Workshop Instructors

Kate Beahen

Kate Beahen, who is originally from the Twin Cities, has a bachelor of music in music theatre from Florida State University. She has performed at various theatres around the country and also spent a few years living and performing in New York City. She now heads up the theatre program at Coon Rapids Middle School and performs professionally around the Twin Cities.

Kate will be teaching the following classes in Summer 2013: Mary Poppins, Actor’s Toolbox: Musical Theater, Triple Threat: Hairspray!, Be a Broadway Popstar: Whip Into Shape!, Triple Threat: All That Jazz

Laura Bidgood

A director, stage manager, musician, and spoken word artist, Laura has showcased her artistic talents in numerous theaters and groups around the Twin Cities including, Minnesota Public Radio, The Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company, Chameleon Theatre Circle, Morris Park Players and the Dakota Valley Symphony. Laura is one half of the writing/performing duo that created the Minnesota Fringe Festival hits, Take a Left at the Giant Cow; a Beginner’s Guide to North Dakota and Boys Don’t Make Passes at Girls Who Wear Glasses. She is also a member of the storytelling group, the RockStar Storytellers. Laura is delighted to be working with Lyric Arts! Previous directing credits with Lyric Arts include Little Shop of Horrors, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Ghost Chasers!, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Why Do Heroes Have Big Feet.

 

Michael Bruckmueller

Michael holds an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Minnesota Duluth.  He has been teaching improvisation for over a decade to preschoolers and executives alike.  Michael is currently a cast member of Comedysportz Twin Cities, where he works as both a performer and an instructor.

Michael will be teaching the following classes in Summer 2013: Yes…And?! Improv and Comedy Sketch Writing Camp, Actor’s Toolbox: Improv & Comedy

 

Kym Chambers Otto

Kym Chambers arrived from New York about two years ago where she had been working as a professional actor for eight years. Kym has toured with the Broadway shows Cats, The Wizard of Oz, and Cinderella. She has also worked at many prestigious regional theaters across the country including North Shore Music Theater, Kansas City Starlight, Atlanta Theater of the Stars, and Casa Manana. Kym holds a Masters Degree from New York University in Musical Theater Vocal Performance and a BA from St. Olaf College in Speech/Theater Secondary Education.

Kym will be teaching the following classes in Summer 2013: ISO Tweens Camp, Commercial Acting, Theater Audition Camp

 

Lisa Denninger

Lisa has been a professional actress for over 20 years, and has been working with children of all ages for just about as long. She has performed at a variety of Twin Cities theaters including Park Square, Theatre in the Round, Shakespeare and Company, The Refreshment Committee, The Mystery Cafe, and The Plymouth Playhouse where she performed in How to Talk Minnesotan for 4 years. Most recently she appeared in the role of Doris in The Miracle on 34th Streetat Lyric Arts along with her husband and two children. Lisa has a BA in Child Development from Concordia University, and is a strong supporter of the importance of arts in education for children and youth.

 

Heather Gerard-Peabody

Heather is ecstatic to be a part of the Lyric Arts Teaching Staff. Heather’s experience ranges from musical theater to television commercials and film. She brings more than 20 years of performance experience from the Midwest and New York. Heather is currently a troupe member of the Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret. Recently, she was the understudy for Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray at the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters. Other regional credits include: Let’s Kill the Boss, Nuncrackers, Phantom, The Pajama Game, and Ole and Lena Go to the Big Apple. She attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and holds a BS degree in Journalism and Theater from UW-River Falls.

 

Molly Jo Hall

Molly Jo is overjoyed to be a part of the Lyric Arts Education program. She will be graduating in May of 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Children & Family Ministry with an emphasis in Theater. Molly Jo has been performing with Lyric Arts for the past three years appearing in shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Potiphar’s Wife), Over the Tavern (Annie), and Footloose (Ariel). She recently worked as the assistant choreographer for Hello, Dolly! at Lyric Arts and works as the Children and Family Director at True Light Covenant Church.

Molly Jo will be teaching the following classes in Summer 2013: Summertime Creative Play, Goodnight Moon…and other bedtime stories!, Happy Feet, The Lion King, Disney Princesses, Puppets!, Create Your Own Adventure Camp, Matilda

 

Nickie Hill

Nickie is happy to add Lyric Arts to her resume! She has been an actor in the metro area for 15 years appearing on such stages as The Ordway, Chanhassen, and the Plymouth Playhouse among others.  Nickie is currently working as a freelance Choreographer/Director/Theatre Educator at Edina High School, Hill-Murray, and Ashland Productions and is also on the Dance Faculty at LifeTime Fitness. During the summer, she loves teaching Musical Theatre camps at The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI, and also at Shell Lake Arts Camp in Shell Lake, WI. She received her B.A. in Communication Studies/Theatre from Gustavus Adolphus College and is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association. She lives in Robbinsdale with her husband, percussionist Paul Hill and their totally awesome dog, Trooper.

Nickie will be teaching the following classes in Summer 2013: BOOM!, Theater Audition Camp

 

Barbara Hynes-Tomczyk

Barbara Hynes-Tomczyk (Barb H-T) has spent the last thirty years teaching and directing over fifty theatre productions.  She’s currently working as a freelance director and teaching artist in and around the Twin Cities.  Barb’s educational background includes a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and graduate work in Acting, Directing and Theatre.  Barb’s passion for theatre began when she was fifteen years old and continues to this day.

Barb will be teaching the following classes in Summer 2013: Actor’s Toolbox: Acting

 

Robert Neu

Robert Neu is delighted to be a Workshop Instructor and Resident Director for Lyric Arts. Previously, he directed Leading Ladies Almost, Maine; The Sound of Music and Oliver! at Lyric Arts. His other productions have been seen in Cincinnati, Virginia, New York and West Virginia.  For the Minnesota Orchestra, he has directed productions of Candide, Fidelio, Tosca starring Deborah Voigt, Carmen, La Boheme, Peer Gynt (for which he also co-wrote the adaptation), Bernstein’s Mass, Hansel and Gretel and La Traviata. In the Twin Cities area, he has directed for New Breath Productions, Phipps Center for the Arts, St. Cloud’s Paramount Theatre, and Skylark Opera.  His productions have also been seen at the Minneapolis Fringe Festival.  A graduate of The Juilliard School, Neu teaches master classes in audition techniques for the University of Minnesota’s opera department. Upcoming productions include a revival of Hansel and Gretel for the Minnesota Orchestra and Patience for the Gilbert and Sullivan Players.