About Applause New York

Anthony Fazio

Creative Director

Anthony, an Applause alumni of 17 years, feels blessed to be training young people in the same place where it all began for him. He has been a part of the Applause faculty for the past 13 years, and is now the head of the wildly successful Applause Film Department, as well as Creative Director for the entire company. Having trained at the prestigious LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, as well as a Film and TV career that has expanded over a decade, Anthony is happy to be able to share his knowledge and experience with a whole new generation of young artists, and teachers alike. 

Katelyn Onufrey

Chief Administrator

Katelyn grew up on Long Island and graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in Theater. She is honored to be a part of the Applause team since 2017 and is inspired daily by seeing so many young people develop and nurture their passion for the performing arts at Applause.

Kate Froemmling

Director of Theater and Film

Kate Froemmling is very excited to be joining the Applause Family! Kate is a graduate from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee School of Music with a BFA in Musical Theatre and an emphasis in Tap and Directing. Some of her performance credits include Young Fiona in Shrek the Musical (Boston Conservatory), Candide (Boston Conservatory) Janet Van De Graff in the Drowsy Chaperone (BHHS) and making her Off- Broadway debut in Fix me Jesus with the Abingdon Theater Company, earning her Actors Equity Association Membership. Kate also has been a part of numerous commercial shoots that include Nickelodeon, Jimu Robots and Sesame Street and earned her SAG-AFTRA membership after being on set for Spirited with Apple TV Productions. Kate has also been eager to work on the other side of the table as a Stage Manager, Director and Choreographer at the Boston Conservatory and for other companies including Nervous Theater, The Wayne Theater and The New York Theatre Festival. Kate is excited to be a part of guiding our new generation of theater artists and would like to thank everyone who has supported her.

Emily Meredith

Co-Director of Theater

Emily Meredith is a professional actress residing in New York City. She is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Union and has performed in productions all across the country. An experienced acting, voice and dance teacher, Emily has worked with all grade and skill levels-- but specializes in middle school arts education. Emily attended Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, MA -- where she majored in classical and musical theater and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music with a BFA in Musical Theater. She has trained at various other prestigious institutions including Festival Ballet (Providence, RI), T. Schreiber Studio (NY,NY), HB Studio (NY,NY), Ballet Prestige (Providence, RI), Steps (NY, NY), and Broadway Dance Center (NY,NY) among many others. As a teacher, Emily strives to create a fun and relaxed learning environment where her students can grow in confidence and ability. 

Lisa Krainik

Dance Department Manager

Lisa Krainik is a NYC-based dancer, director, stage manager, producer, and licensed yoga teacher. Lisa has performed works at Radio City Music Hall, the New York City Center in NYC, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., among others. When she isn’t dancing or working at Applause, Krainik produces monthly comedy shows and teaches yoga. 

Martha Lavery

Associate Director of Dance

Martha Lavery graduated from Hofstra’s Honors College in 2014 with a BA in Dance and Minors in Film Studies/Production & Psychology. At Hofstra, she performed & choreographed for MoVoM, Danceworks, and Imani Dance Ensemble, and spent a month dancing & performing in Italy at Toscana Dance Hub. Post-graduation, she has performed for 50+ choreographers & dance companies (modern, contemporary, performance art, hip-hop, etc) and has been commissioned to create over 30 original pieces (aside from weekly class choreography/workshops/master classes) for various showcases, competitions, and video projects in the greater NYC area. Notable performances include SummerStage in Central Park (splitting the bill with Abraham in Motion), winning the Audience Favorite choreography vote at Uptown Rising at Bridge For Dance, and students performing her choreography at Carnegie Hall. Last October, she spent several weeks in China as part of the US dance team for the CBA’s China Hoops basketball tournament. She currently teaches dance in public school/charter school/studio/open class settings to kindergarten students through adults in Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Heels, & her “genrefluid” style, and continues to produce her own choreography for both stage and film.

Alexandra Dominguez

Logistics Coordinator

Alexandra is a New York transplant and is so excited to be teaching at Applause! Growing up in Los Angeles she always had big dreams of moving to NYC. After graduating from Concordia University Irvine with a BA in Theatre, she packed her bags and made the move. Now a proud member of the New York chapter of The Theatre 68 Crew Company , she has also performed and assistant directed off -broadway at St. Lukes theatre in their production of Lilli Marlene and It Came From Beyond. She is so excited to be back and mold the young minds of the theatre community.

