Erika Lupo
Erika Lupo is the creator and owner of Acting-A-Part® Theater Company and movie studio! Erika Lupo is the originator and creator of the Ramsey NJ and Maplewood NJ Middle Schools Theater Programs. She was an English teacher for both school districts and began the theater programs for both that are still in existence today! She is a New Jersey Certified teacher with over 15 years teaching experience. Nominated for Best Practice in Teaching, Erika has always been praised for her innovative and unique programs. She has directed and produced over 200 professional productions. These include Bye Bye Birdie, Sound of Music, Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof, The Wizard of Oz, Our Town and Annie, High School Musical, Grease, and Beauty and the Beast to name a few. Erika is an innovator - she has created several unique and creative programs for her theater company and various school districts. She has created a movie studio designed exclusively for her students at Acting-A-Part. Now students can be in movies without flying to Hollywood! Having a father who is a film producer, has had a wonderful influence on Erika and her creative programs! Erika Lupo can be found on the International Movie Data Base (IMDB), check it out:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3118408/
Alana Michaels
Alana Michaels (Assistant Theater Director) has spent her entire life in the performing arts. Alana has her Bachelor of Arts in Theater & Television from William Paterson University. She spent one semester studying at California State University, Northridge; in their prestigious TV/Film department. After graduation she then worked in Los Angeles, CA as a casting director for FOX television. After realizing 3,000 miles was too far from her family; she moved back to the east coast and began working with children in the educational/performing arts fields. Alana has a passion and love for her profession that shows in every aspect of what she does with Acting-A-Part. She has now been with AAP for over a year, assistant-directing productions which include, "Grease", "Footloose", "Sound of Music", "Annie" and is currently working on "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Wedding Singer." She looks forward to a long future with the Acting-A-Part Family!
Joshua Nelson
Joshua Nelson (Acting Instructor) has over 20 years experience in the entertainment industry having worked as an actor, writer, producer, casting director and award winning filmmaker. Joshua grew up to become a graduate of the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts. Upon graduation he landed a leading role on an NBC sitcom did a year on an ABC soap opera. His film work includes working opposite academy awards winners Al Pacino and Robin Williams. He has also spent the last several years working as an acting teacher and coach. He has been in dozens of feature films, off-broadways shows and currently has a recurring role on Law & Order.
http://www.joshuanelson.tv You can also read more about Joshua Nelson on IMDB at:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0625491/
Brenda DeCesare
Brenda has dedicated her career to children?s entertainment. This winter her short film, Sydney in the City, which she wrote, produced and directed will premier in the NewFilmmakers series at the Anthology Theater in NYC. In Studio City, CA, she founded A Cast of Kids, a full-scale theatre arts program for children ages 3 through teens. Clients included the children of Gary Cole, Ray Romana and Kathy Najimy, among others. She has directed multiple stage productions including The Little Prince, Charlotte?s Web and James and the Giant Peach. In spring 2008, she Field Directed / Produced for Emmy nominated director Tim Warren's feature documentary High School 911, about the nations only teen run ambulance corp. in Darien, CT. She also produced and directed a short documentary entitled Sticks and Stones, about preteens which focus on their self-esteem issues. 2007 brought a nomination at the New Jersey State Women's Gender Consortium for her feature length screenplay Beyond the Horizon about a teenage girl trying to fulfill dreams of a college education during the 1930s dust bowl. Brenda has served as a Field Producer and Production Manager for NBC, ABC and Disney.
Hanne Ladefoged-Dollase - Voice and Music
Weare excited to announce the addition of voice coach, HanneLadefoged-Dollase, to Acting-A-Part's Sparta Location. Hanne is asought-after singer, lecturer and teacher who has taught voice buildingand coached musicals for decades. Her students have won numerous awardsand have gone on to be working vocalists. Hanne uses a uniquecombination of Bel Canto technique and more contemporary techniquessuch a Wesley Balks system for the Singer/Actor, Alexander technique,and yoga to inspire her students to sing with the whole body. Her mottois: Foundation Core Expression (in that order).She is also on the voicefaculty at the Ridgewood Conservatory. www.hanneladefogeddollase.com tolearn more about Hanne!
Otto Salamon
Writer/Producer
Otto Salamon is a Golden Globe and Emmy nominated writer and producer. He has worked with hundreds of Academy Award actors as well as represented several of them as their agents! He is a former talent agent for the William Morris Agency and was a professor of film production at the New School in New York City for 14 years. Otto Salamon has produced movies for NBC, Showtime, Columbia Pictures and PBS. He is a member of both the Writers Guild of America and the Director's Guild of America. Otto Salamon can be found on www.IMDB.com (Internet Movie Database)!
Daniel Salamon
Accompanist/Guitars and Percussion
Dan is a self-taught musician who has played in various bands throughout his musical career. He began drumming at the age of 13 and branched out to guitar at 17. Being family, he has been with Acting-A-Part since its inception. However, he became an official member of the musical ensemble in 2005's production of West Side Story.
Timothy Sorbanelli
Tim is thrilled to be joining Acting-A-Part as an accompanist. Tim is accomplished in many instruments including drums, marimba, piano, guitar, and - some day soon - trumpet. He has studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and is currently studying Jazz at the Thurnauer School of Music. In addition to playing drums for Acting-A-Part productions of Grease and Sound of Music. Tim has performed in the orchestras of various high school musical productions throughout Bergen County. He is Drum Captain of Oaklands Indian Hills High School Marching Band and section leader for the Indian Hills Concert Band. He has performed and recorded with many award winning local bands and can currently be seen performing at 96West in Allendale with his group EtherQi