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Register here for 2010 Summer Camps...don't wait, class sizes are limited! Enrollment is open & ongoing.
Playhouse Programs
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Playhouse Instructors
We are pleased to have highly qualified and dedicated instructors... please take a moment to learn more about them:
Actors Theatre of Indiana
Cynthia Collins received her BFA in Theatre from Ohio University. From that point on, she has been working in the professional theatre throughout the United States and Europe. Her Off-Broadway credits include: Fifty Million Frenchmen, Face the Music, Rosemary Clooney: A Musical Tribute, That's The Ticket with Tony Award winner George S. Irving and Jubilee (Musicals Tonight Series); Valentino, The Musical at the Judith Anderson Theatre; Lone Star Cafe at The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre and Gigi at Equity Library Theatre directed by Gerard Alessandrini, creator of the famed Forbidden Broadway. Cindy has toured Nationally in Singin' In The Rain and internationally in My Fair Lady as well as multiple Cruise Line appearances. Regionally she has been seen in the role of Anybodys in West Side Story ( The Strand Theatre, TheatreFest & The St. Louis MUNY)directed by Kevin Backstrom, one of the only directors in the world given the rights from the Jerome Robbins estate to do the show in it's original form; Agnes in On The Twentieth Century (Goodspeed Opera House); Millie in Good News, Flossie in On The Town, and Sophie/Perkins in Annie, (North Shore Music Theatre); A Chorus Line and The Pirates Of Penzance (Burt Reynolds/Jupiter Theatre); Donna in The Taffetas for Pennsylvania Center Stage's inaugural season and the opening of their new Downtown Theatre in State College, Pennsylvania ; the role of Charity in Sweet Charity, Robert Ann in Nunsense, Alice Miller in My Favorite Year and Jenny Anydots in CATS (Wagon Wheel Theatre located in Warsaw, Indiana), and the Atlanta premieres of Sisters of Swing; The Story of the Andrews Sisters, The Taffetas, A Taffeta Christmas, A Grand Night For Singing, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol and MY WAY; A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra (Georgia Ensemble Theatre). Her television credits include: LAW & ORDER, LAW & ORDER SVU, Ed, Sex And The City, OZ, among others. Throughout her career she has had the pleasure of working with such artists as Ben Vereen, Sandy Duncan, Cyndi Lauper, Claude Aikins, Comden & Green, Cy Coleman, Avery Schrieber.
In New York City she was the choreographer to director Thomas Mills at AMDA (American Music and Dramatic Academy), an intensive two-year program preparing young performers for the professional Theatre. Cindy has taught workshops in Musical Theatre Dance at a variety of Dance Studios across the country.
As Co-Founder & Resident Choreographer of Actors Theatre of Indiana she has choreographed: MY WAY; A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, COLE;The Music of Cole Porter, Sisters of Swing; The Story of the Andrews Sisters, A Year with Frog & Toad, And the World Goes ‘Round.
A native of Livingston, N.J., Cindy currently resides in Westfield, IN. She studied at the N.J. School of Ballet with Jay Norman (original Broadway cast and Motion Picture cast member of West Side Story).
Don Farrell has been a member of Actors' Equity Association since 1992 and is a veteran of the concert and theatrical stage and has worked steadily in practically every capacity of the business. He has spent over 23 years working as a professional singer, dancer and actor with a career that includes Off-Broadway, International Tour, National Tour, Las Vegas, Regional and Educational productions.
As an actor, Mr. Farrell’s credits include: Off Broadway: Last of the Red Hot Mamas (Louis Tuck), Irene (Jimmy O’ Flaherty), Trouble In Tahiti (Man 2), Dodsworth (Harry), Rosemary Clooney, A Musical Tribute (Leading Player); Regional: Over 70 different regional productions including: Forever Plaid (Sparky), A Year with Frog & Toad (Toad), Good News! (Windy), A Christmas Carol (Nephew Fred), Once Upon A Mattress (Minstrel), Sweeney Todd (Anthony Hope), Perfect Wedding (Bill), Side, By Side, By Sondheim (Leading Player),Romance/Romance (Alfred/Sam), Plaza Suite (Jesse Kiplinger), The Wonder Years (Ken),3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down (Phil Kunin), Sophie: The Last of the Red Hot Mamas(Louis Tuck), and many others.
