Instructors

Mary Lechter

AFYP was founded by professional actress and teacher Mary Lechter. She received her B.A. in Theater from U. of MD , and has taught at the Kennedy Center , The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory, and is on the faculty of the Theater and Music Departments at George Mason University . A member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Mary has performed regularly on local professional stages (Studio, Arena Stage, Source Theatre Company, among others), and in television (ABC’s All My Children) film (Avalon) and radio (NPR’s Morning Edition). She most recently portrayed the title role in Dracula’s Mother with Deisel Films, and will be seen in the upcoming MGM/Lionsgate thriller Bumper. In Summer 2008, Mary will appear with Theater of the First Amendment in The Warrior, performing in DC’s Capital Fringe Festival and the New York International Fringe Festival. In Fall 2008, she will direct Shakespeare in Hollywood for the GMU Players.


2007 AFYP Faculty/Staff
Faculty
Rachel Beauregard is an actress and singer. She is an original cast member of AFYP Stages’ Street Smart: The Adventures of Polly Pedestrian (title role). Credits with the GMU Players include Reckless and The Dead.
Elana Boulos has been with AFYP Camp for three years. She is a rising Senior at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she is studying Theatre Management and Production with an emphasis in Musical Theatre Direction. She has been teaching theatre to children in Virginia and Philadelphia for 5 years now and is currently working at the Walnut Street Theatre's Education Department in Philadelphia . At UArts, she has directed such shows as "The Cradle Will Rock", "The Dinner Party" and in the 2009 Studio Series she will be directing "It's Only Life", a John Bucchino Revue.
Blair Bowers is a rising Junior at James Madison University where she was most recently seen as Viola in their production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. She is also very excited to start her second summer working with AFYP.
Cameron Brenke is a graduate of the AFYP program and has been on the faculty since Summer 2006, teaching Improv and acting in our afterschool programs and weekend classes. He is a Sophomore at GMU, majoring in Film and Visual Studies.
David Burns is a former actor and acting teacher for AFYP, and is now the company's videographer and editor. A graduate of George Mason and former conservatory actor at DePaul University , David made the switch to videography two years ago and has since studied with the NYFA@Harvard and has become an Apple Certified video editor. Though his long-term goal is to produce documentaries, David now freelances around the DC area and is proud to have been with the company for the last six years.
Candice Carter recently moved to the DC area from Norfolk , VA where she was employed for four years with Virginia Stage Company (VSC), LORT, as the Education Associate and Tour Manager. Currently, Candice is a member of the faculty for Imagination Stage and Educational Theatre Company; and recently directed Oliver Twist for Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre. In the past, she served on the faculty at the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts and worked at several professional theatres up and down the east coast from her hometown of Alabama to New York as a director, stage manager and educator. Candice holds a BA in Theatre from Jacksonville State University . She is Director of Touring Programs and Outreach for AFYP Stages.
Kimberley Cetron worked for over 15 years as an actor, singer, director, and producer in NYC, Washington DC , Boston , and Chicago . She has a master’s degree in early childhood/elementary education (Fordham) and is a doctoral candidate in education at GMU. She taught general music and musical theater in the New York metro area before re-locating to Northern Virginia , where she worked for the Fairfax County Public Schools (elementary/secondary). She is a published writer, and serves as board chair for Theater of the First Amendment. She teaches in the theater and education departments for GMU.
Philip Dallmann is a junior theatre major at GMU. He has participated in several shows for the GMU Players, most recently as assistant director for Measure for Measure. This fall he will direct The Pillowman. Phil is also a playwright, and teaches in AFYP’s afterschool programs.
Courtney Fonnesbeck is a 2008 graduate from George Mason University with a BA in Theatre. Shows she has been involved in the past year include A Taste of Broadway and Measure for Measure. Courtney looks forward to a future career in teaching. This is her first summer joining the AFYP faculty.
Katy Ford has been working with AFYP for four years now and enjoys teaching her students the love she has for acting. She has most recently performed in West Side Story, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Quilters. Next year she will be a senior at Georgetown Visitation.
