Tony Asaro

Voice

Tony Asaro currently makes his living as a freelance musician and theatre artist in New York City. He guest lectures at NYU in the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program from which he graduated in 2007. He also teaches voice at Front & Center studio in Springfield, NJ, and teaches lyric writing workshops in New York City public schools for 4th and 5th graders through the Johnny Mercer Foundation. Tony is the recent recipient of the Anna Sosenko Assist Trust Award for 2008 for songwriting. Tony received his undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University in 1998, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, and in Music. At Santa Clara, Tony studied composition with Lynn Shurtleff. Prior to moving to New York, Tony worked as a professional choral musician in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years. He conducted the Albany Community Chorus, the Ragazzi Boys Chorus Primary Group, and sang first tenor/alto with the San Francisco Choral Artists under the direction of Magen Solomon. Tony taught voice as part of the music faculty at Santa Clara University in the 2004-2005 school year. From 2002-2004, Tony was the Director of the Choral Program at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, CA. As a music director, Tony has worked on many shows with Children's Musical Theatre San Jose, and Milpitas Rainbow Theatre as well as other theatre companies around the Bay Area. Professionally, Tony served as Assistant Music Director for TheatreWorks' production of Pacific Overtures, and as Vocal Director for Santa Clara University's production of Kiss Me Kate in 2004.

Tony’s new musical Our Country (with Dan Collins) is receiving its world premiere in June of 2009 through the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Tony's first musical, Family, a collaboration with Dr. Barbara Means Fraser for which he wrote music and co-wrote lyrics, has enjoyed two productions–one at SCU in 1999 and one at the Ryan Repertory Theatre in New York City in 2000. Tony's other musicals include Women of Colors (various collaborators), and Broken (with Kevin Cummines) and Going Nowhere. Tony's songs have been heard in cabarets at Barrington Stages, Goodspeed Opera House, and various venues in New York City and across thecountry. His choral music has been performed by the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims Choir, and most recently, by the Mel-O-Chords.

Laura Byrne

Office Manager

Laura Byrne holds a B.A. in Theatre from Kutztown University and has been involved in all aspects of theatre. While performing in college Laura was nominated four times by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. Laura focused on Children's Theatre at Kutztown and toured Pennsylvania with a Children’s Theatre Company called Sunshine Players. Through Sunshine Players Laura was able begin a theatre program, and direct productions at both Kutztown Middle and Elementary Schools. Laura has Assisted Stage Managed shows at Front & Center and had the pleasure of Assisting Renee this summer at Summit Playhouse for Kaleidoscope's production of Beauty & the Beast. Laura truly feels a part of the Front & Center Family and is so excited to watch all of the students here grow and learn.

Rylee Card

Musical Theatre, Voice

Rylee Card is very pleased to be a part of the Front and Center family for the second season. Originally from Pennsylvania, Rylee moved to the New York area to pursue a career in Musical Theatre. Rylee received her B.A. in Music Performance from Ramapo College of NJ and also studied Vocal Music at the School of Creative Arts in Sydney Australia where she received an advanced diploma. Rylee has been teaching Music, Theatre, and Dance to children for the past 4 years and is very pleased to make Front and Center her teaching home. Along with teaching Rylee performs professionally in the New York area. Performance credits include: Brooklyn Girls, A 60’s Musical Love Story (Rose), None for the Road Tour (Tonya), Dr. Bob and the Disciples of Groove Tour (Back-up vocalists), Rye Playland (Singer/Dancer), Cabaret ( Kit Kat Dancer)

Matthew Deming

Voice

Matthew Deming (Voice) is a graduate of Boston University’s School for the Arts, where he studied vocal performance, piano, and oboe. He has been teaching private voice for over nine years in Boston and New York, and is happy to be joining Front & Center Family! Musical theater credits include: The Visit with Chita Rivera (Signature Theater), A Christmas Carol (Trinity Repertory Company), James Joyce’s The Dead (Huntington Theater Company), Floyd Collins (Speakeasy Stage Company), Showboat, Bells Are Ringing, JC Superstar (Allenberry Playhouse), Kiss Me Kate (Carousel Dinner Theater), Joseph... (Ogunquit Playhouse). He has music directed and played piano for several productions including: Annie, Grease, Kiss Me Kate, Into the Woods, Hello Dolly, and Music Man. Recordings include: Santa Claus is Coming to Town , Allegro. He is a regular singer with the New York Philharmonic, American Symphony Orchestra, Musica Sacra, the Bard Music Festival, the Mostly Mozart Festival.

