Teaching Artists 2024

Hope Allen (She/Her) is a Senior at Syracuse University in the BFA Stage Management program. This is her second year as a Teaching Artist, and she is so excited to be back! Her passion for the performing arts started at Dreamwrights in 2015, when she played a Jitterbug in The Wizard of Oz. Since then, she has been involved in multiple productions with Dreamwrights, her most recent credit being American Idiot (PSM). Other credits include: Spring Awakening, The Moors, Sender, The Queen of England, Finding Nemo Jr. and many others. In addition, she has experience in company management, front of house management, dramaturgy, and sound engineering.  

Kate Brennan has created 5 musicals including The Infinity Trilogy, the recipient of a 2021 MAP Grant. Her Brennan & White musical ALiEN8 is available with YouthPlays and her poetry book, elevated thoughts, was released with Literati Press. Her first musicals, Some Assembly Required and ELFuego, premiered in Philadelphia.  Her play What’s in Store was most recently developed with Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival. Her writing has appeared in McSweeney’s, Dramatist, Howlround, and The New York Times. Kate runs The Brennan Book Blog and its accompanying podcast as well as The Fair Play Podcast.  As a Designated Linklater Teacher, Certified Yoga Instructor, Certified Thai Bodyworker, Melt Hand & Foot Instructor, Kate has been on faculty with Oklahoma City University, Temple University, St. Joseph’s University, Rosemont College, McCarter Theatre Center, Tofte Lake Center and Broadway Classroom, among others.  Her methodology, Brennan Check-In, cultivates more present, collaborative and self-sufficient artists who are agents of their own well-being. She is a member of The Dramatist Guild, AEA and VASTA. Kate holds an MFA from The University of Virginia and is Artistic Director of Ignition Arts. 

Josh Cartwright is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter from Hanover, PA. After graduating from Hanover Senior High School, Josh studied film production at Florida State University’s renowned College of Motion Picture Arts. While there, he won a College Television Award for Best Children’s Program with his short film “Lemonopolis”. His feature-length script “Oscar” was a Quarterfinalist in the ScreenCraft Animated Script competition. Josh currently works as a Creative Strategist in York, PA, while continuing to write screenplays in his spare time.

Deirdre has a passion for the arts. Growing up in a creative household, it is only fitting for her to follow her passion. She has years of pre-professional Dance training with Susquehanna Dance Center and Musical Theater training through a myriad of mentors.  She Joined COBALT dance company as a Backup Dancer and performed along the east coast, and became a teaching artist with Weary Arts Group. Though she loves to be onstage she has a passion for the creative process as well, directing multiple shows in the area as well as running the drama department at West York High School. She strives to create an environment where healthy learning can take place. Where people aren’t afraid to be themselves and tell beautiful stories.

Gabriel has a passion for musical theater and choreography. At 14, she choreographed her first musical alongside her twin sister, Deirdre. She has choreographed shows such as West Side Story, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awaking, and many others. Her goal is to continue to create a welcoming and positive environment where artists can grow and thrive, not only as artists but as people.

Jan’s passion for the stage was ignited during her first solo vocal performance at the age of three. That passion continued to burn throughout her high school and college years as she performed in many plays and musicals. She achieved her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and went on to teach at several school districts in York County. Currently, she is a preschool and substitute teacher. She is delighted to be able to combine her love for the arts and children by teaching theater classes.

Randy Flaum is a documentary photographer covering events and people from York County. He moved to York, PA, in 2000 as the photography editor for The York Dispatch. His career began in Connecticut covering stories throughout that state. Since retiring from The Dispatch Randy has been telling visual stories from local events and the people who make up York County.

Anna Fraser (she/her) is an Eckerd College graduate with a BA in both Theatre and Animal Studies, and she has been performing onstage and working behind the scenes at DreamWrights since she was 8 years old. She has an affinity for historical costumes, particularly from the Renaissance and Regency eras, and loves writing and literature. Anna is DreamWrights Costume Shop Manager and has costumed several shows. More often than not, she has a book waiting nearby to be picked up at her earliest convenience.

Crystal is a mom of two and a wife of 13 years. She is originally from Massachusetts, and earned both a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts, Theater Concentration; and English and Book Arts, from the University of Maine at Machias. Acting and directing in 4 different states has given Crystal a unique perspective, and she has had the opportunity to work with various ages and populations. She is currently a coach, teaching acting and modeling to ages 6 and up, at John Casablancas. Crystal is excited to share her talent and experience with the community in her first season as a Teaching Artist at DreamWrights.

Becca Gibbs is a York County native with a passionate history in performance. They attended York College of Pennsylvania where they studied Theatre with a minor in Dance. They were in the competition a capella group, Rhapsody, and held the VP position of Alpha Psi Omega, a fraternity for theatre artists. Becca is the current choreographer for Central York High School and is eager to be a part of the DreamWrights team!

Hannah is a sophomore at York College of Pennsylvania, majoring in Early Elementary Education and minoring in Musical Theatre! Hannah has been acting, singing, and dancing since she was little. She has participated in around 45 productions both on and offstage. While Hannah loves acting, her favorite parts of theatre are directing and teaching others about theatre! Hannah is also a voice teacher for Crowne Voice Studio and the director of the Indian Rock Elementary School musical. Growing up in York, PA, Hannah has been coming to DreamWrights camps since she was 5, and she did her first main stage show when she was 7! As a former camper and camp counselor, she loves coming back to DreamWrights every summer to teach a new group of kids about theatre and have fun!

Julia Heffner is a graduate from Messiah University with a BS in Middle Level Education with a concentration in Math and Science. She is currently a 6th grade science teacher at York Suburban Middle School. Julia has been involved at DreamWrights since she was a baby and has been a teaching artist for the past 9 years! She was trained in more than 6 different styles of dance for 14 years, has been involved in PMEA District and Region choir as well as had numerous lead roles within her schools. In 2019, she was named Best Female Performer at the York County Encore awards with her performance as Leading Player in Pippin. Though Julia teaches science during the school year, she loves being able to express her musical abilities at DreamWrights!

Justin is a Psychology and Frederick Honors College student at the University of Pittsburgh. Passionate about literature and theater, Justin has portrayed Hamlet in OrangeMite’s Hamlet as well as several other lead roles in high school. He has also been a part of Pitt’s Stage Combat Club, and hopes to get involved in Pitt’s theater scene next year. He’s worked with youth previously at his church’s vacation bible school and loves working with kids. Justin is excited to share his love of the stage and the written word with people, and he hopes he can teach them something new.