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Laurie Nelson,
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Voice Teacher,
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Faculty Head
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NM Productions Owner and Founder
To learn more, go to:
Bio Laurie Nelson
Alisa Waggoner
voice
Ashley Batten
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voice
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acting
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voice- over training
NM Productions Voice and Acting Staff Instructors
Education and Training:
Ms. Batten holds a BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University.
Credits:
1st Stage: By Jeeves (Stiffy); Music Theatre of Wichita: Les Misérables (Cosette), My Fair Lady, Big River, All Shook Up; Americans for the Arts: BCA Ten with Matt Bogart; Signature Theatre: Overtures program; Carnegie Mellon: Nine (Giulietta), Street Opera (Phyllis), The Coronation of Poppea (Amor). Other: Oklahoma! (Laurey), Ragtime (Evelyn), Guys & Dolls (Sarah), and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Sally). TV commercials: BGE Home, Eric Stewart Group. Ms. Batten also recorded speech therapy videos and songs for the SpeakinMotion iPad app.
Awards:
Ashley Batten is a recipient of the National Foundation for the Arts' youngARTS Award for classical voice and a merit award for musical theatre.
Daniel Devera
acting
Education and Training:
George Mason School of Theatre, BFA Acting, Magna Cum Laude; “Off the Page” Actors Workshop with Edward Gero; “Actors Intensive” Kaiulani Lee.
Credits:
George Mason University: The Mystery of Edwin Drood (The Reverend Crisparkle), Boleros for the Disenchanted (Eusebio), Don’t Look in the Pantry (Alien Boy), Contemporary Classics Cabaret, Broadway Miracles Cabaret; Capital Fringe Festival: Eve’s Big Fat Family Reunion (Abraham); Front and Center Stage: One Night Only Cabaret, Oops We Did it Again a Pop Cabaret; Other: Next to Normal (Gabe Goodman), In the Heights (Piragua Guy), Grease (Danny Zuko), Zombie Prom (Jonny Warner), Seussical (Horton the Elephant), Signature Theatre, Hilton Performing Arts Center, Kennedy Center, Strathmore (backup Singer for Patti Lupone). TV Commercials: Geico Commercial Red Feather Video, Northern Virginia Community College (Pathway to Success).
Teaching:
Teaching aritist with Acting for Young People
Education and Training:
Ms. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from Elon University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music. She also holds a Master of Education degree from American University and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from George Mason University. Ms. Taylor is currently completing her Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Virginia Polytechnic and State University with an emphasis in Theatre education and arts leadership.
Credits:
Ms. Taylor began her career singing and dancing on professional and regional stages as well as on television and in film. Her favorite roles include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Jen in john & jen, Emma in Betrayal, as a recurring soloist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in their annual Holiday Spectacular, and as a leading lady on the Lifetime Channel’s, Twisted Fate. In 2007, Ms. Taylor won a $20,000 scholarship from the Tea Council of the USA for producing the most creative and effective viral video on the health benefits of drinking tea which was featured on the CBS Early Show.
Teaching:
Tara Taylor is the K-12 Theatre and Dance Educational Specialist for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), one of the largest public Theatre education programs in the United States.
Prior to assuming her role as the FCPS Theatre and Dance Educational Specialist, Ms. Taylor enjoyed over 15 years working directly with students as a theatre educator in a variety of classrooms that focused on arts programing, including Kilmer Middle School, the FCPS Institute for the Arts, Howard County Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District of Columbia charter schools, and several local and regional private theatre education organizations.
Ms. Taylor has led professional development workshops and sessions for Theatre educators throughout the United States for the Educational Theatre Association, American Alliance for Theatre Education, and Texas Educational Theatre Association.
Tara Taylor
acting
Madyson Hanton
voice & acting
Education and Training:
Alisa Waggoner holds a Bachelor of Music Education from James Madison University and a Masters Degree in Vocal Pedagogy from Shenandoah Conservatory.
Teaching:
As a private instructor, Mrs. Waggoner specializes in classical repertoire, musical theater, and other contemporary genres.
Mrs. Waggoner is a music teacher in Fairfax County where she teaches general music and directs children's musical theater. She is trained in Somatic VoiceworkTM, the LoVetri Method and is a certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher.
