Teaching Artists
ArtStream creates Theatre for an Inclusive World. Here are the amazing Teaching Artists who help lead classes, create and direct original musicals, and produce Cabaret performances. Visit our calendar to see what classes and performances our Teaching Artists are leading.
Andrew Stainer
Andrew Stainer
Music Director
Annetta Dexter Sawyer
Annetta taught for ArtStream on and off since its incep- tion. She’s been a movement and voice coach, taught poetry, drama, and even yoga! Much of her teaching has been with ArtStream community partner programs at Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC), the Forbush School, and The Treatment and Learning Centers (TLC) where she co-teaches Theater & Improvisation classes. Annetta teaches Super Social Saturdays & several Take Five classes: Practicing Performance, Storytelling, Shakespeare Clowns, & her latest offering — Embodiment & Performance. She works with Makom and gives drama and storytelling classes at the Edlavitch DC JCC. Annetta has facilitated ArtStream’s monthly Sibling Happy Hour with a focus on how theater skills help in self-expression, communication, & empathy. She’s also on the Fine Arts faculty at Trinity Washington University as well as a freelance artist for several local theater companies.
Annetta Dexter Sawyer
Teaching Artist
Brigid Wallace
Brigid Wallace (she/her/hers) graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America, and has stayed in the DMV pursuing performance and teaching. Most recently she has performed with The Keegan Theatre, Grassroots Shakespeare DC, and The Puppet Co. She loves being a teaching artist with ArtStream and other theatre companies in the DC area because the performing arts are for everyone! Brigid loves using tools from acting and music to promote personal growth in her students in the development of confidence, communication skills, and empathy, and in fostering a sense of play at any age.
Brigid Wallace
Teaching Artist
Diana Metzger
Diana is a playwright, screenwriter, essayist, theatre critic, and creative writer from Silver Spring, Maryland. Diana has been a teaching artist with Round House Theatre since high school. Round House commissioned and produced Diana’s play “Beach Week” with their teen performance company. Diana wrote for the MTV scripted series “Faking It” and worked on the ABC Family show “Greek.” Diana was a finalist for the Humanitas New Voices writing award two years in a row for both comedy and drama writing. Diana received her MFA in Creative Writing at American University and her BS in Communication (Theatre Major with a certificate in Creative Writing for the Media) from Northwestern University.
Diana Metzger
Assistant Director
Elizabeth Cronin
Elizabeth is a graduate of Indiana University with a major of Music/Vocal Performance with an Outside Field in Theatre. After a few years in the world of NYC theatre, she moved to the DC area where she was introduced to ArtStream by her then roommate in 2009. She now resides in Maryland but, thanks to Zoom, is thrilled for the opportunity to direct the Virtual Alexandria Company. She feels blessed to be able to combine her love of Musical Theatre and her love for this community. She is proud to call our ArtStreamers not only friends, but family as well!
Elizabeth Cronin
Teaching Artist
Heather Newhouse
Heather Newhouse has been stage managing with ArtStream for five years and loves the creative, collaborative atmosphere of Company A–as well as the interesting props she gets to make from year to year! She currently works at Folger Shakespeare Library as the Patron Services Manager. Heather would like to thank everyone in ArtStream for being so supportive and inspirational. Break a (virtual) leg, friends!
Heather Newhouse
Stage Manager
Kristen McMillion
Kristen is a 21-year-old student and a first-time performer with ArtStream. Kristen performed in 15 theatrical productions with West Virginia’s Contemporary Youth Arts Company and spent plenty of time working behind the scenes for various theatre companies. Off the stage, Kristen is a psychology major at Shepherd University who enjoys baking, traveling, and watching movies in her free time.
Kristen McMillion
Assistant Director
Kristen Pilgrim
Kristen is excited to be directing Gaithersburg Company A again! She began teaching with ArtStream in 2012, direct- ing the George Mason ArtStream group. Since then, she also taught Shakespeare and improv classes at Oakton. Kristen is a local director, actor, and fight choreographer in the DMV region and is an advanced actor combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. She has been a teaching artist with several other companies including Educational Theatre Company and Traveling Players Ensemble. Kristen was inspired by her work in theatre education and by ArtStream to become a Registered Drama Therapist, and received her Master’s in Drama Therapy from Lesley University. She now works with all ages at Dominion Hospital and at the Expressive Therapy Center, helping clients heal through theatre.
Kristen Pilgrim
Teaching Artist
Luke Scaros
Luke Scaros is so excited to be part of the Alexandria In-Person Company! Luke earned his B.A. in Theatre from Ohio Wesleyan University, and an M.F.A. in Acting from Regent University. He has spent four years in the DMV area directing, with highlights being Hamlet (Organic Studio of Performing Arts) Taming of the Shrew (Chesapeake Shakespeare Company), and the upcoming production of Dear Edwina Jr. (Mark Twain MS Theatre). He would like to thank ArtStream for the many opportunities to grow as a teacher, actor, and now director. Thank you and enjoy the show!
