Musical Theatre Awards Workshop Clinicians 2016

Musical Theatre Awards Workshop Clinicians 2016
Melinda Doolittle is a soul–stirring
songstress. She is a flawless vocalist
with irresistible artistry and effortless
style compelling her audiences to keep
listening. Tone deaf as a child,
Melinda’s choir teacher would plead
with her not to sing, but just silently
move her mouth. Undaunted, her love
of singing drove her to enter a talent
show in the seventh grade where she
stunned the audience with her
miraculously spot on vocals and
beautiful voice. She never looked back!
Melinda graduated with a Bachelors in Music from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. She
became a highly sought after background vocalist singing for musical icons including Michael
McDonald, Aretha Franklin, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Aaron Neville and Jonny Lang. Doolittle
became a household name during season six of American Idol in 2007. She came in third in the
voting, first with Simon Cowell calling her his “personal favorite” and quickly became the
sweetheart of American Idol winning over the hearts of all with her stunning powerhouse vocals
and her personal charm. In 2009, Doolittle released her debut album Coming Back to You
garnering rave reviews from critics, including The New York Times, which hailed her as one of
the most “phenomenally gifted” singers in years. In 2013, she released her sophomore album
You’re The Reason giving fans yet another opportunity to hear her impeccable vocals and
revealing a bit more of her personality. People Magazine stating, “Her voice is a slinky purr then
a mighty growl that will keep you coming back for more.” In the middle of her album releases,
she penned her book Beyond Me: Finding Your Way to Life's Next Level. Melinda is currently
the well-loved co-host of TV Line’s Reality Check. Doolittle continues to thrill audiences
everywhere from the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame to The White House, from the Copa Room to
Carnegie Hall. In addition, she has been a featured guest with the Boston Pops, Charlotte
Symphony and United States Air Force Orchestra to name a few, including a featured performer
at the 2015 Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular. She is currently headlining her own soulful
show It Must Be Love. In thankfulness for all she has been given, Doolittle gives back to these
amazing organizations: Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, The League,
and Malaria No More (Presidential Delegate to Africa).
Born in Mississippi and reared in Alabama, Leigh Anne Ervin
currently lives in Nashville, where she serves on faculty at
Lipscomb University and St. Cecilia Academy, and as director of
SCA's Seasons Dance Company and as codirector/choreographer for Lipscomb's Foundation Dance
Theatre. Most recently, Leigh Anne was employed as a
performer at Walt Disney World in Orlando. In her time at
Disney, Leigh Anne danced in parades and shows across
property, including Festival of the Lion King. Additionally, she
was featured in ABC’s “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
Special,” “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Special,” and the
commercial, “Magic Kingdom Begins.” Prior to her time with
Disney, Leigh Anne’s credits include OKLAHOMA!, Disney’s
Beauty and the Beast, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat, The Snowgirl, Footloose, and Annie, as well as
features on ABC’s Nashville. She has been a master teacher
and judge for Dance Masters of America convention and scholarship audition. Leigh Anne
holds her M.F.A. in dance and arts management from the Ann Lacy School of Dance and Arts
Management at Oklahoma City University and a B.A. in political science and dance from
Birmingham-Southern College.
Nettie Mae Kraft received her MFA from Roosevelt University in
Chicago where she interned at Steppenwolf, working with Tracy
Letts and Amy Morton. Prior to that she studied theater in
England, eventually attained a BFA from The University of
Colorado at Boulder where she worked with the Colorado
Shakespeare Festival for four years and began a theater
company. While in TN she has worked in TV, film, and on stage
with Blackbird Theater, Nashville Rep, TWTP, Actor's Bridge
Ensemble, and NSF. She routinely teaches at various local
Universities, is currently the dialect coach the TV drama
"Nashville" on ABC, and is a proud co-founder of Verge Theater
Company.
Tessa Bryant is a graduate of the Lipscomb University
Department of Theatre with a degree in directing and works for
the Department of Theatre full time. In 2014 she directed
MEDEA for Lipscomb's Mainstage and assistant directed with
the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. In addition to theatre
practiced, Tessa has studied period styling and theatre history
extensively. She is also a freelance writer and is currently
pursuing graduate programs in creative writing
Bridget Berger most recently performed on Broadway in Jersey
Boys as Mary Delgado. Other Broadway credits include
Curtains and The Pajama Game (w/ Harry Connick, Jr.).
