INSTRUCTORS

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For the past fourteen years, Christa and Scott have had the distinct pleasure of working at something that they genuinely love – teaching theater arts.   In 2010, a year after their son Jack was born, they relocated to Haddonfield from NYC, amid careers as performers. Soon thereafter, they fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening Haddonfield Theater Arts Center. With a focus on building confidence in students of all ages through teaching the true collaborative process of the theater, HTAC has grown into the award winning, premiere facility for theatrical instruction in the South Jersey area.

With over thirty years of professional experience between them, Christa and Scott have worked in all capacities with some of the industries finest talents. They have BFAs in Acting and Dance, respectively from Marymount Manhattan College and Scott also attended the British American Dramatic Academy where he studied under Ian Woodridge, Irina Brown, Diana Quick, and Fiona Shaw. Throughout the years they have had the honor of performing for Tony award winning composers ranging from Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie) to David Bryan (Memphis), and with the likes of Shirley Jones, Matt Cavanaugh, David Parsons, Barbara Simon, Alice Ripley and Rosie O’Donnell.

After spending her childhood as a member of the Children’s Ballet Theater in Philadelphia, Christa trained under Katie Langan, Merle Holloman, Virginia Johnson, Chet Walker, Milton Myers, Pat Simon, Jamie Cheetham, and Ginger Prince, to name just a few. She originated the role of Mora in STOLEN at The Ensemble Studio Theater directed by Barbara Simon-Strouse, which ultimately landed in London where it played at the Landor Theater. 

Christa originated the roles of The Bride in Deep Song at Intar Theater in NY, and Marion in Shoe Palace Murray at The Bernie West Theater in NY. Christa has had the privilege to work alongside Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Tony nominee for SWING! The Musical) as assistant director of HATS! The Musical, based on the Red Hat Society, and also assisted Miss Taylor-Corbett on the original productions of Flight of The Lawnchair Man, Mud Donahue & Son and Wanda’s World.

As Artistic Directors of HTAC, they have formulated a curriculum that has proven to be incredibly effective in improving and sharpening performing skills, but also building communication and confidence in all their students.  They have several graduates that have gone on the attend and graduate college with degrees in Musical Theater.  They also have written over 15 musicals and films specifically for the studio in collaboration with Musical Director Zach Wiseley and adjunct instructor Josh Totora.  Simply put, they feel incredible lucky to be able to do what they love.

 Zachary Wiseley is the resident musical director at HTAC, and over the past decade has co-written over 15 musicals as well as several songs for some of the center’s original works.  He is a graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, where he studied journalism and film while pursuing music and theater on his own.  He has performed musical theater at Society Hill Playhouse in Philadelphia, and at Player’s Theater and Dixon Place in New York.  A veteran of children’s theater programs himself, he has worked as musical director for the all of Collingswood’s youth and community musical theater programs as well as the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts, and has performed theater for children at Philadelphia Plays and Players and the Garden State Discovery Museum. He is a founding member of Pilot Light Theatre Company, and also works as a choral accompanist. Finally, he is one-third of the improv-musical duo, “Suggestical” which regularly performs totally improvised musical comedies in and around Philadelphia. 

Andrew Lawson is a multifaceted musician and educator who’s been working in the field of music for 10+ years now. The Philadelphia native started his education career at The Philadelphia Kimmel Center of Performing Arts as a Teaching Artist. For 3 years, he was tasked with programming general music and jazz education studies for underprivileged schools in the Philadelphia area. During this time he also attended University of The Arts, where he pursued a Bachelor’s in Vocal Jazz Performance and a Master’s in Music Education in the Arts, graduating in 2015.

Andrew is a lifelong student of music and thus has had the fortune to work in multiple genres and facets of the music industry. His training is rooted in Classical/Opera, Jazz and Theatre but has crossed-over into Pop, R&B and more at times throughout his career. He’s worked with artists such as Questlove, Ben Folds, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, J. Donald Dumpson, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Andrea Bochelli and Christian McBride. Andrew has also enjoyed serving stints in Opera Philadelphia along with other local theatre troupes. 

As a teacher, Andrew brings his diverse experiences, technical approach and musical understanding to his students. For 3 years, following graduation, Andrew worked as a teaching artist for Play, on Philly; an after school music program. Here he was the lead music theory teacher, choir master and arranger.  Currently and for the last 7+ years, Andrew has run his own private studio in collaboration with The Conservatory of Musical Arts in Audubon. He has a full roster of students of all ages studying Voice, Piano and Guitar. Andrew is excited to continue his career with the high level students and culture here at HTAC!

 Sarah McGowan is an actor who has been performing since elementary school. She attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy for musical theatre and has since been working with kids that are following a similar path. She has been onstage in community productions around Pennsylvania. She has also recently appeared in a feature film, Bitter Souls (Jill). She currently lives in Lindenwold and is very excited to continue her career at HTAC! 

 Abigail Sparrow is an HMHS graduate, and was very involved in the drama club. She then received her BFA in Drama from New York University and a certificate in screenwriting from Chapman University. She worked as a digital media writer/producer out of training. Abigail was an actor as a child and young adult – she started working professionally at 11 in Circle of Friends, an American Girl Musical (Kit, Kirsten and Molly) Other notable credits include the National Tour Scrooge, The Musical (Martha Cratchit), Walnut Street Theatre, Les Miserables (ensemble) Princeton Summer Theatre, Urinetown (Pennywise) Into the Woods (the Witch) and A Little Night Music (Mrs Nordstrom). She lives in Haddon Heights with her dog, Gertrude, and works in her family business, Sparrow’s with shops in Haddonfield and at the Reading Terminal Market.