Instructors
Jasmine Artis- Born and raised in Hampton, VA, Jasmine is the Artistic Director of an amazing group of talented children, Mighty Shock, D.C. She is also a member of Culture Shock, D.C., Contradiction Dance, and KickRocks Crew. Through her dancing, Jasmine has had the opportunity to perform all over the United States and in Canada, China, and Switzerland. She also performed with Cirque du Soleil at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. last spring. Jasmine graduated from University of Maryland with a BS in Kinesiology Science. Jasmine enjoys singing, dancing, acting, modeling, and anything else that involves creativity and expression.
Ben Bedenbaugh has worked in professional theater for the last 20 years as an actor, director, music director and teacher. He served as the resident music director for Naples Dinner Theater, Golden Apple Dinner Theater, Charleston Stage Company, and the Barn Theater. Among his many productions he has conducted Tom Wopat in “Annie Get Your Gun”; Edie Adams in “Hello, Dolly”; and Eve Plumb in “South Pacific”. Ben has played piano for more 30 years. He has taught piano, voice and acting for students aged 6 thru adult, all the way up to and including many Broadway performers and Tony nominees such as Marc Kudisch, Andrea McCardle, Michael-Leon Wolley, and Aileen Quinn. He is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He most recently directed Once on This Island for MTC.
Mary Bentley has been active in Montgomery County for several years as a music teacher, singer, accompanist and vocal coach. She is currently on the faculty at Montgomery College (piano), and works with the children’s choir at the Shrine of St. Jude in Rockville. She has worked on productions at Montgomery College as an assistant director, assistant music director and/or rehearsal pianist. She has taught early childhood music classes at the Academy of Music (Gaithersburg) and at area preschools. Mary received her B.A. from Saint Olaf College, and a Certificate of Music from Montgomery College (voice and piano). She is currently working toward certification as a general/vocal music teacher. Mary has worked at MTC since 2003 as a voice instructor.
Stephanie Blitz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Ecology from the University of Maryland, with a minor in Early Childhood Music Education. She has been teaching preschoolers for over 20 years. Currently, Stephanie is the Early Childhood Music Enrichment teacher at the Goddard School in Rockville. She has worked with youth theater and music programs in New York as well as Maryland. Stephanie currently has two daughters who perform in MTC’s performance ensembles. Stephanie and her husband have been involved with MTC for over 10 years.
Kelsey Cramer(bio coming soon)
Lisa Carrier has a BA in Musical Theatre and a Masters of Music. Post graduate work: Artist in residence for 3 seasons at North Carolina School of the Art's Fletcher Opera Institute. Favorite operatic roles there: Adina in L'Elisir D'Amore, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Nico Castel of the Metropolitan Opera. National Tours: La Boheme as Musetta, The Merry Wives of Windsor as Anne Page. Ohio Light Opera: Margot in The Desert Song and Gretel Columbus (American premiere) of Christopher Columbus. Lyric Theatre: Young Sally in Follies, Zelda Zanders in Singin’ in the Rain. Washington: Kennedy Center, American Century Theatre, Round House Theatre“Kitchen”, Washington Savoyards, Adventure Theatre and Toby's Dinner Theatre. Lisa is a professorial lecturer in the music department at American University and an adjunct professor of voice at Montgomery College. Lisa most recently directed “13” for MTC.
Debbie Clark – Director of Education has studied and performed dance and musical theater for over 30 years. After training in Ballet and Modern Dance at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas; Debbie went on to study and continues to study at some of the top studio in the USA. Debbie has performed worldwide in all dance forms; from concert work at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC to Las Vegas Style musical revues in Japan and beyond. Debbie has performed for Princess Cruises, Cunard Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines; Harrah’s Casinos, Grand Casinos, Bally’s Casinos, Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal. As a sought after instructor, Debbie has taught for Joy of Motion, DC Dance Collective, D.A.R.E. Dance, DC Parks and Recreation, Two Rivers Public Charter School and KU Studios in AZ. She has set works and choreographed shows for the Youth Dance Ensemble at Joy of Motion, PoetryNMotion Dance Company and the Barrie School and St. Mark’s Players to name a few. Debbie is the Director or Education as well as an instructor and directs Continuum: A Jazz Repertory Ensemble. Debbie is also a current member of Capitol Movement, Inc a non-profit dance company in Washington, D.C.
