Instructors

Facetime Theatre instructors are experienced performers and teachers who are dedicated to providing excellent instruction in a fun, creative environment. Our instructors build close, meaningful relationships with their students. Being involved in a program at Facetime Theatre means becoming part of a supportive, caring performing-arts community.

Taylor Barker

Taylor graduated from Cabrini University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with Special Education. She was born & raised in Phoenixville and has always had a love for the arts, which led her to be involved in music & dance since she was a little girl. She participated in choir, various vocal ensemble, plays piano and guitar, and has performed in numerous local venues & competitions. Taylor starting dancing at Harrison’s Dance Studio in West Chester at the age of three, and eventually moved to On Edge Movement where she danced competitively, both regionally and nationally. Taylor also performed in many televised holiday productions and parades, such as the 6Abc Thanksgiving Day Parade, QVC West Chester Christmas Parade, and Philly’s Party on the Parkway. Taylor went on to be the dance captain of the Cabrini Dance Team for 3 years, where she developed many leadership skills, choreographed, and performed on and off campus. Her team performed during many halftimes for the 76ers, Phillies games, and Miss Philadelphia Pageants, just to name a few. Taylor has worked with a variety of early childhood ages and has over six years teaching experience. She is now a first grade teacher at PAELC. She is excited to be teaching for Facetime Theatre!

Doug Brouder

Doug Brouder’s stage career began when he was drafted to dance in a summer production of Music Man only two weeks before opening night. Numerous roles in musicals followed. A Connecticut native and alumnus of Gettysburg College, Doug has been a performing songwriter for decades and has played music (guitar, bass, mandolin, percussion) ranging from folk and blues to bluegrass to Celtic and classic rock, and has presented seminars on creativity and songwriting to beginning through advanced writers. He lives in Phoenixville with his wife Julie, a talented pianist, where his full-length play in verse, Beatrice: A Divine Comedy is in development, and is currently at work on his fourth book of fiction. 

Lindsay Burgess

Lindsay has a bachelor’s degree in Early Education from West Chester University. She has always had a love for music and developed an interest in theater during high school. She has since sung in a college acapella group and a local community choir. Lindsay has worked with children of various ages and in many settings including summer camps, a daycare, as a nanny, and most recently being home full time with her own.  She is thrilled to teach for Facetime Theatre and share her love of performance with young people. Lindsay resides in the Kimberton area with her husband Tim and their three daughters Charlie, Penny, and Josie.

Laura Burhans

Playing the piano has been and always will be Laura’s greatest joy. She is a classically trained pianist who began lessons at the age of 4 and began teaching piano in 1980. Since that time she has steadily expanded her interests from classical music to include rock, pop, jazz, and broadway. In addition to playing piano, Laura also plays the flute and harp. Laura has performed with various jazz bands, orchestras, chamber music groups, and choirs. She has played for the Philadelphia Sinfonia Youth Orchestra at the Kimmel Center, and accompanied a student at Carnegie Hall. Over the past 40 years she has had the privilege of serving as the music director for 100+musical productions at different theaters in the greater Philadelphia area. It is through these connections that she met the talented staff at Facetime Theatre. A graduate of West Chester University, Laura earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. When she’s not in front of a piano keyboard she’s often in front of a computer keyboard, doing database consulting work. Fun Fact: Laura can trace her music pedagogy back to Beethoven through 8 generations of piano teachers.

Alicia Culleton

Originally from Nashua, New Hampshire, Alicia began teaching private voice lessons at Facetime in 2018. Alicia moved to Chester County to attend Immaculata University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education with a concentration in vocal performance. After graduating, Alicia taught preschool acting classes in West Chester for three years while working as a music teacher in the West Chester Area School District. During the day, Alicia teaches elementary school music at Collegium Charter School in Exton. When Alicia isn’t teaching she can be found on-stage, as she enjoys performing in local theatre productions throughout the area, including playing Cinderella in Facetime Theatre’s 2018 production of Into the Woods. She currently resides in Phoenixville.

