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

Stage 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 last summer at Summit Playhouse for Kaleidoscope's production of Beauty & the Beast. She is currently working on her Master's Degree in Education at Caldwell College. Laura truly feels a part of the Front & Center Family and is excited to watch all of the students here grow and learn.

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!

Chris Hale

Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical

Back at F&C, Chris Hale, currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center NYC, is Associate Director of :pushing progress and Director of the :pushing progress contemporary training program, which launched in the fall of 2009. Through his work with :pushing progress Chris and his partner Calen J. Kurka are at the helm of a revolution in the way we train dancers. Through incorporating anatomy and varied methodologies for sustainability and injury prevention, they hope to bring a sophisticated level of information into the lives of every dancer who has the drive and passion to grow as an artist.

Professional credits include KTU's miracle on 34th Street where he performed with such recording artists as Mary J. Blige, Deborah Cox, Tamia, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Jackson. In 2002 he got the pleasure of performing with international singing sensation Anastasia at the FIFA World Cup Final Draw in Busan, Korea. Television credits include HBO's "Sex and the City" playing opposite Kim Catrall. He along with fellow instructor Calen Kurka, released an instructional video for the Live At BDC series entitled, "Floorwork, with Calen Kurka and Chris Hale." In the summer of 2004 he debuted a collection of never before seen works entitled "CollidE (with me) at Brooklyn's Williamsburg Art Nexus "WAX" in three evenings of sold out performances. Since then his work has appeared throughout New York in choreographer's showcases such as "The Turning Point" at NYC's Puffin Room, and "Envision This" by Enfocus Dance.

Most recently his work has appeared in the :pushing progress "Showcase Series" started by Calen J. Kurka as a means to bring a wide range of choreographer's together in the shared vision of creating a memorable dance experience. As a choreographer he will continue to create work that pushes the boundaries of contemporary dance and hopefully bring it to the mainstream in a way that is accessible to everyone. His more than two years experience with the GYROTONIC® methodology has hugely influenced his teaching and brought a heightened awareness to his own dancing. Chris is very excited to add GYROKINESIS® to his teaching. Chris is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher training program.

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.

Jessica Kerner

Showtime & Acting

Jessica is a teacher, director, choreographer, actress and dancer. Currently she teaches in Broadway Dance Center's Children and Teen Program and is on the Acting Faculty at Gateway Playhouse where she teaches and also directs/choreographs numerous musicals and plays. Other teaching/directing credits include American Dance and Drama Studios, and Britney Spears/G-Unit Camp for the Performing Arts. Jessica frequently coaches students for professional auditions and adjudicates mock auditions. Many of Jessica's students have attained representation and booked roles on screen and on stage as result of her coaching and training.

As an actress, Jessica has booked roles on "One Life to Live," "Rubicon," and "30 Rock." She also worked for four seasons as a primary photo double/stand-in on "Gossip Girl." She has performed Off Broadway as well as Off-Off Broadway in numerous musicals, plays, readings and festivals. She is presently part of a play reading series with the TAI group. Jessica has also danced in music videos, commercials, live concerts at Webster Hall and on the NY Titans Dance Team at Madison Square Garden for an entire sports season.

One of the reasons Jessica loves to teach is because she loves to learn, which is why she continues to study her craft with master acting teacher Allen Schoer. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts- Performance from SUNY New Paltz and attended the Professional Performing Arts School, CAP21, Peter Flint Studios and The Actor's Institute. Jessica is thrilled to be working with Renee Palermo and hopes to have as strong of an impact on the students at Front & Center as Renee had on her when she was Jessica's teacher over ten years ago. You can learn more about Jessica at her website www.jessicarosekerner.com.

Calen Kurka

Lyrical Jazz, Stretch Leaps and Turns

Thrilled to be returing to F&C, Calen was raised in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, Calen Kurka started his training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Modern, and Chinese Dance. He then later moved to Edmonton, Alberta, furthering 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 America 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 assisted choreographer, director, instructor, Michele Assaf. Calen's performing credits include being an original member of the first national tour of Jeff Amsden'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 heading his own instructional video "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.