Luke Scaros
Teaching Artist
Madeleine Regina
Madeleine Regina is a DC Based Director, Performance Artist, and Educator, whose work primarily focuses on issues of social equity. Her most recent projects include “Body.”, a devised production about the stories our physical forms carry, which she directed for the DC Fringe Festival. In addition, she was an assistant director for Flying V’s recent devised production, “Crystal Creek Motel”. She is currently directing an acting showcase with Matthew Corzine Studio and is working on a small production with the Center for Adoption Support and Education, helping to tell the stories of adopted children and their families. She also teaches with Imagination Stage and Theatre Lab in addition to her directing work with ArtStream. She absolutely loves sharing a creative space with people of all backgrounds and abilities!
Madeleine Regina
Teaching Artist
Maggie Cammaroto
Maggie Cammaroto is a DC-based actress, choreographer, and theatre educator. She is also a recent graduate of Georgetown University where she studied psychology, theatre, and theology. Ultimately, she hopes to pursue a career in the healing modalities of performance, movement, and herbalism.
Maggie Cammaroto
Choreographer
Maria O’Connor
Maria O’Connor
Teaching Artist
Mark Andrist
Mark Andrist has been a professional working musician since he was fourteen years old, and he is grateful for the opportunities he has had to perform, write, teach, and direct all over the world. Mark is Music Director for ArtStream Theatre Companies and Cabarets. His younger sister is the inspiration for his commitment to ArtStream, an individual who has lived her life refusing to allow her disabilities to steal her joy.
Mark Andrist
Music Director
Mary Beth Levrio
Mary Beth Levrio has been with ArtStream since 2015 as a teacher, assistant director, and director. Mary Beth has an M.A. in Theatre from The American University with a focus on directing and education. She has has worked as a director and teacher for companies in the DMV area including Montgomery Playhouse, Upcounty Theatre, Kentlands Community Players, Children’s Theatre of Arlington, Round House Theatre, Imagination Stage, Potomac Community Theatre, The City of Gaithersburg, The City of Rockville, and Thomas Wootton High School. Pittsburgh is her new home, but thanks to Zoom she is still with ArtStream. She would like to thank the wonderful people at ArtStream , especially everyone with Alexandria Company B, for giving her the opportunity to stay connected. “ArtStream is my happy place.”
Mary Beth Levrio
Teaching Artist
McKenna G. Kelly
This is McKenna’s 9th year working with ArtStream, and she is no stranger to theatre. Since grade school, she has worked in some capacity of theatre – whether in acting, costume design, make-up design, properties, scenic painting, booking, front of house, assistant directing, backstage crew, or stage managing – for well over 50 productions, and is very excited and thankful to be a part of this production!
McKenna G. Kelly
Stage Manager
Mike Morton
Mike Morton is a musician, teacher, and producer from Glenelg, MD. He has been with ArtStream since 2015 (and loves every minute of it). Mike teaches private music lessons and performs with a variety of local groups. He has a BA in Art History from the University of Maryland and has taught at Music & Arts and the Damon Foreman Music Academy. In his free time he enjoys playing chess, reading sci-fi, and hanging out with all his pets.
Mike Morton
Music Director
Nicki Jacobsen
This is Nicki’s second production with ArtStream! She teaches ArtStream classes and loves working with the Theatre as well. Nicki grew up dancing and always loved to create. She comes from a Puerto Rican background that fuels her passion of dancing to many genres of music. Previously, she choreographed dance for various dance companies, dance events, and public and private schools throughout Montgomery County. Gaithersburg Company B will be her first of many productions with Gaithersburg and she is so excited to be able to create with such talented actors around her! “This has been an amazing experience. I am really proud of our ArtStreamers!”
Nicki Jacobsen
Choreographer
Pam Freedy
Pam is thrilled to be returning to Gaithersburg Company A for a second year. Last year you may have seen her as Evil Hannah in the premiere of Inclusia! Pam has been acting, directing, and teaching theatre for 18 years, having worked as a theatre teacher in schools and community arts organizations in Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and London, UK. When not working hard with Company A, Pam is the Education Programs Manager at Imagination Stage. She wants to send a huge thank you and congratulations to the entire cast and crew!
