Resident Artists
Pittsburgh Musical Theater is extremely proud of our diverse, seasoned, and educated resident artists. Help us celebrate their achievements by reading below.
Brent Alexander
Dr. Brent Alexander is a progressive in the areas of musical direction, vocal coaching, choral and instrumental conducting, arranging, composing, keyboard instruments and music technology. He has been music directing and on faculty at PMT for eight years. He is also on faculty at Robert Morris University where he directs the choral activities, teaches music and music theater courses, has an applied voice studio, and serves as musical director for university shows. <www.musicbrent.com>
Brianna Booher
Growing up just north of Pittsburgh, Brianna played her way through her school in jazz, symphonic, marching, and steel drum performing bands. She was also seen in the orchestra pit with her alto saxophone as a member of the musical ensemble for productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Seussical, Starmites, and Grease. She is an avid coffee drinker who values happiness above all else.
Brianna graduated cum laude from Robert Morris University with a B.A. in Media Arts - Graphic Design and a minor in photography. She also achieved two prestigious RMU awards: The Ambassador of Equality Award, and the Renaissance Award. She has taken photos around the world in Ireland, Florida, California, and east-coast beaches. Since graduation, she has expanded her photography to shoot engagement sessions, and is excited to shoot her first wedding later this year! #nickgotagem
Bri is proud to be a part of Pittsburgh Musical Theater, which gives her the chance to express her passion for both music and art combined.
Chris Catone
Chris Catone is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied music technology at Northeastern University in Boston and received his graduate degree in composition from Duquesne University. He is an active composer of choral, chamber and film music, in addition to working as a freelance pianist and organist throughout the region.
His concert music has been performed by Alia Musica Pittsburgh, Trillium Ensemble, A Far Cry Ensemble, The Heinz Chapel Compline Choir, The Freya String Quartet and Kassia Ensemble. His music for short and feature films have won awards at prominent film festivals such as the Los Angeles 48 Hour Film Fest and Filmapalooza. Chris has contributed various projects with film composer Junkie XL at Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions in Los Angeles.
In his free time, Chris loves to travel and hang out with his dog Callahan.
Colleen Doyno
Colleen Doyno proudly serves as the Executive Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Musical Theater. She came to PMT in 1997 as a performer and faculty member. She was promoted to Conservatory Director in 2001 and added the additional title and responsibilities of General Manager in 2003. During her tenure as Conservatory Director and General Manager, Ms. Doyno has directed and choreographed countless shows for both the Professional and Conservatory theater companies. Several of these shows have been counted as the "Best of Pittsburgh" in the annual Pittsburgh Post Gazette year in review-including the Conservatory Theater Company's 2013 production of Miss Saigon, the first student show to be so honored.
In 2013 Colleen’s achievements were recognized with the prestigious "Woman of Integrity" award, and her commitment to mentoring young women into future leaders was honored as a finalist for the 2013 "Athena" award.
Ms. Doyno is a strong advocate for the development of the West End Community, which serves as PMT's forever home. She has worked with the West Pittsburgh Partnership, The West End Alliance, City Council and the Mayor’s office to advance growth in the area. She also organized the West End’s efforts for the Pittsburgh Marathon that led it to be named "best in neighborhood entertainment" along the route. Ms. Doyno is also proud to produce affordable high quality Broadway style shows through PMT's Byham Series. She has a deeply held belief in developing our children into healthy, self-assured, well-rounded individuals through the arts. This belief is at the heart of her educational philosophy and has guided the success of the conservatory under her direction.
Lisa Elliot
Lisa Elliot has been teaching, choreographing, directing and performing with both professional actors and students at Pittsburgh Musical Theater for the past twenty years. She loves working with the professional company but especially enjoys seeing the students grow and develop into working career professionals through their training at the Rauh Conservatory. Lisa is currently on the faculty of Robert Morris University teaching musical theater Jazz and choreographs university musicals. Past choreography credits at PMT include Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Joseph, Tarzan, Cats, Disney’s Little Mermaid, Young Frankenstein, Peter Pan and Saturday Night Fever.