Julie Lira

Musical Theatre and Dance

Julie has spent her life in the arts, performing as a dancer and actress since she was a child. At age 9, she was given a full scholarship to the prestigious San Francisco Ballet, but chose to stay in her native Houston, where she performed with the Houston Ballet. She later went on to perform with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She toured the U.S. in West Side Story, Dick Clark's American Bandstand and State Fair, which later transferred to Broadway. Not only did Julie appear on Broadway in State Fair, but she also served as the assistant director, working alongside James Hammerstein. It was while working on State Fair that Julie decided that she wanted to begin a career as a director/choreographer. She was the associate director on Abby's Song at City Center and then went on to direct sold-out productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Footloose,Carousel, The King and I and the acclaimed Morrison, off-Broadway. In 2009, Julie was ordained as an Interfaith Minister after studying for 2 years at The New Seminary in NYC. She has served as an art therapist abroad under the auspices of the United Nations where she incorporated song, dance and theatre to help children overcome severe trauma in war torn and disaster ravaged countries.While her interests may be diverse, one of her greatest passions is teaching children to dance and instilling a love of the arts that will carry through to adulthood. She is thrilled to be a part of Front and Center and can't wait to get to know everyone!

Scott Nicholson

Hip Hop

Scott Nicholson is an accomplished Dancer-Singer-Choreographer who resides in New York City. With Artist Credits that include Kelly Rowland, Beyonce, and Daddy Yankee as well as Commercial credits including Playstation, ESPN, AT&T, Samsung, etc. his experience only adds to his Enthusiasm for learning and sharing. Hailing from Ohio with a Bachelors Degree in Dance and Business, Scott prides himself in being well rounded and focuses on artistry and versatility. Scott is super excited about the Future and hopes to seize every opportunity that comes his way. Now lets Dance lol. Scott is thrilled to be joining the F&C Family!

Page O'Connor

Business Director, Company Manager, Owner

Front & Center is super excited to be marking its 10th year and Page couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of the celebration! She has been involved in the studio, in some capacity , since its inception: five years as a dedicated and involved parent, and the last five as an owner/ director. Luckily, she hasn't aged a bit over the last 10 years!!

Page doesn't have the typical studio owner background. She combines her extensive business background( which included an 8 year stint on Wall St) with her love for and ever-expanding knowledge of the performing arts. The combination of her strong organizational/interpersonal skills along with a keen understanding of the creative process provides a cohesive and complimentary balance to help support F&C. She is frequently the yin in a yang environment. :)

Page loves her role as Company Manager. Because of her own parenting experiences and her love of theatre and children of all ages, she is very comfortable is dealing with the demanding scheduling issues of both the Performing Arts and Dance Companies. Page particularly enjoys her time with all of these students as an advisor and mentor in whatever arena they happen to need at the time. The scope of counsel runs the gamut from helping students chose and prepare audition material, to managing academic/ arts schedules, to handling social conflicts, to helping research theatre camps and colleges, to even advising on fashion and make-up tips. Page takes serious pride and joy in her role as "den-mother" as she feels very strongly in F&C's motto that they are a "home away from home." Page also enjoys spending time with her own family: Billy( her very patient husband), Kaela (her daughter who is off to her first year of college..what?) and Gypsy Rose Lee (her adorable dog)!

Ryan Scott Oliver

Workshop Teacher

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

Choreography and Directing

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

Miss Renee comes from a very diverse background that includes being a director, choreographer, teacher, performer, writer, and mom! Renee has been teaching for over 18 years and has been the Artistic Director and owner of Front & Center for Performing Arts in Springfield, NJ for the past 8 years. She teaches all disciplines as well as directs and choreographs F&C's many 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. Renee is extremely proud of the many achievements of the students at the studio and feels extremely blessed to have everyone at F&C as a second family! As a director and choreographer, her credits include productions of 13, Thoroughly Modern Millie, RENT, Beauty and the Beast, Working, Once On This Island, Godspell, CATS, Into the Woods, Seussical, The Pajama Game, and Annie.

