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WHO WE ARE
We love the performing arts, and strive to be a studio where each individual’s gifts are recognized and discovered. It is our mission to help everyone learn and grow their gifts and abilities through structured teaching in the areas of voice, instrumental (Violin, Piano & Guitar) and theatre.
We have outstanding private instructors with training and experience in vocal pedagogy (the teaching of the instrument of voice), instrumental expertise, theater training, audition coaching, directing, theater performance, event planning, and entertainment.
Home: About Me
LESSONS AND CLASSES
Here at Stage Door Studios, we offer a variety of private and group lessons.
Explore all of the options below.
MUSICAL THEATER WORKSHOPS
Our Workshops are a great choice for performers of all ages who are looking to take their skills to the next level. They are designed to help singers develop strong vocal technique, musical artistry, and characterization. Each intensive culminates in a performance for friends and family.
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Teachers
MEET OUR TEACHERS
DEBBIE CARDY - VOICE, GUITAR & THEATER
Stage Door's owner, founder and instructor is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but has made Ohio her home since 1998. She has been involved in performing, teaching or directing for most all of her adult life. She attended Grace College in Indiana for her undergraduate work, and Rider University / Westminster Choir College in New Jersey for her Master's work in Vocal Pedagogy studying under the direction of Margaret Cusak & Garyth Nair. She continued her vocal study with Mrs. Jacqueline Smith in Philadelphia. Her professional musical theater credits span several states and include performances at the Forrest Theater-Philadelphia, Cherry Lane Theater-New York, The Bickford Theater-New Jersey, Wagon Wheel Playhouse-Indiana, Players Guild-Ohio. She has performed as a soloist with several orchestras including both Philadelphia and Cleveland, as a background & touring vocalist with various Contemporary artists & composers and various commercial advertising agencies including jingles for "Huggies", "Trident", & "Sanka".
She has taught vocal music at Lake Center Christian School, Cairn University & Penn State University-Berks and directed over 100 musical theater productions and 22 different choirs or ensembles. Some of her favorite recent directing ventures include Sound of Music, Les Miserables, Guys & Dolls, Little Women, Songs for a New World, Pirates of Penzance, Music Man & Beauty and the Beast.
Debbie's favorite role is being a mother of two awesome adults and now "Nana" to three wonderful grandchildren. She feels as though her students are like family as well, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work with them. She is thrilled to be working alongside these amazing teachers at this studio. Would love to have you join our studio family!
CRISEYDA DOWD - VOICE & THEATER
Criseyda Dowd is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory (BM - Honors, Musical Theatre) and worked extensively throughout Cleveland and NE Ohio during her time there. Following graduation, she was chosen to study at the prestigious Oxford School of Drama in England. While there, she was trained by, and selected to perform for, members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Kenneth Branagh’s Renaissance Theatre Company, and earned the honor of top actress in her class.
Criseyda then moved to London, where she studied voice with internationally-renowned singing coach Ian Adam, and continued her performing career. She has worked on stage and in commercial TV and film alongside Emmy, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominees and winners in acting and directing, and was the leading actress in a Shakepearean repertory company.
Following her years in London she lived in Chicago, where she continued to perform, and began to teach acting to middle schoolers. She developed a progam, “Shakespeare: An Actor’s Approach,” which she uses for middle and high school English literature classes. After 18 years in Chicago, she and her family recently returned to her hometown of Canton, where she is a private voice and acting coach, as well as the Director of the Arts for Stark County Catholic Schools.
AMANDA MEDLEY - VOICE
Amanda Medley is a teaching artist and performer holding a M.M. from NYU Steinhardt in Vocal Performance: Musical Theater and Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy, B.S. in Music Education from Olivet Nazarene University, and is a graduate of Hoover High School. Amanda spent ten years teaching K-8 General Music and working as a Private Voice Teacher, Vocal Coach, Music Director, Assistant Director and Director in Northeast Ohio Schools and Theaters before moving to New York to pursue her Graduate Degree. Recently back in NE Ohio, Amanda maintains an online Private Voice Studio working with adult performing professionals across the United States including recording artists, opera singers, and musical theatre performers. Amanda is well-versed in vocal techniques for all vocal styles from classical to musical theatre to pop. Amanda has served as Director, Assistant Director, and Musical Director for High School and Community Theatre Productions including, but not limited to: Les Misérables, Cinderella, A Christmas Carol, RENT, and Beauty and the Beast. Also passionate about performance, regional and educational theatrical credits include: Peter Pan, Ragtime, Jekyll & Hyde, Mary Poppins, Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Fiddler on the Roof (Players Guild Theatre); Titanic (Akron Symphony); Into the Woods (Cassidy Theatre); The Secret Garden, The Sound of Music, Pajama Game (Carnation City Players); Rags, Dialogue of the Carmelites (NYU: Steinhardt); featured vocalist on the Original Cast Recordings of A Christmas Carol and Frankenstein: a Puppet Opera by Steve Parsons and John Popa.
BRENDA BURNS - PIANO & THEATER
Brenda has been involved in music and theatre for over 35 years as a teacher, performer, accompanist and director. She’s been studying piano since the age of 5, started a piano instruction business in her teens, and has been teaching ever since.
Throughout the years, she has served as a choir director, drama director, producer, stage manager and/or accompanist for various musicals in Southern California, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Some of her experience has included musicals such as Little Women (Stage Door Studios), Les Miserable (Stage Door Studios), Shrek, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Snow White & Rose Red, and Oliver. Brenda loves helping wherever needed, sharing her love of the arts with students of all ages.
JESSICA LAUREN - VIOLIN
Jessica is an amazing violin instructor. She holds a music performance degree from Kent State and is currently working to complete her second Bachelor's Degree in Music at Baldwin Wallace. Jessica has performed with many orchestras, She has been privately teaching for 20 years and has taught many students and teachers. She is excited to be a part of Stage Door Studios and looks forward to working with anyone interested in learning the instrument that she truly loves to play.
Click here to see her audition for Transiberian Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr_tyNxGZ8E&ab_channel=ArchPobept
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