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mASTERCLASS iNSTRUCTORS
Click on each photo to learn about the instructor
Delaney Burke
Delaney Charlotte Burke was born and raised in Brielle, New Jersey where she trained in the performing arts for 10 plus years before pursuing her professional career. Delaney holds a dual major in Theatre and Dance from DeSales University and is in the EMC program run through Actor Equity. Some of her favorite roles include Big Kid swing in Matilda (Surflight Theatre), Uzo Track in Godspell (Schubert Theatre) and Little Red in Into the Woods (Labuda Main Stage). She is currently training online with the Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Center and Steps on Broadway & wants to spread the love of art to all the beautiful generations to come because she believes artists are the future!
Katie Daniel
Katie was born and raised in Michigan where she trained in the performing arts for 16 years. Now residing in New York City, she has performed as Rockette for two seasons which has included over 200 performances and opportunities to perform and speak on platforms like NBC News and Good Morning America. She recently signed with The Movement Talent Agency in New York City and has recently started acting with credits including CBS’s FBI and a new Netflix unreleased series entitled “Untitled Art Project.” She is happy to be passing along her knowledge to the next generation of aspiring performers.
Sarah Daniel
Sarah currently resides in Michigan and grew up dancing in the metro Detroit area. She trained in all styles of dance for 16 years before beginning her professional career. Sarah has performed at Radio City Music Hall in the Christmas Spectacular, as a Rockette for two seasons. Alongside events such as, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Good Morning America. She had trained in New York City, and recently signed with The Movement Talent Agency.
Emma Degerstedt
Degerstedt began her career playing Maris Bingham opposite Emma Roberts on Nickelodeon’s “Unfabulous”. Shortly after, she began working on the original LA production of Jason Robert Brown’s “13”. Later, Degerstedt attended UCLA, during which time she played Elle Woods in various productions of Legally Blonde. Near the end of her tenure at UCLA, she was granted the opportunity to play Ariel in Tuacahn’s production of The Little Mermaid, a role she would later reprise at America’s largest outdoor theatre, The Muny.
Recent notable roles include “Shimmy Girl” in the 2019 revival of ‘Smokey Joe’s Café,’ for which she received a Chita Rivera award nomination, as well as her involvement in the critically acclaimed ‘Desperate Measures’.
She can be heard on the original cast recording on iTunes and Spotify. Before the pandemic, she was slated to play Anna in the Broadway musical “Muriel’s Wedding” starring Ryann Redmond. During the pandemic she has been working to create a non profit theatre company, “Bringing you Broadway, at a distance”. Follow @bringingyoubroadway on instagram!
Recent notable roles include “Shimmy Girl” in the 2019 revival of ‘Smokey Joe’s Café,’ for which she received a Chita Rivera award nomination, as well as her involvement in the critically acclaimed ‘Desperate Measures’.
She can be heard on the original cast recording on iTunes and Spotify. Before the pandemic, she was slated to play Anna in the Broadway musical “Muriel’s Wedding” starring Ryann Redmond. During the pandemic she has been working to create a non profit theatre company, “Bringing you Broadway, at a distance”. Follow @bringingyoubroadway on instagram!
Marissa Ghavami
Marissa is an artist, advocate and creator based in NYC. Film and television highlights include starring in The Gift of Christmas alongside Academy Award Nominee Bruce Davison and Dee Wallace (E.T.), currently on Amazon Prime Video, Paramount’s theatrically released Not Fade Away directed by David Chase (creator of The Sopranos) and starring James Gandolfini and CBS’s Without A Trace. Theatre credits include playing Belle, opposite Ross Lekites, in Music Theatre Louisville’s Beauty and the Beast. Marissa first gained national attention singing on NBC’s legendary It’s Showtime At The Apollo and was there discovered by Suzanne de Passé (Motown, The Jackson 5). More recently she has sung at NYC hot spots Joe’s Pub, Birdland (alongside Tony nominees Ariana DeBose and Kevin Chamberlin) and 54 Below. She recently sang backup for Barry Manilow in The Carousel of Hope Ball and was in the winning number for Ken Davenport’s Social Distancing Fest. She has done voice over, commercial and print work for Audible, McDonald’s, Ford, JCPenney, Belvedere, Pepsi Co, Girl Scout Cookies and KFC.
An advocate as well as an artist, Marissa is the founder of the nonprofit Healing TREE (Trauma Resources, Education & Empowerment) healingtreenonprofit.org @healingtreeorg and is a national keynote speaker.
As a creator, Marissa co-wrote and was the lead producer on Silk, which was directed by John Magaro (The Many Saints of Newark, The Umbrella Academy, Carol, The Big Short) and stars Crista Marie Jackson (The Greatest Showman), Fran Kranz (The Cabin in the Woods), Garcia (Tales of the City) and Louisa Krause (Billions). Mass, an upcoming feature film which she co-produced, was written and directed by Fran Kranz and stars Tony and Emmy award-winning actors Jason Isaacs, Reed Birney, Martha Plimpton and Ann Dowd.
Additionally, Marissa is a Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Queer Writer Director’s Pick Fellow (‘20), an Artists Striving To End Poverty Fellow (‘15 conference at Juilliard) and a coach and consultant. She is Iranian-American, queer, a meditator, a vegan and a cat mom.
An advocate as well as an artist, Marissa is the founder of the nonprofit Healing TREE (Trauma Resources, Education & Empowerment) healingtreenonprofit.org @healingtreeorg and is a national keynote speaker.