Sarah Everhart
Sarah Everhart received her B.A. in dance with a concentration in ballet from Point Park University, where she graduated magna cum laude. While at Point Park she received the Pittsburgh Ballet Guild Scholarship and performed many prominent roles. In addition to Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Sarah also teaches at Point Park University and the Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh. Each summer, Sarah also joins the faculty of Carnegie Mellon’s Pre College Drama Program. She has previously been on faculty at La Roche College, the Sarah Heinz House, and was guest faculty at Carnegie Mellon University. Sarah has staged several classical variations, and her original choreography has been seen throughout the area. Sarah’s favorite roles include the title role in Cinderella and Pas de Trois in Sleeping Beauty. Sarah lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, daughter, and son.
Adam Fladd
Adam Fladd was born and raised just outside of Erie, PA in the small town of McKean. He went on to graduate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in voice and a minor in piano while still finding time during the summers to return to his alma mater, General McLane High School, to instruct the front ensemble for the marching band.
After graduation, Adam moved back to his hometown where he performed with the Erie Playhouse and Dramashop Theater before making the move to Pittsburgh. He became part of the PMT family during it’s 2015-2016 season and had the pleasure of performing as Bobby in Saturday Night Fever, TJ in Sister Act, and Johnny Casino in Grease. In the future, his ultimate goal in life is to become the dean of the fine arts department of a college. Adam feels overwhelmingly appreciative and thankful for the opportunity to work with such amazing artists, to both learn from them and work beside them in helping these students grow into the professional artists they are destined to be. Matthew 6:34.
Kenneth Gargaro, Ph.D. (Founder)
Dr. Gargaro’s career in the performing arts in Pittsburgh spans over four decades. His dedication to the arts and to education continues to transform the local musical theater scene. Disciplined training leading to immediate testing on the public stage forms the foundation of his artistic/educational philosophy. The outcome of this artistic vision can be seen across the nation in the Broadway, Touring, TV, Film and Entrepreneurial work of those whose educational pursuits and performing careers intersected with Dr. Gargaro’s career as a producer, director and educator. He continues to supply the youngest performers, local professionals and college students’ access to the professional stage on a regular basis by giving master classes and occasionally directing for Pittsburgh Musical Theater. He is as well a Professor of Communication at Robert Morris University where he heads the theater and choral activities.
Beth Geatches
Beth Geatches is delighted to work with Pittsburgh Musical Theater as the Development Manager. She received her Master of Arts Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tulsa. Beth has previously worked for City Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama.
Beth is a Second City and ComedySportz-trained improviser and her favorite acting credits include Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Nina) and Twelfth Night (Maria) with Theatre Tulsa. She performs regularly at Arcade Comedy Theater in downtown Pittsburgh as a cast member of the musical improv team The High Scores and the family-friendly improv team Penny Arcade.
Thank you all for supporting Pittsburgh Musical Theater!
Chad Grubb
Chad Grubb is a vocalist, music director, and accompanist from Martinsburg, WV. Chad holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Musical Theatre from West Liberty University where he served as Director of the Musical Theatre Ensemble for the College of Arts & Communication (’17-’18).
Chad began his professional theatre career at age 17 serving as a music direction intern/performer for West Virginia Public Theatre. Productions included: 9 to 5, Anything Goes, All Shook Up, & Cash: Ring of Fire; Grubb also served as music director for Theatre West Virginia’s 2017 production of Footloose and assistant stage director/music director for the Apollo Youth Summer Theatre Workshop’s production of Titanic in summer of 2018.
In addition, Chad has worked for the National Association for Teachers of Singing as a staff music theatre pianist and has toured internationally with choral ensembles across the United States, Canada, and Europe. He holds a Certificate of Merit in Music Direction from the Kennedy Center for his work as music director of the 2013 West Liberty University production of Spring Awakening.
