Teaching Artists

Education Department Teaching Artists

Thom Beaulieu - Lighting and Sound Designer
Thom is a very pleased to be joining the artistic talent at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse. A native of Maine, Thom spent 17 years working in professional theater in Georgia as a carpenter, welder, production manager, director, and lighting designer. Design credits include Big River, Shenandoah, Floyd Collins, A Chorus Line, Singin’ in the Rain, and Sweet Charity. Thom moved to New Hampshire in 2012 to teach physics at New Hampton School. Since then he has designed The 39 Steps at Jean’s Playhouse in Lincoln, and several productions for the theatre department at New Hampton School. Thom holds a BFA in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, and a MS in Physics from Georgia State University.

Lester Brent - Sound and Scenic Designer
Lester has had an on-again off-again relationship with theatre since the mid ‘90s. He studied scenic design at North Carolina School of the Arts. He worked at the North Country Center for the Arts as a children's theatre scenic designer, main stage sound designer, scenic painter, and carpenter over the course of 5 summers. He founded and designed shows for the Good Medicine Theatre Company which had a show named as one of Vegas's best in 2008 by Las Vegas Weekly. After moving to the upper peninsula of Michigan, he was the interim production manager for the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts where he worked on productions such as An Evening with Maya Angelou, Spamalot, and the Russian National Ballet. While in Michigan he devoted two weeks every summer to work with PJ Olsson's Rock Camp as a technical director and projection designer. In 2014 he and his family moved to New Hampshire where he became a patron of the Winnipesauke Playhouse. He'd like to thank his wife for her love and persistence of the arts.

Meredith C. Brown - Lighting/Scenic Designer, Camp Teacher, Director
Meredith earned her BA in Theatre from Roger Williams University, she also holds M.Ed. in Social Studies from Plymouth State. She is currently the Technical Director and designer at New Hampton School. Past design credits include Out of Order, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The 39 Steps, Rumors, and Beauty and the Beast.

Elisabeth Coleman - Camp Teacher
A newcomer to living in New Hampshire, Lis is very excited to be a part of Winnipesaukee Playhouse this summer. Lis earned her B.A. in Theater and Psychology from Wheaton College. She holds an M.A. in Theater Education from Emerson College. She is currently working towards another degree in special education and credits her theater background for guiding her to find a new academic and professional passion. Lis works at Inter-Lakes Elementary School in Meredith and is very excited to be able to continue working with students throughout the summer months in a fun and new endeavor.

Judy Hayward - Music Director
Ms. Hayward holds a BFA in Piano Performance from Louisiana Tech University and a Master's degree from the University of Oregon in Arts Administration. With over 200 shows to her credit, she has music directed for numerous theaters, both professional and community, from coast to coast. In addition to music directing, Judy was an accompanist for the award winning Alaska Children's Choir, taught music theory at the Pacific Conservatory for Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA, worked at the Variety Center for Performing Arts in L.A., and was the Artistic Director for the Pismo Light Opera Theater in Pismo Beach, CA. Since moving to the Northeast, Judy was resident MD for Peacock Players for more than six years, and has also music directed for Actorsingers, The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Stoneham Theatre, and StageCoach Productions. Along with Timothy L'Ecuyer and Michele Henderson, she is one of the founders of StageCoach Productions. Judy has been the recipient of the New Hampshire Theater Award for Best Music Director numerous times, including The Winnipesaukee Playhouse’s production of The Fantasticks! in 2013.

Teghan Kelly - Camp Teacher
Teghan has worked at camp for the past four summers and is very excited to come back this summer! Having grown up in Meredith, Teghan has partaken in a variety of Winnipesaukee Playhouse shows. You may recognize her from the teen productions of Alice in Wonderland (Alice), A Very Broadway Christmas (Auntie Mame), and Little Shop of Horrors (Mrs. Luce/Ensemble). She was also in the adult community production of Big River, where she played Jo Harper and Joanna Wilkes. She is very excited to make new memories and embark on new adventures as a part of the Winnipesaukee Playhouse team!

Timothy L'Ecuyer - Education Director
Timothy has BAs in theatre and English from Keene State College as well as an MA in theatre education from Emerson College. He holds New Hampshire state teacher certifications in both English and theatre and has taught at Merrimack High School, Windham High School and Alvirne High School. He is the president of the New Hampshire Educational Theatre Guild, an Equity stage manager, and an adjunct faculty member at Keene State College and Plymouth State University. Directing at the Playhouse: The 39 Steps, Red, Grace and Glorie, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Professional Company and Joseph and the ATD, Treasure Island, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Romeo and Juliet, Carrie the Musical, and Godspell with the Education Department. Directing elsewhere: Pippin, Urinetown, Electra, Fahrenheit 451, The Rocky Horror Show, The Laramie Project, Spring Awakening (the play and the musical), Just in Case it’s the Devil, Children of Eden, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jane Eyre, The Dining Room, I Am My Own Wife, Proof, and the New Hampshire premiere of Altar Boyz. He has worked with many New Hampshire and Boston area theatres including American Stage Festival, The Barnstormers, theatre KAPOW, Peacock Players, StageCoach Productions, Stoneham Theatre, the Nora Theatre Company, and Underground Railway Theater.

