The Studio at MCA - Meet Our Teaching Artists

Meredith is a professional singer/actress in Philadelphia.  She attended  Ithaca College and graduated magna cum laude with her BFA in voice,  acting, & a minor in dance. She has performed in NYC in the workshops of   “Thanks” & “National Pastime.” – directed by Tony nominee Hunter Foster.    She was a part of the tour of “The Irish & How They Got That Way” as the Philadelphia & Boston cast. (Cast album- principle vocals, flutist) Regional theaters include Kimmel Center, Bucks County Playhouse, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, 11th Hour, Hedgerow, Btop, Heritage, Brickhouse, & more! She was a part of the premiere Oscar Hammerstein Festival at the bucks county playhouse under the direction of Stafford Arima, & musical direction of Gary Adler. Meredith is a founder & member of The Galway Girls, a troupe of Celtic singers & instrumentalists.  Specialties in classical, Pop/rock & musical theater voice. www.meredithbeck.com

ASHLEY BITTERMAN — Guitar Club, Private Guitar

Ashley  learned to play guitar when she was twelve years old. This skill became valuable to her as she played in bands, competed in songwriting competitions, and performed at local venues. Most importantly, guitar empowered her to express herself during challenging times. Guitar was a hobby, but it also gave her community, purpose, and lifelong friends. Now she is an educator and her passion is teaching others guitar!  At Mainstage, she offers one on one guitar lessons, where she tailors the learning to the individual interests of her students. She also leads Guitar Club, where students are challenged with new guitar skills, while collaborating and jamming with other young musicians.“

KAYLEIGH CORN – Spotlighter Acting, Thespian Pros

Kayleigh is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University where she received a BA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre. During her time in college Kayleigh performed in numerous productions including Company (Sarah) and Be a Good Little Widow (U/s Melody). Kayleigh spent a majority of her childhood at Mainstage Center for the Arts. She was a camper at Summerstage for 5 years as well as a member of the Harmony Show Choir. She was also an intern for the Apprentice program, the Children’s Theatre program and recently an assistant director for both Freaky Friday and Moana during Summerstage 2021. Kayleigh has also worked at several theaters in the area including The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, The Levoy Theatre and The Grand Theatre. She is very excited to be a member of the staff and work with the wonderful students of Mainstage. 

LINDSAY DEAL — Broadway Apprentice, Broadway Pros, MT Company, Musical Theatre Performance Intensive

A  graduate of Arcadia University, Lindsay holds her BFA in Acting. She is no stranger to Mainstage, having been a camper at Summer Stage for 6 years, and serving as a Director for Apprentice and Children’s Theatre for four years. She has been in many Mainstage productions over the years  including Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), and Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey). Lindsay is a working artist in the Philadelphia area and is excited to be back at Mainstage, giving back to a place that has given so much to her. 

VICKI L GOLLIHUE — Private Voice 

Vicki is starting her fourteenth year at Mainstage Center for the Arts as a Voice Teacher and Vocal Coach.  She studied music as a vocal performance major at Taylor University in Indiana and later earned a degree in Communications at Rowan University.  A solo artist and band vocalist for many years, Vicki has also directed choirs and ensembles for many venues in churches and in the community, including creating and directing local productions involving casts of up to 100 singers and actors. Her guidance in coaching has earned her students positions in show choirs including Mainstage’s own Harmony and Encore, as well as the nationally-known performance organization, Young Americans. She also has successfully trained students for entrance into college music and musical theater programs. Vicki’s expertise in technique combined with her warm and friendly teaching style makes her a sought out music instructor in the South Jersey area.  She and her husband, Keith, have four grown children and reside in Erial, NJ.

CRAIG HUTCHINGS — Stage Kidz Acting, Showstopper Acting, Spotlighter Acting, Improvisation, Acting Company
Craig Hutchings has been a theatre educator in various capacities for over a decade. He served on the full time staff at The Ritz Theatre for eight years and has worked in an educational capacity for Stage Coach Theatre Schools, Theatre Horizon, Haddonfield Plays and Players, The Kings Christian School, JCC Camp, Ritz Camps, The Ritz Theatre, The Raven Theatre along with teaching workshops in a number of NJ and PA Schools and Camp programs.  Craig has also done extensive work in the field of TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) over the past fifteen years.  He’s a member of TYA USA a national organization of TYA theatres and artists and has performed locally with The Ritz Theatre, Please Touch Museum, The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Light Productions, Imagination Creation and more.  As a director Craig has work for The Ritz Theatre, Haddonfield Plays and Players, Concert Opera Philadelphia, Poor Richards Opera, South Camden Theatre Company, Please Touch Museum and more. Some favorite directing credits include Seussical, The Drowsy Chaperone, A Streetcar Named Desire, 13 the Musical, Faust, Beauty and the Beast and Into the Woods.

KAREN LOCATORE — Private Piano

Karen is looking forward to working with new students at Mainstage! She has taught piano for over 25 years- privately, in music studios, and class piano. She has been a teacher of general music, choir, and glee club for 30 years, as well as an accompanist for musicals and church. She believes music can have a positive effect on everyone.

HANNAH O’BRIEN – Theatre Tots

Hannah is an incoming Junior at Rowan University. She is majoring in Theatre Arts with concentrations in Music Theatre and Theatre Education.  She is excited to be teaching the Theatre Tots class as she has a lot of personal experience in working with young children and has loved all of her experiences.  Hannah participated in school plays and musicals throughout middle and high school. In addition, she took Early Childhood Education courses and always helped with her school’s daycare program called Little Bulldogs. She is passionate about Theatre and Arts Education, especially in young students and is excited to get their creative juices flowing.