Faculty

Marc Tumminelli (Director) — Marc has worked with young actors all over the United States teaching acting workshops with Camp Broadway, Explore America, Travel Adventures, Arts for All, Hands on Broadway, Dodger Theatrical’s Broadway production of 42nd Street and as Drama Director at The South Shore Dance Theatre. Marc is currently on the directing staff at The Random Farms Kids Theater in Westchester County, NY and serves as Program Director for Playhouse Junior at Saint Michaels Playhouse in Northern Vermont.

Some of Marc’s students are currently appearing on Broadway in The Color Purple, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Les Miz, Sunday in the Park with George and on Television in The Backyardigans, Saturday Night Live, All My Children, 30 Rock and many more.

As an actor Marc has appeared as Eugene in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound at theatres all over the US. Recent credits include: Yonkers in the Chicago production of Gypsy staring Patti LuPone and directed by Lonny Price. Other regional and New York credits: Lost In Yonkers, Into The Woods, Torch Song Trilogy, Oklahoma!, Oliver!, Shenandoah, The Dresser, Big River, Rags, Crazy For You, Pirates of Penzance and the hit Off Broadway productions of The Snow Queen and Bring Back Birdie as well as the all-star concerts of Children Of Eden, The Secret Garden and Pippin, the latter starring Rosie O’Donnell and Ben Vereen. Film/TV credits include: The Sopranos and A Beautiful Mind directed by Ron Howard.

Directing/Co-Directing Credits include Into The Woods, Annie Jr. (MSC), Life of the Party (Acess Theatre), High School Musical, Oliver, Snow White, Willie Wonka (Random Farms), Little Red Ridinghood, Little Mouse, The Snow Queen (Saint Michaels Playhouse).


Laura Bell Bundy (Teaching Artist) — received 2007 Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations for her work in Legally Blonde. Broadway: originated Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray, performed Glinda in Wicked. Off-Broadway: originated Tina Denmark in Ruthless (Outer Critics and Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical). Regionally: Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages (Los Angeles), Dainty June in Gypsy, Louisa in The Sound of Music. TV: “Modern Men” (WB), “Cold Case” (CBS), “Veronica Mars” (UPN), “Happy Hour” (FOX), “Strangers With Candy” (Comedy Central), leading roles in the pilots “Dirtbags” (FOX) and “All Grown Up” (CBS), Marah in “The Guiding Light” (1999-2001). Film: Dreamgirls, Jumanji, Life With Mikey, The Adventures of Huck Finn. Singer/songwriter: just completed her debut “Y’alternative” country album Longing for a Place Already Gone and a CD of standards, I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Proceeds from the Christmas CD benefit her charity, Kreative Kids Foundation. Creator and co-designer of Schmancy Purses. www.laurabellbundy.com.


Ashley Brown (Teaching Artist) — is currently starring on Broadway as Mary Poppins in the hit Disney musical. Ashley recently made her Broadway debut as Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Previously, she toured with Disney’s On The Record. She performed in The Leading Men of Broadway and participated in Broadway By the Year: 1956. Training: Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (BFA, Laurie Beechman Award).


Jessica Bogart (Teaching Artist) — Broadway: Jenny in In My Life (original cast), Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (original revival cast), Eponine in Les Misérables, Philia in …Forum (original revival cast), Maureen in Rent, Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Petra in A Little Night Music at The New York City Opera and Los Angeles Opera.  Regional:  Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (La Jolla Playhouse in association with Aquila Theatre Co.); Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story and Eliza in My Fair Lady (Walnut Street); Ophelia in Hamlet (Colonial); Mrs. Millimant in The Way of the World (Yale Rep); Sarah in The Ballad of Little Jo (Steppenwolf, directed by Tina Landau), Gypsy in Gypsy (w/Patti Lupone, Chicago Rivinia Festival); productions at Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Goodman, Geva, and the Apple Tree Theatre in Chicago, where she is Artistic Associate and directed Eve Ensler’s Necessary Targets and Michael John LaChiusa’s Hello Again. Jessica has taught acting and musical theatre workshops all over the US.