Marin Helppie
Marin is a native of Dallas, TX, and graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from Point Park University. Marin has toured nationally for two seasons with Lightwire Theater and has danced professionally at Busch Gardens in Tampa. She has performed with Ronald K. Brown/Evidence a Dance Company in Pittsburgh, and has performed works by Martha Graham, Helen Pickett, Kim Neal Nofsinger, and Michelle Gibson. Favorite choreography credits include Stagedoor Manor, the Distinguished Young Women programs in several states, the feature film The Beacon, and behind the scenes with Suffolk Pointe Company. When not dancing, Marin enjoys working at “The Dancer’s Pointe.” Marin would like to thank her wonderful fiancé, dancing Grandma, family and friends for their endless love and support!
Lindsay Kalbfleisch
Lindsay’s journey as a PMT kid began in 1996 when she was cast in the children’s chorus of Evita at the Byham Theater. She quickly knew PMT would be her forever theater home! Through the years she studied at the Richard E. Rauh Conservatory and became a resident artist from 2008-2013, and returned in 2017 after living in Arizona. Some of her favorite productions with PMT include: The Little Mermaid, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story, Footloose and of course the holiday tradition, A Lyrical Christmas Carol. Other recent favorites: Louise in Gypsy, Sister Leo in Nunsense and Aurora in Kiss of the Spiderwoman.
Lindsay holds a BA in Journalism and Media Communications from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU. She truly believes and embraces the mission of PMT and loves seeing the continued accomplishments and growth of the both the students and the company. Lindsay is thankful for her forever friends here and knows she can always come home. Be sure to follow us on social media!
Amber Kocher
Amber Kocher hails from Pittsburgh, PA 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 at Pittsburgh Musical Theater.
Her most recent credits with PMT include Peter Pan, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Young Frankenstein, Shrek the Musical, Les Miserables, and many more. She has also designed for Front Porch Theatricals, and South Park Theater among many more. Amber has been with the company since 2012, and looks forward to many more sensational seasons with Pittsburgh Musical Theater.
Jennifer Lybarger
Jenn was born and raised in Pittsburgh PA, where she studied Musical Theater at the Pittsburgh Playhouse Conservatory, the Richard E Rauh Conservatory and Graduated from Point Park University with a BA in Acting. Post Graduation she moved to New York City where she lived for the better part of the next decade. In this time, she toured North America in the companies of Crazy for You, Funny Girl and Barry Mannilow’s Copacabana. Jenn also played Rose Alvarez in an off-Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie. While in New York, she began working in arts education as a team member for Ballet Tech (the New York City Public School for Dance), as well as through workshops and talk backs while performing Bye Bye Birdie.
She returned to my hometown of Pittsburgh in 2006 to begin teaching at Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s Richard E Rauh Conservatory. She has also been fortunate to perform and direct with PMT over the past seven years. Jenn became an adjunct faculty member at Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 in 2009 and has been teaching acting, musical theater, voice and speech, movement and theater history to students in grades 6- 12 for the past 5 years. She is also the director of the 6-8 all school musical every fall, as well as musicals and plays for the high school theater department.
While building her teaching and directing career, she continues to work as an actress for such local companies as PMT, Pittsburgh CLO, PICT, Stage Right!, and 10 years of summer stock at West Virginia Public Theater.
Sarah Misko
A forever-student of ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, Pointe and acrobatics, Sarah has been dancing since the age of three, and performing on the musical theatre stage since six. Sarah studied at Shenandoah Conservatory with a focus in musical theatre performance and a minor in dance, specializing in jazz and tap. Upon graduation, Sarah spent two years with the National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof and has performed in nearly all 50 states with this and several other regional theatre and dance companies.
Always having a strong connection with little ones, Sarah has served as a trusted nanny to the elite of NYC and the Greater Pittsburgh area. A self-proclaimed “yogi,” Sarah hopes to bring light and joy to your children and plans to use her real-world experience to enhance their overall journey as they learn to grow, interact and express themselves through the world of theatre, music, and dance.
