* Milkshake

Children’s Rock n’ Roll

Milkshake is a rock duo for kids and kids at heart, made up of vocalist Lisa Mathews and acoustic guitarist Mikel Gehl. The group has released three award-winning CDs, including two Parents’ Choice Awards and a NAPPA Gold Award. Cookie Magazine says “Mathews and Gehl, both parents, know that good music doesn’t require anything more than a catchy hook and an inviting chorus. To appeal to their audience, they don’t dumb down the music – they just play it straight. The results are entirely enjoyable.” Milkshake’s videos can be seen on Noggin, PBS KIDS, and Discovery Kids.

* Debra Mims

Storyteller

Debra Mims has been an actress for over twenty-six years and was an arts producer at PBS for fourteen years. With additional training in dance, she received a BFA in Theatre Performance from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. She has performed at the Georgetown Theatre Company, the Children’s Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Detroit-Windsor Dance Company. Debra is the 2008 Individual Artist Award winner for solo performance from Maryland State Arts Council. She also won this award previously in 2004.

Molly Moores

Actor

Molly Moores is a local actor with a mission to introduce students to Shakespeare and theatre in a fun and exciting format. She believes that exposing young students to Shakespeare in a positive way will create a receptiveness in future learning. Molly stretches imaginations, inspires confidence and makes learning fun. Molly has acted with Pumpkin Theatre, and Thirst "n" Howl Musical Productions, Theatre Hopkins, and Baltimore Shakespeare Festival and others. She has taught drama and directed children's shows at Camp Red Eagle at McDonogh School. Molly is a graduate from Loyola College and received additional training at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. 

* NEW! nritya

Classical Indian Dancers

Lakshmi Swaminathan and Chitra Kalyandurg are the dancers forming Nritya. Lakshmi’s passion for dance led her to establish Natananjali School of Dance, where she trains students in Bharatanatyam. Natananjali was awarded a citation by the Governor of the State of Maryland in 2008 for dedication in promoting Asian culture through dance in the United States. Chitra Kalyandurg is a Kuchipudi dancer, teacher and choreographer based in Rockville, Maryland. She performs with the Kalanidhi Dance Company and teaches Kuchipudi to both children and adults throughout the D.C. metropolitan region.

*‡Odyssey Opera Theatre (OOT)

Opera

Twenty-four year YA veteran OOT is comprised of the area’s finest singing actors in opera, operetta, and musical theatre. OOT has delighted audiences at Baltimore’s Artscape festival, The Smithsonian, and The National Theater in Washington D.C., as well as countless schools across Maryland. Artistic Director Mary Gresock holds degrees in music education and voice/opera performance, currently serves as an educational artist with The Wolf Trap Institute, and is a Master Teaching Artist/ Professional Workshop facilitator with The Washington National Opera Educational Department.

*Amanda Pellerin

Visual and Clay Artist

Amanda Pellerin received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from Maine College of Art, and her Masters of Fine Arts from Towson University. Amanda has had a passion for arts, especially clay, since being introduced to the medium at the age of 15. She presents mosaic workshops, teaches handmade tile, and has worked in the community arts program at Baltimore Clayworks. Amanda has worked in collaboration with the Ronald McDonald House in Portland, Maine, with pediatric patients at Maine Medical Centers, and community centers and schools throughout Maryland.

*‡Alden Phelps

Artist, Songwriter, and Musician

Alden Phelps is an artist, songwriter, and musician with eighteen years of experience as a performer. Far-fetched and funny scenarios are brought to life through his songs, unexpected rhythms and lively, interactive performances. He has performed all over, from numerous schools and libraries, to The National Theatre, to festivals like First Night Annapolis and Columbia Festival for the Arts. A graduate of MICA, Alden co-founded Open Space Arts center in 1989, and for the next 14 years he wrote and performed stage plays, musicals, and puppet productions.

Quest: Arts for Everyone

Performing Artists

Quest features a cast of talented deaf, hard of haring, and hearing performers/teaching artists ho represent a diverse ethnic, cultural and artistic panorama. They are committed to using the arts to promote understanding among all people, and enable individuals who have been marginalized to realize their full potential. Quest believes that everyone is an artist. Through its international exchanges and collaborations, Quest carries its mission to communities around the world, including Japan, India, Romania, Mexico, Hong Kong and South Africa.

NEW! Seth Reichgott

Greek Mythology

Seth Reichgott is an award-winning actor, director, and writer. In addition to his work with Greek mythology, he has written several children’s plays about science, and his award winning slapstick clown show, Man Plans, has toured extensively in the United States and Canada. Seth is an associate member of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble and an original member of the touring street theatre troupe Le Pamplemousse. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre.

KEY

*: Artists with this symbol are MSAC approved! MSAC funding may be available!

‡: Artists with this symbol have arts integration training through YA’s Teaching Artist Institute!