RESIDENT ARTISTS

Kate Bidwell (she/her) is pursuing her BFA in Theatre Arts with a direction concentration and musical theatre minor at Point Park University. She recently returned to Pittsburgh after serving as Theatre Aspen's Education Apprentice for their 2025 season. Kate's selected credits include 12 Ophelias, a play with broken songs (Chorus of Ophelias/Co-Choreographer, Pittsburgh Playhouse), The Starling and the Sparrow (Choreographer, Point Park University), and Seussical, Jr. (Choreographer, Theatre Aspen). Kate is honored and grateful to join the team at PMT Conservatory!

Chandler Bingham started her training in ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary ballet at an early age. Chandler was accepted into the Conservatory of Performing Arts (C.O.P.A.) - Dance Program at Point Park University and graduated with a B.A. in Dance and a minor in History. She has performed choreography by; Staycee Pearl, Daniel Karasik, Kiki Lucas, David Norsworthy, Kaylin Horgan, Shana Simmons, and many others.

Chandler has also performed in stage / film work with Bricolage Production Company, Rashaad Newsome, and Allana Clarke, as a dance artist. Chandler has been a featured background actor in several Netflix movies and series productions.

In addition to being a multidisciplinary performance artist, she is a published model who has been featured in Pittsburgh Magazine and recently in 'Minding the Gap, Waiting in the Wings' a book that features dance artist and mental health, through the pandemic. Chandler is a Virtual Global Instructor with Juntos Collective teaching internationally at places such as Nicaragua. Chandler has been a Company Dance Artist with Staycee Pearl Dance Project & Soy Sos since 2019, succeeding her apprenticeship in 2018. As a dance / teaching artist Chandler has performed with the company in Pittsburgh and also multiple states. Chandler also enjoys teaching, choreographing, and working with local dance academies and youth theatre companies.

Jay Chapman is a Pittsburgh Native and a graduate at Point Park University (Acting, 2023), He is excited to be at PMT as a Teaching Artist! Jay has performed with PMT in Grease as U/s and Ensemble (Byham Theater - 2024). Jay has worked around Pittsburgh as a Teaching Artist/Sub at Pittsburgh Clo Academy, Bill Nunn Outreach Program, Alumni Theatre Company. Jay is ready to help the new generation of performers grow into shining stars! He is excited to start teaching at the Conservatory!

Kyle Davies is excited to join PMT Conservatory as a Resident Artist! He is a versatile pianist, accompanist, and music director with extensive experience in musical theater and collaborative piano. Kyle has served as music director for productions including Rent, South Pacific, A Chorus Line, Footloose, and Wizard of Oz, and has served as accompanist for productions including Into the Woods and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. A graduate of Susquehanna University and Syracuse University, Kyle is passionate about mentoring young performers and supporting them in developing confidence, musicianship, and stage presence. He is looking forward to working with the next generation of artists at PMT!

Anya Epstein is a Pittsburgh Native, who is excited to be at PMT, this time as an educator! Anya has performed with PMT, seen as Patty Simcox in Grease, understudied Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet, and Evil Dead The Musical. She has also worked and performed with other Pittsburgh theater companies, including Stage 62, Heritage Players, and the New Hazlett Theater. Anya graduated from Muhlenberg College with a BA in Theatre and Dance, concentrating on acting, choreography and dance science.

As an arts educator, it is important to her that students gain knowledge of not only dance, but of safe movement practices for their individual bodies through discussion of anatomy and how the body works while moving. Throughout her dance career she has danced with and for Monica Bill Barnes & Company, Earl Mosley, Megan Flynn, and Shana Simmons. She is currently a company dancer for Attack Theatre, a modern dance company based in Lawrenceville. Anya also teaches at Pittsburgh CLO and the Squirrel Hill JCC. She is thrilled to be a part of PMT's conservatory!

Brecken Newton Farrell was most recently seen as Scott in PMT's production of Evil Dead the Musical, and Jesus in PMT's production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Other notable credits with the company include Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Brecken is the lead singer for the rock band “Letters to Violet” and is also a private vocal coach. He would like to thank God, his family, and his friends for their unwavering support. Brecken dedicates his life's work to his late grandparents, Elmer and Joanne Lauster, who loved nothing more than watching him perform. Isaiah 40:31

Education / College / Where From: Currently attending Carlow University for Creative Writing and theater. Pittsburgh, born and raised.
Favorite musical: Newsies and First Date
Favorite junk food: Trolli very berry gummy worms
First time teaching at PMT or / how many years have you been with PMT?: This is my second year working at PMT, and I was a student before that.
What are you looking forward to most about teaching at PMT? Looking forward to working with the students and helping them grow in their skills and confidence.

