Summer Ed Staff 2011
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Education Director |
Linda
St George
began her career in
theatre 30 years ago as Linda Bray. She received a BFA in Acting &
Directing from Montclair University in New Jersey and performed in various
summer stock and dinner theatres, including the Dam Site Dinner Theatre in
Tinton Falls, NJ; Creative Theatre in Englewood, NJ; Vincennes Summer
Theatre in Indiana, and the Westgate Dinner Theatre in Toledo, OH.
For a number of years she could be seen on the Brockport Summer Theatre
stage, playing favorite roles such as Nancy in Oliver!, Charity in Barnum,
Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and "Fred" in Once Upon a
Mattress. She is no stranger to the DCT stage, having performed
in One Man Band with James Lecesne, as Sister Leo in Nunsense II, Agnes in I Do! I Do!, and as
part of the ensemble in Puttin' On the Ritz. She
also designed costumes for the acclaimed, Godspell, and has
performed in several staged readings. Summer 2005 marked her NYC
debut in a production of Last Period, written by her husband, Dick.
In the fall of 2007, Linda designed costumes and props for In the Beginning,
and created five original puppet characters for the production. Linda also received her MS in Elementary Education from SUNY Brockport. To conclude her program, Linda's thesis researched "Arts in the Classroom." She has taught Kindergarten through 5th grade for the past 12 years. Currently, she is a teacher of the Gifted and Talented in Hilton, NY. In recent years, Linda has worked to integrate the arts into the regular academic curriculum, having students write and perform poetry & plays and has begun a drama club for grades 3-6. She is experienced in working with students of all ages and abilities. |
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Stephanie McKee |
Stephanie McKee. a
Rochester native who is currently in the final year of getting her B.A. in
Theatre from SUNY Brockport, is thrilled to be joining DCT as a summer
acting teacher. |
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Tim Ellison
is a native
Rochesterian, Timothy is a graduate of the Aquinas Institute, recently
completed his Theatre Major at SUNY Brockport, and is currently finishing a
Film Studies Minor. He just ended a semester at Geva Theatre Center
performing in ensembles of Amadeus and
A Christmas Carol (u/s Bob Cratchit). Favorite
credits at Brockport include: Wait Until Dark
(Mike Talman), I Hate Hamlet (Andrew Rally),
Cul-de-sac (All Roles), The Nina Variations
(Treplev), Dog Sees God (Charlie Brown),
Don’t Dress For Dinner (Bernard), and
Arms and the Man (Nicola). Aside
from his stage work, Tim hopes to begin a career as a voice-over artist and
has worked on the radio dramas: The Mist, Permission Granted,
and Tell Them Not to Kill Me.
Tim has been acting since the 8th Grade and is psyched to be passing on his love of theatre to the next generation! |
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Chet Brassie is a recent graduate of SUNY Brockport. He graduated with a degree in Theatre and minors in music and history. While at Brockport Chet was involved in many productions, both on and off stage. Off stage Chet scenic designed several student productions including Lysistrata for which he received an Excellence in Design award, as well as the Department’s Festival of Ten. On stage Chet has been seen in many shows, including Hair (Tribe member), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Francis Flute/ Thisbe), A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum (Hero) and Arms and the Man (Sergius Saranoff). In the Fall Chet will be in two productions at Geva Theatre; Dracula, and A Christmas Carol. |
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Musical Director |
Oscia Miles is currently a transfer student, finishing her degree at SUNY Postdam, with a duel major in Music Education and Performance. Oscia has taken part in many shows such as Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Wiz, Caroline or Change and many more. She has also been a part of RBTL, Geva, School of the Arts, Eastman, and Downstairs Cabaret productions and revues. This will be Oscia's second year as musical director for the Downstairs Cabaret Summer Education Program. Music and children have always been a passion for Oscia and she looks forward to continuing working with the staff and children on this musical journey.
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Jennifer Stock-Pollard |
Jennifer Stocks-Pollard
is a native of Rochester. She is thrilled to be returning to the
Downstairs Cabaret Theater’s Summer Education Program. She holds a
Bachelors in dance performance from Eastern Michigan University and a
Masters in dance from SUNY Brockport. She received her teaching
certification from University of Georgia. Jennifer has been dancing and
active in theater since she was six years old. Some of her performance
credits include Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way
to the Forum, and The Nutcracker. She has directed and
choreographed Annie, Wizard of Oz and Cinderella. |
Cristina Dinella |
Cristina Dinella
enjoys an active and diverse schedule of
collaborations in the Rochester area. Cristina is a staff accompanist at
Eastman Community Music School, Accompanist at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in
Gates, and Keyboardist for Nik Entertainment. A student at the Eastman
School of music,
Cristina
performs as an accompanist with a wide array of Eastman wind, string, and
vocal musicians. Cristina has performed as both a solo and chamber musician
in Eastman’s annual Women in Music Festival, Eastman Composition Recitals,
Studio Recitals and the Eastman at Washington Square Series. Cristina has
also performed as accompanist for Webster Middle school and Elementary
School Choruses, as well as Downstairs Cabaret Summer Theatre Program. Cristina is Director of Teaching for Eastman Community Outreach, where she coordinates volunteer teachers, and teaching locations, along with teaching piano lessons. Also an active flutist, Cristina is a member of the University of Rochester Symphony Orchestra, where she has performed as Principal flute, and piccolo. Cristina Dinella is pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY majoring in Music Education with concentrations in instrumental teaching and piano. She is a recipient of the Howard Hanson Scholarship. |
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Improvisation Instructor |
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Guest Artists & Evening Classes |
Our days are filled with fun and learning! On occasion, we bring in area professionals to teach a class or seminar. Master Classes help students to appreciate different art forms, and exposes them to a variety of skills, strategies, and styles that they can apply to their work. We also offer additional classes in acting, voice, and audition techniques.
