Jeffrey Schecter (Artistic Director/Musical Theatre Teacher)
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JEFFREY SCHECTER, better known in the theater community as “Shecky” has been a professional performer for more than 20 years. Jeff’s Broadway and National Tour credits include A Chorus Line, The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town, Beauty And The Beast, Guys And Dolls, West Side Story, Ragtime, and The Mambo Kings. He has appeared regionally at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey (On The Town), Reprise LA in Los Angeles (Babes In Arms) and City Center Encores in NY (Bells Are Ringing, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.)
Most people recognize Jeff from the documentary film, Every Little Step where he can be seen auditioning for the revival of A Chorus Line. Jeff ultimately won the role of “Mike,” (I Can Do That!) and went on to star in the revival for the entire run.
After the success of A Chorus Line, Jeff was in high demand as coach and teacher. He started teaching Broadway Master Dance Classes with a special focus on A Chorus Line.
Jeff has expanded his resume and taught all over the United States for dance studios, Schools and Organizations that include: STAGE DOOR CONNECTIONS in New York, AMERICAN THEATRE DANCE WORKSHOP on Long Island, THE BIZKIDZ in Los Angeles, HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION in California, various dance studios in Manhattan, PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL in New Jersey, and one on one instruction with a client as young as 14 and one as old as 60.
In 2015, Jeff and his wife, Melissa workshopped their first I CAN DO THAT NYC CLASS. The rest as they say is history.
Melissa Swender - Schecter (Owner/ Ballet and Musical Theatre Juniors teacher)
MELISSA SWENDER - SCHECTER began her performing career as a classically trained ballet dancer. She trained with the Houston Ballet and Ballet Met, among others. She made her Broadway debut in the 2004 revival of “Wonderful Town”. Other credits include many Broadway National/European tours: Meg in “Phantom of The Opera”, The Tango Dancer in ”Evita” and West Side Story. Other Theater credits include “Kiss Me Kate”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, “La Cage Aux Folles”, and “Chicago”. TV and film credits include “All My Children”, “As The World Turns”, ”Late Night with Conan O’Brian”, “Farm Girl in New York”, and The Sundance Award winning film, “Phoebe in Wonderland.” Since hanging up her dancing shoes Melissa has become the parent of 2, Helena and Mattias. She hopes to be able to pass on her great love of dance and theater to the next generation.
Shoshana Mozlin (Intro to Musical Theatre and Musical Theatre JR Teacher)
SHOSHANA MOZLIN is a professional contemporary modern dancer with Jennifer Muller/The Works and MODArts Dance Collective, based in New York City. She has danced for numerous companies in Los Angeles including Blue13Dance Company, California Contemporary Ballet, and Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, and has danced in music videos and commercials for The Strokes, Madden NFL, and Keyes on Van Nuys. Shoshana has been teaching dance for all ages in Los Angeles and NYC since 2013 and a teacher for ICDT NYC since 2018.
Susannah Crowell (Intro to Musical Theatre, Ballet and MT Juniors Teacher)
SUSANNAH CROWELL is a performing artist, writer, and entrepreneur based in NYC. Past work includes originating Jenny in Human Resources: the Musical, originating Creon in Christopher Anderson's Oedipus the Tyrant, originating Simran in Build Your Own Bollywood: DDLJ (Agni Arts), Annie (TexArts), Jungalbook (ZACH Theatre), Amazon Prime’s Good Omens live activation (SXSW), Hulu’s A Handmaid’s Tale live activations (SXSW & NYC), The Drowsy Chaperone (Texas Performing Arts), The Who’s Tommy (City Theatre Austin), and the Under the Shroud podcast. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from the University of Texas at Austin.
Susannah has a decade of professional experience as a teaching artist, director, and curriculum writer with KidsActing Studio, ZACH Theatre, Leap of Joy, and Love of China Dance Studio in Austin, Texas. Since relocating to New York in 2020, she has also created and taught innovative new classes with Tiny Broadway, Village Wholehearted Preschool, and independently. She is thrilled to be on the I Can Do That Team.
Jonathan Gellert (Improvisation Teacher)
JONATHAN GELLERT has been directing and teaching theater for more than 30 years with groups ranging from Kindergarten through graduate school. Mr. Gellert is currently teaching and directing at COOPER UNION COLLEGE , FOUR QUARTER THEATER COMPANY and LEHMAN HIGH SCHOOL in the Bronx where he teaches a full schedule of theater classes and also runs the after school production club. Jonathan has directed more than 100 full theater productions, most recently this past summer premiering a new Beatles musical called "Let it Be" and directing a production of "Nine" at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts.. He was a professional actor and director for 10 years before starting to teach full time with credits including the long-running Off-Broadway comedy "Grandma Sylvia's Funeral" and productions in the fringe festival. Mr. Gellert has an M.F.A from UCLA in Theater Directing, an M.A from Emerson College in Theater Educationand a B.F.A in Acting/Directing from Syracuse University. He is most proud of his three wonderful sons, all NYC students and Stuy Town residents - Asher who is 17 and a junior, Micah who is 14 and a freshman and Jesse who is 10 and in 5th grade.