Elexa Lindsay Hanner is a Pittsburgh Native, who is excited to be with PMT as a Resident Artist and Arts Educator! Elexa has performed with PMT, seen as a Soul Girl in Jesus Christ Superstar (Byham Theater - 2025) and Ensemble in Waitress (Gargaro Theater - 2025). She has also worked as a Teaching Artist, Choreographer, and a performer with other Theater Companies such as: The Pittsburgh Public Theater, City Theater, Theater Square 2 (Fayetteville, Arkansas), Pittsburgh CLO, The New Hazlett Theater, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater, and Alumni Theater Company. Elexa is a proud Alumnus of Penn State University - Main Campus (BFA Musical Theater, 2021).
Elexa is looking forward to creating art and having fun with the students and other faculty members of Pittsburgh Musical Theater. She is grateful and honored to join the PMT team!

Regina Kettering, PhD: Regina joins Pittsburgh Musical Theater as Artist/Music Director in Residence. Past credits include Mary Poppins (Chartiers Valley SD), Shrek (West Mifflin SD), and Phantom of the Opera (Blackhawk SD). She has been Organist/Music Director at multiple Pittsburgh churches over the past 15 years. The adaptability and flexibility required for organ translate well to the dialogue between pit and stage.

Classically trained by Anne Liva and Michael Popick, Regina started playing piano at 4. She performed publicly at 8, and accompanied choirs by the age of 10. In high school, she memorized the equivalent of a Master's level recital, playing Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and more. Moving to Pittsburgh allowed her to learn the king of instruments - organ - from Craig Dobbins, Music Director of Sewickley Presbyterian Church. She performed the last public recital at Heinz Chapel, playing music composed by women from 1500-2020 on International Women's Day.

Regina is an active member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. She earned a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in protein crystallography.

Amber hails from Pittsburgh, with her husband, Kevin and son, Brody. She is a graduate of Clarion University and is the Props Master, Set Dresser, Jack-of-all-Trades Resident Artist and theater mom at PMT. Her most favorite credits with PMT include Evil Dead The Musical, Disney's Newsies, The Little Mermaid, Shrek, and more. Amber has been with the company since 2012, and is looking forward to many more seasons with PMT.

Kevin is the PMT Conservatory Technical Director. He has set designed several shows at Pittsburgh Musical Theater including The Music Man Jr., Sister Act, Jekyll and Hyde, We Will Rock You, and Newsies. He has also worked in various other technical positions at PMT and PMT Conservatory such as sound designs for Evil Dead the Musical (2019), Hunchback of Notre Dame (2019), and A Lyrical Christmas Carol (2019). Over the past several years as the resident artist with the Teen Performance Intensive Program helping to educate students in technical theater design and application. Kevin attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and studied theatrical design and direction. He is eager to continue to work with the students and professionals at PMT!

Education / College / Where From: Carnegie Mellon / Chicago, IL
Favorite musical: Urinetown
Favorite junk food: Pizza, chips, ice cream
First time teaching at PMT or / how many years have you been with PMT?: I've been with PMT for 2.5 years.
What are you looking forward to most about teaching at PMT? Working with the students!

Larry Lozier-Woods is a resident artist at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater Conservatory, where he also directs the Pittsburgh Musical Theater Superstar Squad. Originally from southern Missouri and now proudly a “yinzer,” Larry holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Sam Houston State University, with additional training at Jacob's Pillow School of Dance and the Broadway Theatre Project.

He has performed across the globe, including regional theaters, Disney Cruise Line, and two years with the original Broadway tour of CATS. His choreography was most recently seen in PMT's production of Waitress.

Dedicated to fostering creativity and confidence, Larry pours his love and energy into his students, aiming to spark inspiration and passion in each of them.

Katie Lyons is a recent graduate of Westminster College, where she earned her B.M. in Music Education and Piano Performance. At Westminster, she was a part of various ensembles and organizations such as the Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, and the Titan Theatre Group. Katie is a frequent performer across Pennsylvania and has made numerous appearances both as a collaborative pianist and as a soloist, playing in musicals like Legally Blonde, Into the Woods, and Something Rotten. She is excited to join the PMT team this year and is looking forward to working with the students and other faculty!

H. Hester Marks began her dance training in Sacramento, California with Pat Colgate. She received her BA in Dance from California State University, Sacramento and studied as a certificate program student at The Ailey School in New York, and continued her ballet training at Deane Dance Center under Allyson Deane and Don Schwennesen. Hester has enjoyed performing for dance organizations across the country, including PDX Contemporary Ballet, Confluence Ballet Co., and the Farm to Ballet Project. She is thrilled to be working with PMT students this summer!