René Martinez - Camp Teacher
René has been teaching dance since 2000. This past school year, Martinez served as the Dance Department Coordinator and dance instructor at the Granite State Arts Academy in Derry, NH. Most of her experience has been in designing and implementing curriculum as the Director of Dance at New Hampton School (NH) where she taught dance for eight years. Additionally, Martinez has taught at various institutions such as Plymouth State University (NH), Perkiomen School (PA), French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts (NY), Muhlenberg College Dance Center for Children and Teens (PA), and at several private dance studios. In addition to teaching and choreographing, Martinez serves on the leadership team for the newly reinstated New Hampshire Dance Alliance. Martinez has her B.A. in Dance and Business Administration from Muhlenberg College and M.Ed. in Integrated Arts with a focus in Dance from Plymouth State University. Martinez has spent seven summers touring the U.S. with Dance Olympus/Dance America as VIP Coordinator. She is excited to be joining the Winnipesaukee Playhouse Summer Program this season.

Lori McGinley - Costume Designer
Lori has many years of costume design and construction experience. She has worked in various theaters throughout Connecticut including Hartford Stage, Goodspeed Musicals and Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater. She served as Costume Shop Manager at Wesleyan University before relocating. A regular costume designer for the community, education, and professional divisions of the Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Lori has been honored by the New Hampshire Theatre Awards for her work on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Waltz. For the past two winters she was the costume designer for Jean’s Playhouse’s tour of A Christmas Carol.

Lesley Pankhurst - Costume Designer
One of the founders of The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, Lesley is a graduate of Wellesley College with a MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy from Goldsmiths College, University of London. In addition to marketing for the Playhouse, she has also designed costumes for many professional and community theatre productions. She has twice been the recipient of the NH Theatre Award for Best Costume Design for Two Rooms (2007) and The Glass Menagerie (2008). She is the proud mom to her daughter, Sophie, and her crazy cat, Sasha.

Amanda Pawlik - Director
Amanda is delighted to join the teaching faculty at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse this fall and to return to her home state of New Hampshire after teaching and directing in Hartford, CT for the past three years. She has traveled the country as a touring actor with Hampstead Stage Company, performing everywhere from rural Montana to New York City. Her recent directing credits include The Mythology Project (Windsor Art Center), Stay Sharp (O’Neill Theater Center), Six Characters in Search of an Author (University of Hartford), and A Flea in Her Ear (University of Hartford). This fall she will return to Hampstead to direct their national tour of A Christmas Carol. Amanda is a passionate educator of all ages and has taught with Playhouse on Park, the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, the Long Wharf Theatre’s Educators’ Laboratory, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Majestic Theatre, Arts in Reach, and served as a guest artist at the University of Hartford where she recently directed Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia for which her students were awarded a certificate of merit for Outstanding Ensemble (KCACTF Region 1). She is a proud member of DirectorsLabChicago and an alumna of the O’Neill National Theater Institute.

Aimee Piccolo - Camp Teacher
Aimee is a graduate of Plymouth State University with a bachelor's of science degree in art education, an art history minor and fine arts concentrations in both painting and ceramics. She is employed by the Currier Museum of Art as the Department of Interpretation and Audience Engagement Assistant where she helps facilitate school tours and programs. Aimee has been active in the Bedford School District; working as a substitute art teacher at both the elementary and high school level. Aimee is certified by the State of New Hampshire, Art Education K-12, and will begin teaching elementary art at Jacques Memorial Elementary School in Milford in the fall. She has served on the Board of Directors for Merrimack PTA Kindergarten & Preschool from 2007-2014, and continues to volunteer her time taking school portraits to raise money for the school. Aimee also works as a volunteer in the Reeds Ferry Elementary School art room and serves as Co-Volunteer Coordinator for the RFS Parent-Faculty Association Executive Board.

Patte Sarausky - Camp Teacher
Patte became involved in theater in sixth grade when she was cast as Gretel in the show Hansel and Gretel. At the Playhouse she has been seen in Our Town, Momologues, Father of the Bride, and The Odd Couple (Female Version). She has also directed one of the teen plays for the Teen Playwriting project. She has taught for 36 years in schools throughout the Lakes Region and earned her Masters Degree from Lesley College in Creativity in Curriculum. Theater continues to be an important extension to her school days as she has been the director of the drama program for Belmont Elementary School for 20 years and has been a choreographer for the past 7 years at Belmont High School. Patte has been Drama Director for the Camp 1 for several years. Being back at the Playhouse camps will definitely be a highlight on her summer.

