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.

 

Katherine Billings (Master Teaching Artist) is a member of the AEA, SAG, an award-winning director, writer, producer, actor, Master Teaching Artist with the Broadway Center Conservatory, Adjunct Professor at Seattle Pacific University, Evergreen State College, SPCC, and owner of Billings Productions. She has presented seminars for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Pacific Northwest Thespians, the Educational Theatre Association, and serves on the Advisory Board for the William Inge Center for the Performing Arts. She trained at Northwestern University, U.C.L.A., London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) and with Robert Lewis, Stella Adler, David Craig and Robert McKee. Katherine’s awards include the American Film Festival, the U.S. Film Festival, the International C.I.N.E., regional stage directing and acting honors. She has produced and edited for the Women's Directing Project at the American Film Institute. As a professional coach, she has prepared actors for auditions and appearances on Wonder Years, Bull Durham, X-Files, Millenium, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis, DaVinci’s Inquest, Deadman’s Gun, Disturbing Behavior, Nothing Too Good For A Cowboy, Harsh Realm, The Last Trimester, Hot Rod, and numerous commercials.

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.

Adam Utley (Master Teaching Artist) hails from Wenatchee, WA.  It wasn’t until his early high school years that he realized how exquisite the world of theatre is. His enthusiasm and love for theatrical arts has been on a fast track of constant exploration ever since. Graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in 2004 with a BFA in Acting / Directing, he found himself gravitating towards the theatre medium know as Improvisation Theatre. It was here that he finally understood the rhythm of his own creative processes from earlier artistic endeavors. Using Improv as his base building block, collaborations with other artists have proven fruitful, each in their own respected fields. It’s amazing what you can create when you aren’t allowed the option of judging your own creation. For the past 2 ½ years, it has been a commitment of Adam’s to spread the teachings of Improv to all ages. He is quite pleased with the continual positive response from each student he has taught within the bounds of Tacoma/Seattle. Here’s to the future; expect the unexpected.  His artistic motto: Complete acceptance of your own spontaneity while committing to utilize every else’s everlasting, brilliant, ideas.

Marie Nelson (Master Teaching Artist) Master Teaching Artist Marie Nelson is a Tacoma local through and through!  The performing arts bug bit her early when at the tender age of 4 she played a flower in a production of The Wizard of Oz on the Pantages stage. Marie received her bachelors in Music Education in 2001 and has taught music education for over 5 years.  Marie has performed with Life Center's Singing Christmas Tree, Tacoma Little Theatre, Olympia's Faculty Musical, and Vagabond Opera in Portland.  She has directed several children’s musicals and taken her choirs to State multiple times.  Infectiously enthusiastic, Marie will inspire your young artesian to reach new heights and come alive on and off stage.

Antonia Darlene, (Master Teaching Artist) Antonia is pleased to be part of The Broadway Center Conservatory team. She made her directorial debut last August with A Midsummer Night's Dream (as you have never seen it before) while teaching at DASH Performing Arts Center for inner city youth in Tacoma where she has also taught private voice lessons. Antonia had an amazing opportunity when she went to Rwanda a couple summers ago with WSU where she worked with High School students teaching them a variety of skills. Antonia also has a very active life in the Puget Sound musical theatre scene.  She just finished AIDA and is currently in Saint Heaven both with the Village Theatre. She has played Deena Jones in Dreamgirls,  Joanne in Godspell, Cleo Jackson in The Twelfth Night of Stardust and herself in Ain't Misbehavin'.  As well as performing in Operation Stardust and Soul on Fire with Harlequin Productions in Olympia. She is excited to be able to share her experience and passion for the Arts!

Heather Malroy (Master Teaching Artist) Heather studied Musical Theatre at Milikin University in the Midwest and later received her Bachelors degree in Music and Theatre from Saint Martins University. In the Pacific Northwest Heather has worked as an actor with Harlequin Productions, Capital Playhouse, Lakewood Playhouse, and Tacoma Musical Theatre.  She has enjoyed choreographing and directing for Main Stage, Children’s Theatre, various High School musicals & show Choirs, as well as the Miss America Program. Heather believes strongly in the positive impact of the Arts and that the skills gained through movement, theatre, and music help us grow as people and as artists.

 

Tiffany Sanders (Teaching Artist Apprentice) is excited to be part of the Broadway Center Conservatory family. Tiffany is a graduate of Tacoma School of the Arts and is currently a student at Pierce College. She appreciates the opportunity to be able to give back to her community and has worked in our Educational Outreach Programs and Community Dialogues as well as in our Summer Camps and says now she’s “stuck like glue” to the Broadway Center  Conservatory. Tiffany dances with Zero Gravity Dance Company at the D.A.S.H Center for the Arts and has performed with SOTA as Tom in their production of “The Glass Menagerie”, Iris in “Metamorphosis” and most recently portraying Aaliyah in The D.A.S.H Center’s winter production “Now That’s What We Call Music”.  She is thrilled to be able to share her passion for performing arts with the talented students at Broadway Center Conservatory and looking forward to an amazing season.