Angela DeMott

Angela graduated summa cum laude from Southern Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in English and Liberal Arts and a master’s degree in Publishing and Editing from Rosemont College. During her time in school, Angela was principal chair for her university’s flute choir, sang in the auditioned Chamber Singers and Bella Voce choirs, and studied theatre in the classroom. For the past eight years, Angela has built her career as a digital marketing manager while also pursuing her musical interests in her spare time. Angela has held ensemble and lead roles in school and local theater productions, teaches primary and youth Sunday school classes, and currently sings with the Philly POPs Festival Chorus. Angela currently resides in Wayne.

Ben Doersom

Originally from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, Ben Doersom is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who currently provides lessons in saxophone, drum set, guitar, bass guitar, jazz piano, music theory and composition. Ben graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Chester University in December 2016 with a BA in jazz performance and a BS in business management. Ben’s perspective on music is unique in that it encompasses many different styles and influences. Whether playing cha-cha bass lines, ethereal electronic music, rock drum patterns, swing piano accompaniment, funk saxophone improvisation or multi-meter tapping on guitar – Ben’s musicianship has led him to uncover the secrets of learning music quickly, while emphasizing creativity and joy. Throughout Ben’s 15 year career playing music, he has had the honor of performing alongside Chris Vadala, Delfeayo Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Chris Washburn, Bobby Shew, John Swana, and Michael Philip Mossman among others. He has studied with Greg Riley, John Swana, Peter Paulsen, Curt Sipe, and Teresa Klinefelter and has been featured in multiple professional recordings. Check out Ben’s website at BenDoersomMusic.com.

Carmon Duran

Carmon lives in Phoenixville and is a graduate of WCU, with a BS in music education. He plays saxophone, flute, and clarinet, most recently in the pit orchestra for Forge Theatre’s production of The Addams Family, and is looking forward to Man of La Mancha in June. He was enlisted in the USAF as a saxophonist as a member of The Maxwellaires, Glen Miller’s military band at Maxwell AFB in Alabama Elsewhere. Carmon has played with Lou Rawls and Toni Tennille (of the Captain and Tennille), and toured with a top 40 band. Back in the day, he played dinner shows at the Ramada Inn in Downingtown. Headliners included: Allen and Rossi, Al Martino, Bobby Rydell and Frank Gorshen. Carmon previously served as the junior high band director in the Daniel Boone school district, and as a long term sub for the high school band director at Twin Valley High School.

Amy Ellis

Amy has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Elizabethtown College, and a master’s degree in Special Education from St. Joseph’s University. She works as a special education teacher at Philadelphia Performing Arts: String Theory Charter School in Center City. At Facetime she teaches voice and piano lessons, while also directing the Summer Stage Kids productions of Winnie the Pooh and Aristocats, as well as the upcoming production of Lion King, Jr. She has been working in children’s theater for years; as a music director, orchestra pit conductor and musician, choreographer, and vocal coach. Amy frequently performs in local community theater productions, and sings with the Philly POPs Festival Chorus. She currently resides in Royersford with her husband.

Kelsey Hodgkiss

Kelsey Hodgkiss graduated from Arcadia University with a BA in Theatre Arts and a minor in Mathematics. While at school, she worked as an assistant teaching artist at People’s Light and Theatre and interned at Facetime Summer Stage. Since graduating, Kelsey has worked as an actor throughout the Philadelphia area at theatres including Media Theatre, Montgomery Theatre, Candlelight Theatre, Limelight, and Broadway Theatre of Pitman. She has also continued to teach, direct, and choreograph with Facetime during their Summer Stage programs and the fall middle school shows, most recently directing Jungle Book Kids and choreographing Beauty and the Beast Jr. She is currently based in Philadelphia but grew up in Phoenixville and still considers the town as home.

