PROGRAM CHAIR:
MICHAEL SERRECCHIA
Our Acting and Musical Theatre Program Chair, Michael Serrecchia, was an original cast member of A Chorus Line for which he received a Special Drama Desk Award and Theatre Critics Circle Award. Other Broadway credits include The Rothchilds; The Selling of the President; Heathen; Lady Audley’s Secret; Seesaw and Sing Happy. He spent four and a half years circling the globe as Chita Rivera’s dance partner in “Chita Plus Two” for which he won a MAC Award. Dallas directing and choreography credits include The regional premiers of: A Class Act (D/FW Theatre Critics Forum Award Best Direction of a Musical) The Full Monty (Column and Stoney Awards for Best Direction and Best Choreography of a Musical) The Light in the Piazza, The Drowsey Chaperone (Dallas Critic’s Choice Award) Next to Normal (D/FW Theatre Critics Forum Award Best Direction of a Musical). Non-regional premiers include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. (D/FW Theatre Critics Forum Award Best Direction of a Musical) On Golden Pond, Lobby Hero, Almost, Maine, Moonlight and Magnolias (Stoney Award Best Direction of a Play) 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Fort Worth Critic’s Award best Direction of a Musical) Duets, It’s Only Life, I’ll Leave it to You and the multi award winning production of Nine, the Musical. MichaelSerrecchia.com
Lois Leftwich
Lois Leftwich is originally from Dallas where she started her acting career in local theatres like Theatre Three and Stage West, worked in voice over and on camera commercials, joined AEA, SAG and AFTRA and then found herself working as an actress in New York City and didn’t return to Dallas for 30 years. While in New York City she acted in many broadcast venues including television and radio commercials, recording audio books, several daytime dramas, industrial films as well as Off Broadway. She studied acting with John Strasberg at Mirror Repertory, Curt Dempster at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Gene Frankel, voice with Steve Sweetland and dance at Steps on Broadway. She was in the Performance Master Class at Chicago City Limits Improvisation. Teaching has always been part of her personal curriculum and has provided her with great joy throughout her career. She has taught everything from Musical Theatre camps to filmmaking. She has taught acting for all media and genres. She loves teaching and performing improvisation, which she firmly believes is essential to being a successful performer. Since returning to Dallas she is represented by the Kim Dawson Agency and continues to work on stage, TV, radio, film, and audio books. She graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Drama. For a more complete story visit her personal website at www.LoisLeftwich.com. Check out the retro-commercials on her fan page.
Jim Jorgenson
Jim is a Dallas actor and educator. He is a member of Actors Equity and graduated from the Southern Methodist University MFA Acting Program in 1988. Since then, Jim has had a long and varied career. For the last 16 years, he has worked extensively in Washington DC. Additionally, he has worked as an actor in Seattle, Chicago, and Houston. Recently, he re-joined the faculty at KD in 2016, having taught there seven years prior. Jim was also on faculty at Nebraska Wesleyan in 2008. Jim has acted as Managing Director for New Theatre Company for seven years and Fountainhead Theatre for three years. Some awards and nominations include: Washington DC Area: Helen Hayes Nominations for Best Ensemble; Angels in America Part I and II, and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Dallas Area: Dallas Theatre Critic’s Awards; Season of Work, Leon Rabin Best Actor; Rocket to the Moon. He is represented by the Kim Dawson Agency. For more information about Jim go to www.jimjorgensen.net.
Merri Brewer
Merri Brewer is a National Michael Chekhov Association certified teacher with expertise in on-camera acting, improvisation and audition preparation. A native Texan, she has served as Managing Director of Theatre Three, a live professional theatre in Uptown Dallas, and as Producing Director of Creative Arts Theatre & School in Arlington, Texas. As an actor, she has appeared in stage productions at Dallas Theater Center, Theatre Three, Stage West and Echo Theatre, among others. Represented for broadcast work by The Campbell Agency, she’s worked in a wide variety of film, industrial and commercial productions. Holding a BFA from Texas Christian University in Theatre and Television, she enjoys sharing knowledge with her students.
Linda Leonard
Linda has appeared as Grizabella in the international tour of Cats, as well as Ellie in Hal Prince’s revival of Showboat. No stranger to prime-time, she has guest-starred in on Friday Night Lights, Dallas, Salem and American Crime. Her movie credits include Cleaner, Playing for Keeps with Gerard Butler and Jessica Biel, and Wonderful World. Most recently, Linda has created the role of Texas’s beloved governor, the late Ann Richards, in the one-women hit show “ANN.”
Reis McCormick
Reis McCormick has acting professionally since 1984. After receiving her B.A. in The Humanities from the University of Texas, she moved to Dallas to pursue theatre training at the Dallas Theatre Center. A member of the Texas Commission on the Arts, Reis has been involved with many projects such as the Imagination Celebration at the Kennedy Center and has performed lead roles in regional and stock theatre from Texas to Virginia in addition to indie films and network television credits from Barney to Breaking Bad.
Sarah Rutan
Classically trained and a member of Actor’s Equity Association, Sarah began teaching at KD after seven seasons as a member of the acting company at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. in Ashland. Her impressive regional theater resume includes such notable theaters as Amphibian Stage Productions, Trinity Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theater Center, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Shakespeare in the Park-Bend, OR, Idaho Repertory Theatre, and Meadows Showcase at SMU.
Michael D’Andre Childs
Michael D’Andre Childs is an accomplished Director, Music Director, Composer, Playwright, Choreographer, and Actor. Originally from San Antonio, Michael made his Dallas debut in 2015 and has excelled since, having numerous opportunities to display his talents. Most recently, his live entertainment company, Artists Unplugged, headlined and hosted Last Night in Black History. Some of his other credits include: Last Night in Black History (Director/Choreographer), Sweatbox Refugee (Dance Concert Choreographer), Legally Blonde Jr. (Music Director), First Date (Assistant Director and Music Director), TILL (Director/ Musical Director), As We Lie Still (Choreographer), A Good Man (Director/Musical Director), RENT (Tom Collins/Assistant Musical Director), EDGES (Assistant Director)