MEET THE TEAM

Jorie has been involved in youth and community theatre for over 20 years having performed in, directed, choreographed and/or produced over 50 productions. Jorie studied Theatre Education at Grand Canyon University, and found a passion for teaching when she was asked to step in as a Jr. High director and hasn't stopped since!

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Jorie's teaching credits include Theatre Arts Program Director/Teacher at San Tan Charter School where she built the 3rd-12th grade theatre program from scratch. 

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Additional directing credits include Drama Production Assistant with Gilbert Christian Schools, JR. High Theatre Director with MoezArt Productions, and Drama Teacher with after-school enrichment programs Arizona Instruction & KidStage.

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She founded Musical Theatre East because she firmly believes that theatre can transform confidence and build essential life skills in young people that will help shape them for their futures. 

Kathy Chick was a director and musical director for 17 years with MoezArt Productions in Phoenix. She has worked with all ages from 5-70+. 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, 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), and Honk (Ida; Zony nomination). After spending 2 years in Texas, she's back in Arizona and excited to work at Musical Theatre East.

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!

Ms. Stephanie grew up with a passion for dance. United Academy of the Performing Arts was a dance studio in Oneida, NY, that offered dance classes in tap, jazz, ballet, musical theater, acrobatics, lyrical, hip hop and modern. Under the direction of Ms. Sandie Fukes & Ms. Wende Warne, she was involved in multiple classes and this is where Stephanie truly found her passion for dance and flourished. She was involved in competitions throughout the northeast and won multiple championships throughout her years between the ages of 7 and 17.

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 in Mesa and a family and has decided to settle here in AZ to share her passion with everyone who comes to her.

Stephanie cherished her childhood teachers for instilling and growing her passions. She realized that the studio she grew up in offered high quality education but also provided a safe, encouraging and family-like atmosphere that created life-long friendships for her. She has been able to take all that she has learned within these programs and apply it to her life. Stephanie wants nothing more than to be able to have a program, like the one she had in her childhood, for the children in this community. She is determined to motivate students to reach their highest potential and to DanceUp on stage and off. But, more importantly, she strives to create an environment that allows all students to come together as a family, leading to life-long friendships.