Kevin Shotwell

Associate Producer

Kevin Shotwell is a New York based Director/ Choreographer who is joining he Applause team after teaching Theater Dance and Acting at Leman Prep School for over six years.  Kevin has been teaching and performing all over the east coast for the past 15 years.  Acting highlights include the 2009 Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street- In Concert with the New York Philharmonic. He is a  graduate of Pace University School of the Performing Arts, where he earned his BFA in Musical Theatre.  In his spare time Kevin writes/ directs/ and stars in  the Annual The Jingle Belle Ball, a "Non Denominational Christmas Themed Performance Art Cabaret”, and the self-described "world renowned” instagram handle @keviquickchange.

Warren Shaw

Film Editor

Warren is happy to be the head camera operator at Applause New York. He is from Boston Massachusetts and has a bachelor's degree in Film. He is proficient in and owns all of the latest devices pertaining to video production. Whether he's creating great promos for dance, musical theater, or creating epic films, he is thankful to be part of such a vibrant, and professional community where he gets to help kids find their voice.

Jimmy Larkin

Theater Teacher

Jimmy Larkin is a multi-hyphenate artist who spends the majority of his days casting musicals on Broadway and on tour. Some of his current projects include: THE LOST BOYS (Broadway), HEATHERS, (Off-Broadway), and the upcoming musical adaptations of THE PRINCESS BRIDE and HAPPY FEET. As someone who's been on both sides of the table, he prides himself on always trying to create a safe space for performers and aims to uplift all artists in any way he can. He is also incredibly passionate about directing and theatre education, and will find any excuse to spend his time surrounded by people who love this art form as much as he does.

Sammi Gainer

Theater Teacher

Sammi Stone is an actor, playwright, and teaching artist based in NYC. Some of her credits include Protect the Protectors (Kitchen Sink Theater Co), Drunk Shakespeare! (Brass Jar Productions), Earth to Venus (Theaterlab/Couraj Productions), Sail Away (Treehouse Shakers Theater Co.), Horse Girls (Vino Theater), The Greenhouse (Floorwork Theater Co.), The Wolves (Actors Bridge Ensemble). She studies with the Barrow Group Theater in Scene Study, has trained with Frantic Assembly as “a student of their CREATE" program, and graduated with a BFA in Theater Performance and a minor in Dance from Belmont University. In her free time she enjoys knitting, reading books about far away lands, and going camping with no access to wifi.

Sammy Rivas

Film Teacher

Sammy Rivas (he/him) is an actor, writer, director, producer, musician, and puppet maker based out of Brooklyn, NY; B.F.A. Drama NYU Tisch; co-founder/associate artistic director of The Fool Volk theater collective, company member of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theater, Bated Breath Theatre Company, Teatro SEA, and International WOW Company; co-founder Rivasorio Puppets Company; Writer/Director: Gutter Soup (2026), Strange Key (2025); Producer: The Monks of Lorisidia (2024). Website: sammyrivas.com

Jessica Connelly

Theater Teacher

Jessica (Jessie) Connelly is an Alabama raised, New York City based performer represented by the Price Group Talent Agency. She was most recently a lead singer/dancer on the Carnival Venezia, Sunrise and Liberty. Other professional performing credits include Brighter Than The Sun (Off Broadway) and TEXAS Outdoor Musical. Over the past decade, she has taught Dance, Musical Theatre, Improv and college audition coaching for all age levels in various theaters across the Southeast. Choreography credits include Footloose, Moana, Aladdin Kids, Flat Stanley. Jessica has found endless joy in getting to help young artists find their voices through theatre and strives to create an uplifting class environment where her students can feel encouraged to risk, fail and grow together. jessicaconnelly.com