Jeff Gatti

Tap

Originally from Edmonton, Canada, Jeff Gatti trained extensively in tap, jazz, lyrical and ballet. Jeff has taught, choreographed, adjudicated and performed across North America and Europe. His performance credits range from featured roles with Princess Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises to commercials and industrials. Jeff was a cast member of "A Few Good Men Dancin" at the New Victory Theatre in New York and went on to workshop the show for the US National Tour, as well as being on tour with "Dancing On Common Ground." Now based in New York City, he continues his performing career, as well as teaching and choreographing throughout the United States and Canada at several studios including Broadway Dance Center. He is also on faculty with several national dance conventions and competitions. He was fortunate to have performed with :pushingprogress: a company in their inaugural season in Dublin, Ireland as well as New York City. Jeff is thrilled to be sharing his talents with the students at Front & Center for the first time this year.

Lynne Grossman

Ballet

In addition to teaching ballet, pointe and coaching at Front & Center, Lynne Grossman is on faculty at New Jersey Ballet, Montclair State University’s dance department, and since 2005, is a guest artist at the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts in Denville, NJ. She also serves as adviser and guest teacher at Dance Institute in Austin, TX. In 1993 she received the College of Fine Arts Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Grossman studied extensively with Fred Danieli and is a protégé of renowned master ballet teacher Gabriela Darvash. She danced with the Garden State Ballet, Israel Ballet, Austin Ballet Theatre, Sharir Modern Dance Company, and the Texas National Dance Theatre in Austin as co-founder and director of the Dance Theatre Academy. Ms Grossman danced principal roles in classics such as The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and Sleeping Beauty, and performed Balanchine works including Serenade, Symphony in C, Concerto Borocco, and Valse Fantasie. She also performed works by choreographers Doug Verone and David Parsons and many original works by contemporary artists. At Radio City Music Hall, Ms Grossman performed in over 300 shows as both a ballet and jazz dancer. She has taught extensively in the NJ area and nationally, including five summers at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts, catering to gifted young dancers.

Miss Lynne has had the pleasure to teach and help design and nurture the Ballet/Dance Program at Front & Center since its inception. It has been a rewarding and joyful experience every step of the way. She's our biggest fan!

Sharon Hockstein

Ballet

Sharon Hockstein is originally from New York. She received her Ballet training at the School of American Ballet, and studied on scholarship at the Joffery Ballet School and with Robert Denvers. She danced many leading roles in the School of American Ballet Workshop performances, such as George Balanchine's Serenade and Concerto Barroco. Sharon danced professionally with The New York City Ballet performing at Lincoln Center, touring the West Coast, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and Jacob's Pillow. She was also a Guest Artist with other choreographers and Ballet companies, performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Dew Drop in the Nutcracker.

Sharon also choreographs the Musical Theater productions at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. Her work there includes Seussical, On The Town, Kiss Me Kate, Les Mis, Urinetown, Nine, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Sharon truly enjoys passing on her knowledge and love of Ballet to future generations of dancers. She has been teaching for over 15 years and is thrilled to be a part of the Front & Center family.

Calen Kurka

Lyrical Jazz, Stretch Leaps and Turns

Raised in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. Calen Kurka started his training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Muscial Theare, Modern and Chinese Dance. He then later moved to Edmonton, Alberta, furthering his his training competitively.

Currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, as an instructor Calen has taught across Canada, the U.S. and Japan, and more recently in Ireland at Dublin's Dance Jam '07. He is currently instructing for Dance Masters of Amerca as one of their Master Faculty, and is also on faculty with Dance Educators of America. His choreography has been recognized as outstanding at many competitions throughout the U.S. and Canada, and has been the recipient of many awards. In addition to teaching in and around New York he's also assistant to choreographer, director, instructor, Michele Assaf.

