Meet Our Teaching Artists

Anderson, Colin

Colin Anderson

Teaching Artist

 

Colin Anderson

Teaching Artist

Colin joined CTM after moving to Madison in the summer of 2021. He has been a Theatre Arts and Social Studies teacher in both Utah and Wisconsin, working with students in grades 7-12. Colin has directed, stage managed, and done costumes and scenic design for both school and community productions. Some of his favorite elective courses to teach are Fashion History as well as Costume Design. Colin received his BA in History Education and BFA in Theatre Education from Utah State University. He is thrilled to now be in Madison and a part of CTM!
close
Baldauf, Aaron

Aaron Baldauf

Teaching Artist

 

Aaron Baldauf

Teaching Artist

Aaron Baldauf (Music Director/Accompanist) joined CTM’s Summer Stage program in 2019 as music director and accompanist for Beauty and the Beast Jr. His previous theater credits include Otto in UTA’s production of Spring Awakening and music director/accompanist for UTA’s production of Songs for a New World. He graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in Vocal and General Music Education, and he currently teaches music, chorus, and musical theater at Glacier Creek Middle School in Middleton.
close
Breadon, Enda

Enda Breadon

Teaching Artist

 

Enda Breadon

Teaching Artist

At CTM, Enda teaches comedy and improv for teens, creative drama for elementary school students, in-school workshops and playwriting residencies with CTM’s Young Playwrights program. For over 20 years he has worked in professional theatre and comedy while also teaching. He has been a performer, director, playwright, clown, puppeteer, movement coach, and all-around nice guy. His theatre adventures include prominent companies like Honolulu Theatre for Youth, San Diego’s Old Globe, Trinity College Dublin, Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre and many more. Enda has four incomplete master’s degrees and a semi-prominent award for the worst play he ever directed.
close
Bryan, Kristina

Kristina Bryan

Teaching Artist

 

Kristina Bryan

Teaching Artist

Kristina Bryan (Movement Coach) is a performer, choreographer, and composer/lyricist from Madison, WI. After participating in CTM summer camps growing up, she went on to earn a BFA in Musical Theatre with a Dance Minor from Ball State University. With over ten years’ professional performance experience, Kristina loves to share her passion with the next generation of creators. She recently choreographed the Grand Carnivale festival at Valleyfair and has loved being “on the other side of the table” with CTM. Next, she is filming an indie horror movie, set to release in early 2022.
close
Ciucci, Jaddy

Jaddy Ciucci

Teaching Artist

 

Jaddy Ciucci

Teaching Artist

Jaddy Ciucci is a theatre artist who has performed with Indiana Repertory Theatre, Beef & Boards, Actors Theatre Indiana, Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis Shakespeare Company, and The Childrens Museum. She is a TYA actor, educator, and director working with Young Actors Theatre, Q Artistry, Trike Theatre, and of course, CTM. She is currently in residence at Trike Theatre developing Social-Emotional curriculum for Pre-K classrooms in Arkansas, as well as acting, teaching, directing, and choreographing. Jaddy received her BA training at Indiana University Bloomington and is currently pursuing Teacher Certification with the National Michael Chekhov Association. Jaddy grew up in Chicago and Northeast Wisconsin.
close
Coltrane, Shannon

Shannon Coltrane

Teaching Artist

 

Shannon Coltrane

Teaching Artist

Hailing from the left coast, Shannon is a theatre maker, teacher, and devoted artist with a passion for nature and the wonders of our human world. In addition to acting and directing, Shannon loves to teach young artists. Before moving to the midwest for my acting MFA and falling in love with Madison, she received an MA in drama therapy from NYU. Shannon loves to teach folks interested in theatrical techniques to enact social and personal change for health and happiness. Let's enjoy this journey of life! ShannonColtrane.com
close
Cowing, Brian

Brian Cowing

Teaching Artist

 

Brian Cowing

Teaching Artist

Brian Cowing is a Director/Choreographer. Madison directing credits include: Capital City Theatre’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, Four Seasons Theatre’s Spamalot, Les Misérables, She Loves Me, and South Pacific. With Children’s Theater of Madison, he directed and choreographed Matilda, Tuck Everlasting, Seussical, and The Wizard of Oz. Brian has also served as guest director/choreographer at Clinton Showboat Theatre, Binghamton University, and Oklahoma City University. Teaching credits include CTM’s Summer Stage, Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway Bootcamp, OCU’s Performing Arts Academy and Tianjin Conservatory. As an actor, National Tours: Annie (Mr. Bundles/Dance Captain), Something Rotten (Ensemble, u/s Nostradamus, Brother Jeremiah). Proud graduate of Oklahoma City University.
close
Curry, Bob

