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SPOTLIGHT on CCT’S Teaching Artists
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Angela Barch-Shamell |
 Angela
Barch-Shamell has been teaching at CCT for seven years. She has a BFA in
Acting from The Ohio State University and an MFA from the University of
Virginia. She began teaching in 1989 at the Singers Workshop, here in
Columbus, where she taught singers how to apply acting techniques to the
performance of their songs, two of her students went on to be finalists
on Star Search. She taught Drama 202, Introduction to Acting and
Directing to undergraduates and grads at the University of Virginia and
while there, served as co-author and editor for the University of
Virginia instructor handbook for Drama 202. She is an adjunct professor
in Theatre Arts at Ohio Dominican University and
 Stage
Combat at Otterbein College. She teaches the Shakespeare Intensive at
the Columbus Torah Academy. She is a private acting coach for actors of
every age. She has directed two productions at CCT and last served as
Associate Director for CCT's production of Jungle Book. Her
greatest joy is raising her four year old daughter Olivia, who reminds
her, on an hourly basis, what is to be child and that learning and
teaching opportunities are all around us! |
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Jessi
Biggert |
Jessi Biggert is a senior theatre major at The Ohio State University. She has had
a passion for theatre ever since she took her first theatre class when she
was 5. She enjoys puppetry, costuming, acting, directing, and having fun
teaching kids! |
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Samantha
Cline |
 Samantha
Cline has spent this spring interning with CATCO and serving as the
Assistant to the Director for Blackbird. With a B.A. in Theatre from The
Ohio State University, Samantha has also trained in New York City at The
American Academy of Dramatic Arts (just rewarded their 95th Alumni
Academy Award nomination with the lifetime achievement award going to
Lauren Bacall) and The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Film
Training at The New York Film Academy: Hollywood Campus in the
Universal/NBC back-lots with a focus on acting for film. For the past
three years she has been teaching with The Columbus Children's Theatre
Academy encouraging the love of theatre and all the arts in the young
people of Columbus. |
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Julie DuSablon |
 Julie
DuSablon has been involved with theater and music since she was a young girl,
when she was cast as Susan in Here’s Love. The daughter of director/actor
parents, she literally grew up in the theatre learning all aspects of play
production and doing the “kid” roles in many of their plays. She began playing
the piano at an early age and played for shows and choirs in junior high and
high school. She studied voice at Indiana University and Northern Illinois
University. She was the singer for bands in DeKalb and Chicago and did solo
vocal work as well. After graduating with a degree in journalism, she started
her career in professional publishing but was always the one who organized the
company talent shows and choirs. She became involved with Columbus theatre when
her daughter was cast in a show and a piano player was needed. Since then she
has been pianist, music director, and costumer for several shows in Columbus and
Grandview Heights. Julie has been teaching for CCT since 2005 and is also a
freelance editor for academic presses. She lives in Grandview and has two
children: Alex, a Jazz Studies major at The Ohio State University, and Laura, a
Theatre and French major at Miami University. |
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Kate
Mock Elliot |
 Kate
Mock Elliott has been a part of CCT since 2006, when she appeared in
their mainstage production of Cinderella as an evil stepsister. Since
then she has performed in several other mainstage productions, including
the title role in Peter Pan, and began teaching Academy Classes in Fall
of 2008. This year she was honored to join the Professional Touring
Company as a Company Actor.
Kate graduated in 2008 from Otterbein College with a Bachelor of Arts in
Music, vocal concentration. She graduated with Honors and received the
"Outstanding Senior Thesis" award from the Honors Department for her
original musical adaptation of Ray Bradbury's novel, Dandelion Wine.
Since graduating, she has been teaching private voice and piano lessons
out of her home and with the Central College Christian Academy Music
Academy. Music and theatre are her two greatest passions, and Kate is
thrilled to be able to share them with Columbus youth through the CCT
Academy. |
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Emily
Foster |
 Emily
Foster began taking classes as a child at CCT (then CJT) at age 7, and
has loved to perform ever since. She went on to perform in many CCT
shows, which helped to mold her into the performer/teacher/director she
is today. Emily graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a B.A. in
Theatre and minors in Education and Spanish. She currently teaches Drama
at Dominion Middle School where she teaches 6th - 8th grade Drama. At
DMS, Emily produces four productions a year in which she heads up the
crews, designs the sets and costumes, and directs the shows. Emily
previously taught at Duxberry Park Arts IMPACT Elementary teaching K-5
Drama. When she is not working on things for school, Emily enjoys
scrapbooking, cooking, reading and spending time with her family. |
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Laura
Jewell |
 Laura Jewell is a freshman Theatre major with an Arts Management minor at Miami University.
She interned at CCT for two years, and has been teaching for two as well. Laura has been in
over twenty shows in the Columbus area, and took classes at CCT when she was her student’s age.
Recently she has performed in two shows at Miami, and looks forward to the rest of her education
in theatre. She has loved coming full circle and being involved with every aspect of this wonderful
little theatre company. Love and thanks to her parents and brother for their continuing support! |
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Amy
Little |
 Amy
Little has been teaching with CCT since February 2006. In addition to
working with CCT, she is an elementary general music teacher in Hilliard.