Leslie Kritzer (Teaching Artist) — Leslie Kritzer recently starred on Broadway in Legally Blonde as Serena for which she was honored with the Clerence Derwent Award by the Actor’s Equity Association. She received critical acclaim and a Time Out New York award for her sold-out Joe’s Pub run of Leslie Kritzer is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches (a performance she repeated at The Plush Room in San Francisco). She received a Drama Desk Nomination for creating the role of Pickles in the off-Broadway production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Other New York credits include Hairspray, Bat Boy: The Musical, and Godspell. Regionally, Leslie has performed such roles as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, Eva Peron in Evita, and Kathy in the world premiere of Vanities. She was also seen in the national tour of Urinetown. She has performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London as a guest soloist honoring Tim Rice and Alan Menken and can be heard on several cast recordings. Recent television credits include 3LBS (CBS) and the Jason and Jessica pilot for HBO. Upcoming Broadway A Catered Affair, opening this spring at The Walter Kerr Theatre.


Kaitlin Hopkins (Teaching Artist) — As an actress, Katilin has worked extensively in theater, film, television and radio for 25 years. Some credits include: Broadway: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Noises Off, Anything Goes. Off-Broadway, she originated the role of Meredith in Bat Boy - The Musical, receiving Drama Desk and Ovation Award nominations. She also appeared in Bare, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, and Nicky Silver’s Beautiful Child (The Vineyard Theatre). Other: Disney’s On The Record (National tour), John Adams’ opera I Was Looking At The Ceiling... directed by Peter Sellars (International tour), The Opposite of Sex and Party Come Here (Williamstown Theatre Festival), The Philanderer (South Coast Repertory). Radio: The Heidi Chronicles, Working and Proof. Television/Film includes: The Nanny Diaries, How To Kill Your Neighbor’s Dog, Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, Rescue Me, Six Degrees, The Practice, Spin City, JAG, Star Trek- Voyager, all three Law and Order shows and 3 yrs as Dr Kelsey Harrison on Another World. Training: Carnegie Mellon University (musical theater), The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London. For more info visit www.kaitlinhopkins.com.


Stephanie Fittro (Teaching Artist) is currently starring in the Broadway musical Legally Blonde as Kate/Chutney. Past credits include national tours of Hairspray and Carousel; favorite NY credits include Met Opera (The Merry Widow featured as Joujou, starring Placido Domingo!), Encores!, and Irish Repertory Theatre, as well as the role of Mandy in Eric Bernat and Robin Carrigan's new comedy Jesus and Mandy at Theatre For The New City. Stephanie has appeared in numerous productions of West Side Story (directed by Alan Johnson) and Finian’s Rainbow at theatres all over the US. Teaching and choreography credits include Diamond Head Theatre (Honolulu, HI), Ft. Salem Theatre (Salem, NY), The Gem Theatre (Detroit, MI), Prospect Theatre (NY, NY), Michigan State Unviersity (East Lansing, MI), Academy of Dance (Clark, NJ), as well as many workshops and outreach programs. As an actor she has studied with Shakespeare and Co. (Lenox, MA), specializing in acting and Shakespeare; as a dancer, she trained at the Boston Ballet and Alvin Ailey Schools. She is proud to be an interpreter of classical musical theatre choreography, especially material melding ballet, character, modern and jazz. She is also proud to have studied with the late great Mr. James Jamieson, Agnes DeMille’s beloved sword dancer in the original Brigadoon, who inspired her to no end, and to whom she dedicates her teaching.


James Donegan (Teaching Artist) — James Donegan is a New York-based actor. Most recently, James appeared in the original cast of Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening, for which he received critical acclaim. Other New York and regional credits include Company (Bobby), Hello, Dolly! (Cornelius), My Fair Lady (Freddy), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Evita (Che), Triumph of Love (Agis) and many more. He can be heard on his solo CD, So Much Spring (“…auspicious debut” — Next Magazine), as well as the upcoming Allegro on Sony Classics and Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening on DRG. James is also a voice teacher whose students have worked on and Off-Broadway, as well as in numerous regional theaters. Special thanks to Marc and the The Broadway Workshop crew for all of they do.


Kristy Cates (Teaching Arist) — Original Broadway Cast of Wicked (ensemble/Elphaba understudy). Kristy then went on to a year long run as Elphaba in the Chicago production of Wicked. She was most recently seen the Human Race Theatre production of Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots. Off Broadway/ Regional: Boobs! The Musical, Princess Ida, St. Louis MUNY, The Lucille Lortel, White Barn Theatre , North Bay Opera, The Playhouse on the Green, The Eugene O’Neill Conference and the NY Fringe Festival. NYC/Chicago concerts: Don’t Tell Mama, The Duplex, Joe’s Pub, Laurie Beechman Theatre, and a sold out series An Evening with Kristy Cates at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center. She was honored to be a National Anthem soloist for the Chicago Bears, Bulls and White Sox. BFA: Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. Proud member of AEA.