Pauline Grossman is an accomplished choreographer, dance instructor, drama teacher, and performer. Pauline’s work has taken her to theater groups, arts camps, and dance studios throughout the Washington, DC, New York, Tennessee, Branson, MO, and Vermont. She has choreographed more than 40 musicals and has been praised by The Washington Post for her “impressive choreography” in the Washington Savoyard's production of The Pirates of Penzance and for having “worked magic” in the Savoyard’s Babes in Toyland. Her other credits include shows with the American Century Theater, The Bay Theater Company, Montgomery College, Imagination Stage, and many others. She has choreographed concerts for country superstar Pam Tillis and for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center. Pauline has sat on dance faculties at Catholic University of America, Montgomery College, Joy of Motion, and the Musical Theater Center. She holds a B.A. in theater from the University of Tennessee.
Barry Hamilton is a Judge of the District Court in Montgomery County, MD. He has a BA degree in Political Science from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor from New York University. In theatrical circles, he is well known as a director, music director, actor and accompanist. He has worked at the White House, Arena Stage, National Theater, The Kennedy Center, and the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Barry has accompanied, both locally and on tour, the cabaret review Mrs. Foggybottom and Friends and international Irish tenor Mark Forrest. With his wife, Diane, Barry has co-directed several MTC productions, including Grease and Thoroughly Modern Millie. He is the music director/accompanist for Upbeat Unlimited.
Diane Hamilton – Artistic Director has been a performer, choreographer and director in the Washington area for the past 30 years. Currently, Diane is the Artistic Director of MTC and is Director and Choreographer of MTC’s teen performing ensemble Singular Sensations. She holds a degree in Dance from the University of Maryland and is a certified member of Dance Masters of America. Diane taught at the Catholic University. She has choreographed for major theaters and universities on the east coast and Wagon Wheel Playhouse in Indiana. In NYC, Diane has studied extensively with Paul Draper, Bob Audy, Judy Bassing, Luigi and Frank Hatchett. She teaches jazz and tap, and has also directed and/or choreographed MTC productions of A Chorus Line, Oklahoma! and many others. Diane choreographed Thoroughly Modern Millie for MTC in January 2007. Former students include Goldie Hawn and many other Broadway performers.
Lauren Katsikopoulos, a native New Yorker, began dancing at the age of 6 and studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz Lyrical, Modern and Hip Hop. She danced with the Bronx Dance Theatre Senior Company for 14 years where she traveled and performed all over the world. Lauren has 25 years of experience as a dance instructor, specializing in Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop. She participates in dance workshops when available in New York City, Washington, DC, and Baltimore. Lauren has had the opportunity to take classes from many great dance artists such as Marty Kudelka, David Scott, Jamal Sims, Napoleon & Tabitha Dumo, Poping Pete, Flomaster and many others. Lauren has experience teaching all levels of dance and has choreographed for competitive dance teams for 25 years in the Maryland area. She looks forward to using her teaching expertise, and performance experience to challenge students from all over.
John Marlowe, a native Washingtonian, received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance and Education from The Catholic University of America. He has been involved in music and education for 35 years and has directed or been music director for over 200 musicals in the Washington area and accompanied for many local singers. For 23 years he served in the music and theater departments of Sidwell Friends School. John currently is Director of Performing Arts at The Barrie School. John’s wife, Ann, is also a musician.
Dawn MacQuade- Dawn is originally from Waldorf, MD where she began early training at the age two. While studying at GJ's Dance Studio in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical/ Contemporary and Tap, Dawn was a member of the award winning competition team. Dawn is also a trained level 10 gymnast. Dawn continues her training through dance conventions and scholarships with Dance Masters of America and National Dance Association.
Kiima Morrison developed a love for dance and a passion for the arts at the tender age of three. She began her training at the British Ballet Academy in North Miami Florida where she studied Ballet and Jazz. She continued her studies at Movement of Dance in Kingston, Jamaica studying Ballet, Jazz and Modern Dance. After returning to the states Ms. Morrison continued training in the areas of Ballet and Jazz at Mary Lou Peters Dance Studio in Glenmont, Maryland. She was then formally introduced to the world of Modern, Lyrical and Contemporary Dance under the professional instruction of Dr. Galeet Westreich and Helanius J. Wilkins., Kiima’s choreography reaches her students in a way that our youth can relate to by expressing every day issues as a teen through dance. Kiima is currently a member of Afta Shock DC.
