Guest Artists Acting Masterclasses Ireland
GUEST ARTISTS
Chryssie Whitehead
Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina,
Chryssie grew up dancing with the Columbia City Ballet and Southern Strutt dance studio competing nationally. Her training would continue in the summers' in Los Angeles and in New York at the Edge dance studio and Broadway Dance Center. During adolescence she also performed in community theatre, with her high school drama program at Richland Northeast and modeled at Millie Lewis Modeling & Talent agency. Her career of 18 years started as a Rockette then on to schooling in New York at AMDA where she majored in musical theatre. After school, Chryssie went on to work in theatre, television, film and on Broadway as an actress, dancer and singer working with stars such as Neal Patrick Harris, Patti Lupone and Stephen Colbert. Chryssie can be seen in the hit documentary, Every Little Step, where she was featured landing her Broadway Debut in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line as Kristine, heard also on the cast album in "Sing" with Tony nominated, Tony Yazbeck (On the Town). Her last role on Broadway was Kitty in CHICAGO where she went on to perform Velma as an understudy. Other stage roles include: Bombalurina in CATS, Lola in Damn Yankees, Liane in Gigi and the role of Kathy in Company opposite Neal Patrick Harris, as Bobby, at Lincoln Center with the NY Philharmonic Orchestra (Now on DVD in PBS's Great Performances).
She is a proud faculty member and alumna at AMDA College and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in where where she has crossed over divisions teaching in musical theatre performance, acting on camera, audition technique and all styles of dance, including being a choreographer for showcases and dance workshops. She is a former adjunct lecturer at UCLA teaching theatre dance, jazz and Fosse for two years and faculty member at the California Dance Institute and National Dance Institute teaching in public elementary schools. Chryssie also taught a movement for actor and musical theatre dance class at the acclaimed Edge Dance Studios in Los Angeles for many years. Chryssie also continues working in her true passion teaching for the musical theatre program at AMDA NYC and coaches privately. She is co-founder of Broadway Arts Camp with long time friend, Alexis Carra and teaches under her own "Dance Act Sing" Intensives (DASI) at www.DASIntensive.com.
Rachelle Rak
Nicknamed “Sas,” Rachelle began her dance training at the age of 2 under the direction of her mother, Rosalene, at the Rosalene Kenneth Professional Dance Studio in Pittsburgh. She is labeled a Triple Threat on Broadway for her immeasurable talent in dance, singing, and acting. Rachelle was presented with an award by Dance Educators of America for her contribution to the world of dance. She has had a huge impact on the Broadway Community.
A few of her impressive credits, include leading roles in: “Fosse”, “Sweet Charity”, “Flashdance”, “The Jack Cole Project”, “Chicago”, “A Chorus Line”, “Catch Me If You Can”,” Cats”,” Starlight Express”, “West Side Story”, “Smokey Joe’s Café”, “Trip of Love”, “Thou Shalt Not”,” Oklahoma!”, “The Look of Love”, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “Sessions”, and “An Evening at the Carlyle.”
Choreography Credits Include: Norwegian Cruise Lines , Off Broadway: “An Evening at the Carlyle” and “Sessions”-Additional Choreography, Lifetime: “Dance Moms”, Fringe Festive “Vote the Musical” Benefits: “Broadway Bares”, Concerts: Staging for Cheyenne Jackson-Carnegie Hall. Her One woman show “I’m In” Le Poisson Rouge, Nightclub shows “The Love Fest”, “Splash Around The World”, “VaVoom,”and web series on Broadway.com” I Love Rak n Roll”.
She has performed in countless concerts and productions at New York City’s Town Hall, and has been a crowd favorite time and again in many “Encores” performances at City Center. Her talent doesn’t cease at the stage. She can be found on screen in commercials for Ebay, she played a reoccurring role on the soap opera series “Another World” and was featured in the documentary “Every Little Step” (The Making of “A Chorus Line”). She was a guest on Dance Moms and is a featured judge on “Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition” on Lifetime.
Television Performances include: Jay Leno, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, The Better You, Regis and Kathie Lee, and Late Night with David Letterman., Dance Moms, Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition. She was the spokesperson for Pittsburgh Brewing Co’s IC Light, and had the honor of singing the National Anthem at a New York Mets Playoff game and at an Orlando Magic Basketball Game.