Howard Meltzer (Teaching Artist) has been partnered with Carol Goldwasser since 2004. Television: Hannah Montana (Disney Channel)(series), Spectacular! (Nickelodeon) (Movie of the Week), Out of Jimmy’s Head (Cartoon Network), The 1/2 Hour News Hour (FOX News Channel/20th) (Pilot & Series), The Troop (Nickelodeon) (Pilot), Beatkinz (Nick Jr.), Generations (CBS/Dreamworks) (Pilot), American Dad (FBC/20th) (Pilot), Stroller Wars (CBS/Sony) (Pilot), Now What? (UPN/20th), Untitled Michael Jacobs (FBC/Sony) (Pilot). Prior to partnering with Carol, Howard was a staff Casting Director with Stuart Howard Associates in NYC. Broadway: The Graduate, Fortune’s Fool, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, Annie Get Your Gun (Revival), Fosse, Chicago (Revival), Annie (Revival) and Grease (Revival).


Jack Plotnick (Teaching Artist) has spent the last decade as a working actor in Los Angeles. Just recently, he filmed a role in the hour-long CBS pilot The Mentalist, which has just been picked up to series. In film, he has appeared opposite Ben Stiller in Meet the Fockers, Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters, Renee Zelwegger in Down With Love, and Sally Field in Say It Isn't So. Other films include Cook Off!, Remarkable Powers and the Disney feature South of the Border. Jack was a series regular (and Supervising Producer) on the Lifetime Television comedy Lovespring International, which he also occasionally directed. He was also a regular on the Comedy Central cartoon series Drawn Together, and the short-lived, but highly acclaimed FOX TV show Action. Recurring TV roles include: Reno 911, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joan of Arcadia, Ellen and Rude Awakening, Nip/Tuck, Ugly Betty, Shark, Las Vegas, NYPD Blue and Dawson’s Creek. Graduate of Carnegie Mellon University.


Sarah Statler (Musical Director) — Sarah started singing and playing the piano at an early age. While living in San José, California, she played leading roles in productions such as Side Show, Jekyll & Hyde and West Side Story. She also appeared in promotions for theater on KNTV as well as the Emmy nominated documentary: “Pulse...The Rhythm of Life.” She moved from California to New York to earn her BM in voice from the Manhattan School of Music. During her time spent at there, she appeared in their American Musical Theater Ensemble’s productions of Side by Side by Sondheim as well as I Remember It Well...A Tribute to Lerner and Loewe. She also recieved the ASCAP Foundation’s Fran Morgenstern Davis Scholarship. Over the past few years, Sarah has started teaching both voice and piano students. Since then, she has vocally directed such shows as Into The Woods, Jr., Little by Little and Jesus Christ Superstar. She has also taught at such places as Northern Stage, The Manhattan School for Children, and The Children’s Musical Theater of San José.


Stepanie Johnston (Teaching Artist) — Stephanie Johnstone is an NYC-based composer, music director and vocal coach. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, she has studied with Dr. Alan Cohen at NYU, participated in Adam Guettel's group lab class through Musical Theatre Works, and was selected for the New Dramatists' Guild Composer/Librettist Studio 2006. Her songs have been sung at Cafe Vivaldi and Don't Tell Mama, she contributed material for Dreamakers (w/ Brian D'Arcy James) at the Children's Aid Society, and while in Prague, she collaborated with the Czech gypsy/folk band Vibra Etherna. Her other recent musical theater works include Hotel Sarajevo (Hot Ink Festival 2004 and Barbara Wolff Reading at CAP21) which she worked on and co-conceived with Marisa Michelson and the zany one-act: The Adventures of Mommy and Fetus. She wrote the music, lyrics and orchestrations for Tully (In No Particular Order) (Theater For the New City workshop, New York Musical Theater Festival production 2007) for which she was awarded Honorable Mention for Achievement in Music at NYMF. As a music director, she has worked with Liz Swados, Raw Impressions, Taylor Mac, and Quo Vadimus Arts, just to name a few. She has been vocal coaching in Chicago and New York for the past six years, and she has taught at City College of New York, The Neighborhood Playhouse Junior School, Curtain Up Kids, and Broadway Training Center of Westchester.