Nick Mitchell
Nick Mitchell has been an active director/actor in the Greater Pittsburgh Area since relocating from NYC over a decade ago. In 2016, Nick was selected for a year-long Directing Observership with City Theatre where he assisted Tracy Brigden in directing the Pittsburgh premiere of Ironbound. Other directing highlights include Evil Dead the Musical (Pittsburgh Musical Theater), Assassins (Stage 62), and the critically acclaimed production of [title of show] (Company of Pittsburgh).
Nick has worked for over a decade at the Pittsburgh CLO, with the Gallery of Heroes Tour, as an instructor at their Academy, and as Assistant Director of CLO’s A Musical Christmas Carol (dir. David Bell). He appeared onstage with PMT last year in both The Little Mermaid and Titanic. Nick studied Musical Theater and Directing at Oklahoma City University. He is currently the resident director at Plum H.S. and is a teaching artist at Pittsburgh Propel Schools. He is actively working on his greatest collaboration which will premiere 9/1/19.
Todd Nonn
Todd Nonn is the Resident Lighting Designer for PMT. This will be his 8th season working on productions with the company. He will also occasionally design a set for one of the shows too. Todd also is the Technical Director for all of Squonk Opera’s shows touring around the world, the Assistant Lighting Designer for all of Pittsburgh Opera’s performances at the Benedum, a stagehand with IATSE Local#3, a Lighting Designer at RMU, and works on many other productions to fill in the gaps. In his free time he enjoys the outdoors, camping and backpacking.
Stephanie Ottey
Stephanie Ottey earned a B.F.A. in Theater from Youngstown State University in 2008, and since then has spent time as a theater reviewer, vocal coach, piano teacher, and performer. She has performed at various theaters in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including Stage 62, South Park Theatre, and The Youngstown Playhouse. Recent roles include The Lady of the Lake in Monty Python’s Spamalot, Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls all at Stage 62.
Brady D. Patsy
Brady D. Patsy is a professional performer from the greater Pittsburgh area. He has performed with company's such as Pittsburgh Musical Theater, West Virginia Public Theater, Boston's North Shore Music Theater Company, and many others. In 2008, Brady spent a year working for the Walt Disney World Company. There, he had the opportunity to work with Regis and Kelly, Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus, Fantasia Burrino, David Cook, Jon and Kate Gosselin, and many others! Upon returning to PA, he jumped right back on the stage and has been performing non-stop. During 2010-2012 he served as Production Administrator for Grayfin Arts Entertainment Events. He also served as an theater instructor for The Butler Center for the Performing Arts!
Brady is currently The Conservatory Director as well as an acting/voice instructor for Pittsburgh Musical Theater's Richard E. Rauh Conservatory for the Performing Arts! Throughout his eight years on the professional stage he has had the opportunity to play extraordinary roles in shows such as Sister Act (Curtis), Grease (Miss Lynch), Disney's The Little Mermaid (Grimsby), Children of Eden (Father), Hairspray (Edna Turnblad), Jesus Christ Superstar (Peter), Spring Awakening (Male Authority Figure), Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), Seussical (General Schmitz), RENT (Tom Collins), Les Miserables (Javert), Cats (Bustopher Jones/Gus), Legally Blonde, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Tarzan, and many others!
Larissa Petrucci
Larissa Petrucci is a local artist who has studied, worked and played in and all around the Pittsburgh area professionally for the past 18 years. She was notably mentioned in The Post’s “Best of Pittsburgh Theater” for her portrayal of Ariel in PMT’s 2015 production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and she was bubbling with excitement to dive back into this iconic role in PMT’s 2018 production! Past PMT credits: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Yitzhak), We Will Rock You, Grease (Rizzo), Saturday Night Fever (Stephanie Mangano), Peter Pan (Grown-Up Wendy), Young Frankenstein, Seussical the Musical (Mayzie LaBird), Les Miserables, Legally Blonde (Pilar), Jesus Christ Superstar (Tormentor/Soul Girl), Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl), Footloose (Rusty), Cats (Demeter), The Sound Of Music, Evita, West Side Story (Consuelo), Joseph..., My Fair Lady (Swing) and Annie (Duffy).
