American Music Theatre

Cast

Keith Adams – Vocalist
Keith is excited – as he says, “super-excited” – to be part of this cast.  Keith remembers Stevie Wonder being played on the radio when he was a little boy.  Being a country boy from Nashville, TN, there wasn’t much else to do on a Saturday night but listen to the radio.  He remembers singing along with Stevie to “Superstition!”  Keith wants to dedicate his performance to his son, Keaston, for being his everyday inspiration.  Love u, Tink Tink.

Corey Campbell – Dancer
Corey is incredibly thrilled to be returning to the AMT stage for American Icons.  He was seen in last season’s Dance Explosion, as well as The 2011 Christmas Show.  Wait until you see what the creative team at AMT has in store for you!  Corey is excited to pay tribute to some greatly influential American icons.  He wants to thank everyone who has ever supported him.  Thanks especially to his mom, dad, sister and brother, and he can’t forget about all his second parents out there.  Love you all.  Enjoy the show!

Missy Clayton – Dancer/Show Captain
Missy is thrilled to be a part of her third season here at AMT!  This spring she performed in the productions of Chicago (Liz) and Legally Blonde (Brooke) at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH.  Missy graduated from the American Music and Dramatic Academy where she studied Musical Theatre and Dance.  This show really hits home dancing to many of her favorite icons, and most importantly fulfilling her dreams of having a chance to be one of the Shindig dancers, moving and grooving to awesome music!

Wess Cooke – Vocalist/Guitar
Wess would like to say thank you to all of his fans for their continued support of his talent.  He could tell you about all his accomplishments in the music industry, but to him, the most important one is right here, right now…being able to perform for you in yet another AMT Original Show, American Icons. As long as you keep listening, he’ll keep singing.  Thank you and GOD Bless You!

Melanie L. Gaskins – Vocalist/Dancer
Melanie is excited to return to AMT this summer and to honor the tremendous talent of some of our American icons.  She has fond memories of singing and dancing around the house with her mother to Aretha Franklin and listening to the Temptations in the car on family vacations.  You last saw Melanie twirling across the stage in Dance Explosion and Music of the Night, and she can’t wait to perform for you again.

Julie Keough – Vocalist
Julie has always loved the stories and cultures surrounding American popular music.  Many songs and artists enter and exit the scene, but the few great constants cannot be denied their place at the heart of our history.  Julie, a singer/songwriter from Waldorf, MD, marking her fifth AMT Original Show, is proud to celebrate the truth and power behind some of these American icons’ unforgettable songs, stories and performances.  Although the scene is constantly changing, American popular music continues the legacy, not of shaping who we are, but of echoing the diversity, the unity, the heartaches and, of course, the humor that makes America unique.  Find a harmony and join in!

Jared Mancuso – Vocalist/Guitar
Having always felt he belonged to another era, Jared is keyed up to be emulating some of his favorite American icons.  As a performer and musician, he has always been inspired and influenced by such greats as Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli, and many, many others. Some favorite previous credits include Dennis in All Shook Up (Bucks County Playhouse,) Mark in Rent (BCP,) many roles in 42nd Street (BCP, Arizona Broadway Theatre,) and of course, The AMT Band Plays Abbey Road.  It’s great to be back!  Love to his family, Chef Boyardee, and of course, Lindsey.

Jared A. Mashak – Vocalist
Jared is fired up to be part of American Icons at AMT!  What better way to celebrate and acknowledge history’s most notable musicians than to perform their music every day.  As a child, one would find Jared bopping around shaking his hips, and today, not much has changed!  Elvis has always been an icon to Jared and he hopes to follow in his footsteps.  Thanks to friends and family for their love and support and AMT for letting music live on!

Christine Mueller – Dancer
Christine is thrilled to be making her AMT debut!  Originally from Cincinnati, she received her BFA in dance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has been performing professionally ever since.  She has been seen singing and dancing all over the country and even at sea.  Christine considers herself so blessed to share her love of performing with you today.  Please enjoy as we pay tribute to some great American icons!

Michelle Rajotte – Vocalist/Dancer
Michelle is so excited to sing songs from all of the old and new iconic performers, especially Judy Garland.  Once asked “If you could sing with any performer, dead or alive, who would it be?”  Michelle quickly responded with one of her favorite inspirations, Judy Garland.  Even though she had struggles in her personal life, Judy was always stunning on the stage!  Enjoy the show and God Bless!

Ashlynn Thomas – Dancer
Ashlynn is thrilled to be returning to AMT after her incredible experience in Dance Explosion last summer.  She has been preparing for American Icons with her grandfather, “Poppy,” ever since she was a little girl.  Whether it was singing along with the cassette in the car, watching the classics, or dancing with the stars in front the TV, he’s made sure Ashlynn knows who her American icons are.  She hopes you find pure joy as you travel through the years with the cast of American Icons!

Marc A. Heitzman – Dancer
Marc grew up in Iowa where his amazing parents helped him fall in love with the oldies.  While living in NYC, Marc has had the blessed opportunity to perform both nationally and internationally.  He’s been in a couple tribute shows in the past including the lead role of “Eddie” in the Billy Joel musical Movin’ Out and dance captain for a Michael Jackson tribute show Man in the Mirror.  Marc is very excited to dance at AMT and give tribute to the greats.  Much love goes out to his family, friends, and most importantly his fiancé for their support.

