Performer's Edge Faculty
Sharon North Jones
President and Executive Director - SNJ Studio of Music
Executive Director - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
President and Executive Director of SNJ Studio of Music, Sharon North Jones holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is co-founder and Executive Director of Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts and owner of Diva Productions, a music production company in Chicago, Il and Omaha. Sharon has served as the Director of Contests and for the Society of American Musicians and as a scholarship adjudicator for the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
An accomplished opera, concert and music theater singer, Sharon has performed throughout the United States in such roles as Lucia in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor and Mrs. Nordstrom in Sondheim's A Little Night Music. Sharon has appeared with the Alabama Symphony, Opera di Cornetto, the Chicago Composer's Consortium, Opera Ensemble of Chicago and many others. She also presents concerts of opera scenes for such corporate clients as the Easter Seals Foundation, the Steinway Society, Insignia, ESG, and Harting, Inc. in Hamburg, Germany.
As a music educator, adjudicator and clinician, Sharon brings over 15 years of experience to students of all ages. In addition to teaching privately she has designed several programs for children and adults. Sharon also conducts vocal master classes and audition preparation clinics as well as producing and directing music theater and opera scenes workshops and children's theater productions.
Joel Johnston
Artistic Director/Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Director of Ensembles/Voice Instructor - SNJ Studio of Music
Joel Johnston is a free-lance conductor, presenter, choreographer and adjudicator, with 23 years of experience in music education. He has conducted more than 40 choral clinics and festivals in the Midwest. Joel is currently conductor of the Southwest Iowa Men’s Chorus, as well as the SNJ Studio Singers, a select high school a cappella ensemble, and Center Stage, a middle school show choir. SNJ Singers and Center Stage rehearse at the Sharon North Jones Studio of Music in Omaha, where Joel also teaches 40 voice students.
Joel is co-founder of Performer’s Edge, a performing arts academy designed to help students from Pre-K to grade 12 develop their skills as singers, actors, and dancers. In just two years, more than 400 students have participated in Performer’s Edge academies, ensembles, and camps.
Joel is on staff at the Buena Vista Show Choir Camp in Storm Lake, Iowa, and is Artistic Director for Show Choir Omaha!, a three-day show choir camp at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
Joel served as President of the Nebraska Choral Directors Association, as well as Chair of Choral Affairs for the Nebraska Music Educators Association. He was named NMEA’s Outstanding Music Educator of the Year in 2003. He served as Facilities Chairperson for the 2006 Regional American Choral Directors Convention in Omaha.
Linda Meuret
Marketing Director - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Office Manager - SNJ Studio of Music
A former bank executive, corporate trainer and executive recruiter, Linda’s spare time has always been spent performing or volunteering in music and theater. During her banking days she participated in community theater playing roles as Zeitle in “Fiddler on the Roof” and Rizzo in “Grease.” She even met her husband playing husband and wife in the English farce “June Groom!”
After her third child she gave up corporate life and created a nonprofit community children’s theater in west Omaha. She spent 5 years producing and directing children’s productions including “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Mr. Crinkle’s Magic Spring,” and others until joining up with Sharon North Jones and Joel Johnston as a partner in Performer’s Edge.
In addition her role as Marketing Director for Performer’s Edge and Office Manager for SNJ Studio of Music, Linda spends many hours volunteering for her children’s show choirs and coordinating costumes for Millard West’s musical each year. She has a son, Tyler and daughter, Connor at Millard West and her eldest daughter, Jenna is currently a Music Education Major at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Debbie Massey
Dance Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Debbie Massey is a well known dance teacher/choreographer and theatre performer in Omaha. She spent 15 years teaching and managing the former Brownstone Dance Studio where she and her students won numerous local and national awards. A former competitive dancer herself, she has studied and performed coast to coast including a cruise ship in the Bahamas and is currently on the teaching staff at the Omaha Community Playhouse.
Debbie is a familiar face to local theatre stages and her credits are many. Most recently she starred in “Gypsy” at the Omaha Community Playhouse as Tessie Tura (TAG Best Featured Actress Nominee and OCP Clarence Teal Award Nominee). Other Playhouse credits include roles in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “The Cocoanuts” and she was a 2009 Omaha Entertainment Award Best Featured Dancer Nominee for her role as Sheila in Ralston Community Theatre’s production of “A Chorus Line.” Debbie free lances for several local high schools, theatres and special events. Her choreography credits include Bye Bye Birdie, Once Upon a Mattress, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Beauty and the Beast, Crazy For You and most recently, Fat Girlfriend-The Musical at the Shelterbelt Theatre. Look for Debbie in Fall 2009 performing various roles in the Rose Theatre’s production of “Annie.”