Don Farrell is also an accomplished Director and Choreographer and has over 30 differentdirecting / choreography production credits including: International Tour: The Taffetas; NationalTour: Forever Plaid; Off-Broadway: Rosemary Clooney, A Musical Tribute; Regional: A Grand Night For Singing, A Taffetas Christmas, the Southeastern and Indiana premieres of Beyond The Rainbow: The Frances Gumm Story, COLE, Forever Plaid, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!, My Fair Lady (assistant director), the Georgia and Central Indiana premieres of My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, the Georgia and Indiana premieres of Sisters of Swing: The Story of the Andrews Sisters, And The World Goes ‘Round: The Music of Kander & Ebb, and Tintypes.His directing credits include such theatres as: The Frederick Loewe Theatre, 14th Street Y, CAP 21 (Off-Broadway); Springer Opera House, producer (National Tour); Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Florida Studio Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Hampton Playhouse, Cortland Repertory Theatre, for award winning director Worth Gardner at the Birmingham Theatre, Ordway Theatre, Westchester Broadway Theatre, and the Player's Theatre of Columbus.
On the concert stage, Mr. Farrell's career began back in 1988 when he was asked to sing John William's“America, the Dream Goes On” at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. Since then, he has worked with conductors Erich Kunzel, Keith Lockhart, Jack Everly, Alfred Savia, Crafton Beck, Adrian Gnam, John Morris Russell, and Robert Moody. His active career as a featured guest soloist includes concerts with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Savannah Symphony Orchestra, Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra, Disney's Premiere Symphony Orchestra, Macon Symphony Orchestra, and the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Farrell received his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree, graduating with honors from the internationally acclaimed University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. He has served as a member of thedrama faculty for New York City’s premier musical theatre training conservatory Collaborative Arts Project21 and has taught drama workshops for theatre companies and universities. Mr. Farrell is a Founder of Actors Theatre of Indiana and currently serves as its’ Producing Artistic Director. He also sits on the Board of the League of Indianapolis’ Professionally Managed Theatres. Mr. Farrell is married to actress / singer and ATI Artistic Director, Co-Founder Judy Fitzgerald with whom they share blessed parenthood to their beautiful 4 year-old daughter Elizabeth.
Judy Fitzgerald was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, started performing at the age of 5 and hasn't stopped since. Her passion for theatre accelerated when she attended North Central High School where she was a member of the repertory theatre company and performed lead roles in many school productions. Her drive led her to attend Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where she received a BFA in Musical Theatre. After graduating, she moved briefly to Chicago and then off to New York City. As an actress Judy has been seen on such famous stages as Radio City Music Hall with Glen Close; Madison Square Garden with Liza Minnelli (conducted by Marvin Hamlisch); and all across the nation touring with legends Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Jones, Omar Sharif and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.. Her experience has led to her performing with other famed artists such as Bob Newhart, Kathy Lee Gifford, Regis Philbin, Hal Holbrook, Betty Buckley and Paula Abdul.
Her performing credits include numerous Off-Broadway productions: Swingtime Canteen with Maxine Andrews and Tony Award winner Charles Busch at the Blue Angel; Placido Domingo's operetta VLAD at the Lamb's Theatre; Dodsworth with John Cullum, George Lee Andrews and Dee Hoty at the York Theatre and the John Houseman Theatre; Irene at the Sylvia & Danny Kaye Playhouse; and Face The Music and That's The Ticket! with Tony Award winner George S. Irving at the 14th Street Y. She also collaborated on and performed in Rosemary Clooney: A Musical Tribute! produced by the Musicals Tonight! series.
Throughout her career she has had the pleasure of performing in many regional theatres across the country including such roles as The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Kaye in The Taffetas as well as A Taffeta Christmas, Emma Goldman in Tintypes, Lizzie in Baby, The Mistress in Evita, Cole, A Grand Night For Singing, Side, By Side, By Sondheim and award winning director Worth Gardner's ground breaking production of The Wizard of Oz at The Ordway Theatre in St. Paul, MN. In 2003 she was asked to perform the role of Kaye in The Taffetas once again to help kick off Pennsylvania Center Stage's inaugural season and the opening of the new Downtown Theatre in State College, PA.