Jeremy Beveridge
Jeremy is excited to be returning to the AMT stage!  Last year he was the Magical Guide in Music of the Night, and was also in The 2011 Christmas Show.  Jeremy has performed with the Red Brick Players, the Jennersville YMCA Youth Theater group, and the Premier Center for the Arts as well as the Octorara Area School District’s theater club.  Besides theater, Jeremy enjoys karate training, watching movies and playing basketball with friends.  He is excited to have learned this great music by these American icons!

Ilisa Chasser
Ilisa is a vibrant 11-year-old from Lancaster.  Dancing since she was three, Ilisa is not shy to be on stage!  She studies six different dance styles at Carol’s Academy of Dance which led her to the theater where she studies acting, voice and dance under Andrea McCormick at Broadway Studios.  This is Ilisa’s fourth Original Show at AMT.  In her spare time, she plays the violin, is a Girl Scout cadet, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  Ilisa would like to thank God for her life, talent, and strength to persevere, AMT for their confidence in her abilities, and her mom and dad for helping make her dreams come true.

Kendra LaFave
American Icons is Kendra’s fourth Original Show at AMT.  She made her debut as Clara in The 2010 Christmas Show, was the understudy for the Magical Guide and an ensemble member in Music of the Night – The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the Little Girl in The 2011 Christmas Show.  She has also performed our National Anthem for military promotion ceremonies, been a member of her church choir, and performed at various community events as a featured dancer and vocalist.  Kendra is a 7^th grade student at The Center for Performing and Fine Arts in West Chester, PA.

Adam Yoder
Adam is excited to be back at AMT after performing in The 2011 Christmas Show.  Adam is 9-years-old and has been performing since he was six.  His first role was Tiny Tim in the Theater of the Seventh Sister production, A Christmas Carol.  He performed the role of young Joseph for two years in Joseph at Sight & Sound Theatres, as well as various young boy roles in Voices of Christmas at the Living Waters Theater.  Adam is currently performing in Jonah at Sight & Sound Theatres.  When Adam is not in front of an audience, he enjoys playing soccer on a local travel team, hanging out with his older sister and watching the latest episode of Disney’s, Kickin’ It.

Band

Mark Huber – Pianist/Assistant Musical Director
Mark is happy to be back at AMT for American Icons and The 2012 Christmas Show.  He was last seen on the AMT stage in 2009 in Route 66 Revisited and Broadway’s Best – The Music.  A Lancaster County native, Mark is known as one of the most versatile pianists in Central PA.  With a degree in classical piano performance from Westminster College, he can now be found in a variety of musical settings.  Most recently, Mark has been playing shows at Allenberry Playhouse, performing soul/funk with The Maxwell Project, and serving as sideman for a plethora of jazz vocalists.  Mark also leads his own jazz combos in venues throughout the area.

Marybeth E. Kern – Woodwinds
Marybeth is delighted to be an instrumental part of this musical journey through the decades!  She is looking forward to bridging the gap of time and having the opportunity to play from the genres of funk and swing to rock and big band all in one night.  While she specializes in all styles, Marybeth’s heart lies in swinging with the tunes of the great Count Basie Orchestra and Mickey Blue Eyes.  With her personal style of daily leg warmers and side ponytails, she feels right at home with the 80s icons.  Previously, Marybeth has performed for Cirque Productions in many tours around the U.S. and abroad.  She would like to thank her family and friends for their endless support in her musical career.  For more information, please visit www.MarybethKern.com or tweet her at www.twitter.com/Kerrnie

Michael Lambertson – Violin/Keys/Percussion
Michael is very happy to be back for American Icons!   He loves Frank Sinatra, as well as many of the other icons featured in this show.  Michael mainly plays violin and produces electronic music, but he’ll be playing a bit of keyboards in this show (“not what I’m used too,” he confesses,) and hopes you enjoy hearing his additional talents.  To all his current and future fans, Michael asks that you follow him @mikelambertson.  Enjoy the show!

Andy Mowatt – Guitars
Andy is excited to pay tribute to America’s great musical icons in his third season here with the AMT band.  Stevie Wonder and the icons of the Motown era have been very influential in Andy’s musical ventures over the past few years.  Keep an ear out for him at www.andymowatt.com.

Gabriel Staznik – Drums
American Icons is sure to be Gabe’s favorite AMT Original Show this year!  Gabe’s favorite American icon is James Brown, and he’s also a huge fan of Brown’s drummers John “Jabo” Starks and Clyde Stubblefield who helped give funk music its groove.  Gabe is heavily involved in many music projects and often collaborates with his good friend Michael Windish, who is currently touring with American icon Chubby Checker.  When not performing at AMT, you can find Gabriel active in music with performing, teaching, arranging, and of course, practicing!

Mike Wittrien – Bass
Fifty or so years of music packed into a two act show?  American Icons is an awesome opportunity to get the sounds and feels for each era as authentic as possible, and Mike hopes his fingers don’t collapse in the process!  Mike feels the really cool thing about this show is that a lot of this music is what he grew up on, hanging out with his parents.  It’s full of timeless music and great songs which bring back fun memories – who cares what year it is?  Diana Ross?  Billy Joel?  Bring it.