Calen's performing credits include being an original member of the first national tour of Jeff Amesden's widely acclaimed "A Few Good Men Dancin'," and performing with recording artist Carmella in a tribute concert to Cher. He’s also worked closely with choreographer/instructor Chris Hale. As a featured performer, Calen’s stage credits include having spent a year on contract with Tokyo Disney as a Main Stage performer, and taking on such leading roles as Capt. Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" and Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors" in regional stage productions. In addition, he can be seen in "The Live! at Broadway Dance Center" video series "Turns and Turn Combos," dancing with choreographer Danny Herman, and "Floor Work with Calen Kurka and Chris Hale": A new addition to the "Live at BDC" collection.

As founder and Artistic Director of :pushing progress a company, Calen hopes to continue his journey as an artist, instructor and choreographer. He wishes to inspire, and be continually inspired by those who so honestly give of their talent and themselves. He continues, with his company, to create work pushing new movement, strong technique, honesty, emotional commitment, and growth. It is an evolutionary journey with no boundaries, no limits, no ends. Calen is thrilled to begin his 3rd year of teaching at Front & Center.

Kim Levering

Stage Manager, Office Assistant

Kim received her Bachelors Degree in Communications from Rowan University where she studied Film, Television and Theater Production. Kim has been a part of the Front and Center family since 2005. You can find her at the front desk on Saturday’s helping out around the studio or behind the scenes of Front & Centers yearly productions. She has Stage Managed the shows Seussical, The Pajama Game, Cats, One Singular Sensation, Once on this Island, Working and World Tour.

Previously she worked for Blue Man Group in NYC as a member of the Creative Development team, and at Banyan Productions in Philadelphia. Recently, she received her Certification in Elementary Education and is teaching in the Springfield School District. Kim is happy to be a part of Front & Center and looks forward to many more successful years!

Rahmael Magny

Hip Hop

Rahmael Magny is immensely excited to be returning to the Front & Center family for his 4th season. As a recent graduate of Rider University, Rahmael received his a B.A. in Theatre with minors in Radio & TV, and Dance. During his time at Rider, Rahmael was a dedicated member of the Rider University Dance Team for all four years, becoming male captain his last two. As a member of the Dance Team, Rahmael went on to help them win third place at the Tri-state Area Dance Competition (Feb. 2005) and first place at the Southern Regional Dance Competition (March 2006).Rahmael also trained with the Princeton Ballet School, which is part of the American Repertoire Ballet.

Rahmael's in-college performance credits include Antonio in The Twelfth Night, Joe/Slang Talk Man in Spunk, Judge/Prisoner in Bang Bang, You’re Dead, Improv and Sketch Comedy Shows, Dance Concerts, and countless Dance Team performances. His professional credits include NY Mets/New York Water Taxi Commercial, and currently an actor/performer in the Winceyco Entertainment Tours. Rahmael is also a certified Zumba instructor.

Cathy McGregor

Dance Combo, Show Time

Cathy McGregor is thrilled to return to Front & Center, once again working with the younger students. While performing Children's Theatre productions of Sleeping Beauty and I'm the only Me, she discovered the positive effect theatre can have on children and knew that teaching would be an area of great fulfillment. Cathy studied dance, voice, acting and musical theatre at studios including Gus Giordano Dance Center, River North Dance Studio, and Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago. A few credits include The King and I, Company, Grease, La Cage Aux Folles, Pippin and The Odd Couple (female version.) She also has appeared in several industrial films. Behind the scenes she has directed, choreographed and produced shows such as Guys and Dolls and Witness for the Prosecution. In addition to her performing arts background, Cathy holds an M.S. in computer aided design from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Karen More

Teen Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz

Karen More has toured nationally and internationally and performed with the following modern dance companies: Lar Lubovitch Company, Elisa Monte Dance, dredance, Donald Byrd/the Group, Kevin Wynn Collection, Earl Mosley Diversity of Dance, Philadanco. Karen has also danced with the Santa Fe Opera, West Side Story European Tour, Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Teaching certifications include the National Dance Institute, New York City Ballet Workout, Pilates. Karen is a judge for Starpower Talent Competition, and a student of the LEAP program, a division of St Mary's College. Karen is an accomplished performer who began her training in her teenage years. She is very excited to share this unique perspective with the Teen students here at Front & Center