Debbie is beginning her third season as a Performers Edge instructor. She is available for private and semi-private lessons and is committed to growing our dance program at Performers Edge to include a variety of class offerings. rivate and semi-private lessons and is committed to growing our dance program at Performers Edge to include a variety of class offerings.
Michelle Gates
Acting Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Michelle has loved theater, music, and dance since age 3. She
previously took voice lessons at SNJ studios and could not be happier
to be teaching for them now. She graduated in May 2008 from the
University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Michelle's
specialities are musical theater dance, acting, show choir
choreography, and youth musical directing.
Michelle spent 2009 in national tours with the Omaha Theater Company for Young People’s production of "Horrible Harry" and "Miss Bindergarten's Kindergarten." Recent theater experience also includes Esther in "Meet Me in St. Louis,” choreographing, performing and directing in the University of Kansas "Rock Chalk Revue,” and choreographing, teaching and youth directing
at The Rose Theater. She has also choreographed for high school show choirs in the Metro area and loves being a Performer's Edge teacher and working with such talented and engergetic students!
Brandon D Higdem
Acting Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Brandon D Higdem received his Bachelor's of Arts
degree in Vocal Performance from the university of
Arkansas, his Master's of Arts degree in Theatrical
Directing, and did post-grad work from the Actor's
Studio in New York City. He moved here in 1998 on
contract with the Nebraska Theatre Caravan and has
graced the Omaha stages in various capacities from
actor to director to singer to instructor, winning
numerous awards and accolades along the way. When not
singing and dancing, he is the visual manager for
Younkers Oakview. He is extremely excited to a part of
Performer's Edge team!
Fran Sillau
Acting Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
A theatre artist for nearly twenty years, Mr. Sillau has served as a teacher, writer, director, actor, and/or producer. He was awarded the 2008 VSA Arts teaching artist fellowship, and affiliate of the John F. Kennedy of the Performing Arts. Fran also serves as an artist-in-residence for the Nebraska and Iowa Arts Councils.
Fran has an extensive background in theatre for youth, working for many years with The Omaha Theater Company for Young People in Omaha, and the Lexington Children’s Theatre, two highly respected children’s theatres in the United States today. Fran has also served as the Artistic Director for Rusty Horse Productions, an organization dedicated to bringing the arts to rural communities in Southwest Iowa and Eastern Nebraska.
Mr. Sillau has done extensive work with Why Arts? conducting workshops specifically for youth with physical and developmental disabilities. He has conducted workshops in inner city schools, long term care facilities, youth clubs, special education classrooms, and inner city streets using theatre as a tool to help every child, disabled or not to see the good and power within themselves.
Ron Troester
Voice Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Ron has been in the music education profession for over 25 years in Nebraska and Iowa. Ron holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a focus on choral education and voice. As a professional musician, he performed with the Canterbury Singers at the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, the Yorkshire Carolers, and the Central Dance Theatre. He has served as a music adjudicator in Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa, and Kansas. He as choreographed at UNL, UNO, UNK, Hastings College, and Iowa Western College as well as over 25 productions at regional theaters. He is currently the Music Director for Unity Church of Omaha where he directs a five-piece professional band and leads music and worship.
Melanie Walters
Dance/Acting Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Melanie Walters is a freelance choreographer for award-winning high school show choirs located throughout Nebraska and Iowa, as well as a regular in the Omaha theatre scene. Favorite roles include Velma Kelly (Chicago), Aida (Aida – Theatre Arts Guild Best Actress Nominee), Eva Peron (Evita – TAG Best Actress Nominee), Cassie (A Chorus Line – TAG Best Actress Nominee), and Little Becky Two Shoes (Urinetown). She most recently played the role of Gloria in the Omaha Community Playhouse production of Thoroughly Modern Mille. Melanie finished fourth in the 2000 American Traditions National Vocal Competition in Savannah, GA, and is a past winner of the senior musical theatre division at regional NATS competitions.
