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Our Professional Staff
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Yvonne Lamb Scudiery
- Yvonne is the Director of Education for the Count Basie Theatre. She
is an accomplished choreographer for ballet, musical theatre, opera, a
registered teacher with the RAD, London and an adjunct teacher at
Brookdale Community College. Yvonne has taught for over 35 years,
combining her knowledge of dance and acting techniques with her superior
coaching skills. This has enabled many of her students to advance to
successful professional careers.
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Dan Cooley - Dan is a Director/Actor from Monmouth County and has
performed in theatres in NYC/NJ as well as appearing in independent and
student films. Over a cumulative 10 years, Dan has studied acting,
directing and playwrighting with Ralph Colombino, Joey Madia and John
Bukovec. Dan is the Resident Director for New Mystics Theatre Co., a
traveling teen company that performs socially relevant pieces and fights
for social justice. Dan is also a teacher at Actor’s Playground and
Arts Middle School.
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Vincent Daniele - Vincent is a musician (bass/guitar), vocalist,
producer, and teacher and is currently a member of the Jersey-based
band, “Cats on a Smooth Surface”. He has recorded background vocals for
Jon Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny and Donna Summer, as well as numerous
television commercials.
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Bruce Gallipani - Bruce is a seasoned drum pro having performed
in the U.S. and abroad with several rock-n-roll touring outfits since
the late seventies. He is the founder and director of Rockit! For Kids, a
dedicated live-performance program for kids ages 8-16. As a teacher, he
not only imbues his students with proper technique but also emphasizes
the importance of group interaction and community involvement.
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Luisa Ines Garcia - Luisa holds a B.F.A. from NYU's Tisch School
of the Arts. She is currently an Acting Instructor for The Actor's Play,
where she has developed a curriculum designed to promote confidence and
self-empowerment. Ms. Garcia's approach to the art of acting is fresh,
sharp and thought provoking.
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Samantha Guistiniani - Samantha holds a B.F.A. in Theatre
Performance from Kean University. She is currently teaching for The
Learning Experience, Charlie Choo Choo Enrichment Programs. With a
specialty in creating early childhood theatre and music programs Ms.
Guistiniani is a wonderful addition to this very popular component of
our Count Basie Theatre Performing Arts Academy classes.
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Kate Havel - Kate holds a B.A. in Art Education from Kean and an
M.A. in Dance Movement from Wesleyan. She is a dancer / actress / singer
(SUGAR and ZORBA off-Broadway) and has many dinner theater, nightclub,
summer stock and children’s theater roles to her credit. A former member
of Actor’s Equity, SAG, and AFTRA, Kate studied at HB Studio, the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts and The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in
NYC. She recently retired from full time teaching.
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Keith Heimann - Keith holds a M.F.A. in music from The Julliard
School, with postgraduate work at Westminster Choir College. He is
currently a professor of music and Department Chairperson (Performing
Arts) at Brookdale Community College. Mr. Heimann appeared on Broadway
in “The Phantom of the Opera”, and also appeared with The Santa Fe
Opera, The Los Angeles Opera, The Houston Grand Opera, The New York
Grand Opera and The Vienna Kammeroper.
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Joan Kilcommons - Joan holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Speech and Theatre Arts. She
is currently teaching Reader’s Theatre, Creative Dramatics and Musical Theatre
to the children in the Red Bank Borough Schools as part of our Educational
Outreach Program.
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Vincent Mottern - Vincent received a B.A. in Music Education from
Westminster Choir College and is currently a chorus director and music
teacher for Knollwood School in Fair Haven. He is a multi-talented
musical theatre director, musician, composer and performer.
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Marc Muller - Marc is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and
is an accomplished musician, arranger, and writer/producer. As a
musician (guitar, keyboard, bass, banjo, violin, drums), Marc has toured
with Van Zant, Shania Twain, Tommy Shaw, Surreal McCoys and numerous
others. He has performed and/or recorded with Nickelback, Kelly
Clarkson, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi, Branford Marsalis, Elton John, Carly
Simon, John Waite, Dr. John, Blood Sweat and Tears, and many more.
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Robin Oddo - Robin holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Monmouth University and has numerous stage and television acting credits.
Her passion for acting has led to the development of the Black Box performance space and the New Perspectives Acting Troupe. She loves teaching and inspiring her students through improvisation, script performance and character development.
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Michael O'Keeffe - Michael has been performing improv comedy professionally for the past 20
years. One of his first gigs was with the Sak Theatre Comedy Lab in Orlando,
Florida with troupe mates Wayne Brady (Who’s Line Is It Anyway?)
Jonathan Magnum (Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza), and Aaron Shure
(producer/writer-Everybody Loves Raymond). He is the Creative Director
of Improv Jam Comedy Lab in Red Bank.
Michael holds B.A. in Education from Villanova; M.A. in Education from
Monmouth University and as his “day job” is a reading specialist in the Wall
Township School System.
