Worth is a director, choreographer, and teaching artist. At The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Worth directed and choreographed Elephant and Piggie, We’re in a Play and Dragons Love Tacos and choreographed Frozen Jr., and Hairspray Jr. for the mainstage. Worth has directed and choreographed numerous School of Theatre Art’s Performance Block productions as well. Worth has served as a teaching artist for the past six years at The Civic Theatre and spent the past year working as a mentor and teacher for the inaugural Young Artist Studio. While living in New York City for thirteen years, Worth was a teaching artist with acclaimed educational theatre programs including TADA Youth Theatre, City Lights Youth Theatre, and Wingspan Arts. As a professional actress, Worth originated the role of Amber Von Tussle in the first national tour of Hairspray. Regionally, Worth has performed at The Kennedy Center in D.C., The 5 th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, and sung as a soloist with The Boston Pops Orchestra at Symphony Hall. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Boston Conservatory and attended The London Academy of Dramatic Arts.

At Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Josh has been seen on stage, off stage, and in the pit!  Josh is proud to have been a part of Ragtime (Keys III), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Annie, and The Little Mermaid  (ensemble).  His most recent music director works include Kinky Boots and Mary Poppins at Civic Theatre, plus Legally Blonde and Jersey Boys at Saugatuck Center for the Arts.  When they’re not in the theatre, they love to accompany and coach the MT students at Western Michigan University, as well as teach voice students through the Grand Rapids Voice Collective.

Annelise (she/her) is a Grand Rapids native who has recently returned to town after many years in Chicago and Madison, WI. Since earning her BA in Theatre from Purdue University and her MFA in Acting at UW-Madison she has built a career as an actor, director, educator, and coach of voice, text, and dialects throughout the Midwest. Favorite projects include originating the title role in Muse of Fire’s Queen Margaret (Chicago), playing Prospero in The Tempest at Commission Theatre (Chicago), directing Gruesome Playground Injuries with Theatre In All the Wrong Places (Madison) and directing Sez She and Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses at Aquinas College. She currently teaches in the theatre department at Aquinas College, and this summer she can be seen onstage at Actor’s Theatre playing the title role in Witch.

Melissa is passionate about sharing her love of movement with other artists and is excited to start her 2nd year with the YAS program at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre! Since receiving her BA in dance from Grand Valley State University, Melissa has taught at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Grand Rapids Christian High School, several elementary schools and studios across West Michigan and will begin teaching at Zeeland High School in their dance department this summer.  As a part of the faculty at Civic Theatre, she has taught ballet, jazz and tap technique as well as choreographed for SRTI and main stage productions.  She is a founding member/dancer at Dance In The Annex, recently performing in “Blocking out the Darkness” and an instructor and award winning choreographer at Body Language Dance Company in Jenison. While continuing to further her own dance studies, Melissa regularly attends dance conventions and master classes throughout Michigan, Chicago, and New York. Melissa’s favorite thing about Civic Theatre is the community of artists that come together, sharing a love of art, humanity and creative growth.  She currently resides in GR with her husband Jesse, daughters Isabella and Colette and their adorable puppy, Shinobi.