Katie McGrier

Katie graduated from Immaculata University with a BA in applied music and has since studied music, acting and dance/movement at various locations in Philadelphia, including the Walnut Street Theatre and with the Broadway Dreams Foundation, where she had the opportunity to work with various Broadway artists in the classroom and on stage. Her work with youth has spanned from teaching theater and instrumental music in a high school classroom, as well as directing and choreographing children’s theater camps in the Philadelphia area for the past 12 years.  Katie is also a performer in Philadelphia, working in such theatres as the Walnut Street Theatre, The Eagle Theatre, Centre Theatre and American Family Theatre, touring the U.S. with their original production of Beauty and the Beast, and has had the opportunity to perform in some of New York City’s finest venues including B.B. Kings, Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre and The Duplex.  Katie is the Artistic Director for Facetime, instructs our studio and after school classes, teaches private voice and acting lessons, and co-directs/choreographs Summer Stage Session II.  She is also a power yoga and kids yoga teacher, currently residing in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania with her husband, Jerry, and their children, Harper and Hudson.

Kate Nice

Kate has a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University, a music education degree from Immaculata University as well as master’s degree in educational leadership. Kate has been teaching mathematics and music at Phoenixville Area High School off an on since 1999. She has served as vocal director, music director, director, and co-director for the spring musical productions at PAHS, Spring-Ford High School, and for several community theater groups. Kate has been teaching private voice lessons since 1999. In 2009, she aided in the foundation of Facetime Theatre and currently serves as its vice president and business director, as well as the co-director for its Summer Stage program. She has been a lead instructor at Facetime for several years. Kate has performed with Melange Theatre Live, Underbite Theatre Company and Society Hill Playhouse – all in Philadelphia – and she has also held both lead and ensemble roles in several local theater productions. Kate has been married to her husband, Matthew, a fourth grade teacher at Upper Providence Elementary School, since 2003. They live in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, with their three children – Josephine, George and Franklin.

Matt Nice

Matthew Nice has been an educator in the Spring-Ford School District for over 20 years.  Along the way he has directed numerous class plays, which are sometimes Shakespeare and sometimes Dickens.  He has an Elementary Education degree from Bloomsburg University, and a Masters in Art Education from Kutztown University.  He uses some of his artistic abilities on setwork for Facetime Theater. 

Jessica Potts

Jessica has a degree in English education from West Chester University and a masters degree in educational technology from Wilkes University. She taught English at Owen J. Roberts High School for six years, and now she works as the Executive Director for Facetime Theatre, along with teaching classes, lessons, and music directing, while she stays home with her daughters, Clara  and Louisa. Jessica is a director and performer and has held both lead and ensemble roles in several local theatre productions. She has served as the musical director and co-director of the spring musicals at Phoenixville Area High School and Owen J. Roberts High School. Jessica has been a lead instructor and has been in charge of administration and curriculum at Facetime Theatre for several years. She is a co-director of Facetime Theatre’s Summer Stage program. Jessica currently resides in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania with her husband, Ben, and their daughters, Clara and Louisa.

Hannah Westfall

Hannah graduated from DeSales University with a BA in musical theatre. Since graduating in 2018, she has worked as an instructional aide in the Great Valley School District and an assistant teacher at the Malvern School. She currently works as an instructional aide at Charlestown Elementary School in the Great Valley School District. Hannah first started working with FaceTime theatre’s Summer stage program as an intern in 2015. Since then, she helps with the Summer stage kids programs, assistant directs FaceTime’s kids productions, and co teaches the FaceTime theatre classes at the Phoenixville Rec Center. She also co teaches two studio classes at FaceTime. Hannah’s love of theatre and her passion for working with kids has provided her with so many wonderful opportunities! She first got involved with the production aspect of theatre as a high school student where she assistant directed productions of shows at the elementary and middle school level.She also has choreographed various shows. Hannah is also the Assistant director and Choreographer for the Upper Providence Elementary School musical program. Hannah frequently performs in local theatre productions and sings with the FaceTime Theatre Center Stage Chorale. She currently lives in the Phoenixville area.