Cris Crisler
Show Choir Dance Workshop Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Cris Crisler is a freelance choreographer based in Omaha, NE. He was a member of ‘Attache’ show choir in Clinton, Mississippi. While at the University of Southern Mississippi, Cris studied music and molecular biology. He has been a show choir choreographer for 8 years, and works with high schools and colleges across the United States including Clinton, MS; Onalaska, WI; Millard West High School, Omaha, NE, Papillion, NE; Benton, IA; Opelika, AL; and Tupelo, MS. Cris has also worked as an accompanist at Showchoir Camps of America, and has served as a choreographer for both the MS Summer Showchoir Camp and the MS All-State Show Choir with Linda McEachran. He feels blessed to have the opportunity to be a choreographer, adjudicator, and clinician for such talented performers, and would like to thank April James for her guidance and creative inspiration. Currently, Cris is a medical student at Creighton University and will specialize in pediatric surgery.
Jennifer Westphal
Dance Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Jennifer has been an Instructor/Choreographer for the past seven years. She is a member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. Jennifer has taught for the Omaha Community Playhouse as a guest instructor. She has been seen performing at the Iowa State Fair, as an extra dancer in “The Steamroller” Fresh Aire 8 Mannheim Steamroller video, Ak-SAR-BEN Coronation, and with the Creighton Company of Dancers. Jennifer has trained intensively in both Chicago and New York.
Kimberly Clark-Kaczmarek
Acting Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Kim Clark Kaczmarek possesses a B.A. in theatre from Nebraska Wesleyan University and Masters in Theatre from the University of Nebraska Omaha. She is very involved in the Omaha theatre community including working with the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, Omaha Theatre Company for Young People, Omaha Community Playhouse and the Great Plains Theatre Conference. Kim and her husband, Anthony, are co-founders of the Living Picture Project: a local theatre company. During the day, she works as the Adoption and Foster Care Outreach Coordinator for Child Saving Institute.
Roxanne Nielsen
Dance Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Roxanne is Choreographer and Director of Education and Outreach
for the Omaha Community Playhouse.
Roxanne has received numerous awards for choreography and
performance and has worked at many local theatres and schools.
She has over 20 years teaching experience and has taught for
UNO, Creighton University, Contemporary Dance Omaha, Omaha
Dance Teachers Association, The Moving Company, Omaha Dance
Project and Omaha Theatre Company for Young People. Roxanne
trained in local studios and schools and continues training
regularly in New York City. In the summer of 2004, she completed
teacher training with the National Dance Institute. Other
teaching credits include Alzheimer's and the Arts, Boys and
Girls Clubs of Omaha, Omaha Public Schools, Camp Fire Inc.,
YMCA, and other local organizations.
Vincent Carlson
Acting Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Vincent graduated in 2004 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Bachelor of Arts Degree; acting/directing focus. He has taught and directed at Gretna, Blair, Bryan, Westside High School, Iowa Western Community College, UNO, the Rose Theatre, and the Omaha Community Playhouse. Vincent also works as a professional fight director and actor. He has worked onstage for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival since 2002, as well as Shakespeare Unbound (the educational touring wing of NSF) since 2005. He also toured with the Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s professional tour of A Christmas Carol.
In 2004, Vincent co-founded and runs a theatre ensemble that is now heading into its third season. This devised-theatre troupe has produced eight shows in the past two years that appear as the Witching Hour late night series at the Blue Barn Theatre, in addition to making a handful of appearances in the Omaha area: The Holland Center, The Qwest Center, The Omaha Lit Fest, Arts Analog Festival.
Vincent’s first play, Curio and Valentine Are Pissed, was selected and read as part of the Great Plains Theatre Conference led by internationally renowned playwright Edward Albee. In the fall of 2006 Vincent appeared on the Blue Barn main stage in their production of Pillowman and also played Petruchio in the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival’s first annual tour of The Taming of the Shrew.
Jackie Adams
HipHop and Jazz Instructor - Performer's Edge Dance Studio
Dance Instructor - Performer's Edge Academy of Performing Arts
Jackie is an accomplished dancer, teacher, and performer. She appeared as a dancer in the 2005 production of Swing! at the Omaha Community Playhouse, as well as the 2006 production of Chicago with the Ralston Community Theater. Jackie has expertise performing and teaching in the areas of ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, pom, hip hop, ballroom, modern and swing. Jackie has been a member of the Omaha Dance Project since 2004. She was also a teacher in the Dancing Classrooms program, the pilot program of a national project designed to bring ballroom dancing to elementary students in the Omaha Public Schools. Jackie has been an assistant at Entenman’s Studio of Dance since 1998.
PE Faculty (from left) Linda Meuret, Marketing Director, Vince Carlson,
Acting Instructor, Sharon North Jones, Executive Director and Joel Johnston, Artistic Director at one of our many Showcase Performances!
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