National Tour credits: Sweet Charity (opposite Molly Ringwald).
Off-Broadway credits: Two Gentlemen of Verona (New York’s
Shakespeare in the Park), The Voyage of the Carcass (SoHo
Playhouse), Cindy Sings (Women’s Project). New York Credits:
The Merry Widow (Metropolitan Opera), Construction (Mint
Theater), The Maid’s Tragedy (HERE). Other credits: Hollywood
Bowl, Nashville Symphony, Toronto Fringe Festival. Television
credits: Nashville (recurring), Life on Mars, and Late Night with
Conan O’Brien (recurring – 30 episodes). Film credits:
Stockholm, Farm Girl in New York, The Tragedy of Listening.
B.F.A. in Acting from Carnegie Mellon University.
Sean Martin is a director, actor, and educator holding PostGraduate degrees in both Acting and Directing from the
prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His
work has been seen in London, New York, Chicago, and
throughout the US, as well as Europe. He is the co-creator and
founder of both Free Trade Productions in London and Penfold
Theatre Co in Austin TX. Sean was recently selected as the
Fred Coe Artist-In-Residence at Vanderbilt University, and is
currently serving as an Adjunct Professor at Lipscomb
University. He is a certified stage combatant achieving
Advanced Level Three standing with the British Academy of
Dramatic Combat.
Santiago Sosa earned a BFA in acting and directing
from Texas State University and, later, an MFA in
acting from the University of Wisconsin. He studied
improv and stand up comedy at the iO Comedy
Training Center in Chicago and has previously
worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival,
American Players Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare
Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Pennsylvania
Shakespeare Festival, Door Shakespeare, Muse of
Fire Shakespeare Co., Forward Theatre, Definition
Theatre, Nashville Children's Theatre and Writers Theatre Chicago. Santiago is the recipient of
the Horton Foote award for playwriting and the Advanced Opportunity Fellowship for acting.
Catherine Birdsong is a proud member of SAG/Aftra, and a
graduate of Belmont University with a degree in Musical Theatre.
While in LA she worked in film and television productions
including: Disney Channel's Pair of Kings, Kickin it!,Pretty Little
Liars, Mad Men, and How I Met Your Mother. Her favorite
theatrical roles include: Belle in Beauty and the Beast,Mary
Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, Maria Von Trapp in The
Sound of Music, CindyLou in The Marvelous Wonderettes and
Betty Blake in The Will Rogers Follies. Catherine works for
Nashville Children's Theatre and The Theater Bug.
Maggie Pelton grew up in the New Jersey Ballet Company. Her
studies expanded to other disciplines while attending the
University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the Martha Graham and
Jose Limon schools in New York City. After receiving her BFA in
dance from the Juilliard School and a scholarship from the Alvin
Ailey American Dance Center, she was asked to join Ailey II
which performed all across the United States and the Caribbean.
Ms. Pelton had the great honor of being the last female chosen
by Alvin Ailey himself to join his first company, the Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theatre which tours internationally. While living
in southern California and now Nashville, Maggie has danced in
television commercials and music videos and has gone on to
teach, choreograph, and act as a consultant for dance and fitness
in various projects. Currently she is an adjunct professor at
Belmont and Lipscomb Universities as well as a faculty member of Cookeville Leisure Services
School of Dance and the YMCA of Middle TN. She continues to serve as a guest artist
teaching master classes and dance workshops nationwide. Maggie is certified in many group
fitness disciplines but her passion lies with Zumba! She is kept very busy at home with her
children Jonah 14, Levi 13 and Mikyah 10.
By day, Sawyer Wallace is a Bible teacher, speech and debate
coach and technical director at Lipscomb Academy. By night, he
fills his time with acting professionally in the Nashville area,
teaching Shakespeare workshops in places like the Tennessee
Prison for Women and High Schools in Scotland and spending
time with his lovely wife Allie.