Bob Curry

Teaching Artist

 

Bob Curry

Teaching Artist

Bob Curry has performed at The Old Globe Theater in San Diego and American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin, as well as Madison community theaters. He is co-writer of the movie "The Last Great Ride" starring Ernest Borgnine and Eileen Brennan and a playwright. A founding member and long-time officer of Playwrights Ink, a play/playwright development group based in Madison, he teaches English Literature and Film at Madison College.
close
Emery, Kristen

Kristen Emery

Teaching Artist

 

Kristen Emery

Teaching Artist

Kristen Emery is an elementary school teacher in Sun Prairie where she leads an after-school drama club program. She is also a professional stage manager and Music Theatre of Madison’s Company Manager, where she manages all company business and stage manages select MTM shows. Before moving to Madison, she worked as a general manager for Cardinal Stage Company in Bloomington, IN. Kristen has also worked for Fresco Opera Theatre and SPCT in Madison, Legacy Theatre and the Long Wharf Theatre in Connecticut, and the Abingdon Theatre Company and OnTheSquareProductions in New York. Kristen is so happy and grateful to be one of CTM’s teaching artists, where she typically works with the elementary grade levels 1 week summer stage programs.
close
Garrow, Kelly

Kelly Garrow

Teaching Artist

 

Kelly Garrow

Teaching Artist

Kelly Garrow has directed, choreographed, and accompanied theatrical performances for over 10 years. Her primary experience has been with youth and she has worked with age groups varying from 5-18 years old. Kelly teaches voice, piano, and band instrument lessons to people of all ages. She attended UW-Whitewater where she earned her Bachelor’s of Music with a focus in Music History and Theory. She is excited to share her passion with the wonderful people at CTM.
close
Gay, Trevin

Trevin Gay

Teaching Artist

 

Trevin Gay

Teaching Artist

Trevin Gay has directed and performed around the globe for 30+ years. He is a teaching artist, director, actor and arts administrator. He holds an MFA in Actor Created Physical Theatre from Naropa University in conjunction with the London International School of Performing Arts. Trevin is thrilled to serve as the Artist Relations Manager for CTM, Core Ensemble Member of Are We Delicious? and as a teaching artist for Whoopensocker, Theatre Lila, Forward Theatre, and CTM.
close
Halminiak, Lauri

Lauri Halminiak

Teaching Artist

 

Lauri Halminiak

Teaching Artist

Lauri Halminiak joined CTM in 2015 as a Teaching Artist. She helped pilot the program “Setting the Stage” for children on the Autism spectrum. That same season, CTM introduced a 4K-K theater camp where Lauri teaches creative drama to our youngest artists. In addition, Lauri has been associated with Verona Area Community Theater, where she produced “Parachute Players” a special needs theater camp. At VACT she’s served as an Assistant Stage Manager, Director’s Apprentice and is an award winning Costume Designer. She works for the Verona Area School District in Special Education and as the Producer for the VAHS Theatre Department.
close
Hart, Donald

Donald C. Hart

Teaching Artist

 

Donald C. Hart

Teaching Artist

Donald C. Hart is a Madison-based director, actor, and playwright. He received his BA in theatre performance from UW-La Crosse, and his MFA in theatre directing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Most of his work since moving to Madison in 2018 has been with UW-Platteville Richland as an adjunct theatre instructor. Aside from that, Don has worked with Sun Prairie Civic Theatre, Portage Area Community Theatre, and The Community Players of Southwestern Wisconsin. He currently is the president of The Community Players of Southwestern Wisconsin’s board of directors. Don is thrilled to be among CTM’s teaching artists.
close
Hoel-Neds, Lindsey

Lindsey Hoel-Neds

Teaching Artist

 