Isabel Menon (she/her) is a recent graduate of Yale University, where she earned a BA in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies. While at Yale, she choreographed mainstage productions of Fiddler on the Roof, RENT, and The Addams Family, and executively produced and performed in her original senior thesis, a movement research anthology entitled Body as Memoir. Isabel also served as an instructor through the Yale Dramat, the university’s oldest theater organization, where she developed and taught original curricula for New Haven high school students as part of a Dramat outreach program.
Since returning to her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia, Isabel has continued choreographing—most recently for a community production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — and completing her 200-hour yoga teacher training (RYT-200). She is thrilled to join PMT this summer and share her passion for dramatic outreach, arts education, and healthy movement!

Favorite PMT credits include: The Sound of Music, Legally Blonde, Les Miserables, Cinderella, Shrek, Sister Act, Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Miss Saigon, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Gemma has been a part of PMT's family, serving as Production & Logistics Manager and proud Actor's Equity Member for PMT's Professional Company and PMT Conservatory Productions. Gemma has been seen serving on the production teams at South Park Theatre, Robert Morris Colonial Theatre, Freedom Area High School, and Plum Borough High School.
Keep up with Gemma by following @missgemmamitch

Nick Mitchell is thrilled to be spending another semester alongside the incredibly talented students and Artists at PMT. After a brief stint in NYC, Nick moved to Pittsburgh 15 years ago where he found both an artistic family and his amazing wife, Miss Gemma! He is an active actor/director in the Greater Southwest Pennsylvania region. Directing highlights at PMT include Evil Dead: The Musical and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Locally, he also directed the critically acclaimed productions of Bright Star for Front Porch Theatricals and Assassins at Stage 62. When not acting or directing, Nick is an avid arts educator. He has taught here at The Conservatory at PMT, as well as at the Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Propel, and Plum High School. He is also building and maintaining his own private acting and coaching studio. Nick studied Musical Theater at Oklahoma City University, continued his education at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and is currently taking classes with Z/A Studios.

Caroline Nicolian is a Pittsburgh native and has been performing for over 15 years. Her favorite credits include Francesa in The Bridges of Madison County (Carrnivale Theatrics), Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (Pittsburgh Musical Theater), Mayor Babs/Ma Ferd in The Toxic Avenger (PCLO), Casey in First Date the Musical (PCLO), Jaques Brel is Alive and Well... (PICT), Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre (PPU Conservatory), Side by Side by Sondheim (PCLO), and Eve/Mama Noah in Children of Eden (The Strand). She is a member of Actor's Equity and received her B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Point Park University, where she met her wonderful husband/favorite scene partner.

Emily Palmer is a Wisconsin raised, Pittsburgh area transplant most recently seen with PMT as Frenchy in Grease, Linda in Evil Dead The Musical, and in the ensemble of Jersey Boys. An artist with a diverse background, Emily graduated from University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point with a BA in Drama with an emphasis in Acting and Costume Design, however she can be seen in all facets of the theatre including building scenic and props, running sound/lighting, creating zombies with SFX stage makeup, managing costumes on cruise ships, and the occasional stage combat. As a resident artist, fostering students love for the artform, wherever they fit, is so important and Emily can't wait to share her love of theatre with the students this semester!

Education / College / Where From: From Cleveland, Ohio. Went to Slippery Rock University
Favorite musical: Cats! - I'm a cat lady and a dancer. It's the best of both worlds!
Favorite junk food: Anything cheesey!
First time teaching at PMT or / how many years have you been with PMT?: This is my 4th year with PMT.
What are you looking forward to most about teaching at PMT? I'm looking forward to seeing all of my students grow into more confident, energized, and experienced performers!

Brigita is a Pittsburgh native and is thrilled to be joining PMT as a Resident Artist. Brigita found her love of dance and theater at a young age watching Gene Kelly perform on the silver screen.

Since graduating with a BA in Theater Performance from Franciscan University, Brigita has run a high school drama department outside St. Louis, Missouri organizing, directing, and choreographing productions throughout the school year. Brigita has also had the pleasure to work as a ballroom dance instructor for the last couple years. More recently, Brigita has had the joy to choreograph for an original new musical titled, Life in Color, and also choreograph various acting school productions including, The Little Mermaid, Into the Woods, and Shrek.

Brigita is honored and excited to begin working with the students and to be a part of the PMT team!