Renee began her ballet training at the Rochester City Ballet in Rochester, NY. She began training in voice and acting at age 10. After graduating from the Rochester School of the Arts, she attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. There she earned a BFA in drama 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 as well as presented at 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, NYCDA, Rhee Gold's DanceLife Convention, and Broadway Teachers Workshop. A specialist in teaching Musical Theatre for young children, Renee is the author of Leap 'N Learn for Musical Theatre (www.leapnlearn.com) ,a young children's curriculum which is currently being sold and taught at studios and colleges worldwide.

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 numerous others professional theatres across the country. Renee has a true passion for sharing her love of musical theatre with children of all ages. At home, she enjoys singing show tunes with her three young children, Celeste, Lucas, Thomas and her incredibly supportive husband, Michael (whom she met in a children's theatre group when she was 11 years old!)

Photo: http://www.meridithdesmondphoto.com

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.

Kendal Sparks

Voice and Musical Direction

Kendal Sparks is thrilled to be joining the Front & Center family! A Musical Theatre performer and teacher based in New York City, Kendal has taught young people of all ages in New York, Washington, D.C., Miami, and Nicaragua. In addition to teaching voice, he also teaches private piano lessons and gives vocal coachings. As a performer, Kendal has been featured as a guest artist on multiple albums of children's music with Grammy-winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. He has been a featured soloist at the Kennedy Center, the St. Louis MUNY, and various venues in New York. Kendal is a proud member of Actors Equity Association, and a graduate of the University of Michigan's Musical Theatre BFA program.

Marie Ventrone

Musical Theatre, Production Class

Marie Ventrone is a recent graduate of High Point University with a Magna Cum Laude Bachelor's degree in Performance Theatre and Vocal Music. She feels so blessed to be a new part of the F&C family! As a performer, some of Marie's favorite credits include Rent (Mimi), How to Succeed in Business...(Rosemary), Joseph...(Narrator), and Grease (Marty). Her most exciting theatrical endeavor to date has been the opportunity to portray the roles of Celia and Jill in the World Premiere of Love/Sick by playwright and Tony-nominated actor John Cariani. Marie received her second Irene Ryan Award nomination for this show, the first being for her portrayal of Shelby in Steel Magnolias. As a director, Marie's credits include The Pavilion, The Moon Please, and Scuba Lessons.

Marie is a former member of the Petal Points, an all-female premiere a cappella group, where she served as Music Director for three years. She can be heard on the group's debut album "One Voice", available now on iTunes. Marie is also a member of The Jersey Follettes, a professional female vocal performance group. For more information on The Jersey Follettes, visit www.JerseyFollettes.com

Marie Wallace

Voice

Marie Wallace is delighted to join the Front and Center faculty. A dedicated teacher of voice and acting, she has worked with performers of all levels and ages. As an actress and singer, Marie has performed in Grammy nominated composer Eric Whitacre's Paradise Lost, Shadow & Wings at Carnegie Hall, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Chicago's Auditorium Theatre, and the Theatre @ Boston Court World Premiere. Her roles as a soprano soloist include Carmina Burana and Dona Nobis Pacem with the Rochester Philharmonic. In addition, she has sung with the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. One such performance (Dvořák's Requiem) culminated in a Grammy Award winning recording (2001). A versatile performer of both music and stage, she frequently performs in regional premieres of new theatrical works by both up and coming and established playwrights. Awards and nominations include the Backstage Garland Awards (Best Performance/Musical-Honorable Mention) and the Los Angeles TicketHolder Awards (Best Supporting Actress/Musical). Marie has studied voice in Tuscany, Italy and holds a Master of Music Degree (Voice Performance) from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music (Voice) from Westminster Choir College.