Meet Our CenterStage Instructors

meet our centerstage sUMMER 2022 faculty

Amy Austin, Musical Director, Guys & Dolls
Amy is one of the founders of CenterStage, directing over 25 shows in the last 20 years. Amy is a lifelong musician, starting piano at age 5, and performing in theatre throughout high school, college and her adult life. Her background includes undergraduate work in elementary education as well as careers in technical training, sales, sales management after which she enjoyed several years as a stay-at-home mom. A graduate from Metropolitan State University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, Amy teaches private voice in Louisville and teaches choir, musical theater, and drama at Summit Charter Middle School in Boulder. In 2004, Amy was named a “Channel 7 Everyday Hero” for her work with CenterStage. Her directing credits include The Wizard of Oz, The Granny Awards, The Sound of Music, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Music Man, Disney’s Jungle Book, Oklahoma!, A Chorus Line, Les Misérables, The Hot Mikado, and Spring Awakening.

Bridget Burke, Musical Director, Once Upon A Mattress
Since childhood, Bridget has been immersed in the local theatre scene as a performer, director, producer, musical director, and stage manager. In New York, she attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in their conservatory program, studying dance, musical theatre, acting, and voice, and working with Broadway actors like Kyle Gonyea (Phantom), Ray Virta (The Thomas Crown Affair), and Stacy Lee Tilton (Brigadoon) among others. In NYC she regularly performed in an Off-Broadway cabaret and at The Peoples Improv Theatre. While working alongside prominent directors in New York, Bridget was inspired to continue her education at The New School, focusing on the other side of the table for her BFA. There she worked with prominent writers and directors like Loren Paul Caplin and Greg Takoudes. Since graduating with honors in December, 2020 she is back in Colorado and excited to return to CenterStage where she was first inspired to make her way in the arts and most recently was Stage Manager for "The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee".

Fiona Cubillas, Summer 2022 Stage Manager
Fiona is excited to be back again as part of the team! She has been working the summer camps since 2018 and has been involved with CenterStage/Tapestry since 2013. Most recently, she stage managed Guys & Dolls and Matilda Jr. Currently, she is studying elementary education with tracks in Performing & Visual Arts and Linguistic Diversity at the University of Northern Colorado.

Molly Fickes, Choreographer, Guys & Dolls
Molly is thrilled to be spending her summer at her favorite place - CenterStage! She choreographed Fame Jr. last summer and has numerous credits at CSTC including Little Red (Into the Woods) and Amy March (Little Women). She is currently in Aurora Fox’s production of Freaky Friday playing through May 22nd!

Rachel D. Graham, Assistant Director, Harry Potter 1 & 2. Rachel is thrilled to be back at the helm creating theatre with some of her favorite Wizarding World stories! Although new to CenterStage, she has directed theatre with young actors at Wolf Theatre Academy and other theatres around the state. Other directing credits include “The Polar Express Train Ride” at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden and assistant director of “Squirrels” at the Aurora Fox. Rachel has a BA in Acting and a passion performing in theatre for young audiences. Credits include title characters in “The Little Prince” and “The Tomato Plant Girl” (Denver Children’s Theatre). Fern “Charlotte’s Web,” Alexander “Alexander Who’s Not…Going to Move,” and Red Dog “Go, Dog, Go!” (Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities). Rachel is a recipient of True West Awards (2021, 2015), and nominated for the 2013 Henry Award for Best Supporting Actress for Sister James in “Doubt” with Cherry Creek Theatre. “…Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” - Albus Dumbledore.

Cammie Kolber, Director, Guys & Dolls
Cammie began performing with CSTC in 2000 and has been involved ever since! She graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Music Education (vocal) and currently teaches K-5 general music at Village East Elementary School.

She began directing summer camps for CSTC in 2012 after being involved as a counselor, stage manager, and music director for camps and other CSTC productions in years prior. In 2013, Cammie toured with Up with People, where she performed throughout the US, Mexico, and Europe. Since her return she has performed in many theater productions in the area, continued her work directing CSTC summer camps, and music directed many of the Tapestry Theatre musicals.

Claire Leon, Choreographer, Once Upon A Mattress & Legally Blonde
Claire began her dance studies early in her life, starting at The Academy Program at Spectrum Dance Theatre in Seattle under the direction of Donald Byrd. Studying multiple techniques, from Contemporary to African Dance, her training has been extremely diverse. She was accepted to Hubbard Street’s intensive, studying under the influence of artistic director Glenn Edgerton, learning company repertoire.

