OUR EDUCATION STAFF
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 

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.
 

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.
 

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.

 
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.
 
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.


 
 
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.
 
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.
 

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.
 
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.
 

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.