Behind the scenes, Larissa has enjoyed rocking out with the Elite Show Band, brightening a child’s day with Fairytale Princess Visits and directing/choreographing the cool and caring community of Comtra Theatre. However, her most favorite role in life will always be “mama” to her three little guppies: Michael, Lyla and Domenic. Larissa is forever grateful for the incomparable love and support her amazing parents and her ever-inspiring sister have shown her and forever in love with her real life prince, Michael. “You must give everything to make your life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in your imagination.”
Meg Pryor
Meg is a happy to be back in her hometown of Pittsburgh after many years in New York. Recent performance credits include: Killer Queen in PMT’s We Will Rock You and Miss Abigail in Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating Mating and Marriage at CLO Cabaret. Upcoming: Indecent at Pittsburgh Public Theater. National Tours: Grease (Marty) and Damn Yankees (Gloria). NYC: Shelley in Closer Than You Think (World Premiere), Shylock in Merchant of Venice. Regional: Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Mrs. Parker in Bat Boy, Serraghina in Nine, and both Sheila and Judy in A Chorus Line. Improv: UCB NYC, Magnet Theater, and Arcade Comedy Theater (The High Scores). Proud member Actors Equity Association.
Meg has been on the faculty at numerous schools, academies and training programs across the country, including CAP21 in New York City, where she also served as the Educational Outreach Programming Coordinator. She continues to serve as the Administrative Director and Faculty Head for the Musical Theatre Intensive program for high school students, in conjunction with Merry Go Round Playhouse in Auburn NY.
MFA Candidate in Performance Pedagogy at Pitt. Graduated With Honors from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied at CAP21 and the Classical Studio.
Kate Queen
Kate Queen has a B.A. in Communication/Theater, a B.S.B.A in Accounting, and an M.S. in Instructional Leadership from Robert Morris University. She has had the distinct pleasure of appearing in so many wonderful PMT productions since moving to Pittsburgh in 2007. Some of her favorite moments onstage with PMT include Oz in We Will Rock You, Wendla in Spring Awakening, and Jane in Tarzan. She is thrilled to be working with the students of PMT as an educator and resident artist. Kate values the mentorship and education she received from the many brilliant teachers and performers she’s had the opportunity to study under throughout her life; she is thrilled to join the ranks of PMT’s staff and become an active part of the development of many more brilliantly talented performers!
Mandie Russak
Mandie Russak started her love of performing at age 3 when she started taking ballet. She first found her voice singing the star spangled banner at a chorus concert. Since then, musical theatre has been her life. She went to Stage Right! in Greensburg for 7 years. After graduating from Norwin High School, she attended Point Park University where she received a BA in Musical Theatre. Since then, she has worked with RWS doing theme park shows (maybe you saw her at Idlewild) and industrial contracts, various theater companies around town (Split Stage Productions Chicago as Roxie Hart, Cabaret as the Emcee. Comtra Theater Peter Pan as Peter Pan. Stage Right Billy Elliot as dead mum. PMT Young Frankenstein and Little Mermaid as Adella), some short films, and a couple of tours. She toured nationally with The Producers and internationally with My Fair Lady in China.
Now she is back at her home away from home: PMT! Teaching at Propel schools, or in the studio with the tweens, MTW on Saturdays, subbing classes and choreographing, she couldn't be happier! Thank you to her PMT family for adopting her into one of the happiest homes ever!