Page O'Connor

Business Director, Company Manager, Owner

Page is entering her third year as Business Director of Front & Center. Page graduated with honors from The University of Richmond with a B.S. in Marketing and Management from the Robbins School of Business. She spent 8 years working on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch in their Global Markets Fixed Income Sales Division. She decided to leave that career path when her daughter was born. In the interim, Page has spent her time micro-managing the demands of an increasingly hectic household: which includes her husband of 20+ years, (they married really, really young) and her extremely busy teenage daughter. It was her daughter's passion for Performing Arts that brought Page to F&C.

Since F&C's opening, Page has played a very active role helping in whatever capacity was needed. Her past relationships with many of the students and their parents makes Page an expert in working with the Performing Arts Companies as Front and Center's Company Manager. Given the popularity and the major growth of the F&C companies, this "go-to" position has been beneficial to the faculty and staff, as well as the students and parents. Page brings a unique and valuable skill-set to F&C. She is able to utilize her business background combined with her strong organizational and interpersonal skills. These in conjunction with the hands-on knowledge she's gleaned from being completely immersed in Performing Arts (as a parent) for the last 10 years make for a very cohesive and complimentary balance to Renee's multi-faceted creative talents.

This summer Page attended Rhee Gold's DanceLife Convention in Orlando. Page would like to thank both Renee and her Family for not only providing her this wonderful opportunity but also supporting her in this endeavor.

Ryan Scott Oliver

Voice

Ryan Scott Oliver is a 2009 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient and wrote the music and lyrics for Mrs. Sharp (2008 Richard Rodgers Award Winner, at Playwrights Horizons July 2009 starring Jane Krakowski, dir. by Michael Greif), Darling (Pace New Musicals 2009), the song cycle Out of My Head, Quit India (commissioned by UCLA), and the music for Angus Oblong's The Debbies. A collection of his work, Rated RSO, was recently seen at Joe's Pub, where it will return January 2010 following an engagement at the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). His work has also been heard on the hit YouTube TV show The Battery’s Down ("This is Your Life" among others) and in showcases presented by Summer Play Festival (SPF), The York Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, William Finn & Barrington Stages, New York Theatre Barn, Monday Nights New Voices, and the Festival of New American Musicals in Los Angeles.

Currently he is the Executive Director of the Pasadena (PUSD) Musical Theatre Program in California, produces The Spotlight Cabaret in New York City, and is at work developing a commission by Broadway Across America as well as We the People for TheatreWorksUSA, directed by Alex Timbers, which will premiere Off-Broadway in 2010. B.A. Music Composition, UCLA; M.F.A. Musical Theatre Writing, NYU-Tisch, a proud member of A.S.C.A.P. He is currently represented by Jessica Sarbo at The Gersh Agency. Ryan has taught voice and musical directed numerous productions across the country. Last season, Ryan musical directed both Working and Once On This Island here at Front & Center. He is very excited to be sharing his professional knowledge with the students at Front & Center on a weekly basis as a permanent member of the vocal department.

Andrew Palermo

Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre

Andrew Palermo is the Artistic Director of dre.dance, an NYC based contemporary dance company that he founded with childhood friend, Taye Diggs, www.dredance.com.

Outside of dre.dance, Andrew's direction and stage choreography credits include performances at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, Carnegie Hall, The Public Theater, 37 Arts, New York City Festival of Dance, Hudson Theatre, The Old Globe, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Prince Music Theatre, Music Theatre of Wichita, Sacramento Music Circus, Wichita State University and University of Cincinnati-CCM.

Teaching credits include dance and/or acting instruction at University of Cincinnati-CCM, University of Michigan, Pepperdine University, Wichita State University, SUNY Potsdam, Oakland University, Music Theater Italy, Rochester School of the Arts, Broadway Dance Center, The Edge P.A.C., Millennium Dance Complex, Dance New Amsterdam and numerous national conventions, studios and performing arts camps.