In addition to her career as an actress, Judy has worn many other hats in theatre including: Assistant Directing many productions of The Taffetas, A Taffeta Christmas, A Grand Night For Singing, and Tintypes; teaching Musical Theatre workshops for the Georgia Ensemble Theatre and Conservatory; Concert Soloist with Maestro Robert Moody and the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra; and one of her most cherished honors, assisting the legendary Adolph Green of the renown writing team Comden & Green (On The Town!, Singing In The Rain, Bells Are Ringing, Wonderful Town.), until his passing in October, 2002.
As Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Indiana, she has been seen in MY WAY; A Tribute to Frank Sinatra, Sisters of Swing; The Story of the Andrews Sisters, COLE, And The World Goes ‘Round and The Taffetas along with Directing A Year with Frog & Toad and Perfect Wedding.
Anna Beelke & Jennifer Bubp
Anna Beelke is an art teacher at Carmel High School. She teaches jewelry, ceramics, and drawing. She earned her B.A. in Fine Arts at Purdue University and her teaching certification through Indiana Wesleyan University. Her favorite medium is oil painting, and her favorite subject matters include portraiture, still life, and abstract forms.
Jennifer Bubp is an art teacher at Carmel High School. She teaches art history, drawing, fibers, and ceramics. She earned her B.A. in Fine Arts at DePauw University, and her M.A.A.E. at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Her favorite artistic pursuits include mural painting, printmaking, and mixed media collage.
Katy Gentry
Miss Gentry most recently made her Circa ’21 Playhouse, Illinois, debut in Ring of Fire, the story of Johnny Cash. Katy was last seen locally as a vocalist in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s concert performance of Guys and Dolls starring Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Hugh Panaro (Phantom of the Opera), Gary Beach (The Producers), Megan Lawrence (The Pajama Game), Hal Linden (Barney Miller), and Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos). Other Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra credits include Yuletide Celebration with Sandi Patty, the national debut of Gertrude McFuzz and Henry Mancini’s Greatest Hits. A few of her favorite regional theater roles include Cheryl Taffeta in The Taffetas and Judy Garland in Over the Rainbow, both with Actors Theatre of Indiana and Dorothy US for Beef & Boards Dinner Theater. She is currently a vocal recording artist for Music Theater International’s Broadway, Jr. recordings, Hal Leonard Publishing, and Plank Road Publishing. She is a licensed elementary teacher with Carmel Clay Schools.
Tina Henderson
Tina Henderson received her BA at Indiana University in Indianapolis; Herron School of Art. She is also an instructor at the Indianapolis Art Center and the Fine Arts Academy in Carmel. Tina has also done commission pieces and has sold work at the Broad Ripple Art Fair. One of her most memorable accomplishments; First place in a juried show at the Carmel International Arts Festival in 2000.
Daphne Jensen
At a very young age Daphne knew that art was the field she wanted to be in when she grew up. After graduating from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, Daphne worked as a graphic designer in the advertising field for more than 12 years. Then when her second child was born, she started her own graphic design business and also started painting wall murals. Daphne’s wall mural technique was featured in Family Fun magazine. Three years ago her love for working with children led her to enter the education field, where she now works with kindergartners at Orchard Park Elementary in the Carmel Clay School system. Daphne believes all children have untapped potential in art and greatly enjoys finding ways to tap into that potential through artistic expression. She especially enjoys working with watercolors and pencil drawing.
Greg & Donna Kishbaugh
Greg was awarded First Place in the 23rd Annual Ray Bradbury Creative Writing Contest for his short story, "Magnificent Desolation." His story "Water Babies," which appeared originally in Cemetary Dance magazine, was awarded an Honorable Mention in "The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror," edited by Ellen Datlow. His short story, "Madly, Deeply," appeared in the Bram Stoker Award-nominated anthology "Bell, Book & Beyond."
Greg graduated with honors with a BA in Fiction Writing from the acclaimed Fiction Writing Department at Columbia College Chicago, where he was awarded the prestigious Merit Scholarship for Fiction. He also served on the editorial board for the award-winning student publication Hair Trigger and worked as a one-on-one college-level writing tutor.
His first novel, Midnight Carnival, garnered him literary representation through New Brand Agency. Greg has screen representation in Hollywood through Foursight Entertainment where his screenplays Blackbeard On The Bowsprit and Return To Eden are currently being shopped.