Jillian Ayson

Dance Teacher

Jillian Ayson (she/her) is a hip-hop and fusion-based dancer and choreographer from Pelham, New York. She is a Licensed Athletic Trainer and earned her degree in Sports Medicine from Hofstra University, where she choreographed and performed with Danceworks and the Imani Dance Ensemble. Since graduating in 2015, Jillian has performed and choreographed for more than 40 choreographers and dance companies throughout the greater New York City area, working across contemporary, hip-hop, fusion, and commercial dance. Her work has been featured in showcases, concept videos, competitions, and studio productions. In addition to her performance career, Jillian has collaborated with Grammy Award–winning recording artists, Broadway productions, professional dancers, and musicians worldwide, providing physical and vocal rehabilitation support during national and international tours, as well as New York City–based rehearsals, performances, and concerts. She currently works in Orthotics and Prosthetics and serves as the Athletic Trainer for the Entertainment Dance Teams of the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets throughout the NBA season. Jillian continues to create and produce original choreography for studios and dance companies in both stage and film settings. She is thrilled to work with the students and faculty at Applause!

Aidan Tsichlis

Theater Teacher

Aidan Tsichlis (he/him) is an NYC-based teaching artist and performer, originally from Plano, TX. He graduated with his BFA in Musical Theatre from West Texas A&M University. He has directed and taught workshops with students ranging from elementary through high school. He has also performed across the U.S. at various theaters, some favorites including Mamma Mia! and TEXAS Outdoor Musical. Most recently, he toured the United States performing theatre for young audiences. 

Ella Benward

Theater Teacher

Ella Benward is an actor, singer, and dancer raised in Los Angeles, California. Now newly based in the city, she is thrilled to be living out her lifelong dreams as a performer. Ella has experience across television, regional theatre, and musical theatre. Her television credits include A Week Away: The Series for Angel Studios, directed by Alan Powell, as well as a co-star appearance on ABC’s hit comedy The Goldbergs. On stage, Ella has appeared in numerous regional productions, including Legally Blonde as Brooke Wyndham, Grease as Marty (Dance Captain), Oklahoma! (ensemble, understudy Gertie), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and other regional theaters. Additional theatre credits include the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, Wendy Jo in Footloose, and Margot in Legally Blonde, frequently serving as Dance Captain and in principal supporting roles. In addition to performing, Ella has taught dance for the last five years and has experience directing and choreographing at the collegiate level. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre from Oklahoma City University, where she received extensive training in acting, voice, and dance. Ella is so proud to be signed with CESD Talent Agency and Kass Management.

Lauryn Withnell

Theater Teacher

Lauryn is a singer, actor, and dancer with a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Born into a musical family, she made her performance debut at age six as part of her family band, sparking a lifelong love of storytelling through music. Lauryn recently performed across the country in the Broadway National Tour of Mrs. Doubtfire, as well as in regional theatre productions and concerts. In addition to performing, she teaches masterclasses and audition workshops. She is passionate about helping young artists grow their confidence and technique in environments where imagination can thrive!

Adam Magnacca

Theater Teacher

Adam Magnacca (He/Him/His) is an NYC based Music Director, Coach, and Actor originally from Mississauga, Ontario. When not at Applause, Adam teaches throughout the 5 boroughs with the Roundabout Theatre Company's Education Program and The Queen's Theatre Senior Center Partnerships. Adam works professionally as a Music Supervisor for Norwegian Cruise Line, rehearsing singers and bands for different shows aboard Oceania, Regent, and Norwegian ships. Most recently, he served as the NCL Music Supervisor for the smash West End hit, The Choir of Man. As a performer, Adam has worked across the US with some onstage favorites including Rock of Ages, Into The Woods, and Head Over Heels. 

Kristen Brown

Theater & Dance Teacher

Phoebe Golfinos

Dance Teacher

Phoebe Golfinos is an actor, dancer, and voiceover artist from New York City. She started her training at Applause, where she fell in love with performing arts! She recently graduated with honors from Northwestern University, where she received her BA in Theatre, and performed in several dance and stage productions. She has lent her voice to shows like Wallykazam (Nick Jr.) and the Wonderpets, and commercials for Charmin and Cyberchase. Phoebe is so excited to return to the place where it all began and hopes to give to the next generation all that Applause has given to her.

Lori Newsom

Production Manager, Film Teaching Artist

Lori is a New York based actor, stage manager, and educator originally from Denver, Colorado. She is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in Musical Theater and Stage Management. Select performance credits include Natasha (...Great Comet of 1812), Logainne (...Spelling Bee), Pilar (Legally Blonde), Maureen (RENT) and Ensemble (Rock of Ages). Select stage and production management credits include Betteleigh Productions, The 52nd Street Project, Creative Arts Team at CUNY, Braata Productions, The Huntington, Lyric Stage Company, Moonbox Productions, The Boston Conservatory, and the Firehouse Center for the Arts. Arts education is Lori's greatest passion, and she is thrilled to be a part of bringing in the next generation of artists!

