2023 Faculty
Chandra Lee Schwartz (Musical Theater) is a stage actress, singer, and theater educator known for her role as Glinda in the Broadway and National Touring productions of the musical Wicked. She also appeared in the National Tour and Broadway production of Hairspray and in the 2003 Broadway revival of Gypsy, starring Bernadette Peters, directed by Sam Mendes. She graduated from AMDA, NYC and has appeared in many shows and festivals in New York City and all over the country. Chandra originated the role of Annie in the world premiere of Sleepless in Seattle,The Musical, at the Pasadena Playhouse and appeared in the NBC sitcom Crowded and on IFC’s Comedy Bang Bang. In addition to acting and singing, Chandra has been teaching musical theater to students since 2013.
Marty Austin Lamar (Acting) is an accomplished actor, singer, musician and songwriter. His resume is vast including several regional, New York and international theatre credits and building performing arts programs at every educational level. Marty previously served on the faculty of Howard University as coordinator of the BFA Musical Theatre program and full-time lecturer. As coordinator, Marty worked to improve and expand the current curriculum and grow the program’s ability to serve and train young artists. Currently, Marty is in his second semester as Co-Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at California State University at Fullerton. Marty is honored to join the faculty and looks forward to growing the program. Marty is the founder and CEO of Kinship Entertainment Group, LLC a company focused on faith-based entertainment and arts advocacy focused on race, diversity, inclusion, and justice. A proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association, Marty is committed to the preservation and sharing of the HBCU’s legacy of training and producing stellar artists on and off the stage.
Hector Guerrero (Dance - High School) has traveled throughout the world as a Director, Choreographer, Performer and Master Teacher working extensively in film, television, theatre and opera. Hector is one of the few approved by the Robbins Rights Trust to reproduce Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story which he has set throughout the United States, China and for the Shakespeare Festival. In New York City, he choreographed Gimme a Break! (Transport Group) and Concert of Excellence (Lincoln Center). Other Director/Choreographer credits include International: Big Fish (China Premiere), Chicago, The Drowsy Chaperone, Hair. Regional: A Chorus Line, Bye Bye Birdie, Evita, 42nd Street, In the Heights, My Fair Lady, Oliver, Singin' in the Rain. Television: Live with Regis and Kelly; Opera: CARMEN. As a performer, Hector’s credits include Broadway/Tours: Hal Prince’s Evita, Gower Champion’s 42nd Street and Chino in Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story. Film: Cool as Ice. Television: B Positive, Backstreet Boys in Concert, Penny Dreadful. Commercials: Crest. Videos: Björk, Foo-Fighters, Ice-T. Currently, he is on faculty at AMDA & UCLA.
Christine Negherbon-Abraham (Dance - Middle School) recently appeared in The Little Mermaid, Oliver, Yankee Doodle Dandy & Mary Poppins (Associate Choreographer) at MTW! Christine toured Nationally/Internationally with My Fair Lady (Eliza u/s), Best Little Whorehouse . . . (Starring Ann-Margret), 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer), Chicago & The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Favorite regional credits include: Elizabeth (Young Frankenstein), Jennyanydots (Cats at The Muny/Sacramento Music), Mrs. Wilkinson (Billy Elliot). TV credits: Hart of Dixie, Haunting Evidence. Christine has directed and choreographed all over the United States. Select credits include: 42nd Street (Norris Theatre), Hairspray & White Christmas (Mac-Haydn Theatre), Billy Elliot (Anchorage Center for Performing Arts), and Crazy for You, West Side Story, Cabaret (DeSales University). Christine is a Master Teacher Artist with both Segerstrom Center and Center Theatre Group. She is on faculty at Hussian College In Studio, Upstage Theatre for Schools and Fluid Dance. She is Co-Founder of www.TheThrivingArtists.com with husband and actor, Joe Abraham.
Joe Abraham (Dance - Middle School) is grateful to be continually living his dreams on both stage and screen. He grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and earned a BFA Musical Theater degree from Penn State University. He then when on to have an amazing run on Broadway and around the country with hit musicals like Hairspray, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Young Frankenstein, Cats, Show Boat, Funny Girl, Singin' in the Rain, Crazy For You, and Peter Pan among others. He has appeared on the TV shows Moonbase 8, S.W.A.T., Revenge, Hart of Dixie, American Crime Story: People vs. OJ Simpson, and UnREAL. Joe also made his feature film debut in Jersey Boys and most recently appeared in The Prom on Netflix. In addition to his performance work Joe is also a passionate acting & performance coach. Along with his wife, Christine, he has co-authored and published his first book titled The Thriving Artists: A Guide to an Inspired Life, Empowered Career, and Entrepreneurial Finances. This book is now required reading in theater departments at universities across the country and he is thrilled to be a positive impact on the next generation of young performers.
Jenny Moon Shaw (Ensemble) started performing professionally at the age of six and had a long and wonderful childhood in professional theater. From this life-shaping experience she developed a passion for introducing kids to the exciting world of theater. She studied Drama and Theatre Arts at Birmingham University, England and trained at London Central School of Speech and Drama. In England, Jenny worked as Head of Drama, and Director of Performing Arts at a High School and was awarded the county position of ‘Advanced Skills teacher’. She moved to California in 2012 and resumed her performance career in professional theatre. She now works as a freelance actress, teaching artist, director and choreographer.
Ben McFadden (Stage Combat, Improv, Shakespeare 101) is a Pacific Northwest native who transplanted to Los Angeles several years ago. Ben has taught and performed with organizations and theaters across the Pacific Northwest area including Seattle Children’s Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company and others. Acting credits include: The Librarian’s (TNT), Jane the Virgin (CW), Where the Wild Things Are (Seattle Children’s Theatre), Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Othello (Seattle Shakespeare Company) Slaughterhouse Five, Treasure Island (Book-It Repertory Theatre Company) History Boys, Vertical Hour (Artswest), and Marisol (The Collision Project). Ben is the current Assistant Camp Director for a theater camp at the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts in Leavenworth, WA.
Rob Woyshner (Accompanist) is a much sought-after soloist, accompanist, music director, arranger, and composer. Mr. Woyshner received Drama-logue awards for his musical direction of Closer Than Ever at the Long Beach Community Theater as well as for his original musical production of The Boys of Summer. He also wrote three more original musicals with his friend Joanne Gordon which premiered at the Cal Rep Theater. Mr. Woyshner musically directed more than a half dozen shows at the West End Theater in Los Alamitos and continues to play actively as an accompanist for numerous singers and instrumentalists This is his twenty-fifth year as music director and pianist for Orange County Opera. In addition, Mr. Woyshner is currently working with The Young Americans as a guest director.