Matthew Friedman is a rising Senior Theater major at GMU. This past year he performed in productions of Measure for Measure (Angelo), After Ashley (David Gavin) and The Boys Next Door (Arnold). He teaches afterschool programs for AFYP and spent the last 3 years teaching at a camp for high school Forensics students.
Kelly Hennessy is a rising Senior Theater major at George Mason, and teaches in AFYP’s afterschool programs. She recently appeared in the GMU Players’ productions of Measure for Measure and Peace Be the Journey for the Ten Minute Play festival.
Mimsi Janis holds a BA in theater from Principia College and an M.Ed from George Mason University . She is a theatre teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. Mimsi performs improv comedy with the Screaming Puppets and has appeared with them at the Baltimore Imporv festival, Jammin' Java and the Tally Ho theatre. Her recent acting credits include CATS, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar and A My Name is Alice. She has been with AFYP for four years and teaches in our afterschool, weekend and Scout Badge Workshop programs.
Elliott Kashner is a recent graduate of George Mason, with his B.S. in Economics. He has had many acting classes at Mason. He is also a recent addition to AFYP, teaching Acting and Musical Theatre. He was a member of the GMU Players performed for both the Studio, Mainstage, and in the AFYP Stages reading of Doister 2000. He wrote for Mason’s Ten Minute Play Festival, and will also be working in film this summer.
Daniel Lagdameo joined the AFYP staff in Summer 2007. He is a Sophomore at George Mason, and is double majoring in Theater and Film and Video Studies. At GMU, he recently performed in After Ashley and the Ten-Minute Play Festival.
Lisette LeCompte studied acting at Carnegie-Mellon University and GMU. She is currently pursuing advanced degrees in Special Education. A veteran actor in the DC theater community, she has performed at The Source Theatre and Toby’s Dinner Theatre, among others. In addition to teaching for the past 7 years with AFYP, Lisette is a member of the faculty at Imagination Stage. She has appeared in their productions of The BFG, Trickman: A Spell of Cold Weather, and Aladdin and the Cave of Dreams.
Ahmad Maaty is a student at GMU. He is a Theater Major, Dance Minor. Ahmad has participated in many GMU Players' productions including As Bees in Honey Drown and most recently Measure for Measure. He has also participates in many dance showcases in the DC area. His passion for all the arts specifically theater, dance, and music drove him to produce, direct, choreograph, and participate in "A Taste of Broadway," GMU's first Musical Revue. Ahmad is currently a member of a new dance company, Mayzsoul, and works as a Jazz/Hip-Hop teacher at the Academy of Russian Ballet in Manassas , VA. He is also an art and play gym teacher at Gymboree Play and Music
Patrick Magill is currently a senior Theater major at GMU. He has taught with AFYP since Spring 2007, teaching several after school classes and musical theater for our weekend classes. At GMU, he is the current GMU Players President and has worked on over 15 productions as actor, stage manager, and director (including Humble Boy, The Boys Next Door, and The Dead). He has also worked professionally with Theater of the First Amendment as stage manager, assistant director, and assistant production manager.
Jim Maiwurm returns to AFYP for his fifth year this summer. In previous years, he has taught improvisation, acting, writing, and sketch comedy for AFYP and other youth programs in the D.C. and New York metro areas. Jim returned to George Mason in 2006 as Festival Manager for Theater of the First Amendment after graduate work in New York .
Charles Mann is a Junior Theater major at George Mason University and has recently appeared as Lucio (Measure for Measure), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd), and Mr. Klemper (The Boys Next Door). Charles teaches in AFYP’s afterschool programs, and is an original cast member of AFYP Stages’ Street Smart: The Adventures of Polly Pedestrian.
Jimmy Marks is a performer and public speaker, and has been trained in vocal techniques, acting and singing by a wide array of teachers. He has performed in several plays, been an acting/ vocal coach for young performers, and has competed in public speaking competitions on various levels with great success. For three years, he was lucky enough to work with ESL children in the MEP Summer School in Colonial Beach , VA. He will soon receive his diploma in Communication, with a focus in Public Relations.
James Martin is an alumnus of George Mason University.He has studied at the Studio Theatre Acting conservatory, Woolly Mammoth Theatre and the Comedy Sportz Improv Academy . As an Equity Membership Candidate and SAG eligible actor, James' professional credits include The History Boys at the Studio Theatre, "Step Up 2: The Streets" and the upcoming film "Toe to Toe" directed by Emily Abt.
