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MEET THE TEAM
Jorie Davis
Founder/Artistic Director
Kathy Chick
Music Director
Stephanie Sliker
Choreographer/Shining Stars Director
​As the founder of Musical Theatre East, Jorie brings her passion for nurturing young talent and fostering personal growth beyond the stage. With over 20 years of experience in theatre, Jorie is dedicated to empowering young people, not just as artists, but as individuals with unique gifts, talents & abilities that God has equipped them with.
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Jorie believes in providing an uplifting, supportive and Christ-centered environment. where students are encouraged to excel in the performing arts. Under her direction, students are inspired to develop empathy as they portray different roles and tell different stories. She hopes to instill confidence in her students that will last a lifetime.
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Jorie studied theatre in college and has worked for MoezArt Productions, KidStage, Gilbert Christian Schools and most recently, San Tan Charter School where she built the 3rd-12th grade theatre program from scratch.
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She is excited to see what is in store for MTE.
Kathy Chick was a director and musical director for 17 years with MoezArt Productions in Phoenix. She has worked with all ages from 5 to 70+. Some of her favorite shows she's musically directed include Seussical, Is There a Doctor in the House, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Meet Me in St Louis, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, She Loves Me, Beauty and the Beast, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Some of her favorite shows she's acted in and also served as the musical director for are Annie (Boylan Sister), The Music Man (Pick-a-little Lady), The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess), Beauty and the Beast (Mrs Potts), and Honk (Ida; Zony nomination).
Kathy had the great privilege of joining MTE in the summer of 2023 and has served as the musical director for Godspell, Snoopy, Freaky Friday, and Beauty and the Beast. She moved to New Mexico in the spring of 2024 and is so grateful to be working with MTE again - remotely. MTE has a very special place in her heart because its founder, Jorie Davis, was one of her favorite theatre students when Jorie was in high school. Kathy feels very blessed to get to call Jorie her boss now.
Originally from New York, Ms Stephanie has been dancing since the age of 3. She has a Masters in Education, Montessori Certification, AZ teaching certification & Dance Masters of America Certification. Sharing her passion for dance is a life long journey and fulfillment for her. She love kids of ALL AGES and seeing the excitement coming from their accomplishments makes her feel proud and excited for and with them!
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Ms. Stephanie grew up with a passion for dance. United Academy of the Performing Arts was a dance studio in Oneida, NY where Stephanie truly found her passion for dance and flourished.
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Ms. Stephanie went on to dance professionally after attending Oklahoma City University for Dance Performance. She has danced and taught all over the United States over the past 20+ years. She now has a dance studio called DanceUp Performing Arts in Mesa and a family and has decided to settle here in AZ to share her passion with everyone who comes to her.
Tiffany Davis
Operations Assistant
Rebecca McNeace
Costumer
Cindra Monk
Costumer
Valerie Monk
Costumer/Photographer
STUDENT LEADERS
Freedom Abrenica
Production Intern
Freedom Abrenica is excited to be working as an intern at Musical Theatre East.
Freedom has been assisting with shows since MTE performed Snoopy Jr., and would now proudly say she is an official intern at MTE. Outside of the backstage production, some of her favorite shows she has been in would include Freaky Friday, Beauty and the Beast, and Seussical.
For the entirety of her acting career, Freedom has been directed and taught by Jorie. Now having the opportunity to be working side by side with her, she cannot wait to be assisting behind the scenes with Musical Theatre East.
Kassy Hakes
Production Intern
Kassy has been doing musical theater since she was 8 years old. Some of her favorite shows that she’s performed in are Beauty and the Beast (La Fille), Seussical (Bird Girl), and Bye Bye Birdie (Ursula Merkle). Kassy has been a student of Jorie’s for many years and is excited for the opportunity to assist with the brand new Shining Stars cast.
Gideon Monk
Production Intern
Gideon is a 16-year-old intern choreographer who's been doing theater for 8 years, and has been a part of 27 different productions in some way shape or form! Two of his favorite roles were Ugly in Honk! and Lumière in Beauty and the Beast. He has loved working with MTE and these amazingly talented kids! He can’t wait to keep learning and growing with this awesome, supportive team!
Abigail Osyczka
Production Intern
Abigail Osyczka, A music loving actor and now a production intern for Musical Theatre East, Is immensely excited to be apart of the behind the scenes work with this new and growing company.
Abigail has been involved in theatre for six years now. She has also been doing music and piano lessons for nine years. Some of her favorite roles she’s performed as would have to be Mae Peterson (Bye Bye Birdie), Martha Fogerty (Cactus Pass Jamboree), and The Old Women (The Snow Queen.)
Abigail cannot wait for this semester with the Junior cast of Musical Theatre East. Seeing how much each and every student will grow in their talent and confidence is her favorite part of every semester.
Ellie Roeth
Production Intern
Palin Watz
Production Intern
Ellie is a 18 year old senior who grew up doing theater and working with Jorie. Some of her favorite roles she's been are Bullfrog (Honk!),ensemble (Freaky Friday), and The Wardrobe (Beauty and the Beast)! Along with her time on the stage, shes had plenty experience behind the scenes by stage managing, teaching at her moms music camp, and recently directing MTEs last kids show!