Joni Martin

JONI MARTIN, Artistic Director

Joni Martin has been a long-time theater artist and performed extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in Dramatic Arts from U.C. Berkeley and also studied with the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in San Francisco. She first became involved with children's theater over 20 years ago when she joined The Jolly Orange Company, a nonprofit theater company specializing in educational theater for primary grades. Locally, Ms. Joni has directed productions for the Trilogy School of Performing Arts, the Ela Theater Company, Lake Zurich School District 95, and local area churches. Joni Martin is one of the founding members of Young Actor's Studio Chicago and currently acts as Artistic Director for the company.

RECENT DIRECTING CREDITS:
Bah Humbug! Scrooge's Christmas Carol, 2010, The Emperor's New Clothes - the Musical, 2010, Shoemaker and the Elves, 2009, Cinderella, 2009, AristoCats, 2008, Hansel and Gretel, 2008, Pied Piper, the Musical, 2007, Christmas Presence, 2006, Captain Bree and Her Lady Pirates, 2006, Willy Wonka, 2005, Out Of Tune, 2004, Believe!, 2003, Snow White and Rose Red, 2000

Kate Zwiefelhofer

KATE ZWIEFELHOFER, Director/Musical Director

Kate Zwiefelhofer is a Creative Team staff member of Young Actor's Studio Chicago. She holds a B.A. degree from Wheaton College with a Theater emphasis and a minor in Vocal Performance. Kate has taught drama and music with Only A Stage, Christian Youth Theater (CYT), and JuMP Company (Junior Musical Playhouse). She has performed in numerous productions in the Chicago area and has over 10 years experience directing musical theater. Kate also has considerable experience developing and directing local area Summer Fine Arts Camps and currently runs the Summer Workshop program for Young Actor's. In addition, Kate is a private voice and piano teacher.

RECENT DIRECTING CREDITS:
Gone with the Breeze, 2011, Bah Humbug! Scrooge's Christmas Carol, 2010, The Emperor's New Clothes - the Musical, 2010, Shoemaker and the Elves, 2009, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, 2009,
The Lemonade Kid, 2008,
David Rock, Goliath Roll, 2006,
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, 2004,
Little Shop of Horrors, 2002,
Leave a Light On, 2001,
Roger & Hammerstein's Cinderella, 2000

Mandy Skinner

MANDY SKINNER, Choreographer

Mandy Skinner is Choreographer with Young Actor's Studio Chicago. She has been dancing since the age of 11 and has studied tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and modern dance. Mandy has been teaching dance for the past eight years and has been an instructor at JEM Studios, Trilogy Dance, Ela Theater Company, and Young Actor's Studio Chicago. In addition, she has danced competitively for five years, winning many top awards. Mandy holds a B.A. from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Marketing Communications and a concentration in Public Relations. She also studied modern, ballet, and jazz and performed in several dance shows during her time at Columbia. Mandy is thrilled to now be able to share her passion for dance and the arts with the many talented people at YASC.

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KAREN BERGER-NOLTE, Scenic/Make-up Designer

Karen Berger-Nolte is a Production Team staff member at Young Actor’s Studio Chicago responsible for Set and Make-up Design.  In addition, Karen teaches  Stage Makeup at Columbia College of Chicago. She has about 25 years experience working in stage makeup, property design, costumes and set design.  Karen has worked at  Appletree Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Steppenwolf, Pegasus Players, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Chicago Opera Theatre and many more.  Karen holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts  and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

 

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ANNE MORROW, Ph.D., Board of Directors

Dr. Morrow holds a degree in Educational Administration from Stanford University. She is a longtime patron of the arts and has been responsible for fund-raising for various cultural arts projects, including restoration of the historic Napa Valley Opera House and funding the Lincoln Theater. Dr. Morrow is a longtime teacher of English and foreign languages to children at the secondary level. She is currently acting Fund-raiser Chair and Educational Advisor to Young Actor’s Studio Chicago. She resides with her husband in Lake Barrington. They have four daughters and ten grandchildren.