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Shrek 2016
Who We Are
The Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Theatre program provides students with the comprehensive theatre arts studies and practical experiences necessary to enter prestigious university or conservatory theatre programs, professional arts industries, as well as establish a life-long love for the arts. We believe that theater has the unique power to highlight the human connection. As a faculty, we are committed to providing that connection to all our students through the holistic development of their education. We are dedicated to being an equitable home to all by removing barriers that may discourage any person from working to their highest potential. We are committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression in both our curriculum and extracurricular practice. At DSOA Theatre, we will strive to be a community that reflects the diversity of thought and identities present in our world.
Based upon a track system, students choose to focus their studies on Acting, Musical Theatre, or Technical Theatre. DSOA Theatre annually produces both a straight play and a musical in our mainstage theatre, Meyer Hall, as well as a straight play and musical in the Black Box Theatre, in addition to several student showcases.
Now in its 30th year, DSOA Theatre alumni have been seen on Broadway, Film/TV, national tours, cruise ships, and regional theatres across the country. Graduates have been accepted to The Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Berklee School of Music, CalArts, Carnegie Mellon, Elon, Emerson, Florida State, The Hartt School, The Juilliard School, Marymount Manhattan College, University of Michigan, The New School, New World School of the Arts, NYU-Tisch, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Northwestern, Oklahoma City University, Pace, Penn State, Point Park, Roosevelt, Syracuse University, Southern Methodist University, SUNY Purchase, Texas State University, University of the Arts, University of Southern California and Webster University. ​Students have also attended summer programs at Boston University, Broadway Artists Alliance, Broadway Artists Intensive, Broadway Theatre Project, Cincinnati College Conservatory, Florida State University Summer Theatre Intensive, French Woods Festival, the MUNY, NY Conservatory of Dramatic Art, Northwestern University, Oklahoma City University, Penn State University, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Texas State University, The Performing Arts Project, Triple Arts, University of the Arts, Wagner College.
FACULTY
Kristina Johnson Leljedal
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DEAN OF THEATRE, ACTING, AICE DRAMA
BA THEATRE, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
MFA ACTING, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA​​
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Kristina is thrilled to be the Dean of Theatre for her second year. She has been an educator for over 10 years with this being her sixth year at Dreyfoos. She is an educator, actor, and director who grew up in Coral Springs, FL. Kristina earned her MFA in Acting from the University of Florida and her BA in Theatre from Pennsylvania State University. She had the opportunity to study abroad and train in London at FSU’s Theatre Academy where she spent three months immersed in the English Theatre scene. She even got to perform on the Globe Stage! She also worked in the office of new play development at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre producing their annual new play festival, and worked closely to produce the National New Play Network Festival held in Orlando. Kristina has a passion for new works and wants to spread that love to her students.
Kristina has been involved with numerous workshop productions and new works over the years. She most notably workshopped the production of PUFFS before it moved Off-Broadway to the New World Stages. Kristina has been an adjunct professor of theater at various colleges, including Santa Fe College and the College of Central Florida. She spent three years creating the drama department at Coral Glades High School where she brought two one-acts to the Florida State Thespian Festival and won numerous South Florida Cappies awards for her productions. Before transitioning to Education, Kristina enjoyed a successful regional theater career. Favorite theatrical credits include The Hippodrome Theatre (1984, The Bikinis, Million Dollar Quartet), The Garden Theatre (1984), Penn State Centre Stage (As You Like It, Bubble Boy The Musical), The Walnut Street Theatre (The Boy In The Bathroom), and Slow Burn Theater Company (Legally Blonde, Parade, Side Show, Into the Woods, Urinetown). Kristina’s favorite directing credits include Radium Girls, Shakespeare in Love, PUFFS, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Lost Girl, How Can You Run With A Shell on Your Back, Roots of Red, Little Women, The Curious Savage, and Urinetown. Kristina’s passion for theatre only rivals her passion for educating others about theatre, and she is BEYOND excited to start her sixth year here at DSOA.
Stephanie Nixdorf​
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INSTRUCTOR & DIRECTOR OF MUSICAL THEATRE
PHD, COMPARATIVE STUDIES, FINE & PERFORMING ARTS, ABD, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
MM VOCAL PERFORMANCE CCM, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
BM, VOCAL PERFORMANCE, PIANO MINOR, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
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Stephanie Nixdorf is very excited to be joining the theatre department at DSOA this year. She is originally from South Glens Falls, NY, in the foothills of the Adirondacks, but has called South Florida her home since 2005. Stephanie attended Syracuse University, and CCM at the Univ. of
Cincinnati, receiving her Bachelors and Masters’ degrees in Vocal Performance with a Piano Minor. Most recently, she completed her PhD coursework at Florida Atlantic University in the Comparative Studies in the Fine and Performing Arts program. While at FAU, she taught History of Rock and Roll, History of Music, Sight-Singing, and served as a collaborative pianist on numerous recitals and in many studios. Upon completion of her Master’s Degree, Ms. Nixdorf spent many years working as an Opera Singer, Music Director and Actor in local and regional theatre and opera throughout the Northeast and Midwest before transitioning into Teaching and Directing. Some of her favorite performing credits include Anna in The King and I, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Musetta in La Boheme and Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun. Ms. Nixdorf has directed and/or music directed over 30 shows, including Pippin, The Mikado, Into the Woods, Radium Girls, and most recently, Company, where she served as Director and Music Director. Ms. Nixdorf has taught music and drama at every age level, including several years at LeMoyne College, Suncoast Community High School, Boca Raton Community High School and at FAU.