Jonathan Sage
Jon was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. While studying at Michigan State University, Jon discovered his passion for the theater when he worked on the Merchant of Venice with the Theater Department. This passion lead Jon to earn his BFA in Theater from Michigan State University. Jon worked with The Ohio Light Opera for four summer seasons on such productions as Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, Offenbach's Bluebeard, and The Sound of Music. In 2007, Jon joined the Pittsburgh Musical Theater as Technical Director. Jon has showcased his experience as a Technical Director in Tarzan; as a Lighting Designer for A Lyrical Christmas Carol; and as a Scene Design Specialist for Shrek the Musical. In 2011, Jon received a glowing review for his scene design in Skylight at The Appetite Theater in Chicago. Jon enjoys working with the students at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater and is looking forward to what the future will bring.
Brady Sanders
Brady Sanders, originally from Oswego Illinois, began his dance training at the School of DanceWest Ballet in Naperville. He attended Illinois State University, where he performed with the Illinois State Dance Theater and Point Park University, where he performed with the university's Conservatory Dance Company. While living in Chicago, Brady performed with Dansz Loop Chicago, Inaside Chicago Dance and Thodos Dance Chicago. Brady has toured nationally and internationally with Thodos Dance Chicago and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. Currently residing in Pittsburgh, he has had the pleasure to perform with Attack Theatre in the Pittsburgh Opera as well as the Murphy/Smith Dance Collective. Most recently Brady acted as Artistic Director for the Pride of Cincinnati Dance Ensemble. He has had the privilege to teach many successful and artistically innovative groups including but not limited to - The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, the Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard, The Pride of Cincinnati Dance Ensemble, Norwin High School, Marian Catholic High School, and Mt Prospect High School. He is currently teaching and choreographing extensively throughout the Pittsburgh area and across the Midwest. Brady is thrilled to be a Resident Artist at PMT.
Allan Snyder
Allan Snyder is thrilled join PMT as a Resident Artist. In New York, Allan appeared on Broadway in Les Miserables (original production final cast) and off-Broadway in the iconic The Fantasticks, and has also travelled the country with the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera, often appearing in the title role. Allan recently relocated to his wife's hometown of Pittsburgh where he has appeared in PMT's productions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Tarzan, as well as at the Pittsburgh Public Theater (Daddy Long Legs) and the CLO Cabaret Theatre (The 39 Steps), among others. Favorite credits include Kiss Me Kate (Fred/Petruchio), Camelot (King Arthur), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Percy), The Full Monty (Jerry Lukowski), and White Christmas (Bob Wallace). Allan also is an acclaimed concert artist, bringing his cabaret Broadway + Beyond to stages and events all around the world.
Erin Stetor Seaberg
Erin is super excited to be with Pittsburgh Musical Theater! Roles Erin adores are Gypsy (Mazeppa), Red, Hot and Cole (Ethel Merman) and Nunsense (Several Different Roles...they are all her fave). She has appeared in Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof and Sister Act all here at PMT. As a PMT Resident Artist, Erin works with the Big Ups B-Way Juniors and Tweens. She is also a proud mom. Thank you for supporting live theater!
Francesca Tortorello
Francesca Tortorello (DMA) regularly performs recitals in the Northeast and Midwest and collaborates with a wide variety of instrumentalists and singers. She has worked with members of the Cleveland Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and has been heard on Minnesota Public Radio performing on Talking Volumes. She collaborated with renowned soprano Susanna Phillips at Twickenhamfest in 2011, and gave the Midwest premier of Samuel Barber’s lost violin sonata with violinist Dr. John Gilbert in July 2014.
Francesca 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. Her true passion, however, has always been chamber music and she received a Masters degree and Professional Studies certificate in Collaborative Piano from CIM, studying with Virginia Weckstrom. She recently obtained a Doctorate in Collaborative Piano and Coaching at the University of Minnesota and studied with Timothy Lovelace.
A dedicated teacher and coach, Francesca served as staff accompanist at the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies at CIM for four years and, most recently, held the position of staff accompanist at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. She has maintained an active teaching studio for the past decade.
Francesca and her husband, Pittsburgh Symphony cellist Michael DeBruyn, have been performing as a professional duo since 2004.