Lindsey Hoel-Neds

Teaching Artist

Lindsey Hoel-Neds is a Madison-based teaching artist, director, designer, and dramaturg. She holds a BA in English and Theatre Education from Ripon College and an MA in Theatre Research with an emphasis on Theatre for Youth from UW-Madison. Lindsey has taught and directed drama programs at several public schools in southern Wisconsin, but now enjoys the variety of freelance life. She works with CTM, Overture Center, Milwaukee Rep, First Act, WCATY, and several Madison-area community theatres and schools. Lindsey is also honored to serve as Artistic Director of Proud Theater-Madison.
close
Joe, Mynda

Mynda Joe

Teaching Artist

 

Mynda Joe

Teaching Artist

Mynda is has been choreographing for CTM since 2018. Her love of children, the arts, and education permeate every aspect of her life. Her professional dancing career included Chicago City Ballet and Footlight Theatre. She is licensed and certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), a certified Reiki Master, and Level Two Healing Touch Practitioner. She has also volunteered for Hospice care for over 17 years. Mynda’s passions for performing arts, community, and service led her to create Variations Dance Studio, vdsmadison.com. She is a mother of three and grandmother of three, all great dancers!
close
Johnson, Ciara

Ciara Johnson

Teaching Artist

 

Ciara Johnson

Teaching Artist

Ciara Johnson joined CTM in the summer of 2019 after moving to Madison. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago and moved to this city to pursue a career combining childhood education and the arts. Prior to CTM, she worked at the Lycée Français de Chicago with children aged 3-5 years old. She has a special interest in early childhood literacy and also volunteers at the Madison Public Library in addition to being a teaching artist.
close
Kies, Daniel

Daniel Kies

Teaching Artist

 

Daniel Kies

Teaching Artist

Daniel has had the pleasure of teaching & directing youth at various summer camps for the last eight years! Previously at CTM, he served as a teaching artist for Up, Up & Away & as director for Annie. Daniel is a South Florida native now happily claimed as a Chicago based actor, director & educator. Education includes MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University, BA in Musical Theatre from Palm Beach Atlantic University and studying playwriting/solo performance abroad at the University of Roehampton in London. Daniel is a company member with the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival & Kane Repertory Theatre. www.danielkies.com
close
McConnell, Erin

Erin McConnell

Teaching Artist

 

Erin McConnell

Teaching Artist

Erin McConnell has been working as a professional artist for over a decade, specializing in performance, production, and arts education. She works regularly within the theater departments at UW-Madison and MATC, as well as many regional theater companies. She can frequently be found on the Madison stage. She enjoys teaching the next generation of rock performers at Girls Rock Camp and expanding students’ creative expression through arts-in-the-schools programs like Whoopensocker. Erin believes in an integrative, emotional, and play-based approach to artistic instruction. She approaches teaching with a service based mindset and is eager to help every student meet (and exceed) their goals.
close
Michelle, Sabra

Sabra Michelle

Teaching Artist

 

Sabra Michelle

Teaching Artist

Besides being a respected dance teacher and choreographer for all ages and many techniques, Sabra is best known as a triple-threat redheaded soubrette in regional productions of well-loved musicals. She has toured with the Broadway revival of The Pajama Game, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, President Clinton’s Inauguration in George Faison’s KING! A Musical Testimony with Maya Angelou, and The Bear in the Big Blue House LIVE! (video released by Disney/Jim Henson/Columbia Tristar), with whom she toured internationally for 3 seasons. Married to Overture stagehand Brian Weinkauf. Proud member of IATSE Local 251! www.SabraMichelle.com
close
Milisch, Paul

Paul Milisch

Teaching Artist

 

Paul Milisch

Teaching Artist

Paul has been the Producing Director of Theater at Madison East High School since 2008. He has worked with MadCAP, Forward Theater, and several other local theatre companies as an actor, director, and teaching artist. Directing highlights include Beauty and the Beat (CTM Summer Stage), Rhinoceros (East High), Six Characters in Search of an Author (Edgewood College), Bunnicula (CTM Mainstage), and PIPPIN (East High).
close
Moschea, Tammy

Tammy Moschea

Teaching Artist

 

Tammy Moschea

Teaching Artist

Tammy is excited to return to CTM for her 15th year as a director, choreographer, and teaching artist. She received a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre/Dance from Millikin University. She performed in Japan with Raymond Productions and toured nationally with CPTT of Chicago before becoming CPTT's Associate Artistic Director. She has collaborated with The Goodman Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, and Hubbard Street Dance. In the Madison area, she has taught classes, choreographed, and directed shows for schools. She received a Tommy Award for Best Choreography for 42nd Street at Waunakee. She has performed with Madison Repertory Theatre and the Bricks. Tammy also directed Take Care for Tapit New Works Ensemble Theatre, which toured in Alaska.
close
Norman, Katherine

