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 2014 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 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.
Susannah Crowell (Intro to Musical Theatre and Ballet 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.
Joel Ripka (Musical Director and Musical Theatre assistant)
JOEL RIPKA is a classically-trained pianist, music teacher, and equity actor, appearing in Off-Broadway and regional houses across the country for over 25 years. He’s created music education programming at a summer camp for at-risk New York City youth, held a guest teaching artist position at Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling, NY, and served as Music Director for 3 wonderful weeks at I Can Do That Summer Camp 2021. Joel is a Stuytown resident and teaches private piano lessons through his home studio, Heroes of Harmony, and throughout the Stuytown/PCV/East Village community.
Elias Husiak (Assistant Musical Theatre Teacher)
Eli Husiak is a singer and actor born and raised in Stuyvesant Town. He received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College and is a graduate of the Voice department at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts. He has performed/participated in operas, musicals, plays, choirs, a cappella groups, and Christmas caroling groups (in Stuy Town!). He has most recently performed at BAM Fisher (Brooklyn Academy of Music) with the Imbible theatre company at New World Stages, has performed in seven virtual productions since the Covid-19 Pandemic began, and was one of the professional actors featured in Stuy Town’s Halloween Haunted Playground. Currently, he is the Singing Instructor at No Limits Performing Arts Studio in Westchester. Being part of the family that owns and operates Ibiza Kidz, the local children’s store, Eli has been connected with children in the community his whole life. Eli believes that every child has the potential to be a great singer although “perfection” is never something on the to-do list. In these one-on-one voice lessons, Eli will focus on vocal technique, musical expression, personal expression, reading music/music theory, finding the love and fun of singing, and will always be working on music that your child ENJOYS. Whether your child wants to be the next Renée Fleming, John Legend or just wants to fine-tune their nightly shower performances, Eli will work hard to help your child get there. "
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 (Assistant Ballet and 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!
Erica Lynn Cenci - (Online Musical Theatre Juniors Teacher)
ERICA LYNN CENCI has taught Tap and Jazz for over 10 years and is especially proud of the summers she spent on faculty for the Summer Conservatory at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. She graduated with a B.A. in Theatre and English from Muhlenberg College, where she danced all four years in many productions and concerts even being selected in her senior year to perform her piece, "Tango X Three" at the American College Dance Association Northeast Regional Gala Concert in 2006. After college she completed training programs at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Manhattan School of Music. She has performed in many productions including 42nd Street, Fiddler on the Roof, and the national tours of CATS and A Chorus Line.
Jessica Sanford (Online Voice 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.