Amy graduated from Capital University with a bachelor's of music in 2004 and
again in 2006, this time earning her master of music. Amy loves all things
dealing with musical theatre and is most often found teaching the singing
classes at CCT. She is active in Columbus community theatre, past roles
include Beauty and the Beast (Babette) at the palace theatre,
Charlotte's Web (Reporter) at CCT, and You're a Good Man, Charlie
Brown (Sally). |
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Eric Nassau |
 Eric
Nassau has been teaching with the Columbus Children's Theatre for quite
a few years. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BFA in
Fine Arts and a Minor in Theatre, specializing in Lighting Design and
receiving the Excellence in Production Award. During that time, he also
organized and acted as Artistic Director for the all-student
S.O.A.P.(Student One Act Plays) Box Theatre.
Eric has also worked with
 BalletMet during
The Nutcracker season, leading storytime workshops at Libraries and Head Start progams throughout
Central Ohio. He has been "the face of CATCO" working as Box Office
Assistant Manager and sometimes taking on the persona of the Reverend
Reynolds Baker-James when training new employees.
Before arriving in Ohio, Eric was an instructor at the Hartford
Children's Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut, specializing in Improv
Comedy. He also acted as stage manager, actor and musician for the HCT
final productions.
Some of Eric's favorite rolls on stage have been
Cinderella (The Prince),
The Leader (The Leader),
As You Like It (Corin) and
The Birds (Meton).
In his free time, Eric also pursues a career as a singer/songwriter,
performing over 100 folk shows a year around the country, as well as
performing music in the schools and leading songwriting workshops for
kids and adults alike. |
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April
Olt |
As both a dramaturge and director, April has been fortunate enough to
work on several productions including: Unanswered, We Ride, The
Twilight of the Golds, Tabloid Love, Six Voices, Godspell, Nunsense, The
Lion in Winter, The Crucible, The Dianalogues, The Mandrake, Hair,
Camino Real, Full Bloom and Candide. April encourages the
production of new plays through her work with theatres such as The
Looking Glass Theatre, International Fringe Festival and Women’s Project
& Productions in NYC, FutureFest in Dayton, Curtain Players in Columbus
and her own theatre company, The Third Circle Theatre Company, which
began in Chicago. While in Chicago, she worked with several directors
at the Goodman Theatre and she was also chosen to attend master classes
with some of the most gifted directors of our time including Peter
Brook, Joanne Akalaitis and Robert Falls. As an educator, she teaches
children’s theatre designed to encourage elementary students to enjoy
the theatre in a positive atmosphere. April has taught at Ohio
Dominican University and COTC. April received her B.F.A. in Theatre
Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University and her M.F.A. in
Directing/Dramaturgy from Roosevelt University in Chicago. April works
for King Avenue United Methodist Church as the Coordinator of Children’s
and Youth Ministries. |
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Allison
Wheeler |
 Allison Wheeler is a
recent addition to the CCT teaching artist staff; she joined in the fall
of 2009 and has been loving every minute of it! Allison holds BA's in
both Theatre and Religion from Ohio Wesleyan University. In addition to
her work at CCT, Allison has also taught with Dramatic Impact and
directed the theater program at Big Walnut High School. She is also the
Education Coordinator for Rosebriar Shakespeare Company, the Volunteer
Coordinator for Available Light Theatre and directs the youth musicals
at Northwest Christian Church. Allison remains an active performer with
such companies as Emerald City Players, Raconteur Theatre Company and
Rosebriar Shakespeare. She could not be happier to share her passion for
the performing arts with such talented students.
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Melissa
Muguruza Weaver |
 Melissa
Muguruza Weaver became a teaching artist after performing with CJT, now
CCT, for a number of years in January 2010. Melissa holds a BA in
theatre performance from Otterbein College. In addition to working with
CCT, she has performed with Columbus community theatres including:
Gallery Players, Warehouse Theatre Co., Total Theatre, & Park (Teen)
Playhouse. Some favorite past roles include: Jenny in Company,
Sara Jane Moore in Assassins, Potiphar’s Wife in Joseph and
his Technicolor Dream Coat, and Nancy in Oliver. In addition
to performing, Melissa has also served various local theatres as a board
member, marketing director, props buyer/supervisor and assistant
director. When she is not working in the theatre, she is at home with
her son, Ramón or at her office where she practices massage. In her free
time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, and reading. |
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Tatyana
Yassenov |
 Tatyana Yassenov has her MD in Theater, Art and Education from Baku
Azerbaijan Theater Institute/Former Soviet Union. Before coming to the U.S.
in 1992 she was a full time actress and director in the professional Russian
Drama Theater. In Columbus she worked with Grandparents Living Theater,
performed and directed with different theater companies including the OSU
Theater Department. She taught acting at the Davis Discovery Center, CCT and
private schools for many years. Currently she writes and performs with
"Howling at the Moon" Theater Company. Her passion and biggest love is
children. They keep her as young and happy as they are! |
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