She co-wrote her CD RAK/SAS with Martyn Axe. Her songs are available on iTunes. She is revered as one of Broadway’s most talented performers.
Instagram: @rachellerak
Twitter: @rachelleraksas
her on Twitter at @rachelleraksas.”
Laura Bell Bundy
Originally from Kentucky,
Her passion for performing, writing music, and telling stories combined with her talent and determination took Bundy from her southern comfort zone to the bright lights of Broadway and now beyond.
Debuting at age 9 in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular was the fuel to the fire. Since then, she has originated the roles of “Tina Denmark” in Ruthless The Musical, “Amber Von Tussle” in Hairspray, “Elle Woods” in Legally Blonde, and took a turn as “Glinda” in the smash hit Wicked. She has earned numerous nominations for her performances, including a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, an Outer Critics Circle nomination, and Drama Desk nominations.
In addition to dominating Broadway stages, Laura Bell has also been spotted in front of the camera, appearing on network television shows such as Cold Case, Veronica Mars, Home Improvement, Malibu Country,”Becky” on How I Met Your Mother, a recurring role as “Shelby” on Hart of Dixie, and lead role as Dr. Jordan Denby on Anger Management. She also played the disgruntled teen “Marah Lewis” on Guiding Light. Taking television to the big screen, Laura Bell’s film work includes Dream Girls, Jumanji, Life with Mikey, The Adventures of Huck Finn, CMT’s first original movie To The Mat, Watercolor Postcards and Hallmark’s Dear Dumb Diary.
Not only has she been in TV and on Broadway but now she has a few Counry Music Ablums taking Nashville by storm. She just Released 'Another Peice of Me' which you can download on Itunes.
Nikki Snelson
Ben Cameron
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, actress, singer, dancer and choreographer Nicole ‘Nikki’ Snelson made her professional debut at the age of 16. She furthered her training with the BFA Musical Theatre program of the Boston Conservatory. She has danced for such prestigious choreographers as Emmy-Award winning Marguerite Derricks, Baayork Lee (recreating Michael Bennett’s original A Chorus Line choreography), and Tony Award winning Jerry Mitchell. She has also studied voice under Liz Caplan. In 2012, she became an Associate Artistic Director at The Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s Summer Stars program.
Originating the role of the new, female villainous Mad Hatter, Nikki starred in the world premiere of Wonderland: Alice’s New Musical Adventure. The new Frank Wildhorn musical had it’s premiere production at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts from November 2009 through January 2010. The show then transfered to Houston’s Alley Theatre for a run in early 2010.
In 2008, Nikki headlined the First National Revival Tour of A Chorus Line, starring in the iconic role of Cassie. The revival featured musical staging by Bob Avian and choreography by Baayork Lee, recreating the legendary original production by Michael Bennett.
After creating the role in the world premiere in San Francisco, Nikki would originate the role of Brooke Wyndam in the 2007 Original Broadway production ofLegally Blonde: The Musical. In September of 2007, the musical was broadcast nationally on MTV. Performing with the musical on Broadway for over a year, she was also featured on the reality casting show Legally Blonde: The Musical: The Search for the Next Elle Woods in 2008. Nikki would leave the Broadway company to play Cassie in A Chorus Line, a dream role from her childhood. In 2011, she returned the role of Brooke at the St. Louis’ MUNY Theatre.
Other credits on Broadway include starring with the original cast of the 1999 Tony Award and Grammy Award winning Broadway Revival of Annie Get Your Gun. Nikki made her Broadway debut starring as the ingénue Winnie Tate, starring opposite Bernadette Peters. She appeared in the Broadway revival of Sweet Charity starring Christina Applegate. Nikki has starred in the national tours oftick, tick...BOOM! as Susan, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Hello Dolly! starring Carol Channing, and Showboat. Off-Broadway she starred as Violet Zipper in the musical How to Save the World and Find True Love in 90 Minutes, and in the NYMF’s production of Have a Nice Life, which won the Best Ensemble Award. Nikki also starred in the Asian Premiere of tick, tick...BOOM! in Singapore.
