Musical Theater

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Aaron Gray (he/him) is a pianist who, at the age of 8, started taking piano lessons under the tutelage of his grandmother, Frances. In college, he held the position of Rehearsal Pianist for the music department and accompanied and served as the assistant music director for various performances, including the opera Beautiful Bridegroom by Dan Shore and for the departmental musicals. He has served as music director for various local community theaters, high schools and colleges, and has also played for Saint Vincent Summer Theater’s professional summer stock. Aaron has also served as the organist/music director at various churches and was most recently the Music Director at Christ United Methodist Church in Scottsdale, Pa. He is also the studio accompanist for Mezzo-Soprano Maureen Miller. 

In the past, he has served as the associate conductor for Westmoreland Choral Society and was the accompanist for Murrysville Masterworks Chorale. He received his bachelor’s degree in piano performance and studied under Mr. Thomas Octave (Voice/Conducting), Fr. Cyprian Constantine (Organ), Mrs. Susanna Lemberskaya (Vocal Coaching/Accompaniment) and Mrs. Lisa Zubritsky (Piano). Aaron currently owns, operates and teaches at Practice Makes Perfect Music Studio, serves as a teacher for the Piano Sensei, and is a Community Music Program instructor at Seton Hill University.

When not performing or teaching Aaron likes to spend his free time with his wife Julia and daughter Cadence.

Ace Lowry (they/them) graduated in 2021 with their B.F.A. in Theatre from Youngstown State University. They have spent the entirety of their theatrical career seeking to expand their knowledge in a variety of disciplines. Since college, they have loved helping young artists find their voice in a variety of teaching positions. They have an extensive list of skills including playwriting, directing, acting and voice, stage management, design work in multiple fields, and puppetry. Their original work has been staged at a collegiate level and they have had multiple readings through Theatre Off-Kilter, an online theatre started during the pandemic. Previous technical credits include Co-Directing She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms (Theatre Off-Kilter), Assistant Directing Into the Woods (YSU), Playwright of The Dying Art of Eye Contact (YSU), Stage Managing Mr, Wheeler’s (YSU), and Directing Occupied by Aly Kantor (Theatre Off-Kilter). They are so excited to join the staff at Practice Makes Perfect Studio and offer high quality arts education to the area where they grew up.  

Carolyn “CJ” Jerz (She/They) is a Junior at Seton Hill University, studying Musical Theatre & Dance Composition. 

She frequently teaches Jazz & Tap at Stage Right!, Shakespeare at Maxwell Elementary’s "March Arts Day", & hopes to make teaching a core part of her future. 

Some of her performance credits include: 3-time winner of Pittsburgh Public Theatre’s Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest, Ariel in The Tempest as part of the New Renaissance Theatre Company’s Unrehearsed Shakespeare project, Choreography/Canaan Days Dancer for Stage Right’s Joseph, & Choreography/Jane in the world premiere workshop of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari: A Murderous Musical Comedy!

Lara Daigle is a theatre artist born and raised in southwestern PA (she went to the same high school as Mr. Rogers- a few decades later!)

Lara has been playing make believe and doing a perfect lipline since she was five years old. After getting over trying to be "cool" in middle school, she gave herself over to making theatre- and hasn't looked back since. She is a proud former student of The Broadway Collective and just graduated from Arcadia University with her BFA in Acting with a Concentration in Musical Theatre. She can't wait to create with you!

Megan Levan (she/her) studied theatre at Youngstown State University. She has studied many aspects of theatre and has a range of specialty’s including stage management, directing, puppetry, sound design and production management. She has been coaching and teaching private lessons for six years and is very excited to help bring access to new works and the technical theatre arts to the area! Her previous credits include Directing The Dying Art of Eye Contact (YSU), Assistant Directing Romeo and Juliet (YSU), Stage Managing She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms (Theatre Off-Kilter), Stage Managing Macbeth (Theatre Off-Kilter), Audio 1 Cabaret (YSU), Stage Managing Speech & Debate (YSU), Puppetry Design/ First Puppeteer/ Playwright Guardian (YSU), and being an Audio/Visual Engineer for Advanced Production Group. 

Theo Sebastian (he/him/they) is an actor, writer, and director, born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, and he believes acting should be fun, creative, and as imaginative as possible! Keep your inner child alive! In 2018, Theo obtained a Bachelor's in English from Waynesburg University, before pursuing acting training from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City in 2019. Theo has performed with several local theater companies, such as Little Lake Theater, South Park Theater, the Pittsburgh Savoyards, and many others!  Theo is also the co-founder of Queer Colors Theater, a production company that focuses on queer representation in theater. Outside of acting, Theo loves to watch horror movies, play video games, and snuggle with his many cats. 