Katherine Norman

Teaching Artist

 

Katherine Norman

Teaching Artist

Katherine Norman is an artist, educator, and scholar based in Madison. Some of her favorite teaching experiences include work with the Children’s Theatre of Madison, Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Oakhill Prison Humanities Project, Whoopensocker, and several NGOs in India. Her academic research is focused on the cognitive and neuro-developmental impact of drama practices. Favorite performance credits include Door Shakespeare, Optimist Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park, Double Edge, Adishakti, and the Missoula Children’s Theatre. She holds an MA in Theatre for Youth from the UW-Madison and a BFA in acting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. www.KatherineENorman.com
close
Rees, Trevor

Trevor Rees

Teaching Artist

 

Trevor Rees

Teaching Artist

Trevor is a professional actor, director, educator, movement/fight choreographer, and motion capture actor/stunt performer. He received his MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Acting & Directing and his BA in both Theatre and Communications from Cardinal Stritch University. Trevor has worked professionally with Northern Sky Theater, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Children's Theater of Madison, Theatre LILA, Forward Theater Company, Renaissance Theaterworks, Four Seasons Theatre, Capital City Theatre, University Theatre, Six Flags Great America, and Jennifer's Talent (commercial and radio) to name just a few. Trevor has been a motion capture/stunt performer for the Call of Duty franchise since 2013.
close
Reiss, Jody

Jody Reiss

Teaching Artist

 

Jody Reiss

Teaching Artist

Jody Reiss is a professional actress who worked for many years with a small theater company in NYC. She has toured Russia as Sonya in Uncle Vanya with the company & taught theater as well as done residencies in the NYC & tri state area. She's also worked with the Madison Repertory Theater and done community theater as well in Madison. Jody's taught acting and improvisation classes to children & adults of all ages & abilities.
close
Rosche, Cayla

Cayla Rosche

Teaching Artist

 

Cayla Rosche

Teaching Artist

Cayla Rosché is a second year DMA student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in voice performance with a minor in Vocal Pedagogy. She specializes in helping singers understand how their voice works and how to set up a sustainable vocal technique. Since moving to Madison in 2015, Cayla has been a teaching artist with CTM. She has an extensive musical theater and operatic performance history including the roles Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast, Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, and Anne Sexton in Transformations. When Cayla’s not teaching at CTM, she’s teaching in her home studio.
close
Russell, Scott

Scott Russell

Teaching Artist

 

Scott Russell

Teaching Artist

Scott Russell is an AEA actor, SDC fight choreographer, educator, and an Associate Fight Director/Full Instructor with Dueling Arts International, and recently served as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Movement and Stage Combat at the University of Oklahoma. He is recognized as an Advanced Actor Combatant with DAI and the Society of American Fight Directors. Scott is a graduate of The Conservatory at Act One Studios – Chicago, holds an undergraduate degree in Biology from Belmont University, and received his MFA from the University of Arkansas. For more information about Scott and his work, visit www.scottnrussell.com
close
Saplan, Kailea

Kailea Saplan

Teaching Artist

 

Kailea Saplan

Teaching Artist

Kailea Saplan is a third generation Filipina-American, originally from the Big Island of Hawai'i. In 2016, Kailea received dual bachelor's degrees in Theatre and Philosophy at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR. Since graduating from college, Kailea has predominately worked on Shakespeare productions in Portland, OR and Madison, WI. She received her Master's of Science in Education at UW Madison in 2018, and recently began her Ph.D. also in Education, studying the relationship between social justice and arts education. Kailea loves being a teaching artist for Whoopensocker!, the Bubbler at Madison Public Library, and CTM.
close
Spiers, Jenna Grossman 2

Jenna Grossman Spiers

Teaching Artist

 

Jenna Grossman Spiers

Teaching Artist

Jenna Grossman Spiers is the Education Associate at CTM. As a teaching artist, Jenna has worked with ages 4-16 in school, theater and community settings across the country, working with organizations like the Portland Stage Company and the Viola Project. Jenna has presented at the American Alliance for Theater Education twice and has presented at other theater education conferences nationally. Jenna leads CTM’s residency program at the Lussier Community Education Center, she teaches in CTM’s academic year classes and leads most of CTM’s pre-show workshops in schools. Jenna’s favorite things to teach are devising, playmaking, improv and Shakespeare.
close
Spurgeon, Katie