Savannah Whetsell
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ACTING, THEATRE HISTORY, DEVISED THEATRE
BA THEATRE PERFORMANCE, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
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​As a Dreyfoos Theatre graduate, Savannah is incredibly excited to give back to her alma mater. After graduating with a BA in Theatre Performance and Directing from Fordham University in May 2015, one of the top-rated BA Theatre programs in the country, Savannah turned her focus to education and relocated from New York City to her hometown of South Florida. At Fordham, she has spent time acting, directing, choreographing, designing and interning, including internships with Rodgers & Hammerstein and New York Theatre Workshop (working on the shows Red Speedo and Hadestown). She has studied several acting, vocal and movement techniques including Meisner, Stanislavski, Linklater, Alexander, Viewpoints and many more. She was able to study abroad at Fordham's London Dramatic Academy where she studied under working London professionals
​focusing on classical acting techniques, text analysis and Shakespeare. She began her journey as a Theatre educator at Don Estridge High Tech Middle School where she was able to build their small theatre program into a competitive, audition-based program. She had the honor and privilege to receive a full scholarship from the English Speaking Union to attend the Teaching Shakespeare Through Performance at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2018. There, she was able to hone her Shakespearean education practices, and complete a performance of Hamlet on the Globe stage. Savannah has trained under and worked with some of the best educators in New York City, and is excited to give back to the community that raised her. She is passionate about training and inspiring the next generation of theatre artists, and preparing students for a successful career in the arts.
Sandra Christie
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MUSICAL THEATRE, DANCE
BFA DANCE, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
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​Sandra Christie began her dance training at the age of 8 in South Florida. She also attended Dillard High School for the Performing Arts for 4 years in which she received intensive training on all styles of dance. After High School she was awarded a full scholarship to the New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL. In 2008, Sandra received a Bachelor of the Fine Arts Degree with a Major in Dance from the University of Florida. Dance teaching Methods including Musical Theatre, Ballet, Modern Techniques: Graham, Limon, Laban, and Horton. Sandra has performed numerous reconstructed works such as Primate with Robert Battle, Director Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. During that time, she was also a Miami Heat Dancer for the 2007 season. Sandra was selected as a Company Member with Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, in Dallas, Texas for the 2008-2009 season. She performed and traveled in several states with the company. Sandra has​​
taught Musical Theatre, Tap, Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Pointe, Contemporary and more for the past 11 years in various schools throughout South Florida and Dallas, Texas. She has been a dance instructor of the Dance and Theatre Department for 14 years for an elite private school. Directing and choreographing several dance concerts as well as the Musical Theatre dance choreographer or Musicals. This year Sandra has had the opportunity to choreograph for Nova University in Davie, Florida Fall Dance Concert. This is Sandra Christie’s second year as the Musical Theatre Dance Teacher, Choreographer & Director at Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. Sandra Christie was recently honored at the Kravis Center Dream Awards with the Inspiring Theatre Educator Award for 2024.
Nathaniel Rayman
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TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, STAGECRAFT
BA SCENIC PRODUCTION, EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE​
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Nat Rayman is pleased to be joining the DSOA Theatre team as the next Technical Director. In South Florida, Nat has been a Technical Director for MNM Productions, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and Florida Stage. He has built scenery for the Wick Theatre, the Broward Center for the Arts, and Arts Garage. In the corporate world, Nat worked large scale events such as the Detroit Auto Show, Volvo’s boat shows, and many more. Nat hails from Olympia, WA where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Stage Production at the Evergreen State College.
Penny Koleos-Williams
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ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, COSTUME DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
BA NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY​
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Penny is a West Palm Beach Native and has been designing costumes in the South Florida area for over 30 years. She was the Resident Costume Designer at the Caldwell Theatre for nine years and earned nine Carbonell Nominations for Best Costume Design. She trained with the Broadway and Hollywood Costume Designer, Marty Grusby, with the Burt Reynolds Institute for Theater Training and has her degree in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising. Penny is in her 29th year as Costume Design Artist-in-Residence at Dreyfoos School of the Arts and in her 22nd year as Costume Design Professor at PBAU. She has freelanced from Miami to New York in theater, print and commercials. Her handy work can be seen on Lady Gaga in the “Applause” Video and she has worked with Avi
Hoffman, Shirley Jones, Charles Nelson Reilly, Len Cariou, Venus Williams and many others. She has been featured for her expertise in History of Costume for the documentary “Feather Wars” on the Education Network. ​Penny has costumed close to 300 productions in her career with the guidance of her mother and the support of her two sons.