Ever since the beginning of her journey with dance, emotion and storytelling have been incredibly influential. She took her passion to the theatrical stage, performing in multiple shows at Studio East such as Into the Woods, Singin’ in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz and many more. Under the mentorship of Artistic Director Lani Brockman, she was selected as dance captain for multiple shows and traveled to New York with the studio for professional workshops at Circle in the Square.

After being admitted to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), she studied under multiple professors such as, Ray Virta, Stacy Lee Tilton and Eugenio Contenti. Graduating in 2019, Claire entered the professional world of New York City, starting as an assistant choreographer for Eugenio Contenti at the Argyle Theatre. After working with both Contenti and the cast for several months throughout the rehearsal process, she was hired as the swing for their production of The Full Monty.
Claire has always been drawn to theatre and the performing arts, committing herself to a career in the industry at an early age. The performing arts brings people together creating a beautiful community, something she believes everyone needs a little bit more of right now. She’s looking forward to sharing her knowledge and contributing to others’ training. Returning to Colorado, she is honored and thrilled to continue her work.

Megan McDonald, Director, Matilda Jr.
Megan is thrilled to be returning to CSTC! As a Middle School Counselor at Eldorado PK-8, Megan cherishes her role in helping to support students as they work through life transitions and discover who they are. She is also honored to have directed the annual school musical at Eldorado for the last 22 years and believes that theatre and the arts are integral to our growth and development as humans. Last year she co-directed the popular 13, The Musical for CSTC. Some of her favorite shows to direct have been Lion King, Jr., Mulan, Jr., & Mary Poppins, Jr. (many of which starred current and past CSTC students!). While Megan’s time to perform is more limited, she has played the role of Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods with Breckenridge Backstage Theatre and enjoys being able to connect to this creative side of herself. Megan also enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 kids in the beautiful outdoors of Colorado. Megan looks forward to sharing her passion for theatre and working with youth!

Lee Ann Scherlong, Director, Once Upon A Mattress
A native of Colorado, Lee Ann has worked professionally as a director, music director, theatre educator, actor, teaching artist and arts administrator for over 30 years.
Lee Ann has worked extensively within the world of Theatre for Young Audiences and has a passion for providing opportunities for young people to learn the craft of acting and to participate in the performing arts. Companies Lee Ann has worked for include Fort Collins Children’s Theatre, Factory Five Five, Northglenn Youth Theatre, Cherry Creek Theatre, Neighborhood Music School, Aurora Fox and Vintage Theatre Productions. Youth productions directed include Seussical, Alice in Wonderland (play), and Wizard of Oz. Youth theatre productions music directed include James and the Giant Peach, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Honk!, the Musical, Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Freaky Friday, and Frozen Jr.

Nick Sugar, Director/Choreographer, Rent is a producer, director, choreographer, instructor and performer in and around the Denver area. His professional career spans over 20 years and nearly 200 productions. Nick served as the Artistic Director for The Theater Group / Theater on Broadway for 7 years. He has also served on the board of directors for the Colorado Theater Guild and Town Hall Arts Center where he is also a resident director and choreographer.

This year Nick is a guest artist at Denver School of the Arts. He has also taught at The Denver Center for the Arts, University of Northern Colorado, Denver University / Lamont School of Music, and Stage Eleven.

In 2020 Nick became the most-honored individual in Colorado Theater Guild history, with 23 individual Henry Award nominations, after receiving three additional nominations for Best Musical, Best Direction and Best Choreography for his most recent production of Cabaret. Some of his other favorite award winning productions over the years include RENT, Hair, Chicago, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Rocky Horror, Tommy, Young Frankenstein and Dog Sees God.

Leigh Toltz, Musical Director, Matilda Jr.
At the age of 14, Leigh began her singing career in musical theater in Denver, Colorado. She channeled her passion and years of performing experience to earn a Master’s of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy at New York University. Leigh began her voice teaching career as an Adjunct Professor at NYU in 2015. Expert in the anatomy and mechanics of voice, Leigh brings a technical approach to vocal production. Her students learn not only to master healthy vocal technique but explore the dramatic circumstances to bring musical selections to life. Leigh is very excited to combine her years of performance experience and voice teaching experience and begin her music directing career.