Katie Spurgeon

Teaching Artist

 

Katie Spurgeon

Teaching Artist

Katie Spurgeon is a teaching artist with CTM's summer stage. She most enjoys directing the Best of Broadway 2-week camp and the elementary age camps as well. Katie is also involved with Whoopensocker - a program that uses theatre games to teach creative writing to 3rd graders. She loves getting to perform the stories that the students write, because they get to see their ideas come to life on stage. When she's not on stage, Katie enjoys competitive figure skating and her DLI teaching job in MMSD!
close
Spurgeon, Leah

Leah Spurgeon

Teaching Artist

 

Leah Spurgeon

Teaching Artist

Leah Spurgeon has worked for CTM for the past six years, choreographing for multiple Summer Stage productions. She recently graduated from Edgewood College, majoring in Biology and double minoring in Chemistry and Nutrition. She also currently works as a personal trainer and figure skating instructor. Leah plans on channeling her theatrical side as long as possible with hopes of dancing her way into medical school in the near future.
close
Taylor, Sam

Sam Taylor

Teaching Artist

 

Sam Taylor

Teaching Artist

Sam Taylor is a Madison-based performer, music director, and teaching artist. Since starting with CTM in 2019, he’s worked on several camps and mainstage productions. He received his B.A. in Music and Psychology at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. You can often find Sam playing piano or bass in local pit orchestras and as a performer in productions including CTM’s Matilda the Musical and Four Seasons Theatre’s All is Calm. Outside theater, Sam co-founded and coordinates the Lullaby Project at Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs in Appleton, a music outreach program that pairs mothers with musicians to write lullabies.
close
Welk, Amy

Amy L. Welk

Teaching Artist

 

Amy L. Welk

Teaching Artist

Amy L. Welk has taught many classes for younger children at CTM, including Movers and Shakers, Sing Out, and Sing Out in Summer. She continues to marvel at children’s ability to tell stories in many ways. Amy is the Director of Bernie’s Place Inc., a childcare center for the University. Amy has a BFA in Theatre Performance from UW-Whitewater and attended Graduate School at the University of London: RHC. Favorite acting roles include: National tour: Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider); Regional: Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett), White Christmas (Martha), Oliver (Nancy), Showboat (Julie), 1776 (Ben Franklin), Fiddler on the Roof (Golde), Anne of Green Gables (Marilla), Follies (Hattie), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Mrs. Meers).
close
Wills, Emily

Emily Wills

Teaching Artist

 

Emily Wills

Teaching Artist

Emily Wills is a recent transplant to Madison, hailing from the Chicago theater and arts scene. Back in the Windy City, Emily led improv workshops, directed summer camp programs, and taught as the Drama Specialist for grades K-3 at Chiaravalle Montessori School in Evanston. Emily is thrilled to be joining the incredible team at Children's Theater of Madison and to start putting down roots on the Isthmus!
close
Wolfe, Tessa

Tessa Wolfe

Teaching Artist

 

Tessa Wolfe

Teaching Artist

Tessa, a Madison-native, is a director and Teaching artist, who has recently moved back to the area. She has a BS in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. Most recently she was the Education Manager for Boston Children’s Theatre. She is also an Elementary School teacher in the Sun Prairie School District. Outside of her Theatre life, she enjoys playing with her puppy and kayaking. She is thrilled to be part of the fantastic team at Children’s Theatre of Madison!
close
Wurzelbacher, Mark

Mark Wurzelbacher

Teaching Artist

 

Mark Wurzelbacher

Teaching Artist

Mark Wurzelbacher’s CTM mainstage music directing credits include Beat Bugs, Peter Pan, Matilda, Willy Wonka, How I Became A Pirate, Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly, Madagascar, Seussical, along with countless summer camps. Mark has worked with numerous Madison-area organizations as a music director, accompanist, teacher, arranger, and composer, including Music Theatre of Madison (Artistic Associate), Forward Theater (Fun Home), Theatre Lila (Romeo & Juliet), Whoopensocker, UW-Madison University Theater, Madison Savoyards, and Fresco Opera. He maintains a private piano teaching studio. markwurzelbacher.com
close
Details