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Elana Pamm - Elana holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Performance from Syracuse
University and M.S. in Education from Bank Street College. A multi-faceted
performer/recording artist/educator Ms. Pamm’s background in theatre and the
classroom makes her a much sought after teaching artist.
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Megan Sambataro Donovan - Megan is a graduate of Fairleigh
Dickinson University. For the past six years she has been performing
theatre in NYC and NJ, as well as acting in independent and student
films. Currently, Megan is also Managing Director of the New Mystics
Theatre Co., a non-profit theatre company that tours schools presenting
workshops on bullying and other social issue plays. She also teaches at
The Actors Playground.
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Michelle Staffieri - A local singer/songwriter just graduated from the Musicians Institute in
Hollywood, CA where she received her degree in Vocal Performance and Music
Business. After several years of performing throughout LA as a pop/rock artist,
Michelle returned to NJ and is currently working on the release of her new
album.
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Thomas Stanton - Tom’s impressive career as a professional
dancer, choreographer and teacher makes him a valuable addition to our
staff. From ballet to hip-hop, swing dance to tap, television to
Broadway... his passion and enthusiasm abound.
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Melanie Taylor - Melanie has over 20 years of experience in all
aspects of theatre, and for the past 12 years has shared her knowledge
as a teacher at Raritan High School. She is an accomplished and award
winning director, stage manager, and makeup artist. Melanie is the
Vice-President of the New Jersey Drama and Forensics League, and is the
Artistic Director/Co-Founder of the St. John's Community Playhouse in
Hazlet, currently in its 5th season.
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John Paul Alfonso
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John attended the University of the Arts, and studied Music Theory with Carlo Vinci, LeRoy Whitehead and Sean Diebler. John is an actor/singer/musician/musical director/educator.
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Paul Chalakani - Paul holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from Rider University and an M.F.A. in acting from George Washington University. He has trained professionally in Washington, D.C. and NYC, most notably with Robert Lewis, a founding member of the Actor’s Studio. Mr. Chalakani has worked as an actor/director nationally, off-Broadway, and locally for over 25 years.
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Marjorie Enerson - Marjorie received her B.F.A. in Theatre Arts from Montclair State University and also studied abroad for 6 months at Middlesex Polytechnic in England. She created and implemented the Performing Arts curriculum for Monmouth Academy (formerly known as Lakewood Prep) from 2004 to 2011.
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Jacqueline Mazza - Jacqueline holds a BA in Art Education. She is the choreographer and assistant technical director at Middletown HS South. Jacqueline is experienced with a wide variety of tap styles. She has performed in off-Broadway productions, in numerous community theatre productions, and is a member of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble.
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Bradley Mott - Bradley Mott has been working in the Theatre, Television, Film, and commercials over the past 30 years. His film and television work includes: The Accidental Tourist, The Applegates, Stranger than Fiction, Mildred Pierce for HBO, Roseanne, A Different World, and ER. He recently finished filming on the new Cohen Brothers picture Inside Llewyn Davis. Bradley has taught for over 30 years at Columbia College, Northwestern University in Chicago, Monmouth University, and NYC’s prestigious CAP21.
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Elaenee Frangos Nowell - Elaenee has performed with the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Philadelphia Opera Company, the New York Jazz Choreography Project, and locally with Red Bank’s Company of Dance Arts for whom she has also choreographed and served as rehearsal assistant and children’s ballet mistress. Mrs. Nowell has been a staff member of the Count Basie Theatre’s Outreach program since 2008. She is currently in the process of her Pilates certification with the Kane School of Core Integration in NYC.
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Amy Fredericks
- Amy holds a B.F.A. in Music. She is a soloist with the Arcadian Chorale and has served as Musical Director for numerous community and high school theater productions. She is currently teaching private voice and piano.
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Patti Dunnels - Patti graduated from Monmouth University with a degree in Art Education. She has been teaching at Raritan High School, Hazlet, NJ for the past 38 years. She has also worked as an art teacher for the Summer Arts program at Brookdale Community College for 15 years. Patti has been designing sets for the plays at Raritan for the past 13 years and has had the honor of receiving the Basie Award for Outstanding Set Design three times.
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Joseph Russo - Joseph has a B.A. in Communication Arts and an M.A. in Theatre and Human Communications. He is currently the Director of the Drama Program at Red Bank Regional High School and has been teaching, acting, and directing for over 39 years.
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Christopher Tomaino - Chris is a local actor and educator. He holds a B.A. in Speech/Communications/Theatre from Monmouth University and an M.F.A. in Acting from Indiana University. He has been an adjunct instructor at Brookdale Community College for the past 10 years as well as being the Musical Theatre Coordinator for the Somerset County Performing Arts Program for six years, creating and running the first curricular Musical Theatre program in the state of NJ.
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