Credits:
Shenandoah University: Die Fledermaus (Rosalinda), Dido and Aeneas (Dido), The Protagonist (Sister) Riverbend Opera Company: Children in the Mist, a Horror Opera, (Amanda Dumfries), Les Contes D'Hoffmann (Olympia), La Rondine (Bianca); Washington Savoyards: Treemonisha, Trial by Jury; James Madison University: National Anthem (featured university graduation soloist), Così Fan Tutte (Despina), Angélique (Angélique), The Merry Widow (Valencienne, Grisette Girl), Die Zauberflöte (Queen of the Night), Street Scene; Kennedy Center: The Unicorn, The Gorgan, and The Manticore, In Dal Choi's Farewell Recital (featured soloist); Virginia Concert & Opera Theatre: Too Many Sopranos (Miss Titmouse), The Impresario (Madame Heartmelt), Die Zauberflöte (spirit); Staunton Music Festival: Acis and Galatea, Semele, Dido and Aeneas, Vivaldi’s Gloria (soloist); International: Suor Angelica (Suor Osmina), Die Zauberflöte.
Randi Puckett
voice
Education and Training:
Susquehanna University; Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance.
Vienna, Austria; summer semester, Voice Performance and German. Ms. Puckett also studied at the New York Film Academy NYC; acting for film and television.
Teaching:
Allegro Community School of the Arts; Voice Instructor
Susquehanna University Preparatory Program; Voice and Acting Instructor
Ms. Puckett specializes in classical operatic repertoire, concert work (both sacred and classical) and musical theate. She also is experienced in preparation for competition singing and contemporary styles.
Directing:
The Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown for the Allegro Community Players.
Credits:
Susquehanna University: Orfeo (Proserpina); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania); The Threepenny Opera (Lucy); Street Scene (Ensemble); Dover Theater: The King and I (Anna),
Oklahoma (Laurey), and Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel).
Awards:
National Association of Teachers Singing Competition; PA Chapter; Titleholder; Miss America Organization; awarded first in talent and physical fitness; Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Pageant; second runner-up; Miss DC Scholarship Pageant, second-runner up.
Alice Boyars
music theory & sight singing
Education:
Alice holds a Master in Teaching and Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education, and Composition from Christopher Newport University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Awards:
Music Theory and Analysis Symposium Presenter | 2019, Roos Endowed Scholarship, Music and Technology Leadership Academy, Poster Presenter at Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, Wood-Shoemaker MAT Scholarship, Fraley-Hardy Award for Service to Music Department and Greater Community, Outstanding Community Outreach by an Individual.
Teaching:
Tutor | Center for Academic Success | 2017-2019, Substitute Teacher | Newport News Public Schools | 2018-2019, K-12 music and general elementary, Ensemble Manager | Christopher Newport University | 2017-2018. Alice has been teaching privately since 2016 and she served as the Music Theory and Music History tutor at CNU from 2017-2019.
Alice Boyars adores working with students of all levels. She currently teaches general music at Keene Mill Elementary and directs the Chapel Choir at St. Matthews UMC.
Madyson Hanton:
Training: UArts (Philadelphia) Catholic University (Washington, DC) , Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre.
Teaching:
As a teacher, Ms. Hanton works to emphasize the importance of the arts as an integral part of a balanced life. Ms. Hanton specializes in legit and mixed voice training for musical theatre as well as in contemporary voice training. She also offers audition coaching, and acting for both stage and film. Ms. Hanton engages her students in building a supportive atmosphere promoting freedom and growth.
In addition to private instruction, Ms. Hanton has served seasonally at Moonlit Wings Productions as a rehearsal director and daily curriculum planner. She also instructs MWP students in acting, music and dance. The program serves ages 6 to 15.
Credits:
Musical Theatre: Mrs. Nordstrom and u/s Mme. Armfeldt (A Little Night Music), Roz Keith (9 to 5); Alice Beineke (The Addams Family), Cathy Hiatt (Last Five Years), Woman 2 (Songs for a New World), Plays Mom (Retrograde), Lou (Year of the Rooster).