Teaching Artists

School Year Conservatory Staff

Nyree Martinez (Education Manager) Nyree was born and raised in Seattle and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a degree in Education and then went on to graduate from the University of Washington Drama School. She was a lead director for Tacoma Actor’s Guild Star Camp for over 7 years and has worked with Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Tacoma Little Theatre and Centerstage as a teaching artist as well. Locally Nyree has worked as a guest instructor and director for Green River Community College where she directed the Vagina Monologues, Pierce College Steilacoom where she assistant directed The Laramie Project, Highline Community College where she directed Twelfth Night and Tacoma Little Theatre where she directed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, recognized as Best Drama 2008 in The Volcano. Nyree is no stranger to the stage and has toured nationally with the cult classic Menopause the Musical, has worked locally with Harlequin Productions, Centerstage, ReAct, Empty Space, TAG, and Broadway Center as well as regionally in Florida and with the National Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. Nyree is a proud member of the AEA.

Gabriel McPherson (Master Teaching Artist & Musical Director) Gabe has been a professional artist for over a decade, having played several major stages in the country as an actor, as well as a recording artist. Gabe works locally with Stadium High School as guest teaching artist and director and is a founding member, producer and writer for Doxology a Tacoma based rock band. Gabe is a proud member of AEA and SAG.

Jenny Shotwell (Master Teaching Artist) is very excited to be part of BCPA’s summer program! Jenny received her Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance from Pacific Lutheran University in 2004. An avid performer, Jenny has performed in over 35 productions over the years throughout the Puget Sound with such companies as Tacoma Opera, Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society (where she was a 2005 scholarship recipient with the Seattle G & S Society’s Alan Lund Vocal Scholarship), Northwest Savoyards, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Lakewood Playhouse among others. Favorite roles include Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, Rosemary in How to Succeed in Business.., and Little Red in Into the Woods. Jenny has also musically directed with the Seattle-based children’s theater, Broadway Bound on productions of Annie and High School Musical. Currently she runs a successful voice and piano studio in Federal Way. Coming up next Jenny will be playing the role of Cupid in Tacoma Opera’s production of Orpheus in the Underworld next fall. For information on Jenny’s music studio please visit her website at www.seattlelessons.googlepages.com. Enjoy the show!

Katie Stricker (Master Teaching Artist) is a dance artist from Illinois. She holds a Summa Cum Laude BFA in Performing Arts with an emphasis in Contemporary Dance. She currently dances with Tacoma’s Callous Physical Theatre and was most recently a Resident Instructor at Barefoot Studios where she taught Yoga-based Stretching, Ballet and Contemporary Dance for adults as well children's Jazz and Ballet. Katie recently received a Tacoma Artist’s Initiative Project Grant to produce her choreography in an original piece entitled “Pressed” for the Spring of 2008. She has also produced work in SiteWorks Dance Festival 2006 as well as numerous pieces for Barefoot Studio’s 10X10 Performance Workshop Series. This past Winter, Katie choreographed Seussical for Lakewood Playhouse, which is scheduled to be re-staged this coming Fall. In addition to dance, Katie is an actress, pianist, painter and singer. She has performed such roles as Hermia (A Midsummer Night's Dream, 2003) and Vibrata (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 2004). Katie is currently working as choreographer for Tacoma Little Theatre's production of The Sleeping Beauty.

Marilyn Bennett (Master Teaching Artist) Adult Ensemble instructor, Dr.Marilyn Bennett received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington while working as a professional actor for the Lola Hallowell Agency in Seattle. She has taught theatre departments at St. Lawrence University, Hamilton College, Humboldt University, University of San Diego, and University of Puget Sound, and served as Director of Theatre at the Annie Wright School. Marilyn has directed over 50 academic and professional theatre productions, and is an AFTRA and Equity actor. Marilyn lives in Tacoma and is an adjunct theatre faculty and guest director at UPS.