Jack Miggins is a Junior Theater Major at GMU. He has worked on eight productions at Mason (including Measure for Measure, The Boys Next Door, and Reckless) and teaches afterschool classes with AFYP. Jack wrote Peace Be the Journey which was presented in Mason’s Ten Minute Play Festival. Jack is a cast member in AFYP Stages’ Street Smart: The Adventures of Polly Pedestrian.
Kevin Murray is Managing Director of Theater of the First Amendment at GMU. He teaches audition techniques for stage and camera for GMU's Theater Department, and works frequently as a freelance actor, having appeared in TFA's productions of The Memorandum and Three Hotels, Paramount 's Runaway Bride, several episodes of NBC's Homicide, HBO’s The Wire, and two TNT Original Movies, The Day Lincoln Was Shot and The Hunley.
Lara Murray graduated from the AFYP program and has been a staff member since 2002. A singer and actress, Lara will attend Northern Virginia Community College this fall.
Lisa Nanni-Messegee is a freelance theatre artist and teaches at GMU, NOVA Manassas and AFYP. Her production company is Lucy 8 Productions, L.L.C. Lisa also worked in Los Angeles primarily as a Television Producer (Smart Solutions - HGTV, Good Day Live - syndicated), and Voice-Over artist (Main Floor - syndicated.) Lisa has produced plays throughout the country, including Radio Vega which premiered in Minnesota and was recently produced by AFYP for the Mason Festival of the Arts. Lisa also wrote Street Smart: The Adventures of Polly Pedestrian, a play about traffic safety which is scheduled to tour elementary schools this Fall in Fairfax County . Recent directing credits include The Shape of Things, The Dining Room and Violets. Lisa is Resident Playwright & Director for our company’s newest branch, AFYP Stages.
Jesse Nepivoda joined our faculty last summer and also teaches in our afterschool programs. A recent graduate of GMU, he was honored with the Chris Parsons Acting Award and an award for Excellence in Performance by the Theater Department. His appearances with the GMU Players include After Ashley, The Cripple of Innishmann, and Mephisto.
Collin Peterson has been active in Centreville High School ’s drama program and has also studied with AFYP. He joined our staff in Summer 2007
Frank Robinson, Jr. most recently performed as Manny Steen in Ellis Island: The Dream of America with the Fairfax Symphony and Theater of the First Amendment in the Mason Festival of the Arts. His plays have been produced at Source Theatre , Washington , DC and The Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Birmingham , Alabama . He also appeared in the recent HBO mini-series, John Adams. He has performed throughout the United States and Canada and in Washington , DC at Church Street , Ford’s, and Source Theatres, and with Interact at Folger Theatre and Arena Stage. He has also performed many times with Theater of the First Amendment’s First Light Festival. Favorite roles include: James Wilson in 1776 at Ford’s Theatre, Uncle Pumblechook in Great Expectations: The Musical at Folger, Noel Coward in Queen of Clubs at Church Street , and Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol for Nebraska Theatre Caravan. Frank teaches AFYP’s acting/playwriting after school classes at Hunters Woods Elementary School .
Maureen Rohn just graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Theatre, Business Institutions and a certificate in Musical Theatre. She is also a graduate of the British American Drama Academy (2006) and the Virginia Governor's School Theatre program (2003). Favorite shows include Children of Eden, A Funny Thing Happened..., Julius Caesar, All's Well That Ends Well, My Fair Lady and the Northwestern University Waa-Mu Show (the nation's largest student-written musical) which she also produced this past year. Maureen is delighted to return to camp for her third summer.
Jay Saunders is a recent graduate of George Mason's Theater program and has completed classes in acting, movement, stage combat, and Linklater voice techniques. He has previously taught acting, movement and Stage Combat for AFYP and this will be his third year with the AFYP team. He is currently pursuing a career in both Stage and Film in the DC area, and is a member of the cast of AFYP Stages’ Street Smart: The Adventures of Polly Pedestrian.