Pam Freedy
Assistant Director
Pamela Leighton-Bilik
Pamela, a veteran educator (Drama, English, Chorus, Special Education), graduated from the Interlochen (MI) Arts Academy, holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Ithaca College and an M.A. in Communication Arts and Theatre from The University of Maryland. An international Gilbert and Sullivan director, Pamela is a founder and stage director of PB Theatricals, which offers performance and technical theatre opportunities for young people in the U.K. Pamela sends her love and gratitude to the actors and staff of the Cabaret family.
Pamela Leighton-Bilik
Director/Teaching Artist
Penny Russell
Penny is a teaching artist and performer based in the DC/Baltimore area. She has worked as a writer, director and performer with the Blue Sky Puppet Theatre since 1994, and performs with Good Life Theatre, where she just completed a three year run at Wolf Trap. Other favorite performing companies include Bread and Puppet Theater, The Other Opera Company, Adventure Theatre, and The Puppet Company at Glen Echo.
Penny teaches puppetry workshops throughout the DC/Baltimore region and beyond, including workshops as far away as Scotland. She is a regular teaching artist for the Wolf Trap Institute and also sings with the Swing Set Trio and the Roland Cumberland Orchestra.
With ArtStream, Penny has teaches classes in schools and other provider organizations for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD). She also leads workshops in self-advocacy.
Penny Russell
Teaching Artist
R. Andrew Hunt
R. Andrew (aka Andy) has been writing songs and performing since 1982. This is his first ArtStream show, and he has found the role of Music Director to be a very rewarding opportunity. Andy got his first guitar from a Portland, Oregon pawnshop for his 18th birthday in 1981 and began teaching himself to play. This began a lifelong journey of developing as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Over the past 4 decades Andy performed as a solo artist and with bands on the west and east coasts. He has been a registered BMI artist since 2010. Andy would have liked to explore a full-time music career, but after earning his Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1986, he chose the steady work of becoming a professional social worker. He went on to earn his Master of Social Work Degree in 1991 and joined the U.S. Public Health Service. He continued to write music and play in bands “on the side” while serving in a variety of assignments as a Commissioned Officer. In 2021, Andy retired after 30 years of service, which opened the door to spending more time on music. You can explore his music on his YouTube channel www.youtube. com/@R.AndrewHuntMusic Andy currently does part- time independent social work consulting, and also works part-time as an Usher for the Baltimore Orioles. He lives in Mount Airy, MD with his wife Teresa.
R. Andrew Hunt
Music Director
Rye Ellis
Rye Ellis (He/Him) is the Marketing and Program Assistant at ArtStream. Rye currently lives in Olney, MD with his partner, Haley, and their three pets – Gretl, Stevie, and Kiko. Rye began volunteering in ArtStream classes in 2014 and has never left. He has proudly worn many hats in ArtStream over the years including mentor, assistant director, writer, script editor, teaching artist, and director. He has most notably been the co-director for Silver Spring Company B since 2019 and is currently working on his tenth show with his “home company.” Rye is very excited to join the ArtStream staff team as a Marketing and Program Assistant. Outside of ArtStream, Rye has specialized in working with people with disabilities and autism in other organizations such as the Cura Personalis Project, Spectrum and Beyond, and the Arc of Central Chesapeake. Rye has always been deeply involved in the arts and passionate about promoting inclusivity and self-expression in everything he does. He credits his family and the ArtStream community for inspiring him to pursue his work as a teaching artist and direct support professional. Rye is looking forward to many more magical years with ArtStream.
Rye Ellis
Marketing & Program Assistant
Sandra Roachford
Sandra is a choreographer and dancer and has been work- ing and teaching dance to older adults and special needs populations in the Greater Washington D.C. area for more than 25 years. She has worked with Artstream since 2010 and is a Master Teacher for dance/choreography. Sandy performs with Nancy Havlik’s Dance Performance Group and works with The Atonement Project, a group of per- formers from Philadelphia, PA (Go Birds!) She has a BFA in dance from The Boston Conservatory of Music and a MA in dance from The American University. “ I am excited to continue working with Silver Spring Co A for another AMAZING Season.”
Sandra Roachford
Teaching Artist
Shelley Fisher
Shelley is a choreographer and performer. She teaches dance classes, performs, and manages events. Some of her most rewarding moments come from serving as the choreographer for Gaithersburg Company A. “Now everyone put your hands to your mouth and yell out loud, ‘Go Gaithersburg Company A!!””
Shelley Fisher
Teaching Artist
Wendy Lanxner
Wendy is a Washington area teaching artist and arts in health practitioner. She is Musician in Residence at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and provides programming through several agencies including Arts for the Aging and Washington Performing Arts. Wendy is also a music director with Lumina Studio Theatre, plays bass with the band Wendy & the Lost Boys, and volunteers in hospital set- tings through Musicians on Call. She received a Master’s in Music Education from the University of Florida. Wendy is thrilled to be working with such wonderful actors at ArtStream!