Richard Szczublewski
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ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, TECHNICAL THEATRE, DESIGN
BA TECHNICAL THEATRE/ DESIGN, POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
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​Richard graduated from Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts in 2011 and worked professionally in the Pittsburgh area as an undergrad for City Theatre, Bricolage, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, and the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project. Richard moved to South Florida, and has worked for many local theatre companies including Palm Beach Dramaworks, Slow Burn Theatre Co., Mad Cat Theatre Co., MNM Theatre Co., and Measure For Measure. He also has worked on productions for The Royal Shakespeare Company, and The Tectonic Theatre Project. He has been a Carbonell Award Nominee and is a proud member of IATSE.
Hannah Sherrod
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ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, TECHNICAL THEATRE
BS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
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​Hannah is a recent graduate from Palm Beach Atlantic University and is very pleased to be a new Artist in Residence at Dreyfoos specializing in props and set dressing. She has worked as a technician for the past nine years in educational spaces and has also helped at the Palm Beach Children’s Theater and the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival. She found her affinity for technical theater in high school and she is so grateful that she is able to help these students show their passion for this work.
Catherine Green
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ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, COMPANY MANAGER
BA EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
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Cate Green is happy to switch roles this year from volunteer to department Company Manager. Growing up in Gainesville, FL, Cate participated in many local theatre productions and was a proud officer of the Hurricane Players of ITS Troupe 3614. Prior to joining DSOA Theatre, Cate has worked in area public and private schools for more than twenty years. A graduate of the College of Education at the University of Florida, Cate has previously served as a teacher of elementary school, middle school Humanities and Design Thinking, and IB Programme Coordinator. Cate has served as office staff, volunteer coordinator, SAC member, and PTO president at South Olive Elementary. She co-chaired the theatre parents at Bak from 2018-2020 and served on the Dreyfoos Theatre Parents Association from 2020-2024.
Previous teaching artists from our College Faculty Master Class Series:
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Lara Teeter, Head of Musical Theatre, Webster University
Kaitlin Hopkins, Head of Musical Theatre, Texas State University
Kevin Wilson, Associate Professor of Voice, The Boston Conservatory
Michelle Chassé, Musical Theatre Dance, The Boston Conservatory
McCaela Donovan, Assistant Director of the School of Theatre, Boston University
Claudia Benack, Assistant Professor of Voice, Carnegie Mellon University
Rick Edinger, Associate Professor of Music Theatre, Carnegie Mellon University
Quin Gordon, Assistant Professor of Drama, University of North Carolina School of the Arts
John Simpkins, Head of Musical Theatre, Penn State University
Amy Dugas Brown, Head of Design, Production and Playwriting, University of the Arts
Catherine Weidner, Head of Theatre, Ithaca College
Robin Lewis, Professor of Musical Theatre, Rider University
Dr. David Herendeen, Director of Opera and Musical Theatre, Oklahoma City University
Mark Madama, Professor of Musical Theatre, University of Michigan
Mark Hardy, Professor of Musical Theatre, Montclair State University
Matt Morgan, Lecturer of Musical Theatre Voice, University of Florida
Andrew Cao, Professor of Musical Theatre Dance, University of Florida
Kristina Fluty, Professor of Movement, DePaul University
Byron Easely, Head of Dance, NYU Tisch’s New Studio on Broadway
Grant Kretchik, Director of BFA Acting Program, Pace University
Amy Rogers, Director of BFA Musical Theatre Program, Pace University
Zeva Barzell, Head of Musical Theatre, Point Park University
Kevin Covert, Professor of Musical Theatre, Shenandoah University
Previous Guest Artists
Dave Clemmons, former NYC Casting Director, College Audition Coach
Jen Sanchez, Broadway Actor
Crista Moore, Tony-nominated Broadway actor
Nick Adams, Broadway Actor
Jennifer Perrone, Juilliard-trained Ballet Master Teacher
John Manzari, Master Tap Teacher
Josh Chenard, Certified teacher of Michael Chekhov Technique and Fitzmaurice Voicework
Open Jar Institute, summer theatre training company, NY
Tim Evanicki, The College Audition
Lindsey Bell, AEA Musical Theatre Dancer
Michelle Shannon, DSOA Theatre 2017 Alum, Hip Hop Master Teacher
Brian O’Keefe, Resident Costume Designer, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Katie Pyne, Assistant Stage Manager, Palm Beach Dramaworks
Brittani Seach, Costume Shop Manager, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
John McDermott, Technical Director, Maltz Jupiter Theatre
Nathan Tysen, musical theatre composer, Amelie lyricist
Christine Dwyer and Matt DeAngelis, principal actors from the Waitress National Tour
Elon University Musical Theatre Class of 2019