On the screen, Nikki has been featured on several TV shows, includingDesperate Housewives, as Chelsea on ABC’s All My Children, and in the 2005 Showtime movie Reefer Madness. The documentary Every Little Step followed Nikki and several other actors during the audition process for A Chorus Line. She appeared in the 2007 film Across the Universe, by acclaimed director Julie Taymor.
When Nikki is not performing on stage or screen, she can be seen hosting musical theatre workshops around the world, from St. Louis to Las Vegas to Buenos Aires. She also is an active staff member for the Broadway Dreams Foundation. Nikki is slated to direct a few productions abroad within the next year.
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Ben Cameron is a sought after writer, performer, teacher and host in New York City. Ben has appeared on Broadway in Aida and the original Broadway companies of Wicked and Footloose. His touring credits include Sweet Charity (playing opposite Molly Ringwald), Fame-The Musical, State Fair, The Who's Tommy and Footloose. As a dancer Ben has been featured with recording artist Kristine W, on The ESPY awards and in the inaugural seasons of Dre.Dance (Taye Diggs/Andrew Palermo dirs.) and The Utah Contemporary Dance Theater (now called Odyssey). As a choreographer and teacher Ben has served on the faculties of NYU's CAP21 studio and Wagner College on Staten Island. He continues to teach master classes and workshops across the country. Ben has written for the opening night gala for NYMF, Broadway's Benefit for Hurriance Relief as well as writing and directing several one person shows for Broadway vets including John Arthur Greene, Laquet Sharnell and Jessica Dillan. Ben has performed his one man show 'Different is Good' to sold out crowds in 2005 and 2010 as well as collaborative performances with singer songwriters Katie Thompson and Phil Putnam. Ben has hosted major theater industry events Rockers on Broadway, Defying Inequality, Broadway Sings Tori: A Benefit for RAINN, BMI/ASCAAP new composer series, NYMF introductions and currently hosts The Duplex's long running open mic Mostly Sondheim for which he garnered 3 MAC award nominations. Ben is also the creator/host of Broadway Sessions, a weekly theater themed variety show in Times Square. Broadway Sessions recently celebrated it's 6th anniversary. Ben appears on the cast albums of Wicked and Footloose and is featured on the album Reach the Sky:The music of Bobby Cronin, performing 'Dance Your Troubles Away', a song written for him by Mr. Cronin. Ben is currently working on several new projects and web series. Ben likes most everyone.
Shelly Hutchinson
Shelly Hutchinson is a choreographer, instructor, dancer, actress and producer in New York City. She is a Contemporary and Musical Theater choreographer for “So You Think You Can Dance” Ukraine for the last four seasons.She has been on the creative teams and performed in operas such as Candide, Samson and Delilah, and Aida as associate choreographer and assistant director. Choreographer for adapted for stage version of Disney's High School Musical.
TV appearances include MTV, CBS Morning Show, ABC, Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, Lipstick Jungle, Ugly Betty, Kings, HBO Miniseries “Mildred Pierce”, The Today Show, David Letterman, The Learning Channel, dancer for Wyclef Jean and in Lou Bega’s "Mambo #5".Performing credits include Radio City Music Hall, Warner Brothers Films, Disney, Off- Broadway and Regional Theatre, International Arts Festival in Italy, Care Wave Japan, National and European Tours including "Fame, the Musical", Bye Bye Birdie, Irene, and West Side Story, assistant choreographer for "Falco", a new multi- media show in Vienna, Austria based on the late 80's pop star.
Her work has recently been seen at City Center, Merce Cunningham, Manhattan Movement Arts Center, and Salvatore Capezio Theater. With 16 years of deep and diverse teaching experience with all levels and ages, she has taught at various studios in the US, Germany, Italy, Austria, Prague, Argentina, Japan, Costa Rica, Cirque Du Soleil, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Joffrey Ballet School and Peridance in New York. Shelly continues to travel around the country for master classes, choreography, and private instruction.
She is on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and currently producing a series of concerts entitled“New York Moves” to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York.She is also the Director of UNCOVERED CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS, a series of Intensives based in New York City to help young dancers find their identities as choreographers. www.inventmovement.com