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, Songwriting Workshop

Ashley will teach a Theatre Tots class this upcoming school year.  She took acting classes all through high school and spent the last ten years committed to Early Childhood Education.  Her acting background and skill influence her teaching style immensely. Whether it is teaching a music class or math class, she makes learning fun through her creative teaching strategies that help abstract thinkers. She also has been playing guitar for the last seventeen years and has created an interactive music program for young children teaching them self-expression, self-esteem, and community.  She is also a wife and mother of one.  She is excited to pull ideas from all of her different experiences to make Theatre Tot s a class full of imagination, creativity, and storytelling.

STEVEN CLAIR – Flexibility Workshop, Jazz Technique Level 2,
                                    Contemporary Level 2

Steven began dancing at the age of 4 and continued his dance education at Rowan University. He trained in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, musical theatre, and acro. In 2010 and 2011, Steven performed with the Broomall String Band in the Mummer’s Parade. Steven is also the Co-Owner/ Choreographer of  Broadway Bound Players and a Color Guard instructor.

ROBERTA CURLESS –   Jazz Technique Level 1,
                                                Jazz Repertoire Workshop Levels 1 & 2,
                                                Tap Technique Level 1 & 2
                                                Contemporary Level 1

Roberta is a performer, teacher, and choreographer based in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area.  During her career as a dancer Roberta has had the privilege of performing the
choreography of Jason Samuels Smith, Todrick Hall, Derek Hough, Debra McWaters, and
Christopher d’Amboise.  Roberta also had the honor of performing the original choreography of Bob Fosse under the direction of Ben Vereen.  As a choreographer, some of Roberta’s most recent credits are Sweet Charity, The Little Mermaid, Scrooge the Musical, 13 The Musical, and The Addams Family.  Roberta has been seen performing on stage at The Ritz Theatre, The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, The Off-Broadstreet Theatre, The Kelsey Theatre, and the Grand Theatre. When she’s not dancing you can find Roberta knitting, baking, doing yoga, reading, or watching scary movies.

LINDSAY DEAL –  Broadway At Home, Nailing the Audish,
                                     Musical Theatre 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. 

SARAH J. GAFGEN – Acting Out,
                                            Puppet Playtime/Playground,
                                            Adapting a Story, Technical Theatre,
                                            Private Voice 
                                  
Sarah couldn’t be more excited to be teaching again at Mainstage!  Sarah is a graduate of Dickinson College where she studied voice and acting. Sarah recently played Emma Goldman in Ragtime which received 9 Barrymore nominations including Best Musical and Best Ensemble. Sarah has appeared on stage at The Walnut Street Theatre, The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Hedgerow Theatre, Quince Productions, The Ritz Theatre Company and others. Some of Sarah’s favorite roles include Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, Agnes Gooch in Mame, Joanne in Vanities, and Edith in Pirates of Penzance. Sarah is the winner of the 2013 BroadwayWorld.com Best Director of a Play in Philadelphia and founder of Live on Stage Productions (www.LiveOnStageProductions.com). You can always see what Sarah’s up to at www.SarahJGafgen.com,  next Sarah will play Linoleum in The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical this holiday season!

VICKI L GOLLIHUE – Private Voice 

Vicki is starting her twelfth 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.

MARIA GULDIN –  Hip Hop: Intro & Open Level

Dancing has been a big part of Maria’s life ever since she was three years old. She grew her passion for dance at Patricia Reid Studio of Dance for seventeen years. In her early years of dancing, she tried ballet, tap, and jazz but realized she really enjoyed Hip Hop and acrobatics more. Throughout her whole high school years Maria was in the dance program Williamstown High School offered and learned a lot from her teacher Ms. Shoemaker. During her years at Patricia Reid Studio of Dance, she was an assistant teacher for acrobatics, and the last two years she was the Hip Hop teacher. Unfortunately, the studio had closed its doors after 40 years. Not knowing what her next move was, a friend told Maria Mainstage Studio of Dance was looking for substitute teachers. While substituting she was offered a Hip Hop class her first year. Her second year she took over all the Hip Hop and Acrobatics classes and has been at Mainstage ever since.  

IAN KIMBLE – High School Acting, Screenwriting, Film Production

Ian is an area filmmaker who has produced and directed numerous short films and one feature film. As a former actor in the NJ, Philadelphia, and NYC area, Ian has worked with numerous theaters and local directors and performers, which has molded his acting style into what it is today. He is excited to be returning to Mainstage for his sixth year as an acting instructor and is thrilled to be heading the Acting Company program for its inaugural season.   Ian lives in Philadelphia with his wife and their cat Lady.

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. 

FRANCINE ODRI  – Substitute

Francine is so excited to return to teach at Mainstage this fall! She grew up through the Summer Stage program and has worked as a Children’s Theatre Lead Director for seven summers, directing Peter Pan, The Lion King Jr., Mary Poppins Jr., and Frozen Jr. to name a few. Francine has also directed and choreographed musicals during Mainstage’s season, including Little Shop of Horrors, Legally Blonde, Chicago, and The Drowsy Chaperone, and she has performed in Mainstage’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird (Mayella Ewell.) Francine graduated magna cum laude from Drew University with a double major in English and theatre and a minor in dance. She works as a director, choreographer, playwright, and teacher throughout New Jersey and Philadelphia, as a teaching artist for the Kimmel Center and Theater Horizon, and has created the Drama Program at Lumberton Middle School. She also teaches private lessons in acting and college audition preparation. She is thrilled to bring her experience and passion for directing and devising to the Mainstage studio team!