RESIDENT ARTISTS

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.

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

Mr. Herman has appeared on Broadway in Contact, A Chorus Line (Mike), Leader of the Pack, Song and Dance (First National Tour), Big Bad Burlesque (Off-Broadway), Die Soldaten (NYC Opera) and was the associate choreographer for Michael Bennett's Pre-Broadway Workshops of Scandal.

A recipient of the Jeff Award (Chicago), the After Dark Award (Chicago) and the B. Iden Payne Award (Austin, TX), Mr. Herman has directed and/or choreographed World Premier musicals at the Goodman (Chicago), Long Wharf (New Haven), Zipper Theater (NYC), Ford's Theater (Washington, D.C.), City Theatre (Pittsburgh), Playwrights Horizons (NYC), George Street Playhouse (New Brunswick, NJ), Directors Company (NYC), Theaterfest (Upper Montclair, NJ), Bottom Line (NYC), The Rep (Nashville), The Royal George (Chicago), LA Children's Theater, Naked Angels Theater Company (NYC) as well as dozens of other Broadway Musical Classics all over the country.

Mr. Herman choreographed George Lucas Super Live Adventure (Japanese Tour), Jane Fonda Workouts (Designed by Theoni Aldredge, Shubert Theater, NYC), Tabaluga and Lilli (2 European Tours), the 1987 national tour of Dreamgirls, and the movie Two Step. Mr. Herman directed and choreographed Madhattan (New York, New York Hotel & Casino, Vegas), Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus (3 International Editions), Rugrats - A Live Adventure (2 World Tours) and the acclaimed Dreamgirls - the 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert for The Actors' Fund.

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.

Erin Klocke is currently a student at Point Park University receiving her BFA in Dance and a minor in Musical Theatre. She has been able to be a part of works by Maud Arnold as well as a production of Newsies performed at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. She most recently was a part of Grease at PMT. She is thrilled to be back at PMT for the summer!

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: I'm originally from the Philadelphia area, but came to Pittsburgh to attend Pitt and never left!
Favorite musical: Fun Home
Favorite junk food: You can't beat sour cream and onion chips!
First time teaching at PMT or / how many years have you been with PMT?: This is my 2nd year with PMT.
What are you looking forward to most about teaching at PMT? PMT is such a special place. I love our approach to arts education - where students leave the program both prepared for professional theatre, but also with fully developed interpersonal skills and the confidence to take on life's challenges both on and off the stage.

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 1.5 years.
What are you looking forward to most about teaching at PMT? Working with the students!

Daniel is grateful to be back performing with PMT after being a student here from the ages of 7-18. He was last seen in PMT’s Million Dollar Quartet as the understudy for Elvis Presley and Sam Phillips, and Grease as the understudy for Vince Fontaine, Danny, and Kenickie. This past February, he was Fyedka/Russian Soloist in Fiddler on the Roof at Heinz Hall. Last October, he was Ed in PMT’s Evil Dead the Musical. A proud 2020 graduate of Manhattan School of Music’s Inaugural Musical Theatre Class: Credits include Emcee in Cabaret, and Orgasmic Male Solo in Wild Party. TV/Film: Anything’s Possible (Amazon Prime), “American Rust Season 2” (Freevee) He is looking forward to writing more music.

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.

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 3rd 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!

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 directed Hair (2017) and Sweeney Todd (2016) for the Richard E. Rauh Conservatory, but 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), 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 most recently The Current War for Quantum Theatre (Francis Upton) this past June. He would like to thank his amazing wife Caroline for her never ending love and support.

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 Intern as well as a Propel teaching Artist.

Previous PMT credits include: Once (Production Assistant), Beauty and the Beast Jr. (Production Assistant), A Lyrical Christmas Carol (Run Crew), Pippin (Berthe), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Gargoyle).

Rocker Verastique appeared in the original Broadway companies of Contact, Chicago, Victor/Victoria and Carousel. Mr. Verastique's other Broadway credits include Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera and The Ziegfeld Follies of 1936, as well as the world premiere productions of Hearts Desire, Jekyll and Hyde, Spirit and the Broadway workshop of Fosse.

Rocker's other credits include Paul in A Chorus Line (Pittsburgh Musical Theater), Konstantine Morrisine in On Your Toes (Gateway Playhouse. NY), Sophisticated Ladies (Drury Lane, Chicago), Feld Ballet, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, danced six years with artistic director Mikhail Baryshinikov in American Ballet Theatre. In Los Angeles, he spent four years on the television series Fame and was the male lead in the award winning music video “Nasty” opposite Janet Jackson.

Mr. Verastique has choreographed dozens of musical theater classics all over the country, as well as, Cabaret (Saint Edward's University), Chicago (Austin Playhouse), Miss Saigon (Pittsburgh Musical Theater), Leader Of The Pack, Dreamgirls and Beehive (Pittsburgh Playhouse), Five Guys Named Moe and Little Me (Candlelight, Chicago), A Chorus Line (Geva, Rochester NY), Helldriver's of Daytona (Royal George, Chicago) and the movie Two Step, as well as co-choreographing Rugrats - A Live Adventure (2 World Tours).

Education / College / Where From: BA in Dance Performance, Pedagogy, and Choreography from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA
Favorite junk food: Ice cream
First time teaching at PMT or / how many years have you been with PMT?: I began at PMT as an intern during Summer Musical Theater camp 2022.
What are you looking forward to most about teaching at PMT? I am excited to help students find confidence in their own performance both on stage and in the studio!

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Michael is no stranger to the local stages, having performed with Split Stage Theater in Rent and Trafford Theatre Factory in A Taffeta Wedding. He was most recently seen as Roger in PMT's production of Grease! After studying Vocal Performance at CMU and Musical Theatre at Texas Tech University, Michael made his Off-Broadway debut as Harold/The Professor in the world premier of It Came From Beyond! (St. Luke’s Theatre). Other performances include: Ram, Heathers (Lubbock Moonlight Musicals); Sam/Mr. Burns, Mr. Burns A Post Electric Play (Texas Tech); Henry, Next to Normal (Texas Tech). In addition to performing, Michael has also music directed several Off-Broadway shows, and is currently set to music direct RENT this summer at Stage 62. Michael is part of the faculty at PMT Conservatory as a resident artist, and runs his own private voice and piano studio! All inquiries/new students: michaelzaksings@gmail.com

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 semester 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.

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 Theater Arts and Marketing 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!