Val Bowman is a local of Connellsville PA. She graduates from Slippery Rock University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She has always loved music and performing and hopes to continue spreading the passion of musical theatre to others. Her most recent project is being an ensemble member in Seussical the Musical. Some of her favorite roles she has played consists of "Bellomy" from The Fantasticks at Slippery Rock University Theatre department, "Madame Thenardier" in Les Misérables at Connellsville High School and "Edna Turnblad" from Hairspray Jr.  at The Connellsville Middle School. 

Vanessa Clarke-Deaver is an actor, dance teacher, and choreographer, who is beyond excited to join PMP! She has been dancing for over 20 years, performing, and competing with local studios and companies as well as teaching/choreographing for 7 years. She has also been seen in musicals and plays with The Geyer Performing Arts Center, Split Stage Productions, The State Theatre, and more. Vanessa has studied theatre, acting, dance, and voice at Seton Hill University and Wagner College. She absolutely loves teaching and is beyond thrilled for this opportunity! 

Ace Lowry (they/them) graduated in 2021 with their B.F.A. in Theatre from Youngstown State University. They have spent the entirety of their theatrical career seeking to expand their knowledge in a variety of disciplines. Since college, they have loved helping young artists find their voice in a variety of teaching positions. They have an extensive list of skills including playwriting, directing, acting and voice, stage management, design work in multiple fields, and puppetry. Their original work has been staged at a collegiate level and they have had multiple readings through Theatre Off-Kilter, an online theatre started during the pandemic. Previous technical credits include Co-Directing She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms (Theatre Off-Kilter), Assistant Directing Into the Woods (YSU), Playwright of The Dying Art of Eye Contact (YSU), Stage Managing Mr, Wheeler’s (YSU), and Directing Occupied by Aly Kantor (Theatre Off-Kilter). They are so excited to join the staff at Practice Makes Perfect Studio and offer high quality arts education to the area where they grew up.  Ace teaches in our Greensburg studio.

Carolyn “CJ” Jerz (She/They) is a Junior at Seton Hill University, studying Musical Theatre & Dance Composition. 

She frequently teaches Jazz & Tap at Stage Right!, Shakespeare at Maxwell Elementary’s "March Arts Day", & hopes to make teaching a core part of her future. 

Some of her performance credits include: 3-time winner of Pittsburgh Public Theatre’s Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest, Ariel in The Tempest as part of the New Renaissance Theatre Company’s Unrehearsed Shakespeare project, Choreography/Canaan Days Dancer for Stage Right’s Joseph, & Choreography/Jane in the world premiere workshop of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari: A Murderous Musical Comedy!  Carolyn teaches in our Greensburg studio

Lara Daigle (she/her) is a theatre artist born and raised in southwestern PA (she went to the same high school as Mr. Rogers- a few decades later!)

Lara has been playing make believe and doing a perfect lipline since she was five years old. After getting over trying to be "cool" in middle school, she gave herself over to making theatre- and hasn't looked back since. She is a proud former student of The Broadway Collective and just graduated from Arcadia University with her BFA in Acting with a Concentration in Musical Theatre. She can't wait to create with you!  Lara teaches in our Greensburg studio

Theo Sebastian (he/him/they) is an actor, writer, and director, born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, and he believes acting should be fun, creative, and as imaginative as possible! Keep your inner child alive! In 2018, Theo obtained a Bachelor's in English from Waynesburg University, before pursuing acting training from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City in 2019. Theo has performed with several local theater companies, such as Little Lake Theater, South Park Theater, the Pittsburgh Savoyards, and many others!  Theo is also the co-founder of Queer Colors Theater, a production company that focuses on queer representation in theater. Outside of acting, Theo loves to watch horror movies, play video games, and snuggle with his many cats.  Theo teaches in our Greensburg studio

Val Bowman (she/her) is a local of Connellsville PA. She graduates from Slippery Rock University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She has always loved music and performing and hopes to continue spreading the passion of musical theatre to others. Her most recent project is being an ensemble member in Seussical the Musical. Some of her favorite roles she has played consists of "Bellomy" from The Fantasticks at Slippery Rock University Theatre department, "Madame Thenardier" in Les Misérables at Connellsville High School and "Edna Turnblad" from Hairspray Jr.  at The Connellsville Middle School.   Val teaches in our Connellsville studio

Vanessa Clarke-Deaver (she/her) is an actor, dance teacher, and choreographer, who is beyond excited to join PMP! She has been dancing for over 20 years, performing, and competing with local studios and companies as well as teaching/choreographing for 7 years. She has also been seen in musicals and plays with The Geyer Performing Arts Center, Split Stage Productions, The State Theatre, and more. Vanessa has studied theatre, acting, dance, and voice at Seton Hill University and Wagner College. She absolutely loves teaching and is beyond thrilled for this opportunity! Vanessa  teaches in our Greensburg and Connellsville studio