Zach Asnis

Film Teacher

Zach Asnis (he/him) is an Applause alum (‘21) and recent graduate of Syracuse University (‘25) where he received a BFA in Acting. He is so excited to be back at Applause to help spread the love for art that he found there over 10 years ago!

Ella Kahan

Theater Teacher

Ella Kahan is an actor, singer, and teaching artist based in New York City. She earned her BFA in Dramatic Arts from The New School, after previously studying Acting with a minor in Musical Theater at the University of the Arts. Ella’s interest in acting began at Broadway Training Center of Westchester, where she also discovered her love of teaching. Since then, she has taught theatre in many settings, including summers at the Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia. Alongside her work as a performer, Ella has years of experience as a babysitter and nanny, and she loves helping kids explore their creativity. She finds nothing more rewarding than watching young people grow passionate about the arts!

Phoebe Eskovitz

Theater Teacher

Phoebe Eskovitz is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist from Los Angeles, where formative programs like Applause sparked her love for the performing arts. She holds a BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she trained for three years in the Musical Theatre program at NSB, spent a semester in Film/TV acting at Stonestreet Studios, and studied Shakespeare in Performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. She also pursued a minor in Dramatic Literature and particularly enjoys collaborating on new works. Some recent credits include Antipholus of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors, Judy Turner in A Chorus Line, Jetsam in The Little Mermaid, Frankie in Balm in Gilead & Malvolio in Twelfth Night. As a director and choreographer, Phoebe has worked with various theatre intensives and community outreach programs including Broadway Bound Kids, Theatre 31, and Performing Arts Workshops.

Kaleb Wilkening

Theater Teacher

Kaleb Wilkening (he/they) is a New York-based music director, vocal coach, and collaborative pianist. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2022 with a degree in Piano Performance. He was the vocal director for RENT in Concert at the Lied Center directed by Sammi Cannold. Favorite recent music directing credits credits include: Cabaret (Lincoln Community Playhouse), Come From Away (LCP), Anastasia (LCP), Fiddler on the Roof (LCP), The Prom (Nebraska Wesleyan University), and Urinetown (Nebraska Repertory Theatre). Before moving to New York, Kaleb worked as a middle school music teacher in Nebraska. Kaleb is the proud cat parent to Koda and Suki. Kaleb is excited to join Applause and teach theater!

Brett Thiele

Theater & Dance Teacher

Brett Thiele has been performing professionally in New York for 10 years. He has performed on Broadway in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Miss Saigon, and Escape To Margaritaville. Off Broadway and Regional credits include The First Wives Club, The Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of West Side Story, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Gypsy, A Chorus Line, and Stephen Sondheim’s Follies. Film and Television credits include Saturday Night Live, MTV’s One Bad Choice, America’s Got Talent, and Hamlet: Son of a Kingpin.

Matthew Nassida

Theater Teacher

Matthew Nassida is a music director, composer, playwright, and educator stationed in Brooklyn, NY. He received his MFA in musical theatre writing from New York University and his BFA in musical theatre performance from Northern Kentucky University. His musicals have been seen in New York (Story of a Daughter, The Machine Stops), Cincinnati (Cookie Cutters, Precipice), and Saudi Arabia (Upwards the musical/مسرحية أعلى الأعالي). He has worked on the music team for productions at Bay Street Theater, Theatre Untitled, Heights Players, and the James Earl Jones Theater. He is also the CFO and a founding member of the non-profit Autistic Theatremakers Alliance. MatthewNassida.com

Henry Walter Greenberg

Theater & Film Teacher

Henry Walter Greenberg is an actor, filmmaker and teacher from Nashville, TN. As a stage performer, he’s worked with some of the finest theaters across the country, including La Jolla Playhouse, The Denver Center, Goodspeed Musicals, and various theatres populating the Chicago storefront theatre scene. His first two films, The Last Q-Tip and Hamlet in the Garden are set to debut early 2025. In addition to his work as an actor and filmmaker, Henry served as the Literary Manager at A Red Orchid Theatre (co-founded by Oscar Nominee Michael Shannon). Training: BFA, Baylor University. MFA, UC San Diego

