MERIEL SIKORA
Meri has a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Performance. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, she has performed with professional theatre companies in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Meri has been teaching dance, acting, and improv for over ten years: she loves watching people of all ages develop a love for theatre. Locally, she has taught at Suburban Montessori, BTOTS, and Weathervane Playhouse. She is also the asst. director of Blast! at Cuyahoga Valley Church in Broadview Hts.

CARLI MILUK
Carli has directed, choreographed, and performed theater locally for many years.  She just directed Alice in Wonderland, jr. for Brecksville-Broadview Heights Middle School. Some other directing favorites include You Can't Take it With You and Once Upon a Mattress. Besides teaching for BTOTS for the past few years, Carli has worked as a guest artist with Jete Dance Centre, Brecksville Center for the Arts, and Solon Center for the Arts. Her Cleveland performance credits include event host for Radio Disney AM1260, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Public Theater, Fourth Wall Productions, MorrisonDance, MegLouise Dance, and the Magic Mike Productions magic shows. International credits include a European tour for Armed Forces Entertainment as the host of a puppet show with Natural Bridges Puppet Production Company. She graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College with a BA in Theatre and Dance.

ERIN DILAURO
Erin graduated from Ashland University with a B.A. in Musical Theatre. Erin teaches acting, dance, and musical theatre classes all over NE Ohio. In addition to starting her own “Triple Threat Training” program, she directs children and teen theatre productions, and is a performer. Her most recent shows include choreographing “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” at Brecksville-Broadview Heights Middle School and directing “Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail” at Cassidy Theatre.

SHAWNA McPHERSON
Shawna is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of University of Akron, with a BA in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Dance Performance in May 2008. Shawna is accomplished in jazz, tap, ballet and pointe, a dance instructor at Dance by Gloria in Broadview Heights, assistant teacher at The Goddard School and is co-choreographer for BBHHS show choir Music in Motion. She trained at Dance by Gloria, studied in New York City at The Broadway Dance Center, American Tap Dance Association, Camp Broadway – CAP 21, Tap City and Traditions in Tap, receiving a certificate of recognition from Dance Teacher Magazine. She appeared at the 42nd Street Studios in NYC in a tap showcase and was a featured performer in The Eastern Michigan University Repertoire.

DUSTEN WELCH
Dusten Welch received his Bachelor of Arts in Theater at Ashland University in 2007. He soon joined Great Lakes Theater Festival as an Actor Teacher in their education program. He’s acted with GLTF in their Outreach Tour The Dark Side of Twilight, and understudied in their A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In Cleveland Shakespeare Festival’s Antony and Cleopatra he acted as Octavius Caesar, and in their Hamlet as Hamlet. Dusten also directed CSF’s production of William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead. Currently he also instructs at Solon Center for the Arts and tours with the comedy sword-fighting show The Dueling Fools.

EMILY ORTOLANO
Emily is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College where she holds a degree in piano with a minor in voice. She owns and operates a private piano and voice studio in Parma, as well as being the Director for the Rocky River Community Chorus. She has served as the Assistant Music Director for The Singing Angels. Emily has performed in various venues, including The Allen Theater, Erie’s Warner Theater, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall, Hollywood’s Grauman’s Theater, and The Crystal Cathedral. She has also been heard and seen on multiple radio and television stations throughout the country. She has accompanied and music directed many shows, including Broadway Moments, Applause, and Big River at Cassidy Theater, and Cabaret at John Carroll University. Emily has also served as the Musical Director for Holy Name High School’s Summer Theater Program, as well as Aurora Community Theater’s summer children’s theater program.