Meet Our Teachers
Marisa Becker, Education Coordinator
Marisa Becker is the Summer Camp Coordinator for Matthews Playhouse. She has been hard at work putting together these amazing camps for the Matthews/Charlotte community. Before joining, she was a preschool teacher and used her passion to create creative learning opportunities that have easily moved into doing the same for Matthews Playhouse. She loves music, traveling with her family, and all things nerdy. She truly believes that how much theater experience can enrich someone's life, and she is honored to be part of Matthews Playhouse summer
Keetha B.
Keetha B. is an actress, director, playwright, writer, and theatre educator. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Redeeming History Productions, a production company creating work that celebrates the marginalized global majority. She is a theatre teaching artist and has been working with K-12 students for over 15 years. Keetha B. strives to create space for all who wish to learn the craft of acting.
Maddie Coggin
Maddie Coggin just finished her second year of teaching at Ridge Road Middle School. She has always wanted to be involved in theatre but discovered her passion for teaching before receiving her Bachelors in Theatre Education with a minor in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies from Appalachian State University! In her free time, she loves to go to Dunkin', make Tiktoks, hang out with her friends, her cat Banner, and walks on the Greenway!
Rasaun Elliot
Ra’Saun Elliott, a lyrical baritone with a multiplicity of singing styles, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance at Wingate University and is a professional vocal performer. Mr. Elliott plans to obtain his Master’s Degree in the coming years until then he has plan to take time a build his repertoire/resume and vocal abilities in Charlotte, North Carolina while making his way to a BROADer stage! Mr. Elliott has had numerous opportunities to experience in his time at Wingate University such as, premiering two operas, touring in and out the country with the University Singers at Wingate University, and etc! Elliott was a part of Matthews Playhouse’s Production of ‘Sister Act’ as the role of Joey! Ra’Saun is also a chef and loves to cook for his friends and family.
Adrianna Eve
Adrianna Eve is a local choreography from Matthews, NC with a M.A. in Philosophy and Applied Ethics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has been working with Matthews Playhouse since September of 2021. Adrianna is the executive director/choreography of the Adrianna Eve Company (also located in Matthews, NC). Currently, Adrianna is pursuing a M.A. in Legal Studies with a concentration in Indigenous Peoples Law at the University of Oklahoma. Adrianna’s teaching philosophy includes creating a safe and encouraging environment for all dancers in efforts to boost confidence and aid students in finding their own
artistic expression!
Marissa Hertzfeld
Marissa has been involved with Matthews Playhouse for over 10 years. She currently serves as the Theatre Director at Piedmont High School. She is passionate about working with students to develop their theatrical skills and creativity. When she is not at school or the Playhouse, you can spend time outdoors with her husband and sweet pup.
Stefanie Nicholson, Education Director
Stefanie has a BFA in Theater/Performance from the University of Georgia. She has toured professionally with Patchwork Players in Columbia, South Carolina, and has been teaching and directing in the Charlotte area for over 15 years. Stefanie joined Matthews Playhouse in 2003, and enjoys teaching summer camps and directing year-long theater classes. Stefanie loves working with children and believes theater promotes teamwork, builds self-confidence and strengthens imagination.
Krys Paschen
Krys is a theatre educator, performer, and director located in Charlotte, NC. He has been with the Playhouse as a teacher since 2019. He is currently in his fifth year teaching— currently as the Theatre Director at Butler High! As a graduate of App State he majored in Theatre Education. Krys has one simple mission in his theatre philosophy: to make theatre a safe and inclusive place for everyone, no matter where you come from and no matter where you’ve been! He loves sushi, cats, tattoos, games with his friends, and the gym! Some of his favorite shows include: 1984, Jekyll & Hyde, Next to Normal, and Sweeney Todd!
Harrison Bumgardner
Harrison L. Bumgardner is an accomplished, active baritone performer and teacher. He has performed the roles of The Pirate King(Pirates of Penzance), Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods) and Perchik (The Fiddler on the Roof) with the Levine Jewish Community Center, Dewhurst (The Scarlet Pimpernel) and Enjolras (Les Miserables) with Central Piedmont Community College, Pandolfe (Cendrillon) and Masetto (Don
Giovanni) with UNCG Opera Theatre, Marco (Gianni Schicchi) and Boatswain (H.M.S. Pinafore) with Opera Carolina In February 2020, he sang with Andrea Bocelli on stage as an Opera Carolina Featured Artist performing the Quartet from Act III of La Bohème. As a performer, Harrison joined Matthews Playhouse, for the 2011 production of Sound of Music as Admiral Von Schreiber, while his lovely wife
Jennifer Reid Bumgardner played Mother Abbess.
He has taught voice with Community School of the Arts, Southern Park Music School, Lake-Sumter State College (Clermont,FL), Valencia College (Orlando, FL), Wingate University, and Queens University of Charlotte. He opened his private voice studio, The Bumgardner Voice Studio, in 2013 and has been helping singers find their best sound ever since. He joined Matthews playhouse as a Summer Camp Teacher in 2021 and the joined last fall for School of Theatre. After again teaching Summer camp this year, he is looking forward to this new year of School of Theatre.
Sarah Howe
Sarah Howe, a graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, began dancing at the age of 3 in her hometown of Charlotte, NC. While in high school, Sarah began fostering her love of working with children while working at Open Door Studios as an assistant teacher. In college, Sarah spent much of her senior year working with Attack Theatre as the Assistant to the Arts Education Manager, Allison Popieski. Under her leadership, Sarah was able to continue growing her passion for non-profit work and accessibility in the arts; most notably in her work as the Production Director for a new accessible arts initiative, The Adaptive Dance Series. While in
Pittsburgh, Sarah also had the opportunity to work as a Teaching Artist with multiple non-profits, including The E.S.T.E.E.M Group, teaching socio-emotional learning and dance to different ages and levels of movers, including in and out-of-school programming with Pittsburgh Public Schools, and schools for students with multiple disabilities. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Arts in Modern Dance from Point Park University in 2021, and could not be more excited to be returning to the Charlotte area to continue her passion for teaching with non-profits and helpingstudents learn to love their own movement styles.
Keenan McGrath
Keenan McGrath trained for many years in dance and musical theater in her hometown of Wilmington, NC. After a decade living in Manhattan, she relocated with her family to Matthews, where she owns and operates Queen Bee mosquito Control. This is Keenan's second year teaching at Matthews Playhouse, where she recently performed in the mainstage production of Sister Act. Keenan's hobbies include, musical theater, wearing pink, making as many ridiculous puns as possible, eye rolling, and embarrassing her children in public.
Sarah Baumgardner, Executive Director
Sarah Baumgardner is a graduate of Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA where she received her BA in Vocal Performance and a BS in Psychology. She has done Masters work in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and received a Masters of Divinity from Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, An avid sacred music performer, Sarah is most often found singing for local church events, and has served in ministry prior to taking on her role at MPH. Most importantly, Sarah’s passion is in encouraging others to explore their musical gifts and she brings that enthusiasm to each class and lesson.
Marty Wolff
Marty Wolff is a former high school theatre teacher and college professor at Winthrop University. Marty earned his Masters in Fine Arts in the area of Scenic Design from the University of Nebraska in the spring of 2021 after nearly two decades of theatrical experience. He specializes in theatrical design, technology, carpentry and education. As a teacher at heart, Marty loves to share his process with young theatrical up-and-comers and build them toward becoming the next shining stars in our profession.