The PREMIER TRAINING PROGRAM for aspiring performers!
Artistic Director- Tiffany Haas
Tiffany Haas is a Broadway performer, concert vocalist, passionate entrepreneur, and author. Throughout the years her evolving career has spanned Broadway, Symphony concerts, regional theaters, pageants, and sharing her many talents with others through teaching.
A Virginia native, Tiffany moved to Ohio to study at the Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Opera and Musical Theater. It was during this time that Tiffany won the title of Miss Ohio, and went on to compete in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Determined to pursue her passion for musical theater, Tiffany soon landed the role-of-a-lifetime as “Glinda” in the Broadway and National Tour production of Wicked. In addition to her impressive 10-year career on Broadway, she also toured as the dance captain for the Tony Award-winning Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. Tiffany performs regularly with symphony orchestras and regional theaters all over the country. Tiffany's book "WAITING IN THE WINGS: How To Launch Your Performing Career On Broadway and Beyond" is available on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.
Music Director- Adam Souza
Adam Souza is currently the musical director for Goodspeed Musicals. Before this, he conducted the Broadway company and the National Tour of WICKED and was the musical director on the National Tour of Kinky Boots.
Adam began his career at age 17 as the music intern at Goodspeed Musicals. Adam attended the
Boston Conservatory, majoring in Musical Theatre with a concentration in acting and conducting. He
spent his summers training at Goodspeed, both as a performer and Associate Musical Director. After
4 seasons and over 15 shows with Goodspeed Adam began touring with the Broadway National Tour of Les Misérables for nearly two years. Continuing his touring career, Adam began work as Associate Conductor for the National Tour of Monty Python’s Spamalot, later taking over as Music Director/Conductor. Adam conducted the Broadway production of Wicked, then began his third tour, acting as Music Director/Conductor for the National Tour of Wicked. He has also set the Brazilian production of Wicked!
Associate Music Director- Sonny Willis
Sonny Willis is a musical director and conductor from Greensboro, North Carolina. He has over 20 years of experience training young people in vocal music and musical theatre. He was the conductor for the Young People’s Chorus of New York City for 6 years, where he trained students ages 8-18. As a private vocal coach, his students have performed Off-Broadway and for National Broadway Tours. Sonny has conducted performances in NYC concert halls, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and many of his students have competed in choral performances internationally. He is currently the Musical Director and Choral Conductor for Greensboro Day School, an independent Prek-12 school in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is thrilled to be back for his 12th year at Destination Broadway as a Vocal Coach and Music Associate.
Choreographer- Parker Esse
After performing on Broadway, in national tours, and regionally, Parker Esse followed his passion to the other side of the creative table as director/choreographer. He is a multiple Helen Hayes and CT Critics Circle nominee, and the 2010 Helen Hayes Winner for Best Choreography for Arena Stage’s Oklahoma!
Mr. Esse has served as director/choreographer for Crazy for You and West Side Story at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, and choreographer for Sondheim and Marsalis’ A Bed and a Chair: A New York Love Affair directed by John Doyle at New York City Center Encores! and Jazz at Lincoln Center; Rags, A Wonderful Life, Fiddler on the Roof, The Most Happy Fella, and Carousel at Goodspeed Opera House; The Pajama Game, Carousel, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, Smokey Joe's Café, The Music Man, and The Light in the Piazza at Arena Stage; West Side Story at Signature Theatre; Little Shop Of Horrors and Bells Are Ringing at Berkshire Musical Theatre Festival; Me and My Girl, Sweet Charity and Guys and Dolls at Canada’s Shaw Festival.
He served as associate choreographer for Broadway’s Finian’s Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities; five New York City Center Encores! productions; Off-Broadway’s Rated P for Parenthood; Pre-Broadway/National Tours of Hazel The Musical, Bull Durham, Follies, Lucky Guy, Dancing in the Dark, 101 Dalmatians - The Musical, and Mame.
Additional Broadway Faculty
Performers/ Casting Directors
Donna Vivino is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She most recently played Grizabella in the National Tour of Cats The Musical. Donna performed as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, previously seen starring in the role on the 1st National Tour. As a child actress, she was the original Young Cosette in Les Miserables on Broadway and on the cast recording. She starred on Broadway in "Fame Becomes
Me" with Martin Short and was also on Broadway in "Hairspray" and "Saturday Night Fever." She plays Serena Maxwell in the BroadwayWorld web series "Submissions Only." In addition to performing, Donna loves to teach acting classes.
