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THE FACULTY:
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Amy Casserly-Ellis,
Executive
Director
Amy’s professional career in New
York includes extensive theatre, television and commercial work. She has
performed with Michael Jackson at Lincoln Center, and with Greg Hines in
Off-Broadway showcases. Her teaching credits include Gus Giordano
(Chicago), American Musical and Dramatic Academy (NYC), Theatre Dance
(NYC), Rhinelander Center - Children’s Aid Society, (NYC) and the
University of Minnesota. Her regional theatre credits include A
Chorus Line, How to Succeed in Business, 42nd Street, Crazy for
You, and most recently, Oklahoma at the Ordway. |
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Kerry Casserly,
Artistic Director
Kerry has worked professionally in New
York for 23 years under Broadway’s most renowned directors, including
Michael Bennett, Tommy Tune, Bob Fosse, Martin Chamin and Peter Gennaro.
On Broadway she performed in Pippin, A Chorus Line, Annie, My One and
Only, and Annie Warbucks. Kerry has been on faculty with
the dance department of New York University at CAP 21, a satellite of
Tisch, as well as the American Musical and Dramatic Acacemy in NYC.
Favorite TV and film credits include: All that Jazz, Barishnikov on
Broadway, David Letterman and Guiding Light. |
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Susan Casserly-Kosel,
Vocal
Director
Susan is a veteran performer whose
experience ranges from opera and operetta to nightclub, pop, folk, and
musical comedy. As a Studio Artist with the Minnesota Opera, she
performed in several seasons of main stage productions. Her favorite
credits include Corrilla in Donizetti’s, Viva La Mamma and
Rosalinde in Die Fliedermaus, Mabel in Pirates of
Penzance, Gianetta inThe Gondoliers, and the title role in Patience.
Susan is currently the soprano soloist and cantor for St.Olaf Catholic
Church and soprano with the Trapp Singers Octet. |
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Janie Casserly- McMonagle,
Dance
Faculty
Janie’s credits include the National
Tour of A Chorus Line, and internationally, Music in
the Mirror in Seoul, Korea (director Baayork Lee, choreographer
Bobby Longbottom). Her regional credits include Good News (North
Shore Music Theatre), 42nd Street and A Chorus Line (Chanhassen
Dinner Theatre), My Fair Lady and Merry Widow (Minnesota
Opera Company, Ordway Music Theatre). Janie has assisted Michelle Assaf
of the Broadway Dance Center, NYC. She also has an extensive commercial
resume and has worked with the Ford Agency as a professional model. She
has been a guest teacher for Larkin School of Dance and works locally
with Moore Creative Talent. |
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Peggy
O'Connell, Acting
Peggy
O’Connell is a true triple threat actress,
singer, dancer. Locally she is best known for her KUDO Award winning
portrayal of Annie Oakley in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN at Chanhassen Dinner
Theater. She has professional performance and teaching credits from
coast to coast. She played “Mickey” in MY ONE AND ONLY on Broadway, and
many will remember her as “Doris” on the CBS Television show, NORTHERN
EXPOSURE. Recently she appeared in the roles of Gail, Marge, and John
in the Guthrie Lab production of NICKEL AND DIMED. She has teaching
credentials from the University of Montana, Seattle Community College,
and the Seattle Children’s Theater School. At the Lundstrum Center her
love of the craft of acting is enthusiastically passed on to her
students who are performing on stages throughout the Twin Cities, as
well as in Films and Television in Hollywood.
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Billy Johnstone, Guest Artist
Billy
appeared
on Broadway in the record breaking and final company of CATS
where he played the role of "Coricopat," one of the twin cats. He also
understudied and performed the roles of "Mungojerrie" and "Skimbleshanks."