Nicole Uram
Nicole Uram is a proud graduate of Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s Richard E. Rauh Conservatory and a recent graduate of Elon University with a BFA in Music Theatre. She has been training in dance since the age of 3 in the fields of jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, Cechetti, pointe, modern, Theatre dance, and Gymnastics. She started training at PMT at the age of 10. From the age of 8 to the age of 18 she was privileged to be a part of many shows with both the conservatory and professional companies of PMT.
While at Elon she was lucky enough to have been a part of many productions both on stage and behind the scenes. She was given the chance to Assistant Choreograph the main stage productions of Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party and Ragtime along side her college mentor.
She is currently working as a Creative Arts teacher at the Propel Charter School’s of Pittsburgh. She is thrilled to be back home working with those who helped shape her into the artist she is today.
Kathy Wayne
Kathy is proud and honored to be teaching dance and musical theater at PMT. She is pleased to share her professional and academic experiences for the benefit of the conservatory’s students.
Her professional work includes: Tokyo Disneyland, Caesar’s Palace, Pittsburgh Playhouse, the Kenley Players, the Extension Dance Company and the American Dance Ensemble. She has also directed and choreographed musicals for numerous productions in the region.
Kathy is a member of Dance Masters of Pennsylvania and America and has been a dance educator for many years. She holds a BA in Dance from Point Park University.
Gemma Leigh Williamson
Gemma Leigh was born in beautiful Arizona, and grew up just outside of Pittsburgh in Beaver County. She danced her way through school at Louise School of Dance, where she studied tap, jazz, and ballet. After school, she attended Robert Morris University where she graduated with honors, and was named in “Whose Who in American Colleges and Universities.” She was discovered at RMU while performing in West Side Story, and was asked to join Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s production team. Since 2007, Gemma has been a part of PMT’s family. She started as Assistant Stage Manager, and performer (Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast ’09-10) and quickly grew with the company to become Resident Stage Manager in 2011.
Gemma started teaching at the Richard E. Rauh Conservatory as the director of the Broadway Jrs.; “PMT’s Tiniest Stars”. She is happy to begin the journey of musical theater with the youth in Pittsburgh’s community. Gemma now chairs the Creative Learning department at PMT. Gemma believes that the Richard E. Rauh Conervatory provides the most excellent arts education in the city, and is a proud Resident Artist.
Throughout her career at PMT, Gemma has brought her knowledge and love for dance and theater to the Propel Charter Schools as a visiting artist. She taught dance, acting, theater history, and performance etiquette to grades K-8 around the Pittsburgh area.
She is happy to continue to the next chapter of Pittsburgh Musical Theater alongside her friend and mentor, Colleen Doyno, and the entire group of Resident Artists. Here, she will create her happy ending. Stand By. Keep Calm. Go.
Joe York
Joe York graduated from New York University with an MFA in Musical Theatre Playwriting and Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance. He has been seen onstage at various professional theaters across the country having performed in Les Miserables at White Plains Performing Arts Center, 1776 at Cortland Repertory Theater, Bat Boy and Jesus Christ Superstar at Keystone Repertory Theater, Little Shop of Horrors at The Huron Playhouse, and Sweeney Todd: Heavy Metal version at Landless Theatre Company. As a musical writer, he has created works performed in New York and Pennsylvania at various theatrical companies, including two New York Equity staged readings. Some of his original musicals include The Trees, Light up!, and Discovering Eden.
Keep theater alive and rock the arts! \../(-_-)\../
Sandy Zwier
Sandy Zwier has a BFA in Music Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University and trained with the Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC. She also toured the country with Ragtime (Emma Goldman) and Mamma Mia! (Ensemble/US Donna & Rosie). Other favorite roles include Cheryl in Evil Dead The Musical (PMT), Ursula in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Janis Joplin in Beehive (Mason Street Warehouse), and Miss Jane in Floyd Collins (Front Porch Theatricals). Sandy gives all her love and thanks to PMT for their gracious support and continued kindness, her incredibly wonderful family and friends, and her very own Prince Eric.