Haley Nachlas (Hip Hop/Jazz Combo teacher)
HALLEY NACHLAS comes to I CAN DO THAT with years of dance and teaching experience. She has taught extensively in Maryland at the Studio of Ballet Arts, the Savage Dance Company and Company One Canvas. She recenly appeared in the musicals Beauty and the Beast, and High School Musical and is recent graduate of Pace University as a commercial dance major.
Christine De Frece (Musical Director)
CHRISTINE DE FRECE is so thrilled to be part of the I Can Do That NYC family! She has been teaching vocal technique for 19 years. Her students can be seen performing on Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tours, cruise ships, and in regional theaters across the United States, Canada and internationally. She is currently a voice specialist at New York Film Academy and former Chair of
Vocal performance at Circle in the Square Theatre School.
As a Musical Director, Christine has directed productions of Cabaret, Urinetown, The Music Man, Gypsy, Meet Me in St. Louis and A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum. Christine is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge (BMus Vocal Performance) and Circle in the Square Theatre (Professional Musical Theatre Workshop). As an actress, Christine has been seen in productions such as Titanic, It Shoulda Been You, Ragtime, Rumors (Carbonelle AwardWinner), A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The
Forum, The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Follies, And The World Goes ‘Round, Cinderella, and many more. Christine was a company member of the critically acclaimed An Evening With… concert series at Green Room 42 and can be heard on their album An Evening With… Volume 1. She can also be heard on the studio cast recording of the award winning Off-Broadway musical, Wanda’s
World. Christine is featured as Mrs. M on the soundtrack for the Danish musical M For Marriage and won ‘Best Vocalist’ in the 2019 Broadway World Cabaret Awards.
Adrian Ruz (Assistant Musical Theatre Teacher)
ADRIAN RUZ is super excited to be part of the I Can Do That Family!! Born in Venezuela and raised in Miami, Fl., Adrian Ruz is a NYC based Theater performer, director, and educator. He holds a BFA from The Boston Conservatory of Music where he studied Musical Theater with an emphasis in dance. Over the last decade, he has directed over 50 full length musicals with children of all ages at French Woods Festival for The Performing Arts, one of the top musical theater programs for kids and teens. When working with students his main focus is about maintaining their unique vibrancy and natural playfulness while helping them find simplicity and grounding their work. Adrian has performed regionally at The Huntington Theater Company in Mary Zimmerman’s production of Disney’s The Jungle Book, In The Heights at Speakeasy Stage Company, West Side story at New Bedford Festival Theater and Fiddlehead Theater Company. When not performing he is a huge advocate for the arts in schools.
Melissa Buriak (Musical Theatre and Tap Teacher/Admin assist.)
MELISSA BURIAK, more commonly known as "Mel B" at I Can Do That (too many Melissa's gets confusing) is excited to bring her energy into the ICDT classroom! After graduating with a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Oklahoma City University, Mel began performing at regional theatres across the country and soon made the move to NYC! Favorite regional credits include Anytime Annie in 42nd Street, Cheryl Finfer in Miracle on 34th Street, Phyllis in 42nd Street (with original choreography staged by Original Cast Member Amiee Turner), Rhoda in White Christmas, and Purity in Anything Goes. She performs and choreographs regularly with GPC in NYC and loves spending any spare time she has with the incredible students of ICDT NYC!
Kaitlin Nelson (Summer Musical Theatre Teacher)
KAITLIN NELSON has been with the ICDT family for a year and a half and loves every minute of it! Originally from Oklahoma City, Kaitlin has a degree in Dance and Arts Management from Oklahoma City University. She moved to NYC to pursue her dream of being a performer and has been seen Off-Broadway and in several regional musical theatre productions, including Singin’ in the Rain at The Muny in St. Louis where she first met Jeffrey! She can’t wait to see your kids shine!
John Reed - (Assistant Musical Theatre Teacher)
JOHN REED Born in Houston, Texas, John relocated to Melbourne, Australia in 2004 and
studied all facets of dance, singing and acting at the May Downs School of
Dancing under Renie Ann Martini and Centrestage Performing Arts School under
Ian and Leanne White. He went on to graduate from the Federation University
Arts Academy in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre. His Australian
theater credits include Funny Girl , Merrily We Roll Along , Jesus Christ Superstar (The Production Company), and ‘Action’/‘Riff understudy’ in West Side Story on Sydney Harbour Opera Australia). John has also been teaching since the age of 19 at many Australian dance studios, renowned college programs and full time performing arts courses, educating students in jazz, tap, musical theater dance and acting. They include Federation University Arts Academy, May Downs School of Dancing, Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, Transit Dance, Cheryl Witchell School of Dance, Theatre Blacks, ShowFit and Centrestage Performing Arts School. John now lives in New York City and
has had the opportunity to perform in Guys and Dolls (Plaza Theatricals) and
Something Rotten (FPAC) where he both served as Dance Captain.
Jessica Sanford (Summer Camp Teacher)
JESSICA SANFORD has been teaching and performing for over 10 years. She studied dance, gymnastics and singing from a very early age and began acting in her teens. Accepted to New World School of the Arts for her Bachelors in Musical Theater, she graduated in the top of her class with Summa Cum Laude. Her first professional show after college, Fear Up Harsh with Zoetic Stage in Miami, got Jessica her first nomination for a Carbonell Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Play. She moved to New York in 2016 where she continues to teach and pursue the stage.