B.F.A. in theatre performance
from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She has taught children the
fine art of theatre in California, Minnesota, South Dakota and Michigan.
To keep her teaching fresh, Malinda also acts on local stages including
Civic, playing Gwendolyn Pigeon in 2006's The Odd Couple. She
is adjunct faculty at Grand Valley State University where she teaches
education majors how to incorporate theatre into their classrooms. Malinda's
favorite role, however, is Mother to Molly, "who has taught me how
to be a better teacher by reminding me to laugh and just enjoy. Children
have such great energy." Malinda joined the GRCT School in 2000 and
enjoys teaching at all levels. |
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Margi
Derks Peterson has taught private voice in the GR community for
over 20 years. In addition, she accompanies for singers, instrumentalists,
ballet, and choirs, directs the Ars Nova choir for Fountain Street Church,
and music directs for many local theatres and high schools. Margi is teaching
voice classes for 4th and 5th graders and middle-schoolers this year. |
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Mary
Rademacher has a BA from MSU in Telecommunications
and Musical Theatre. A professional singer and entertainer for 25 yrs,
she's choreographed countless productions, as well as coaching drama and
voice. Mary teaches musical theatre & voice.
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Lea
Sevigny has a BS in Theater Education and
a Master's in Education! She's directed, stage-managed, acted and volunteered
in almost any capacity in area theaters. Lea teaches youth acting and
performance classes.
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Emilee
Smith-Meyering graduated from NYU, and has
performed locally and nationally with her Dad and mentor, Don Smith! Emilee
has taught and choreographed in both GR and Northern Michigan. She teaches
youth acting & musical theatre and adult tap.
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Don
Smith has acted and danced on stage, film,
and television (for 10 years with his own show). He's danced with Gregory
Hines, Savion Glover, Buster Brown and Honi Coles in his long career and
teaches Tap for teens/adults.
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Susan
Strohmer earned her BA in Technical Theatre & Costume design
from WMU. She has performed and designed costumes for GRCT, Circle Theatre,
Actors’ Theatre, Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids, and the Heritage
Theatre Group. She most recently played Ms. Darbus in GRCT’s production
of High School Musical. She currently teaches costuming at
Grand Rapids Community College. A GRCT instructor for 11 years, she
teaches acting for grades 4-adult and costuming workshops.
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Nancy
Wagner received her BFA in theatre from the University of Evansville
and her MFA in Acting form the University of Iowa. She make her acting
debut with GRCT as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma, winning a Grand Award
for the role. She has appeared in Sunday in the Park with George
at Community Circle Theatre and Rabbit Hole at Actors’
Theatre. Nancy teacher acting classes at Grand Rapids Community College,
is a member of The Lessac Research and Training Institute for voice, movement
and acting, and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. She teaches advanced
acting for teens and adults at GRCT. |
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Christopher
Weaver has a BA in theatre from Oberlin
College. He taught elementary school drama for two years in North Carolina
before moving to GR. For seven years, Christopher has taught acting
for grades 2 - 12 and performance classes here at GRCT.
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