Brandon Warren, Musical Director, Legally Blonde
Brandon Warren first began working with CenterStage his sophomore year of High School, performing Willard in the musical Footloose. He has since provided musical direction for Freaky Friday the Musical and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He is currently pursuing his undergraduate in mathematics at CU, but seeks to musical direct every summer out of love for the craft. He is now thrilled to have the opportunity to work on Legally Blonde, which has been a personal favorite of his for some time, as well as perpetuating the tradition of working alongside his wonderful mother Tracy Warren. In addition to his time musical directing at CenterStage, Brandon has also worked on Spring Awakening, Dogfight, and Once on this Island. He is deeply grateful for the opportunity to seek excellence in music alongside the incredible talent that Centerstage attracts!

Tracy Warren, Director, Legally Blonde
Tracy started dancing at the age of 4 and has never looked back. She holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Stevens College and has worked professionally across the world. Tracy is the singing voice of Tuptim in the Warner Brother’s animated feature, “The King and I” as well as a recorded vocalist for Disney on Ice. She recorded the voices of Blonde and Broomhilde the witch for Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure, as well as a duet with Davis Gaines for the park’s fireworks show. On Broadway, Tracy originated the role of Dainty June in the Tyne Daly revival of Gypsy. She also toured nationally with this production and can be heard on the cast album. Other national tours include the LA sit-down tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Belle/Silly Girl) and the Hal Prince revival of Show Boat (ensemble/Kim understudy). Tracy has been a company member at BDT Stage for the past 12 years, and has been in shows around the region, including at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and the now closed Country Dinner Playhouse. Tracy is the proud mother of Brandon Warren and Chris Warren. What a thrill to work with her favorite musical director (Brandon) once again!

Steve Wilson, Director, Harry Potter 1 & 2 (also CSTC Executive Artistic Director)
Steve has been administrating, directing, teaching and performing in Colorado for over 30 years. Deeply dedicated to arts education, he joined the CenterStage/ Tapestry team as Executive Artistic Director in August 2021. He holds an MFA degree in acting from the National Theatre Conservatory (part of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts) and a BFA degree in drama from the University of Southern California.

As theatre director recent credits include: The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong (Vintage Theatre Company), The Sound of Music (Candlelight Dinner Playhouse), Fiddler on the Roof (Ovation West) and An Ideal Husband (The Naples Players). He garnered awards for “Best Director” from both the Denver Post and Boulder Daily Camera as well as four Henry Awards (Colorado’s Tony Award) for “Best Direction of a Musical” for his productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Urinetown, Man of LaMancha and Beauty & the Beast for PHAMALY Theatre Company. Steve also received a Denver Post Ovation award as “Best Director of a Musical” for PHAMALY’s Joseph... and Side Show as well as a “Best of Westword” award for “Best Direction of a Musical” for PHAMALY’s Beauty and the Beast. In addition, he was the recipient of the 2014 “True West Theatre Person of the Year” award. For 14 years he served as the Artistic Director of PHAMALY where directing credits included Grand Hotel, Damn Yankees, Once Upon a Mattress, The Pajama Game, Guys and Dolls, The Wiz, Our Town, How to Succeed, Little Shop of Horrors, The Elephant Man, Fiddler on the Roof, It’s A Wonderful Life and Annie. Additionally Steve has directed: Poignant Irritations (world premiere and winner of “Best New Play”), The Sisters Rosensweig and The Cradle Will Rock (Mizel Center); over 30 major productions for the Wolf Theatre Academy; Chinglish (Aurora Fox Arts Center); Cyrano de Bergerac (Compass Theatre Company); Androcles and the Lion, The Prince and the Pauper, The Last Paving Stone, Tomato Plant Girl, The Snow Queen, Art Dog, The Jungle Book and Sleeping Beauty (Denver Children’s Theatre); Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Comedy of Errors (Bug Theatre); Oliver! (Town Hall Arts Center) and Twelfth Night (The Theatre Group).

As administrator/ educator/ artistic director, Steve has overseen the development of four companies, including the Living Edge Theatre Company in Los Angeles, Compass Theatre Company in Denver, the theatre department of the Mizel Arts and Culture Center and PHAMALY Theatre Company. He has served as adjunct professor for the Arts and Culture Management program at DU’s University College. He has been a faculty member at the Wolf Theatre Academy, Stage Eleven and St. Mary’s Academy (10 years), as well as an artist-in-residence throughout the Cherry Creek and Denver Public School Districts.