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YOUR PICTURE HERE! |
DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? We'd love to offer our students Master Classes in all sorts of subjects -- Mime, Auditions, Voice, Dialects, Dance - all genres, Acting, Directing - you name it! If you have a skill to teach, please contact us! We can trade theatre tickets or student tuition! We may also be able to arrange a small stipend. Email us if you are interested!
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Vocal Master Class |
Having trained at both the prestigious Juilliard School and The Eastman School of Music, Tim Evanicki is one of the most sought-after Voice Teachers in Central Florida. He has taken his strong classical voice training and coupled it with his love of Musical Theatre and Commercial Music, along with working with some of the world’s leading vocal coaches, to create an effective, healthy vocal technique for his students that you won’t find anywhere else! Mr. Evanicki has been seen on the stages of Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, The Kennedy Center and The New York State Theatre and has worked as Education Director for the Downstairs Cabaret Theatre. He is a member of both NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and The Actors’ Equity Association. |
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Acting/Improvisation |
Kara Minute,
a Rochester, NY native holds a
BFA in Performing Arts from Adelphi University. She is delighted to be
returning as a teacher for the Downstairs Cabaret Summer Education Program!
Kara is very familiar with the DCT after performing in some of their past
shows including I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change, Water Coolers, and
Shout!
Some of Kara's most recent credits include Oliver Twist with Children Stage Adventures as a Director/Educator, and performing in the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire season and Mt Hope Estates A Dickens of a Christmas 2009. She has also completed 3 seasons with the Merry Go Round Playhouse Youth Tour, and has been granted many other opportunities to direct/teach theater to young adults and children. One of Kara's many goals is to help play a part in keeping the magic of theater alive! |
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Jessica
St George
has grown up in theatre, having performed on the SUNY Brockport Summer Stage at the age of five, and even making her DCT debut when she was 8. Jessi received ballet training with
Nancy Burhyte , studied tap with Courtney Andrews World, and modern and jazz with Samantha Kenney.
She graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Fredonia, with a BFA degree in Acting, and a Dance minor. She has been seen in Eugene O'Neill's Where the Cross is Made, as well as Victor Victoria. She was also selected to dance a pas de deux in the Spring Dance Ensemble concert, and performed in Wake Robin in this year's concert. Last year she performed in Autobahn, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the Fredonia Dance Ensemble Concert, Kiss Me Kate, and Romeo and Juliet. She also performed in JCC's Hair in 2009 and Blackfriar's 2010 production of Debbie Does Dallas. She has appeared in nearly 20 different productions at area theatres. Past roles include Little Red (Into the Woods), Annie (Annie), Amy in Company, and Andrea (Once on This Island.) Jessi is currently living and working in New York City. http://www.jessistgeorge.com |
Vocal Technique |
Meg Tidd - was born in Skaneateles, NY and is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory with a BM in Vocal Performance. She has been teaching private lessons to students of all ages since June of 2008. Upon graduating from Skaneateles High School, Meg attended Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada where her roles included Sister Mathilde in Poulenc’s Dialogues des carmélites as well as cast in Donizetti’s L'elisir d'amore. Upon transferring to the Boston Conervatory Meg has appeared in several Opera Scenes including Puccini’s La Bohème (Café Scene) where she starred at Musetta. She is currently teaching lessons in the Rochester area as well receiving lessons from Dr. Robert McIver (Eastman School of Music). Meg is very excited to return to the Downstairs Cabaret SEP after working there in 2008 as a voice/acting coach. Contact Meg if you are interested in private voice lessons.
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Teen Scene Acting |
Spencer Christiano is a graduate of the SUNY College at Brockport Theatre Department, and has received awards and recognition in the fields of acting, directing, playwriting, improvisation, and stage management. He has acted in quite possibly five million plays since entering the world of theatre at the age of three -- Favorite roles include Guy ("Some Girl(s)"), Vladimir ("Waiting for Godot"), The Man ("Epiphany"), and Michael Evans ("Dancing at Lughnasa"). Directing credits include "Waiting for Godot," "Deflowering Waldo," "A Window on the Carrageenan," "The Injured Superhero Show," "Moose Murders: The Musical," Shakespeare's "Pericles," "Second Threshold," "Dinner Theater," "Plague of Idiots," and "What is Art?" He is currently the Technical Manager, Artist-in-Residence, and Playwright-in-Residence at the MuCCC Theater in Rochester. |
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What
a CRAZY STAFF!
This pic is from our "Fantasy Day" during Theme Week in Session 2 (2007). Notice all the Harry Potter fans? We've got Molly Weasely, Trelawny, Flitwick, Hermione, and a couple of Hogwarts' girls. We've even got a muggle! (And then there's Belle, Tiger Lily, and the Snow Queen!) |