Donna earned her Masters in Fiction Writing from Columbia College Chicago. She served as a college-level writing tutor and her work appeared in Hair Trigger, which garnered first place prizes from the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines (CCLM), the Columbia University Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), and the Associate Writing Programs (AWP).
Donna has a BA in Theater with a concentration in acting, directing and playwriting from Indiana University Bloomington. Her play Stafford's Hill competed at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.
She ia an award-winning copywriter, having worked on many national and international marketing campaigns during her many years working in the field of advertising.
Kathy Marshall
A recently retired Kindergarten teacher for Carmel Clay Schools with almost 40 years experience, Kathy directed all musical and drama programs for Orchard Park Elementary kindergarten classes. She has an extensive background and experience in music, movement, and drama for young children. During her tenure at Orchard Park, Kathy directed and produced annual performances of "Peter Rabbit Musical", "Holiday Program", and "Spring Sing". Kathy is starting her second year teaching music and rhythm at Second Story Playhouse. "This has been such fun! The kids have learned so much through their experiences of singing, dancing, and performing short plays together."
Jason Moon
Born in Carmel, Jason graduated from Carmel High School in 2004, and received his degree in art education from Purdue University in 2008. He is currently an elementary art instructor for Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Jason has always had an intense love for the visual arts. While in high school he was able to travel to Japan with the student exchange program and developed a deepening admiration of their art and culture. While at Purdue, Jason’s work was selected for several juried student exhibitions. During that time, he was also able to spend a month studying abroad in Venice and Rome with fellow art students. In June of 2008, Jason held a private exhibition of his work at the Carmel Arts Council Children’s Gallery.
Jason had extensive experience working with children prior to receiving his degree in art education, having done years of day camp counseling for the Carmel Parks Department, as well as resident camp counseling at Camp Tecumseh. He values curiosity, adventure, and creativity, and looks forward to combining those ideas into enjoyable and valuable experiences for all his students.
Jenny Moon
 Having grown up in Speedway, Indiana, Jenny has been a Carmel resident for the past 26 years. As a child, her parents encouraged her and her siblings' involvement in the visual and performing arts. Through art, music, and writing, she found meaningful and fulfilling ways to express herself. She pursued this love and received her undergraduate degree in art education from Purdue University, and her Master's Degree from Herron School of Art. She has taught art in the public schools for 30 years, including experience at the high school, middle school, and elementary levels. She is now a bit of a "fixture" at Woodbrook Elementary in Carmel, where she has enjoyed teaching art to thousands of students for the past 26 years.
Jenny and her husband Gary have two children who have also dedicated their lives to the visual arts and education. Their daughter, Jessica, is a teacher in Zionsville, and their son Jason is completing his degree in art education at Purdue. They have made their parents extremely proud.
Jenny loves all forms of art: large, small, 2-D, 3-D, and in any media. She admits she is not a neat and/or tidy artist. She receives great satisfaction and mental relaxation in the process, and, hopefully, contentment in the product. She finds that her greatest energy comes from enabling hands to create what the mind has imagined. Sharing those kinds of moments with children—of all ages—is just about as good as it gets.
Debbi Stutzman
Peewinkle's Puppet Studio
Debbi is the executive director and youth program director at Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio in downtown Indianapolis. Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio is the only puppet theatre in Indiana and celebrated its 10th year in 2008. The theatre has a season of 5 shows, day camps, workshops and field trips.
Debbi has extensive experience in puppetry workshops not only at the Puppet Studio but at a variety of other venues such as: The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, regional and national puppet festivals, youth group meetings and camps, schools and libraries. Debbi has won an award for her development of the nationally renown PIP (puppeteers in progress) program at Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio.
Debbi has been a puppeteer for 30 years and has performed at numerous venues over the years, including the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, schools, libraries, camps and puppet festivals. She particularly enjoys her work with Peggy Melchior of Melchior Marionettes. The two of them formed MMHP Puppet Productions nearly 20 years ago and own Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio together.
Debbi’s has a degree in Social Work and specializes in work with disabled children and adults. Debbi is also an accompanist for Butler University’s pre-professional dance academy (Jordan College Academy of Dance). In her spare time she enjoys quilting, backpacking, gardening and birding.
