Courtney Boches (Workshop Director/Instructor)
Courtney has a Masters in Theatre from Villanova University and works as a freelance director, teacher, and costume designer.  She has been directing for Firebird's summer workshop program since its inception in 2013 and loves working with the very talented young actors each year.  As a costume designer she has worked with Firebird, Simpatico Theatre Project, Azuka Theatre, and Villanova Theatre, among others, and worked with Tony-winner William Ivey Long on the musical Little Dancer.  On stage, she has performed in The Music Man, Gypsy, White Christmas, It's A Wonderful Life, and many others.  www.courtneyboches.com

Victoria Rose Bonito (Workshop Director/Instructor)
Victoria is an actress, teaching artist, and director in the greater Philadelphia area. Teaching credits include the Montgomery Theatre, Theatre Horizon, and The Little Theatre. City and regional performance credits include the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, City Theatre Company, REV Theatre Company, Scranton Shakespeare Festival, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and Theatre of the Seventh Sister. Victoria has her BA in Theatre, English, and Secondary Education from DeSales University and her MA in Theatre from Villanova University, where she was a costume assistant with Firebird's own Courtney Boches. 

​​​Caitlyn Colgan (Workshop Instructor/Choreographer/Assistant Director)
Caitlyn graduated from York College of Pennsylvania in 2017 with a degree in Public Relations, and a double minor in Speech Communication and Musical Theater. Caitlyn has been part of the mainstage productions in many different ways, including assistant director, assistant choreographer and also as an actor.  Also at Firebird, Caitlyn has choreographed many of the junior workshops including Lion King Jr., Guys & Dolls Jr., and Xanadu Jr. Recently Caitlyn made her NYC debut as a choreographer in the New York Musical Festival for the new show Dorian Gray The Musical.  Acting credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty), Hairspray (Amber) and Tape (Amy).  

Kate Coll (Choreographer)
Kate’s previous choreography credits include "Hairspray",  “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Gypsy,” and “The King and I.”   She has also acted in a variety of community theater productions include playing the role of Tessie Tura in “Gypsy,” Laurey in “Oklahoma,” and Anna in “The King and I.”

​Craig Corrao (Director and Instructor of Main Stage and Workshops)
Craig is a reading specialist at the Arcola Intermediate School where he has also directed the spring musical for the past three years.  Over the last thirty years he has acted, produced, and directed at a variety of community theaters including Forge Theatre, Playcrafters, and DCP.  Craig is also an aspiring guitarist who plans on forming a blues/country/rock band in the not too distant future.

Mark Edwards (Pit & Musical Director)
​Mark has retired from service with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  He has had an exceptional twenty-one year career as an Institutional Music Teacher at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford where he has provided comprehensive programming and activities for the residents who wish to improve themselves through the musical experience.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from West Chester University where he concentrated in both instrumental and vocal fields of study.  He has held the position of artistic director and conductor of the Audubon Symphony Orchestra from 1997 through 2009.  Since 1986 he has been proprietor of EmCee Entertainment, performing both as professional disc jockey for wedding receptions and all kinds of celebrations and as sound engineer for local bands and events. Mark has performed professionally as a jazz and pop cocktail pianist and as a rock and pop guitarist and vocalist. He has also composed and arranged music for orchestral, jazz and pop ensembles, and currently teaches instrumental lessons part-time.
Mark’s theatrical experience began in the 70’s when he directed summer stock theater, including two seasons of musical reviews and full productions of “Godspell”, “Two By Two”, “110 In The Shade”, and “The Fantastiks”.  Starting in 2006, he has been pit orchestra conductor for the Upper Merion Area High School’s productions of “Into The Woods”, “Grease”, "Little Shop of Horrors”, “Hello! Dolly!”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, “Annie”, “Hairspray”, and “Fame”.  In addition, he has played drums or keyboard bass for collegiate, high school and theater groups for such shows as “Cabaret”, “110 In The Shade”, “West Side Story”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “South Pacific”, “1776”, “Anything Goes”, and “Legally Blonde”.  Mark conducted and was Musical Director for our "Hairspray" Main Stage Show last year.

Michelle Horoho (Workshop Director/Instructor)
Michelle currently teaches music at Good Samaritan Day school in Paoli. She has spent most of her life participating in theatre and music in some capacity. She spent many years performing in local community theatres, and is actively involved in her church's music program. All of her four children are actively involved in Firebird Theatre productions. She directed Aristocats KIDS as part of our Summer Workshop 2016 programs at Methacton School District. Michelle is thrilled to share her love of theatre with the young performers!

 Christen Mandracchia (Lighting Designer)
Christen received her Masters in Theatre from Villanova University where she served as a Scenic Assistant, acted, directed, and wrote many a scholarly piece.  She is currently a professor of theatre at Penn State Abington and Delaware County Community College as well as the Production Manager and Technical Director of Harriton High School's theatre program.  She has worked as a professional lighting designer in the city of Philadelphia and surrounding theatres and schools for six years and was the lighting designer for the multimedia dance concert ALT/MODE as part of Central Park's Summerstage series in NYC last summer.  In 2011 she was the lighting designer for TLC's Buddy the "Cake Boss" on his PA stop in his national tour.  Her design work can be seen on her website https://www.behance.net/chmandracchia She recently directed the musical Gypsy with King of Prussia Players and Venus in Fur at The Centre Theatre in Norristown.  She also is the Company Manager for the Philadelphia Women's Theatre Festival and is looking forward to this summer's lineup.  

Seth Martin (Director, Theatre Workshops Instructor)
Seth is no stranger to Firebird Theatre having been the music director for Elf Jr. in 2015 and co-teaching the Triple Threat Workshop in 2016. He is a graduate of Villanova University with a Master of Arts in Theatre. Before moving to Philadelphia, Seth directed youth of all ages in musicals in the Central Pennsylvania region and was honored with four Hershey Theatre Apollo Award nominations and one win. Seth currently serves as the Creative Arts Pastor at HighPointe Church in Philadelphia and is also a freelance acting coach, director, designer, and performer.

Deana Wisniewski (Winter/Spring Theatre Workshops)
Deana is a graduate of Seton Hill University with a B.A. in Theatre.  After graduating from college she worked professionally as an actress in theater, TV, commercials, film and radio.  Deana turned her love of acting into a passion for teaching.  She owned and operated her own Drama School for many years and came to teach for Firebird in 2011.  She has been involved with the local theater scene either on stage or behind the scenes for over 25 years. What makes Deana the most proud is that so many of her young students are now grown up and pursuing an acting career of their own.  She expects to one day in the future be mentioned in someone’s Oscar speech! Deana lives in Oaks with her husband and three children.  When she isn’t spending time with her family or at the theater, you can find her putting her past experience as a dance instructor to use teaching Zumba classes.