Ellein Cheng

Dance Teacher

Ellein began her dance journey with ballet at the age of five, and discovered her true passion during high school when she immersed herself in Hip-Hop, Locking, Popping, and House training. When studying at Carnegie Mellon University, she choreographed and danced for the school's semi-annual Dancers Symposium and their annual fashion show Lunar Gala, while co-captaining the school's Hip-Hop dance troop, International Freestylers. After graduating, she continued training at StudioDanz Hong Kong, where she was recruited to join an all-girls dance team called SIS, and invited to participate in the Dazzle Live showcase in Osaka as a guest performer.  In recent years, she has pivoted her career into the field of data science, but continues to pursue her love for movements through dancing and choreographing for DanceWorks NYC since 2016.  She enjoys practicing a growth mindset in every aspect of her life, including motherhood, tech career, and artistic creativity.   

Blaze Dalio

Theater Teacher

Blaze Dalio is a New York based teacher, music director, and performer. He graduated from Rowan University with a BM in Music Education, and is currently a music teacher at Jersey City Global Charter School. Recent theatrical credits include West Side Story (Tony), Pippin (Pippin), Jagged Little Pill (Phoenix), Ragtime (Music Dir), and In the Heights (Music Dir). Blaze is excited to continue sharing his passion for music with all of his students.

Domenica Passio

Theater Teacher

Domenica Passio is a New York based performer and teaching artist who was raised in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Temple University with a BFA in Musical Theater and Minor in Dance. Her recent performance credits include performing and understudying in The Walnut Street Theatre’s Elf The Musical and Broadway Theatre of Pitman’s Legally Blonde. She has taught numerous classes at The Philadelphia Dance Academy and has directed camp performances and classes at The Walnut Street Theatre. Domenica is very excited to share her experience and love of theater with the young artists at Applause.

Kaelin Fuld

Stage Manager

Kaelin Elizabeth Fuld is a born and raised New Yorker and has been working as a stage manager in the city since 2019 after graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Equestrian Studies. She has been the stage manager for the Waterwell Drama Program for five seasons and stage managed with the MCC Youth Company, NYU Tisch and Grad Acting, The Tank, and Next Door at New York Theatre Workshop, among other credits. She is thrilled to be part of the vibrant Applause team and is so excited to help young performers shine onstage! 

Keegan Sells

Film Teacher

Keegan Sells is a professional actor residing in New York City. He recently graduated from Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Keegan has filmed and edited movies since the eighth grade, when he spent his free time running around the woods with his brother, making up movies on the spot. Keegan started a film club at his high school, has produced professional commercials, created projections for stage-plays, and edited two short films alongside his brother. He hopes to bring his love for film to the students he teaches and inspire them to make their ideas a reality. Keegan wants to create a space where every student feels valued and included. A space where his eighth grade self would love to spend his free-time.

Melissa Kline

Theatre Assistant

Melissa is an artist and administrator based in New York City. She earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music. After graduating, Melissa hit the road performing on the CoComelon Live! National Tour, bringing smiles to kids and families across the country!

Shortly after, Melissa joined Broadway Licensing Global as a Play Licensing Associate, gaining experience in arts administration and theatrical licensing. Her professional background spans theatre performance, voiceover, administration, and youth education.

Outside of theatre, you can find Melissa reading a good book, searching for the best sushi spots, and spending time with loved ones!

Canaan J. Harris

Theater Teacher

Canaan J. Harris is a NYC-based pianist, music director, and composer who accompanies dance classes at Alvin Ailey; music directs cabarets at 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Chelsea Table & Stage, among other venues; and is currently in the composer track in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. As a composer, his work has been featured at Theater Aspen, 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Laurie Beechman Theatre, NY Theatre Barn, Prospect Musicals, Tri-Cities Opera, among others.

Jamie Lapierre

Theater & Film Teacher

Jamie Lapierre is a New York City-based actor, singer, and teaching artist. She received her B.A. in Musical Theatre from American University and has also trained at the British American Drama Academy in London. Jamie has experience performing in theatre, film, and voiceover, and has taught musical theatre, acting, and dance to students of all ages.