Erin Lovett Sherman - Choreographer
Director of Youth Programming and Outreach Coordinator at New England Center for Circus Arts and Artistic Director of ARTSFEST, Erin Lovett Sherman is a dancer, aerialist, performing artist, choreographer, educator, and director. She holds a BFA in Dance from The University of the Arts, and has danced and choreographed for many companies including Group Motion Multi Media Dance Theatre in Philadelphia. Erin created ARTSFEST in 1999 which is based in the Lakes Region of NH. ARTSFEST offers international and domestic performing arts education programs; choreography, direction and artist-in-residencies for schools as well as a professional
touring company. She also served as Artistic Director for Kingswood Children’s Summer Theatre in NH for 7 years. Erin has choreographed and/or directed over 40 musicals including Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical, Camp Rock, The Music Man, Grease, Barnum, The Little Mermaid and The Mystery of Edwin Drood as well as original
productions. Erin has performed, taught and directed all over the world including India, Quebec, Russia, Lithuania and throughout the U.S. Erin has directed and taught custom programs for public and private schools systems and non-profits and is passionate about sharing her love for circus and performing arts with students of all ages and abilities.

Chris Slater - Stage Manager
Chris is thrilled to continue to be a part of the Winnipesauke Playhouse team. Playhouse credits include Assistant Director/Stage Manager for Inherit the Wind and Stage Manager for Stuart Little and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Chris is also currently serving as the Secretary of the Winni Player’s Community Theatre Committee. Chris’ credits also include working in various roles for the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, Academy and ArtsCenter in Brooklyn, NY, as well as serving as Company Manager for US Performing Arts programs in New York City and Washington, DC. New Hampshire credits include Drama Teacher for Lin-Wood Public Schools and Teaching Lecturer for Plymouth State University, teaching a class on the importance of the arts and creativity. He has also served as Stage Manager and Director at Jean’s Playhouse, Stage Manager and Company Manager for the Moss Hart award-winning Educational Theatre Collaborative and Stage Manager for the Emmy award-winning TIGER Educational Theatre companies. Chris originally hails from Connecticut where he obtained his BFA in Technical Theatre from Central Connecticut State University, but has found his home in New Hampshire for the past ten years.

Andrew Stuart - Scenic Designer and Technical Director
Andrew’s Playhouse design credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (with Neil Pankhurst), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as well as the Education Department’s Treasure Island. A set designer, production manager, TD and charge artist, Andrew has had the great fortune of working with companies such as The Huntington Theatre, Speakeasy Stage Co. of Boston, The Lyric Stage, The Boston Conservatory, The New England Conservatory, Opera Boston, The Boston Early Music Festival, The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co., New Century Theatre, Old Deerfield Productions, Chester Theatre, The Luna Stage, Untitled Theatre Co. #61, and The Chocolate Factory NYC. He has also taught technical theatre at The Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School in Waltham MA, was the adjunct Stagecraft and Scenic Design professor at Holyoke Community College, where he also received The Lani Morrison Mckenna Award recognizing his theatrical contributions in Western MA. Under Robert Lawson’s Artistic Direction, Andrew served as the Technical Director/Production Manager for Andy’s Summer Playhouse from 1998-2007 and helped bolster their apprentice program. Andrew received his BA in Technical Theatre and Design from Franklin Pierce University and was the Kennedy Center 1999 National Winner Best Set Design: Barbizon Award for Theatrical Design Excellence in Scenic Design awarded by Marjorie Bradley Kellogg and Robert Perdziola. http://atstuart.wix.com/designer

Lisa Travis - Choreographer
Lisa serves on the faculty of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Plymouth State University, and is the former Director of Dance at New Hampton School. Lisa has performed with modern dance companies in California, Rhode Island and with Emmy Award winner Billbob Brown’s Chaos Theory Dance. She is founder and artistic director of Terminal Hip Dance Theatre, a collaborative performance group whose choreography has been featured with the Manchester Choral Society and the NH Master Chorale. Her choreography has been seen in musicals for public and private high schools in NH, PSU Theater, North Country Center for the Arts Papermill Theatre, and as guest choreographer for the Vietnamese National Opera and Ballet. She was the choreographer for the Emmy Award winning TIGER pilot on NHPTV and for Transitions, an original musical by Dr. Trish Lindberg. Lisa received the honor of Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award from PSU in 2011.