Clifton Samuels appeared on Broadway in the multi Tony/Grammy-nominated Revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies (w/Bernadette Peters) and most recently in the original Broadway company of Amazing Grace at the Nederlander Theatre. Broadway Tours: A Chorus Line, Urban Cowboy-The Musical. As a principal singer Clifton has performed with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular & Omaha Symphony. Film: Upcoming- What is Life Worth (opposite Michael Keaton), Coen Bros., Hail, Caesar! (opposite Channing Tatum), Annie (2014), The Unborn, I Fell in Love with the World & Giving Birth to a Butterfly. TV: NBC's "The Blacklist", TV Land's "Younger", HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" (recurring), "Alphabet Boys" (guest star) & “One Degree Of Ms. D”.
Erin Wilson Originally from Southern California, Erin Wilson is a TV/Film and Broadway actor. She has performed on Broadway numerous times and been seen on the Hallmark Channel, Netflix, TNT and more. Erin studied Musical Theater at Brigham Young University and in 2003 she moved to NYC. Erin originated the role of Shen Shen and understudied Madame Morrible in the North American tour of Wicked. To date, she has played Madame Morrible, the Midwife and Shen Shen in the record-breaking show, Wicked, in all three North American companies: 1st National, 2nd National and Broadway.
Favorite roles include Sister Mary-Martin-of-Tours in the national tour of Sister Act, The Witch in Into the Woods, Cha Cha in Grease, Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun to name a few. TV/Film: Public Morals (TNT), directed by Edward Burns, Tales of the City (Netflix), Holiday for Heroes (Hallmark Channel).
Alicia Albright is the Swing in Frozen on Broadway. She previously was in the Broadway Company of Wicked as the Dance Captain/Swing and Nessarose understudy. Some of her other credits are Wicked Chicago Company and 2nd National Tour (DC/Swing), All Shook Up Tour (Asst. DC/Swing), Euro Tour Jesus Christ Superstar (DC), National Tour Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Milly), Hawaiian Tour A Chorus Line (Cassie/Swing), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Featured Dancer). She has also been a dancer in many regional productions and Benefits including the Kennedy Center 35th Anniversary Celebration, and The Public Sings celebrating the Public Theatre. She was also a dancer in Donald Mckayles modern company the UC Irvine Etude Ensemble. She holds a BFA in Dance/Drama and Honors in Musical Theatre from UC Irvine.
Kristen Gorski-Wergles At the age of 8, she was accepted into the School of American Ballet where she trained for 8 years and performed with the NYCB in many productions. She competed at a national level at Dance World Academy in New Jersey from the age of 10 through High School. Kristen continued her education at Syracuse University as a Musical Theater major and while still attending college she began her 16 year career on Broadway when she was cast in the original company of FOOTLOOSE. It was during this time that she started assisting and working under Ray Leeper on off-broadway shows, music videos and film workshops, as well as, master classes around the country. Kristen recently completed a 10 year run as an Original Cast Member of WICKED the Musical where she had the opportunity to be Dance Captain, play the role of the Witch's Mother, and was Associate Choreographer to Wayne Cilento for the 1st National Tour which is still on the road. Through this time she has performed on The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Tony Awards.
Thayne Jasperson (Actor/Dancer) can currently be seen in Broadway’s Hamilton (Ensemble, u/s King George, u/s John Laurens/Philip Hamilton). Other Broadway credits include Matilda and Newsies. National Tours: West Side Story and Oz (Scarecrow). Regional: Finding Neverland (ART, original Porthos). Film: High School Musical and HSM 2. TV: MTV’s American Mall, So You Think You Can Dance Season Four, and Smash.
Christ Altomare most recently starred as Anya in Broadway’s Anastasia (2017 Theatre World Award, 2017 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical nominee). Other Broadway credits include Mamma Mia (Sophie). National Tour credits include Spring Awakening (Wendla). Off- Broadway credits include Carrie the Musical (Sue Snell). Regional credits include Camelot (Guenevere), Daddy Long Legs (Jerusha Abbott), and Bye Bye Birdie (Kim). TV/Film credits include The Big C, Take Me to the River, Badges, and Central Park Joker. christyaltomare.com
Nora Brennan is a top casting director in New York City. Nora is well-known for working as the children’s casting director for Matilda the Musical on Broadway, and she also won the ARTIOS Award for Best Casting of a Musical for Matilda. She has also cast the Broadway and North American tours of Billy Elliot (ARTIOS Award). In addition, Nora is the Resident Casting Director for Transport Group and has cast many of their world premiere musicals including: Michael John LaChiusa’s world premiere of Queen of the Mist and his revival of Hello Again, The Audience, All the Way Home, Crossing Brooklyn and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, among others. Other featured projects include: the world premiere of And Away We Go by Terrence McNally, the TWiN film – BAGMAN, the revival of West Side Story at La Scala Opera House with international tours, and a series of commercials for acclaimed director Errol Morris for MoveOn.org. Visit her website here.
