Pennsylvania Youth Theatre: School of Performing Arts: Meet the Instructors

	ARTIST/TEACHERS GARY MINYARD Artistic Director Educator, Director Mr. Minyard received his MFA from Arizona State University with a dual emphasis in Theatre for Youth and Directing, and a BA in Theatre from the University of Houston. Also a graduate of the L’Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq certificate program in Paris, he brings a background in physical theatre to his teaching and directing. Mr. Minyard’s directing credits include productions for Childsplay, Tempe, AZ, Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, Stray Cat Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, and the Bonderman Playwriting Symposium. Favorite titles include A Thousand Cranes, Androcles and the Lion, Kate Crackernuts,Peter and the Wolf, Peacemaker and the Brittish Panto, The Sleeping Beauty. Mr. Minyard has toured extensively as an actor, director and teaching artist through 48 of our 50 states (plus one territory!) with several professional theatre companies.
	JILL DUNN Director of Education B.S. in Education, Boston University, a B.A. in Elementary Education, Boston University and a M.A. in Educational Theater Studies, New York University. Jill was the Associate Director if Education at the New Victory Theater in NYC and has her teaching certification in Elementary education. Jill currently leads the PYT Curtains Up for Reading program and regularly conducts residencies in local elementary schools.
	AMY BROWNE SMITH Dance Division Coordinator BFA in Modern Dance and Ballet, University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She is currently a soloist, choreographer and company member of Lehigh Valley's T.A.P. (Teach All People). Ms. Smith has performed in many venues in Philadelphia, New York City and in Austin, Texas. She has been teaching for the last 15 years at many schools and universities.
	JOHN ANKER BOW Drama Instructor and Director BA in Secondary Education and English, Rider University. Mr. Bow was Director of Educational Outreach at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven where he started the successful educational touring company Surflight-To-Go now in its 6 th season! He is the proud author of several character education musical plays for young audiences which have been performed Mr. Bow has worked as an actor, director, teacher, storyteller, puppeteer, singing waiter and host of a 4-acre corn maze. For PYT, Mr. Bow has directed MainStage shows James and the Giant Peach and Charlotte’s Web as well as, Summer Stage productions Alice Jr. and Annie Jr..
	CAMILLE ARMSTRONG Movement Instructor Ms Armstrong has choreographed and taught Body Percussion classes and workshops, formed Step Teams and organized competitions. She performed with the Off-Broadway and Overseas touring companies of STOMP. Ms Armstrong had taught Hip-Hop and Body Percussion workshops all over the world including Vienna, Vancouver, New York City and Seoul, Korea.
	DENISE BINDER Dance Instructor BA in Dance, DeSales University. Ms. Binder has choreographed, performed and taught dance in New York and Pennsylvania.
	GINA HANDY Drama Instructor BFA Musical Theatre from Mars Hall College. Ms. Handy is an award winning actor, teaching artist and choreographer. Specializing in musical theatre and devising, she has taught and performed all over the world. Ms. Handy is a proud member of Actor's Equity and AATE.
	LYNNE MARIANI Dance Instructor Ms. Mariani began her professional career in Bob Fosse's Dancin', where she served as dance captain for Mr. Fosse. Her credits include the European company of Cats, Hollwood Beat, Chicago, Red Hot Broadway and national TV commercials. Lynne's teaching experience includes Bravo Dance, DeSales University, Regional Dance Theatre, Wilkes University, and King's College.
	NANCIANNE METZ Musical Director/Voice Instructor BM Mansfield University. Ms. Metz is Minister of Music at St. Peter's UCC in Seemsville, and Musical Director for MORA Chorus of the Lehigh Valley. She serves as accompanist for Muhlenberg Theatre Department and DeSales University Theatre.
	KIM PATTERSON Dance Instructor BA Dance, DeSales University. For more than ten years she has choreographed and taught dance in New York and Pennsylvania. She most recently choreographed and performed for Vox Novus’s 60x60 Project at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City
	LINDSAY SCHAEFER Dance Instructor BA Dance, Point Park College.. She studied with Paul Taylor Dance Company and Taylor ll. Beyond her dance training she has studied gymnastics and yoga and has her Yoga Certification. She performed with the Arizona Movement Source in Phoenix , directed a recreational dance program for Chelsea Piers and taught for PS 163’s outreach program in Manhattan.
	MICHELLE SMITH Dance Instructor BFA Juilliard School. Ms Smith also trained at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance, The Ailey School and New York City High School of Music and Art. Professionally, she has danced with New York based dance companies: Balance Dance Company, Allen Body Group, and Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance. Ms. Smith performed in STOMP with the Off-Broadway touring company and in the New York City production.
	JEANETTE L. SOMMONS Voice Instructor MM in Vocal Performance, University of Miami. Ms. Sommons has performed as a soloist with the Miami Bach Society. For the past 4 years, she has taught voice to students as they prepare for professional careers.