Arielle Seidman is a rising Junior at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia , PA , where she studies English and Education. She spends a great deal of her time working in the Bryn Mawr theater program and Shakespeare Troupe, and recently wrapped up acting in a production of Merchant of Venice, and directing a production of Twelfth Nigh. She’s very glad to be back for her second year with AFYP.
Dane Styler is a journalist and actor. He teaches afterschool classes for AFYP and has also taught martial arts. He recently appeared in Measure for Measure with the GMU Players and will take part in the Kennedy Center ’s program for new playwrights this summer. He is pursuing degrees in English and Theater.
Conor Tarpy has performed such roles such as Thernardier in Les Miserables and Moonface Martin in Anything Goes. He attended the United States Performing Arts camp at American University
Kelly Thomas was born and raised in Washington DC , and is a graduate of GMU, where she earned her degree in Theater. She is currently Director of Theater at Stafford High School . Past performances include Look Homeward Angel and Lion in the Streets, for which she was commended in the Washington Post. Kelly has studied dance, drama, and music up and down the east coast. She wishes to share her love for the arts by teaching children of all ages about the performing arts.
Megan Thrift is a Senior Theater Major, Education/Dance Minor at GMU and with her degree she hopes to become a High School Theater teacher while pursuing professional work. She is a company member of the Keegan Theatre Co in Washington , DC and has also performed locally and regionally at Gunston Arts Center , Folger Theater and the Kennedy Center . She has worked with AFYP since October of 2005 teaching acting and movement in AFYP’s camp, afterschool and weekend programs.
Emily Wilkins is an actress, dancer and playwright. She has studied with AFYP for the past several years and will appear in the upcoming production of Radio Vega as part of the Mason Festival of the Arts. She also wrote a play for Theater of the First Amendment’s Generations Project.

Staff Assistants

Andria Bacus is a rising Senior at Fairfax High School . Also a dancer, Andria was among the first of AFYP’s students, and has worked on staff for our weekend and summer camp programs.
Molly Jacobson is a recent graduate of GMU where she studied psychology and theater. She has been seen in Providence Players’ production of The Women, and also appeared as Jenny the maid in The Man Who Came to Dinner.
Mark Ormesher, celebrating his fourth year working with AFYP, is a student of the performing arts at Northern Virginia Community College . Having moved to America in 2000 he has been lucky to experience the many aspects of the film and theater worlds. Though he can claim acting, directing and technical credits, his passion is writing for the screen. His most recent work is the short film entitled "A Fine Mess," written for Northwind Films as part of the Washington D.C. 48 Hour Film Project.
Jessy Timmins received her B.S. in Stage Management from Radford University and recently completed her Master of Arts in Arts Management from GMU. In addition to AFYP, Jessy works with Theater of the First Amendment and has worked with MetroStage and Keegan Theatre.

Additional Faculty & Staff

Brittany Bosak joined the AFYP faculty in Summer 2007, and is a Theater major at GMU. She is involved in many different aspects of the theatre; she has assistant stage managed, performed (Laramie Project, In The Dead of Summer), and designed props. Hailing from New York City, Brittany made her local professional debut in Theater of the First Amendment’s 2007 First Light Festival. She successfully completed NYU's CAP21 Summer Musical Theatre Program, and graduated from a Performing Arts High School on Long Island, where she went on a full scholarship given by the state of New York. Prior to GMU, Brittany spent 7 years performing at various regional theaters throughout Long Island with leading roles in Wonderful Town and Anything Goes (for which she received the BACCA award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Reno Sweeney).
Taylor Coffman has appeared in film, TV and stage productions around the DC area. A graduate of GMU, Taylor has been honored with a Theater Department Award for Outstanding Performance, a fellowship at the Folger Shakespeare Library, a Virginia Arts Council Award, and an opportunity to sing the Rutter Magnificat at Carnegie Hall. She has also performed her own work at the Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival.
Connor Dale has worked with Round House Education Center in Silver Spring, teaching acting for their Summer Destinations Theatre Camp. His lighting designs have also been seen in local theatres. A recent graduate of George Mason's Theatre Department, Connor studied acting, directing, and design.