As a creator, Marissa co-wrote and was the lead producer on Silk, which was directed by John Magaro (The Many Saints of Newark, The Umbrella Academy, Carol, The Big Short) and stars Crista Marie Jackson (The Greatest Showman), Fran Kranz (The Cabin in the Woods), Garcia (Tales of the City) and Louisa Krause (Billions). Mass, an upcoming feature film which she co-produced, was written and directed by Fran Kranz and stars Tony and Emmy award-winning actors Jason Isaacs, Reed Birney, Martha Plimpton and Ann Dowd.
Additionally, Marissa is a Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Queer Writer Director’s Pick Fellow (‘20), an Artists Striving To End Poverty Fellow (‘15 conference at Juilliard) and a coach and consultant. She is Iranian-American, queer, a meditator, a vegan and a cat mom.
Hannah Jewel Kohn
Hannah currently resides in New York City and looks forward to re-joining her cast on the First National Broadway Tour of Disney's Frozen! Other favorite credits include: Disney's Beauty and the Beast (National Tour), Candide, La Campana Sommersa (New York City Opera), Grease (Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera), Mary Poppins (Papermill Playhouse), Holiday Inn, Mamma Mia (Merry Go Round Playhouse). Fosse/Verdon FX Promos.
Hannah is a lover of ALL people and the arts and has had a long-standing passion for bringing communities together through entertainment. As a young adult, she co-founded a traveling group of performers, providing entertainment and community services to seniors in residence facilities. She has since volunteered at children’s hospitals, schools, and shelters bringing music and light to those most vulnerable. Recently, she recorded music for Dick Wagner’s “Remember the Child”. When the pandemic hit, Hannah created “Jewel Focus” a virtual program leading individuals through the practice of meditation, cultivating fearlessness and providing basic communal support. She also teaches Master Classes for Broadway Connections, Broadway Plus, and ArtsBridge foundation among many other organizations. Hannah is thrilled to be embarking on this new adventure with Emma and Bringing You Broadway. “Lead by Example” is Hannah’s favorite quote.
Hannah is a lover of ALL people and the arts and has had a long-standing passion for bringing communities together through entertainment. As a young adult, she co-founded a traveling group of performers, providing entertainment and community services to seniors in residence facilities. She has since volunteered at children’s hospitals, schools, and shelters bringing music and light to those most vulnerable. Recently, she recorded music for Dick Wagner’s “Remember the Child”. When the pandemic hit, Hannah created “Jewel Focus” a virtual program leading individuals through the practice of meditation, cultivating fearlessness and providing basic communal support. She also teaches Master Classes for Broadway Connections, Broadway Plus, and ArtsBridge foundation among many other organizations. Hannah is thrilled to be embarking on this new adventure with Emma and Bringing You Broadway. “Lead by Example” is Hannah’s favorite quote.
Nikki Knupp
"Nikki (he/they) is a returning YATCO member/teacher originally from Whittier CA with a Cecchetti Ballet background turned musical theatre performer.
(Huge thanks to Jourdan Zelaya for reconnecting Nikki to the Covarrubias family!)
Since moving to NY a year and a half ago, he’s had the pleasure to work alongside some trans artist role models such as Sis Khalil, Shakina Nayfack, L Morgan Lee, Aneesh Sheth, Vico Ortiz, and Kit Yan (If you're unfamiliar with their works, he highly suggests a google search!).
Nikki’s more recent credits include the opening ceremony for Open Jar Studios with Joshua Henry, MISS STEP by Kit Yan and Melissa Li, S.T.A.R. Sex Education Theater for Social Change, Trans Voices Cabaret, and the virtual Broadway production of Our Offering.
Nikki is a part of Ring of Keys, The Commons LA, and ActNow’s Now>Ever acting courses with Rain Valdez. He's also currently working with RAD Records to create their first original album that will follow their journey transitioning on testosterone. When he finds the time to, he also really enjoys drawing, oil painting, goofy karaoke with friends, and exploring nature.
Feel free to keep up with his upcoming projects and performances via nikkiknupp.com or Instagram @thatpeppypal!"
(Huge thanks to Jourdan Zelaya for reconnecting Nikki to the Covarrubias family!)
Since moving to NY a year and a half ago, he’s had the pleasure to work alongside some trans artist role models such as Sis Khalil, Shakina Nayfack, L Morgan Lee, Aneesh Sheth, Vico Ortiz, and Kit Yan (If you're unfamiliar with their works, he highly suggests a google search!).
Nikki’s more recent credits include the opening ceremony for Open Jar Studios with Joshua Henry, MISS STEP by Kit Yan and Melissa Li, S.T.A.R. Sex Education Theater for Social Change, Trans Voices Cabaret, and the virtual Broadway production of Our Offering.
Nikki is a part of Ring of Keys, The Commons LA, and ActNow’s Now>Ever acting courses with Rain Valdez. He's also currently working with RAD Records to create their first original album that will follow their journey transitioning on testosterone. When he finds the time to, he also really enjoys drawing, oil painting, goofy karaoke with friends, and exploring nature.
Feel free to keep up with his upcoming projects and performances via nikkiknupp.com or Instagram @thatpeppypal!"
Jeanette Palmer
Leanne Smith
Leanne is a musical theatre performer in NYC. Regional credits include; Ragtime/Evelyn(Barrington Stage Company), Wonderettes/Suzy (Rep STL), Hairspray/Amber, Alice in Wonderland(Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Legally Blonde/Elle (ABT), Christmas on Ice/vocalist (Gateway playhouse), Rock Of Ages/Sherrie (Eagle Theatre) Cruieline: Rock Of Ages/Sherrie(Norwegian), Disney cruise line.
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