To download the 2013-2014 summer class schedule click here.
Steven Vincent (Director of Dance) attended Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, where he received a Major in Dance with a Minor in Dramatic Arts. He partnered on Broadway with Ann Reinking, and toured with Mickey Rooney in George M! Steven has been Director of Dance here for the past fifteen years where he enjoys passing on the love of dance. He is director of The Players Kids, and has choreographed several musicals for The Players Theatre for which he received critical acclaim.
Berry Ayers performed for five years as The Naked Maid, traveling with the show Naked Boys Singing, as well as performing in the NYC Off Broadway company at The Actor’s Playhouse and in the original run at the Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles. His first NYC Off Broadway show was the short lived review, A Little Bit Off at the John Houseman Theatre. He has also toured the US as Paul in A Chorus Line. His regional favorites include: The Last Five Years – Jamie Wellerstein, Hair – Berger, Annie – Rooster, Titanic – Harold Bride, Forever Plaid and Plaid Tidings – Jinx, Footloose – Willard, Urinetown– Bobby Strong, Disney’s Beauty And The Beast – Cogsworth, The Full Monty – Dave, Lacage Aux Folles – Chantal, Lend Me A Tenor – Tito Merelli -, Anything Goes – Moonface Martin –and The Drowsy Chaperone – George. Berry is also the Director/Choreographer of Sarasota Silver Stars, Vocal Director of The Players Kids, and an accomplished Musical Director.
Shannon Cantalupo has studied dance since age six at The Players Studio and has participated in numerous dance classes, musical theatre productions and dance recitals. She was a part of The Players Kids for seven years and was a cast member in 42nd Street, Bye Bye Birdie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Through the Looking Glass, Here and Now and Cinderella. For the past two years, she has been studying ballet at the Sarasota Ballet Academy. Shannon is a senior attending the Booker High School Visual Performing Arts Program and is planning on attending college in 2012 to pursue a career in dance and musical theatre.
Santa & Laura De Oliveira were born and raised in South Africa. They started dance at the age of five and received dance training in lyrical, hip-hop, and jazz dance at Diana Moore Dance Academy. They hold several National Championship titles in South Africa, and have appeared in several teen variety television shows and State Theater performances. In 1993 the twins moved to Sarasota where they received further dance training from their friend and mentor Steven Vincent. Santa and Laura have been teaching and choreographing dance performances for over fourteen years. They both have their Masters Degree in Medical Science and are Board Certified Physicians Assistants.
Michael A. Edelstein received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Boston University’s School of Fine Arts. He has been Musical Director and Pianist for over forty Off-Broadway, Regional, College, and Community Theater productions in a career spanning four decades. Michael’s Sarasota credits include musical direction for All About Me, for Sarasota Senior Theater now the newly blended Sarasota Silver Stars. As a music educator, Michael has taught Musical Theater for both children and adults and has been a Musical Director, Vocal Coach, and Accompanist. Locally Michael teaches piano, voice, and musical theater for the Allegro Music Academy, and helps seniors learn to play the organ at the Fletcher Music Centers. He also musically directs Cabaret Cats Music Productions Company with his business partner and fellow performer, Sam William Rosso.
Cinda Goeken was born and raised in Central Illinois and earned a B.F.A. in Drama from Illinois Wesleyan University. After pursuing a professional career in the field of mental health/rehabilitation for many years, she now devotes her time to participating in theatre in the local area, both onstage and behind the scenes as an actor, singer, Director, Stage Manager and crew person. She has been teaching acting and singing fundamentals to students on a one-to-one basis for many years, thus bringing a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience.
Mike McManus attended the famed American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. While in Manhattan he studied with many of America’s great dance talents including Henry LaTang, Mary Jane Brown, Charles Kelley, Jerry Ames, and Phil Cook. Mike also had the privilege of taking classes with Patsy Swayze in Houston. He has taught dance for The Players for over fourteen years.
Michelle Teyke is a professional actress, singer, dancer, director and choreographer. She began her ballet studies at the age of five. Michelle became a professional ballet dancer in Hannover, Germany where she rose to the status of ballerina. She also had the honor of being coached at The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow for the role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. She then moved on to musical theatre where she became a leading soloist at one of Germany’s finest musical theatres in Berlin. Michelle has worked with the likes of Tommy Tune, Leslie Caron and Eartha Kitt. After returning to the US she became the head of the Dance Department at Northern Kentucky University, and a faculty member at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Michelle has recently returned to the stage at The Player’s in the Neil Simon farce Rumors.
Jared E. Walker is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA with a BFA in Music and Theatre. His local directing credits include Victor, Victoria; The Who’s Tommy and Company at The Players; Guys & Dolls, Willy Wonka, and Annie Get Your Gun at Manatee Players. As an actor he has appeared in Drowsy Chaperone, Chicago, CATS, Joseph… and Carnival at The Golden Apple, to name a few. Jared has costume designed numerous shows at The Players, Manatee Players and The Golden Apple and is co-owner of Jarrick Productions, Unlimited. He is an instructor at The Players Studio and Venice Theatre, and teaches private piano for beginners.