Robert Moses has been teaching and dancing for the past 12 years and is the owner of Power Moves, Inc, a dance and aerobics company. He is on the staff of Maryland Children's Theater and the choreographer of United, a gospel dance group. Robert was a back-up dancer with Boost tour which featured Paula Abdul and dance captain of the Results Fitness and Dance Team. He taught master classes for Reebok Dance and Fitness and is currently on tour with Dance Power Express, a dance convention workshop. Robert is also an accomplished singer and pianist and performs with the group Reality. His contemporary jazz style is evidenced in his hip hop and jazz funk classes at MTC.
Laurie Newton is a local choreographer, performer, teacher and the Artistic Director for her new all-jazz dance company, jazzlan dance theater. She earned her M.A in Dance from American University and her B.A. in Integrative Arts (Dance, Theater, and Music) from the Pennsylvania State University. While at American, she also completed their Arts Management Certificate program and at Penn State she completed minors in Movement Science and Interdisciplinary Dance. She has studied with many legendary and current teachers in New York and Chicago. Some of these include Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, Andy Blankenbuelher, Chet Walker, Luis Salgado, Bruce Anthony Davis, Shane Sparks, Laurie Ann Gibson and Brian Friedman. Laurie has choreographed numerous productions for dance and musical theater for professional, educational and community theaters. She also has collaborated with TONY nominee Gabriel Barre and GRAMMY winner and TONY nominee Paul Bogaev as the Choreographer and Assistant Director for the musical "Battlecry" that premiered last summer in Gettysburg, PA.
Carol Reitz - Carol Reitz has taught tap, jazz, ballet and ballroom at studios in the Washington Metropolitan area. She trained with Vernon Brock, Jack Stanley, Phil Black, Bob Audy, Jane and Roy Dodge, and with The Washington School of Ballet. She has choreographed and performed throughout her teaching career.
Tammy Roberts appeared in the World Premiere of Saving Aimee with Carolee Carmello and the US Premier of The Witches of Eastwick with Marc Kudisch and Emily Skinner at the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre under the direction of Eric Schaeffer.
Tammy has also appeared in the national tour of Barry Manilow’s Copacabana , The Washington National Opera’s Die Fledermaus (Ida) and Signature Theatre’s Forum (Geminae) directed by Gary Griffith. She was also seen in Mame and Thoroughly Modern Millie at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. Last year, she played the title character in Strega Nona at Adventure Theatre. She has directed and choreographed for Musical Theater Center, Montgomery College and several professional DC theaters as well as educational facilities. Tammy most recently choreographed “13” for MTC.
Debbie Romano is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a BA in dance, and has played leading roles in community and dinner theaters in the local area. She has taken master classes with Gregory Hines and Gus Giordano and has studied dance in New York with Frank Hatchett, Judy Bassing, and Luigi. She conducted workshops at various studios in the Washington area and now teaches jazz and tap at MTC.
Kevin Sockwell is a veteran actor/director, having performed or directed for Signature Theater, Burn Brae Dinner Theater, Source Theater, Adventure Theater, Montgomery Playhouse, and many others. He has directed The Wiz, The Wizard of Oz, Robin Hood, The Truth About Cinderella, and Winnie the Pooh for MTC. He teaches acting.
Cheryl Stafford , has directed, choreographed and/or performed in over 350productions ranging from musical theater to modern dance to baroque opera in the last 30 years. She has performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Boston Early Music Festival and with numerous early music ensembles across the United States. She is currently soprano soloist at St. James 'Episcopal Church where she also directs the children's choir. Ms. Stafford teaches voice and directs Opening Act our newest performing ensemble at the Musical Theater Center. Cheryl most recently choreographed Once on This Island for MTC.
Robyn Stevens Earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Maryland College Park, Robyn served on the voice faculties of Morgan State University, and the University of North Carolina. She is founder and director of the Baltimore Vocal Arts Foundation. Robyn teaches voice and is Music Director for Opening Act.
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Instructors
Fall 2010/Annual 2010-11 Classes
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