Christine Sweigart
 Christine Sweigart has been teaching Art to children here in Carmel and in Chicago for over 10 years. Christine received her B.S. in Visual Arts All-Grade from Ball State University and immediately came to Carmel to begin her teaching career at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Christine taught students in Kindergarten through Eighth grade and in addition began an after-school Art Club for students. It was at OLMC where she developed her widely attended Art Summer Camps, Art Extravaganza. In 2002, Christine married her high school sweetheart and they moved to Chicago, Illinois where she continued sharing her love of creating Art with children at the Catherine Cook School and after school at the Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls. Eventually, Christine missed Indiana too much and her husband and their dog, Abby, packed up and moved back to Indianapolis. Christine was blessed to find a new school back here in Carmel to call home and has been teaching at Prairie Trace Elementary ever since.
Christine is extremely excited about the opportunity to reach even more children who share her love for Art through classes at the Second Story Playhouse. She loves to paint in watercolors, printmaking of all forms, and create various 3-D pieces of art out of clay. It has been a dream come to true for her to share her love and talent with children. There is nothing more satisfying then helping a child learn to appreciate, create, and discover the world of Art.
Bernie Szuhaj (Shoe-Hi)
 Bernie Szuhaj is Co-Owner and Co-Conceiver of the Second Story Playhouse. With a strong belief that "Art is doing" and that youth should have the opportunity to experience and participate in all aspects of the performing and visual arts, Bernie and his partners brought the Second Story Playhouse into being.
Bernie graduated in 1991 from Indiana University with a B.A. in Theater and Drama. He has worked both on stage and behind the scenes on a number of productions including: The Firebugs by Max Frisch, Landscape Of The Body by John Guare, and Noises Off by Michael Frayn.
His passion lies with the performing arts and he has logged countless hours of volunteer work in the community at large with educating youth in all aspects of theater and drama. Putting his comprehensive education from Indiana University's Theater Department to work, he has spent over a decade working with elementary and middle school youth producing live performances with an emphasis not only on acting but also the technical aspects of live theater or "Stagecraft".
Magic Mike Thompson
Magic Mike Thompson has been doing magic for over 20 years and is the owner of Best Fun Inc a party rental business and Indianapolis's Only Magic Shop! Mike has performed all over the US and abroad. Mike has entertained at thousands of corporate events in Indiana! He has even performed for Indianapolis's Mayor!
Sharon Vargo
 Sharon Vargo has illustrated numerous books for children. She is author/illustrator of Señor Felipe's Alphabet Adventure, a Bank Street Best Children's Book of 2002. Her whimsical acrylic paintings have also appeared in magazines, textbooks, limited edition prints, and as murals. She has illustrated and written crafts and games for
the well-known Highlights For Children Magazines, and has had an original poem chosen to be included in a new Lee Bennett Hopkins anthology, Hamsters, Shells and Spelling Bees-School Poems published by HarperCollins. Sharon is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators-SCBWI and is currently serving as Indiana's Illustration Coordinator. She is also a member of the Picture Book Artists Association- PBAA, an organization of
professional children's book illustrators from around the world. She is one of many professional artists who participate in Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure, an online charity auction of artists' snowflakes. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communication Design from Pratt Institute. Sharon works from her home studio in Carmel, Indiana.
Kim Watanabe - Fine Arts Visual Artist – Illustrator - Instructor
Fine Arts – Visual Artist:
Kim Watanabe creates visual art using a variety of mediums. Originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, she is a graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. in Physical Therapy. She is also a graduate of the Indianapolis Gestalt Institute. Her studio and residence are in Westfield, Indiana.
Beginning with watercolor and progressing to include acrylic/oil, mixed media, furniture painting, and assemblage, Kim has developed a broad repertoire. Kim’s training has primarily taken place at the Art Center of Indianapolis, the StutzArtSpace, and through the instruction of national and regional artists. She also gained valuable experience working in the arts, serving as the executive director of the not-for-profit art center/art gallery ARTColumbus from 1998 through 2000.
Illustrator:
Using her appreciation and understanding of the human body, Kim has illustrated a physical therapy text book, Positional Release Technique by Denise Deig, and as well as two myo-fascial release manuals.
Instructor:
Kim enjoys inspiring others to try attempt or expand their creative endeavors. She provides a fun and nurturing environment where students can explore and grow in classes, workshops and one-on-one teaching experiences.
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