Prior to Broadway he toured the US and Canada with the national tour of
CATS in the role of "Mungojerrie". Previous credits include
the role of "Paul" in the European Tour of A CHORUS LINE and
regional productions of WEST SIDE STORY, PIPPIN,
GUYS & DOLLS, and AS YOU LIKE IT. His
television credits include promotional commercials for NICK-AT-NITE,
and appearances on the TONY AWARDS BROADCAST, the ROSIE
O'DONNELL SHOW and the TODAY SHOW. Billy has appeared as a
guest performer at New York University as well as a guest choreographer at
Marymount Manhattan College. He has taught master classes throughout the
United States. Faculty of The American Musical and
Dramatic Academy in Manhattan and Wagner College in Staten Island, NY.
Director Ivoryton Playhouse, Conneticut.
Billy is a native of New Britain, CT and studied Musical Theatre at the
Boston Conservatory. |
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Cheryl
Teague, Ballet Instructor
Cheryl comes from a ballet
background, studied with SAB and graduated from N.C. School of the Arts.
She has been in several ballet and modern companies before moving on to
show business and Broadway. She performed in several national and
international tours of A Chorus Line, and has recently been seen
at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre as Patsy in Crazy for You, Babe in Good
News, Claudine in Can Can, and many featured dance roles.
Cheryl is renowned in the Twin Cities as a highly experienced and
skilled teacher. |
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Eugene Fleming, Guest Artist
Eugene has performed in 17 Broadway shows,
including: FOSSE, KISS ME KATE, SOPHISTICATED LADIES, A CHORUS LINE, TAP
DANCE KID, BLACK 'N BLUE, SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, NEVER GONNA DANCE, THE WIZ,
DREAM GIRLS etc. etc.
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Kathleen
Bloom, Voice
Kathleen brings more than 20 years of performance experience both here in
the Twin Cities and around the country. Her experience ranges from
Musical Theater and Operetta to television commercials and film. Recently
she has delighted Twin Cities audiences with her performance in the
musical review, Legendary Ladies of Broadway. As a regular at the
Chanhassen Dinner Theater has appeared in Music Man, My Fair Lady, and
played the roles of Berthe in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and Lady Anne and Nimue
in CAMELOT. Kathleen spent 10 years in New York where she performed Off-
Broadway with the Lamb’s Theater Company as "The Thought Girl in the world
premiere of OPAL and as "Della" in THE GIFT OF THE MAGI. Other highlights
include Anna in THE KING AND I, Eliza Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY, Christine
in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Kathleen is a graduate of the American Musical
and Dramatic Academy in New York and and holds a BA in Voice from the
University of Minnesota.
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Lev
Mailer, Acting
For over 30 years Lev Mailer has been a veteran actor and director,
coach and teacher in Hollywood both in film and television on and off
camera beginning with the original Star Trek series. During that period
he worked on stage productions both in Los Angeles and New York as an
actor and director. He has been associated with producers and directors: Clint Eastwood,
Robert Wise, Sydney Pollach, Alex Rose, James Goldstone, Tom Schulman,
Bill Shatner, and Leonard Nimoy as well as numerous casting directors
and agents.
As National Chair of the Screen Actors’ Guild Conservatory he has
participated in seminars with many other producers, directors, casting
directors and agents. His own teachers include Sanford Meisner, Lee
Strasberg, Harold Clurman and Martha Graham.
He was on the faculty of the American Film Institute as well as five
other leading Los Angeles area colleges.
Of his private teaching, the definitive Film Actor’s Complete
Career Guide listed him among the best "in the teaching of
acting techniques for beginning/intermediate and professional
actors." He was honored to be on the same list as his own teacher
Sanford Meisner. |
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Bob Hindel,
Composer /
Accompanist
Bob
is a composer, performer and teacher. He has written extensively for
vocalists, instrumental ensembles, ballet, theatre and orchestra.
Currently he is developing the musical ensemble Cantabile. |
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Luctricia
"Lu" Welters-Wiley, Dance Instructor
Lu Welters-Wiley has performed with the Alvin
Ailey Repertory Ensemble, New York; Philadanco Dance Company,
Philadelphia; Leja Dance Company, Philadelphia; Premiere Dance Theatre,
Bloomington, NJ; Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Los Angeles. |
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Christine Fournier, Acting
Christine Fournier started formal dance
training at the age of 7 followed by theatre training at the University
of Minnesota. She started her professional career in New York at
21 under the direction of such legends as Bob Fosse and Jerome
Robbins. She appeared in the original Broadway production of
"Sweet Charity" with the late Gwen Verdon and the Broadway and
National companies of "West Side Story" in Tokyo, Japan.