Michael Cassara is the current casting director for the New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF) and National Alliance of Musical Theater. Michael Cassara has cast many off-Broadway, regional theater, and touring shows including Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking! (off-Broadway and cast recording), Forbidden Broadway: Comes Out Swinging! (off-Broadway/cast recording), Fat Camp (off-Broadway), Heat Wave: The Jack Cole Project (directed by Chet Walker), Kingdom (The Old Globe, directed by Ron Daniels), Falling For Eve (book by Joe DiPietro, York Theatre Company), A Little Night Music, Cheer Wars (winner, 2009 Richard Rodgers Award, directed by Dan Knechtges), The Molly Maguires (directed by Sheryl Kaller, Music Director John McDaniel), Stephen Schwartz’s Captain Louie (National Tour), If This Hat Could Talk (National Tour, directed by Tony® Award-winner George Faison), The Gig (York Theatre Concert/Cast Recording on JAY Records, directed by Victoria Bussert), Barnstormer (by Douglas J. Cohen and Cheryl L. Davis, directed by Jerry Dixon), The Unauthorized Autobiography Of Samantha Brown (Makor, with Michael Arden and Celia Keenan-Bolger), Joy (off-Broadway and workshops). Film credits include Grantham & Rose (directed by Tony® Award-nominee Kristin Hanggi), Contest, and Clear Blue Tuesday (directed by Elizabeth Lucas). Learn more about Michael by visiting: here. michaelcassara.net
Danielle Prestsfelder (Casting Director) is currently working as a casting director for Nickelodeon. At Nickelodeon, she’s worked on projects such as Bubble Guppies, Dora the Explorer, Welcome to the Wayne and Wallykazam!, Shimmer and Shine, Blaze and the Monster Machines, The Myth of Robo Wonder Kid. Upcoming projects include Nella the Princess Knight and Blues Clues & You. She holds a BA from New York University.
Michael McCorry Rose has been seen in the Tony Award winning musical A Gentleman’s Guide To Love and Murder and has starred as “Fiyero” in the smash hit musical Wicked. Most recently he appeared as “Tsar Nicholas II” in the new musical Anastasia.
He regularly appears in concert with his partner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame), their most recent concert was filmed for PBS’s Great American Songbook Concert Series at NJPAC, aired in the summer of 2016 and was nominated for a 2017 Regional Emmy Award. Michael has performed with symphonies and concert orchestras across the United States, most recently starring in a symphonic concert of Chess with the Temecula Valley Symphony in California. Internationally, Michael has performed in concert at the Adelaide Music Festival in Australia, for the U.S. State Department in Nairobi, Kenya and in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Along with Karl Scully and David O’Leary, Michael is part of the group TRÍ: The New Irish Tenors. Originally from San Diego, he holds a B.A. in Mass Communication Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he appeared in Carol Burnett’s directorial debut of Once Upon A Mattress.
Jessie Hooker Bailey made her Broadway debut in 2017 in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” as a swing, where she covered four roles. She then moved to the Broadway company of Waitress The Musical where she understudies the role of Dawn.
Heather Parcells was most recently seen on Broadway in Tuck Everlasting. Other Broadway credits include: A Chorus Line (Judy, original revival cast), Finding Neverland, Wonderland, Soul Doctor, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. National Tours: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Miss Dorothy), Some Like it Hot (Sweet Sue u/s), Chicago (Velma). Off-Broadway/NYC credits include: Piece of My Heart (Jesse Understudy), Meet Me in St. Louis (Esther), Mademoiselle Modiste (Fifi), Jungle Queen Debutante, Blood and Fire, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. TV credits include: Guiding Light and ABC Primetime’s The Human Chain. She has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars with Mario Lopez, and opened the 2007 Tony® Awards with A Chorus Line. Heather is a graduate of Florida State University and regularly teaches dance and audition master classes all over the country for dance studios, colleges, conventions, and tour groups. HeatherParcells.com
Clyde Alves is a Canadian dancer, actor and singer. Alves appeared on Broadway in The Music Man in the Susan Stroman revival (2000) as Tommy Djilas, winning the Fred Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer. He repeated his role in the ABC television special of The Music Man which aired in 2003. He has also appeared on Broadway in Wicked, Hairspray, Oklahoma! as Jess (2002) and as Mike in the 2008-09 tour of A Chorus Line. Alves also appeared in the Off-Broadway musical Boobs! The Musical and Altar Boyz as Juan. Alves was in the Tony winning revival of Anything Goes with Sutton Foster and Joel Grey. He most recently starred in the 2014 Broadway revival of On The Town.