Quinn Patrick Shannon has been a regional performer and director in New York, Pittsburgh and Central PA. He first appeared with PMT at the age of 6 as Tiny Tim in the original 1991 production of A Lyrical Christmas Carol. He's directed many Teen shows for PMT Conservatory, most recently directing Disney's Beauty and the Beast this past fall at the Byham Theater. However, he is perhaps best known at PMT for his appearance as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (2017). Favorite PMT appearances include Young Frankenstein (Igor), Grease (Roger), Jersey Boys (Nick Massi), and Sister Act (Joey). Other favorites: Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely Johnson) for the Pittsburgh Public Theater, Forever Plaid (Frankie), The Toxic Avenger (White Dude), and Titanic (Pittman/Etches) for the Pittsburgh CLO, and The Current War for Quantum Theatre (Francis Upton). Quinn is especially proud of his work for the last four years as the Conservatory Director at PMT Conservatory, where he strives to shape local youth into extraordinary people.

Dr. Tortorello is the Resident Music Director of Pittsburgh Musical Theater. Recent productions include Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, HAIR, Newsies, and The Sound of Music. She teaches multiple classes for the pre-college program in the PMT Conservatory. Dr. Tortorello is also an accomplished classical musician and performs with a variety of instrumentalists and singers. She frequently collaborates with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony. A dedicated teacher and coach, she has maintained an active piano teaching studio for the past twenty years. Dr. Tortorello began piano lessons at the age of four in her hometown of Mount Kisco, NY. She holds a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Antonio Pompa-Baldi. She received a Masters degree and Professional Studies certificate in Collaborative Piano from CIM, studying with Virginia Weckstrom. She also earned a Doctorate in Collaborative Piano and Coaching at the University of Minnesota and studied with Timothy Lovelace. Francesca and her husband, Pittsburgh Symphony cellist Michael DeBruyn, have been performing as a professional duo since 2004.

Andonetta Chiarina Trageser (Andi) is a 2020 Musical Theater graduate of Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 as well as a PMT Conservatory Alumni. Andi spent 5 years as a student of the PMT Conservatory and has now returned to the PMT Family as a Resident Artist as well as a Propel Teaching Artist. Previous PMT credits include: Beauty & the Beast (Stage Manager), The Drowsy Chaperone Jr. (Stage Manager), Newsies Jr. (Stage Manager), High School Musical Jr. (Stage Manager), Grease (Production Assistant), and Million Dollar Quartet (Production Assistant), Pippin (Berthe), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Gargoyle).

Rachel Wise is originally from Nashville, TN, where she began dancing at an early age and trained in styles such as ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, tap, and contemporary. Rachel is currently in Pittsburgh, PA, finishing her last year at Point Park University, where she will receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in Musical Theatre in the spring. While in Pittsburgh, Rachel has performed in pieces such as Ya Gotta Be Ready by Kiki Lucas and various student works. Most recently, Rachel had the opportunity to perform as a member of the Dance Corps in PMT's Jesus Christ Superstar. This experience was Rachel's introduction to PMT and began her love for the program and everyone who is part of the community.

Rachel discovered her love for teaching when she had the opportunity to teach dance to students ages 2-13. She has learned so much from her students and finds it important to create a space where young artists are supported in deepening their passions. Rachel is thrilled to be joining PMT as a Resident Artist and cannot wait to be part of such a talented and welcoming organization!

Collin Yates is thrilled to be teaching at PMT Conservatory. Collin graduated from East Carolina University with a BFA in Theater Arts (concentration in Musical Theater). While at ECU he completed the 2-year Meisner Training under Gregory Funaro, and took part in the Syracuse University Tepper Semester spending his final semester in New York City. Collin is a multi-instrumentalist and has played guitar professionally for nearly a decade. Most Recent Credits include: Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages at ECU Summer Theater, Elvis in Million Dollar Quartet at PMT, Carl Perkins in Million Dollar Quartet Christmas at Timber Lake Playhouse, Swing in Ring of Fire at NC Theater.

Sara Finnell is from Oakdale, PA, where she grew up performing. With her highest area of interest being dance, she also participated in competitive performances, plays, and musical theatre. She is currently a junior at Pennsylvania State University in Beaver, working to obtain a degree in Psychology. She is thrilled to be starting at PMT's Conservatory and can't wait to experience kids expanding their arts education, just as she once did.

Mackenzie Heidenreich is a performer and aspiring director who has spent time after graduation working in those fields to further her knowledge and craft. Her favorite credits include Sally in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Stage 62), Little Red Ridinghood in Into the Woods (Paragon Studios), and Jetsam in Disney's The Little Mermaid (PMT). Currently, she is working toward obtain a degree in both Marketing and Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She is extremely happy to be working with PMT, and looks forward to helping kids find their passion.

Olivia Wick is from Havertown, PA, and is currently a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a triple major in English writing, theater arts, and film & media studies. She has been performing since she was 5 years old, and has most recently performed in Pitt Stages Productions of Spring Awakening, John Proctor is the Villain, Dance Nation, and Emilia. This is her first summer with PMT and she is so excited for this season!