Andrew's performing highlights include original Broadway casts of Wicked and Annie Get Your Gun, and the Broadway revival of How to Succeed... He has toured nationally and internationally with West Side Story, and performed Off-Broadway in Michael John La Chiusa's Little Fish. Other performing credits include Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl, and numerous regional theatres. Andrew is very excited to join the teaching staff at Front & Center this season.

Renee Palermo

Artistic Director, Owner

Renee Palermo comes from a very diverse back round that includes being a director, choreographer, teacher, performer, and mom! As Artistic Director of Front & Center for Performing Arts, she teaches all disciplines as well as directs all of their productions. Renee’s students have been seen on Broadway, in National Tours, and have won numerous awards at Competitions all across the state and Nationally. Her favorite directing and choreography credits include Beauty and the Beast, Working, Once On This Island, Godspell, CATS, Into the Woods , Seussical, Pajama Game, and Annie.

Renee holds a BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a minor in Dance Education. She is an Associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and a long time member of the Actor’s Equity Association. She has attended many teacher training programs including Dance Masters of America, Leap-n-Learn Teacher Training, Finis Jhung's Ballet Training, Broadway Dance Center's Teacher Training, Dance Teacher Magazine's Teaching Summit, and Rhee Gold's DanceLife Convention. In her past life, she was seen on Broadway in The Wizard of Oz, as Rumpleteazer in the National Tour of CATS and at numerous regional theatres including Paper Mill Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, and others.

Renee has a true passion for sharing her love of musical theatre with children of all ages. She is currently writing a Musical Theatre Syllabus for young children in association with Leap N’ Learn to be released this winter. At home, she enjoys singing show tunes with her two young children, Celeste, 3, Lucas, 1, and her husband, Michael.

Chris Peterson

Acting

Chris Peterson is thrilled to be working with Front and Center for the Performing Arts, Periwinkle Theatre for Youth, and Disney On Broadway. He spent two wonderful seasons as the Director of After-School Programs at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey. Prior to the McCarter, he was the Assistant Director of Education at the Periwinkle Theatre for Youth in New York City. Recently, he taught Styles of Acting and Directing I at New York University and Theatre History I and II at Pace University (NYC Campus). As an actor, Chris was a member of the Broadway Company of Les Miserables (Enjolras) for many years. Chris’ involvement with Les Mis has taken him all over the world.

Most notably, he was chosen by Cameron Mackintosh to perform the role of Enjolras in the Shanghai premiere starring Colm Wilkinson. Regional credits include numerous shows at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, including the acclaimed production of Pacific Overtures, The Milwaukee Rep, Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, and Illinois Shakespeare Festival. A Tulsa, Oklahoma native, Chris graduated from the University of Tulsa and holds his Master’s degree from New York University in Educational Theatre. Chris, a member of Actor’s Equity Association, is married to actress Catherine Brunell and the father of identical twin sons, Charlie and Gus.

David Spangenthal

Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre

David Spangenthal received his B.A in Musical Theatre from Weber State University in Utah, and moved to NYC two weeks later to pursue his dream of being on Broadway. After a brief Opera gig with Renee Palermo doing a fabulous production of Oklahoma!, David toured the U.S. and Canada in Crazy for You as the matinee Bobby Child. He was in the Broadway and National Touring companies of CATS (Swing), and Beauty and the Beast (Beast/ Gaston u.s.). And spent two years in the ensemble on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Favorite regional productions include Forever Plaid (Jinx), Oklahoma!(Will Parker), Dames at Sea (Dick), and 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor) with the original Peggy Sawyer Wanda Richert.

If you were lucky, you may have noticed David marching amongst hundreds as a Storm Trooper in Springtime for Hitler in the exciting Producers Movie. Or maybe dancing in Rosie O’Donnell’s 100th show production number on the Circle Line Boat. Other exciting achievements include directing and choreographing Beauty and the Beast in Honolulu, HI. Cheerleading with the University of Utah Cheerleaders, owning and managing Timothy John’s Salon in NYC, and clogging on Hee Haw with the Steele Family Cloggers as the Hee Haw International Clogging Champions. David is also the proud father of Lanah Lorae, who is almost two.