Christy Denny is a Senior Theater major at GMU, focusing in the areas of directing, stage managing and acting. In addition to teaching several of our after school classes, she is recently directed Reckless for the GMU Players. Christy has worked professionally in New York with The Irish Rep and New York Theater Workshop, and locally with Theater of the First Amendment.
Jessie Duncanson Crain has been working in the Washington, DC area as a theatrical technician since receiving her B.A. from GMU. She has designed lights, props and puppets for many local professional theater companies. She is currently the Master Electrician for Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, while working with Atmosphere Inc.
Jennifer Harris is a graduate of GMU with a BA in Theater, where she appeared in The GMU Players’ productions as Moo and Betty’s Summer Vacation (as Betty), directed Women in Black, and was assistant director for Theater of the First Amendment’s Three Hotels. She has appeared in several musicals, including BigRiver, Grease, West Side Story, and Guys and Dolls. Jenn also teaches our after-school programs and summer camp.
Kathryn Kelley is delighted to return to AFYP this summer. A professional actor who performs frequently in the DC area, her credits include roles in Heartbreak House, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, Our Town, Look Back in Anger (Theatre Lobby Award), The Glass Menagerie (Helen Hayes nomination), A Doll’s House, Grimm Tales, Sing Down the Moon, and many others. She is an Artistic Associate with Round House Theatre and holds an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Lisa Lias is a local actor who received her training at Northwestern University and the Goodman School of Drama. She has appeared at Source, Everyman, Horizons, Olney and Imagination Stage among others as well as productions for the New York International Fringe Festival and the first ever Capital Fringe Festival here in Washington. She is a former company member of The Stanislavsky Theatre Studio and a long-time member of Chicago's T.U.T.A. Theatre Company.
Madeleine Mager has worked extensively in the Washington, D.C. market, as well as Chicago and New York City. Credits cover all aspects of performance, but include feature films such as “For Richer or Poorer” and “Riding in Cars with Boys” and television appearances on “Early Edition” and “K Street.” She has also taught drama for Fairfax County Public Schools' summer program. Madeleine holds a B.A. in Theater from George Mason University and has studied at H.B. Studios in New York.
Jacquie Militano is an actress and singer with a Theater BA from George Mason University, where she received the honor of the Female Actress Excellence in Performance award for her graduating class. At Mason she performed in The Dead, Trojan Women, The Trial, Abstract Expression, The Heiress, The Measures Taken, and Marat/Sade. She also performed in Grease, Into the Woods, The Odd Couple: Female Version, and A Chorus Line in various studios throughout New Jersey. She works as a seasonal Character Performer for the Walt Disney companies.
Ryan Mulkay graduated from GMU in 2004 cum laude and performed in many GMU Players productions. Ryan had leading roles in two recently released independent films, and is currently working on the independent feature film “11”.
Rebecca Pepper is an honors graduate of GMU where she studied Theater and Music Education (Voice). She has an active freelance career as professional actor, singer and costume designer, most recently appearing in Broadway Musicals: 1938 and The Robber Bridegroom at American Century Theatre.
Arthur Rowan is an experienced fight director (having choreographed fights for the Folger Theater, the Washington Shakespeare Company, and the Virginia Shakespeare Festival) and a recognized Actor/Combatant with the Society for American Fight Directors. He has worked with several weapon styles, including broadsword, quarterstaff, knife, unarmed, rapier, twin rapiers, and lightsaber.
Jesse Schwartzman currently attends George Mason University. A regular member of AFYP’s school year and summer camp faculty, Jesse spent several summers teaching at Camp Hazen in Chester, CT, where he collaborated on the creation of their popular drama program. Jesse has also taught for The Rainbow Company and coached the Improv team for Fairfax High School.
Bryant Sullivan studied acting at Indiana University. After spending a year abroad teaching English in Japan, he currently appears in film and theatre productions around the Washington D.C. area. Recently he has worked on Theater of the First Amendment's production of Lift: Icarus & Me, and an independent horror film called The 8th Plague.
Ryan Wright is a senior Theater major at GMU, and has performed in An Ideal Husband, Betty’s Summer Vacation, Mephisto, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, and Trojan Women. Ryan has also performed professionally with Theater of the First Amendment, and will appear in the upcoming feature film The Visiting.