She became the first choreographer of the renown Chanhassen Dinner
Theatre in 1968. As an actor and teacher she has worked as an
on-camera talent, voice over specialist and coach for auditions,
commercials and film work. |
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DeAnne Dillon,
Professional Model, Actress
Deanne was a student of Dorothy
Lundstrum and brings Dorothy's legacy to her teaching style. She is a
veteran of print, runway, film and television modeling.
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Cathy Wind, Tap Instructor
Cathy has performed with great tap artists such as Gregory Hines, Savion
Glover, and is a student of the Maestro Lane Alexander. She is
Co-Artistic Director of Keane Sense of Rhythm Tap company along
with her equally accomplished sister, Ellen. With KSR she has performed
around the United States, Canada, and Europe including performances with
the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Human Rhythm Project and the
Minneapolis and Thunder Bay Fringe Festivals. She is a much sought
after tap teacher and award winning choreographer. The Lundstrum Center
for the Performing Arts is very pleased to offer Tap classes taught by
Cathy. |
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Ellen Keane, Tap Instructor
Ellen has been dancing
professionally since 1981. She has appeared on the nationally syndicated
Television show Dance Fever and toured nationally as the lead in the
Muppet Babies Live. Ellen is listed on the MN State Arts Board roster of
artists. Ellen choreographed and performed for three seasons with the
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Her other choreography credits include over
a dozen musicals for high schools, community and professional theaters and
she has created award winning choreography for her students. As
Co-Artistic Director of Keane Sense of Rhythm Tap company, she has
brought her high energy and solid technique to both the Minneapolis and
Chicago Rhythm Projects, has been featured at both the Minneapolis and
Thunder Bay Fringe Festivals as well as performances in Poland and
Ireland.
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Andy
Ausland, HipHop/Tap Instructor
Andy has studied dance extensively in
Minneapolis, New York and Los Angeles. He is currently a choreographer
and featured performer in the Twin Cities tap and hiphop group,
Buckets and Tap Shoes. His brother Rick is also a member of the
group. Together they will be teaching Rhythm TAP. |
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Dario Mejia,
Dance Instructor
Dario Mejia is a Julliard-trained dance
instructor with a major in Dance Performance. He has performed
with the North Star Opera Co.; Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy; the
Harlem Nutcracker; the Joffrey Nutcracker; Rumblings Minnesota Dance
Co., and competed in many national dance competitions. |
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Stephen Pelinski, Acting Instructor
As a professional actor, Stephen Pelinski
has performed in many of the most prestigious theaters across the
country. He has played over 30 leading roles in classical plays. In
addition to his stage work, Stephen has taught and coached students at
the University of Delaware, the University of Minnesota and Macalester
College. He has been awarded a Fox Fellowship, a McKnight Fellowship,
and the honor of being voted into the Guthrie Theater’s Hall of Fame. |
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Glenn Turner!
Broadway: FIVE GUYS
NAMED MOE; GRAND HOTEL; MY ONE AND ONLY; A CHORUS LINE; GREASE Off-Broadway:
THE WILD PARTY; ON THE TOWN
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Guest Artists:
Lars Rosager:
Dancer Choreopgrapher: Triple threat
musical theater artist and teacher. Broadway: original
42nd Street w/ Gower Champion; Cabaret W/Harold Prince;
American Dance Machine; Television specials: Performance at the
White House, Best of Broadway, Showstoppers. Teaching: New York
University and American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Billy Johnstone, (Broadway cast of CATS!),
Angelique Ilo (Dance Captain of Contact - Best Musical Tony Award
2000), Eugene Fleming (Broadway cast of Fosse, and Kiss Me
Kate) |
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