Jamie loves creating a fun and welcoming environment where students can explore their creativity, build confidence, and discover their own unique voices. She is especially passionate about working with young performers and helping them find the joy in storytelling, movement, and making theatre together. Jamie is thrilled to be part of the Applause family!

Nic Nelson

Theater Teacher

Originally from Florida, Nicolas attended the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, where he majored in musical theatre. Nicolas spends most of his time pursuing acting, taking dance classes, and playing jazz at various venues around New York. He also has experience music directing for several 54 Below and Green Room 42 shows as well as filling in for any instrument needed at any given performance.

Nic grew up taking care of his two little sisters, teaching them music, and watching them perform, and he loves any opportunity to share his love for music and theatre with the next generation.

Michelle Arotsky

Theater & Dance Teacher

Theresa Alexander

Theater & Dance Teacher

Graduate of Cornish College of the Arts & North Carolina native, Theresa is an NYC based choreographer, performer, and educator. She has choreographed & performed regionally in productions of Flashdance, Curtains, and Flora the Red Menace, & is a member of Forager Theatre Company. She continues to work with NYC based artists and choreographers, including her fabulous students!

Annelise Baker

Dance Teacher

Annelise has taught dance for several years, working at studios including Fancy Feet in the Bronx and New Canaan Dance Academy in New Canaan, CT.  She is a graduate of Northwestern University and absolutely loves teaching all ages!  As a performer, Annelise made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Jagged Little Pill in 2019.  Her previous credits include Opera: The Merry Widow (The Metropolitan Opera and The Lyric Opera of Chicago) directed by Susan Stroman. Regional: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Merry-Go-Round), Chicago (Riverside), Oklahoma (Paramount), and West Side Story (Drury Lane).

Abbie Anderson

Theater Teacher

Abbie is an actor, singer, dancer, and theatre educator. She has toured with the Rev Theatre Co. in New York and Bell Beyond in Italy doing Theatre for Young Audiences, and has performed at Radio City, Sony Hall, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Some favorite roles have been Grandma Georgina in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Aunt Spiker in James and the Giant Peach and the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. Abbie has taught musical theatre and dance to students ages 2-18 in schools, studios and theatre companies throughout the North East and Italy. Musical theatre is her favorite thing in the world and she is so happy to be able to teach it to the next generation of superstars!

Sophie Wilfong

Dance Teacher

Sophie Wilfong began her dance training in high school after years of competitive figure skating. She trained heavily in ballet and modern technique and spent her summers in NYC at Joffrey Ballet School’s summer intensives. At 18, she moved to New York City to attend the Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Program where she expanded her repertoire and quickly fell in love with both contemporary and jazz. She was soon introduced to Broadway Dance Center and graduated from BDC's Professional Semester Program in 2016. Since then, Sophie has continued her training and performed in venues including Symphony Space and Dixon Place.

Alyssa VanLandingham

Theater Teacher

Alyssa VanLandingham is a New York based actor and educator originally from the Washington D.C area. She is a recent graduate from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee BFA Musical Theater program. Favorite summer stock and university theater credits include; Sandy (Grease), Dorcas (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), and Ensemble (Cinderella). Alyssa grew up training in intensives such as Stagedoor Manor and at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. She also has worked with youth theatre programs for many years. Recently, Spotlight Theater Company in Newton, Massachusetts, as an Assistant Director/Choreographer for their MainStage productions and Blackbox shows. Alyssa is beyond excited to be a part of Applause, and hopes to establish a space where her students can feel confident, creative, and develop a strong passion for the arts!

Scotty Atienza

Theatre Teacher

Scotty Atienza is a music director, composer, songwriter and musical theatre actor. A recent BFA Musical Theater graduate from Boston Conservatory at Berklee with an emphasis in Songwriting, He has music directed various projects at the Conservatory including an original musical, The Berklee Career Jam, a few student-led productions and other institutional performances. Select credits include Pierre (...GREAT COMET...), Barfée (...SPELLING BEE), Steward (INTO THE WOODS) and Sonny (CITY OF ANGELS). Scotty is a new teaching artist at Applause NY and is very impassioned with the opportunity to educate the students of this very exciting program! scottyatienza.com