FACULTY Directory

With a passion for the performing arts and a devotion to developing and inspiring new talent, there is no better person to creatively and artistically lead AMDA than David Martin. As a producer, director, actor and teacher, Martin has done it all, from staging New York, London and regional productions of Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen and Wilde, to producing numerous television shows with actors John Houseman, James Earl Jones, Edward Herrmann and Sam Waterson, to gala events such as Broadway Plays Washington at the Kennedy Center featuring Beatrice Arthur, Pearl Bailey, Ellen Burstyn and Debbie Reynolds. In his early days at AMDA, Martin produced and directed many critically acclaimed fundraising productions that helped establish the school’s reputation as a world-class performing arts conservatory, includingSing Happy, a tribute to John Kander and Fred Ebb starring Liza Minnelli, Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera; You’re the Top, a tribute to Cole Porter featuring Kevin Kline, Dick Cavett and Lucie Arnaz; and Hey, Look Me Over, a tribute to Cy Coleman starring Neil Simon, Imogene Coca and Mel Torme. Then, in the late 1970s, AMDA founder Philip H. Burton passed the torch on to Martin, who took over as Artistic Director. In the three decades since, Martin has overseen significant expansion, transforming the school into a thriving, fully accredited institution with campuses in both New York and Los Angeles.

Bernard K. Addison, originally from Columbia, South Carolina,  was last seen on the LA stage in the West Coast premiere of The Ballad of Emmett Till at the Fountain Theatre, a production that garnered numerous awards in 2011, including the Ovation Award for Acting Ensemble, the Backstage Garland Award, and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award. He has also performed in the award-winning Los Angeles production of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone as Herald Loomis at the Fountain Theatre and was nominated for the 2006 LA Weekly Theatre Award for Lead Actor, as well as a Garland Award Honorable Mention. Mr. Addison reprised the role of Herald Loomis at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco. Other LA productions include the Theatre @ Boston Court (Mother Courage), the Odyssey (Macbeth), and the Ahmanson Theatre (Romeo and Juliet, directed by Sir Peter Hall). Prior to moving to Los Angeles in 2000, Addison performed at many regional theatres across the country, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, California Shakespeare Festival, the Denver Center Theatre, the McCarter Theatre, the Long Wharf Theatre and many years at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. New York credits include Broadway (Electra); Off-Broadway (Incommunicado at the Judith Anderson, Uncle Jack at the Worth Street Theatre, as well as various productions at the Pearl Theatre) and Off-off Broadway. Television credits include Castle, Ugly Betty, and Desperate Housewives, to name a few. Film credits include Woody Allen’s Celebrity and narration for the documentary, The Farm (1998 Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary). He can also be heard as the narrator for the upcoming Walter Mosley audiobook.

Broadway, Off Broadway and other New York appearances for Brooks include Beauty and the Beast, Grand Hotel, The Little Prince, Sweeney Todd, Nunsense, Pajama Game, Torch Song Trilogy and Annie Warbucks. Regionally her credits range from Shirley Valentine, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Sisters Rosensweig, and Into the Woods, to the world premieres ofJane Eyre, Brothers Karamazov, and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. In the Los Angeles Reprise Series she had leading roles in Bells are Ringing, Pajama Game, Brigadoon and Assassins. California audiences will remember Brooks as Dolly in Hello Dolly, Golda in Fiddler on the Roof, Domina in Forum and Fraulien Schneider in Cabaret at the famed California Music Theater. She also appeared as Mrs. Paroo in Music Man at the Hollywood Bowl. Brooks garnered praise for her recurring roles on The George Lopez Show, Frasier and Dharma and Greg. She has guest starred on numerous TV series such as CSI, Without a Trace, Everybody Loves Raymond, West Wing, According to Jim, ER, The Practice, Nip/Tuck, Dexter, Hannah Montana, The Unit and NCIS. She is also a voice over artist on projects such as Anastasia, Hunchback of Notre Dame and Rocket Power. She is senior faculty in the Musical Theatre Department at AMDA. She has taught at AMDA since 2006 at the Los Angeles Campus. At home she is a hula dancer, a gospel singer, a lover of the blues, a rescuer of lost animals and a newlywed.

Janine received her MFA from the University of Michigan and her BFA from The Ohio State University. She attended Jacob's Pillow dance for 2 summers. In  NYC she was a member of The Doris Humphrey Repertory Co,Eva Dean Dancers,and Mark Dendy Dance just to name a few. She also performed her own work at dance festivals in and around NYC.Later she attended The William Esper Studio for a 2 -year program in theatre. She has performed in commercials (most recently, Cambridge Bank),TV and Indie films. She also was the host of "The Turkish Hour" for 2 seasons on Ebru TV. Her teaching credits started as an apprentice at The National Dance Institute,founded by Jacques D'Ambroise. Recently she completed an education course at The 92 St Y in the Dance Education Laboratory(DEL) and also subs at Peridance. Union member of SAG and AFTRA. Her Cambridge Bank commercial is airing 2012-2013.

Actor, teacher, stuntwoman and fight director. Recognized as a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. Acting and stunt performance credits in film/TV include The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Andrew Jackson, Mulletville, M.O.G., The Three Musketeers, Going Straight, Merv’s Tavern, B.U.S.H. League andThe Accordian Killer. Stage: Enchanted April, Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, All in the Timing, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Henry V, Voice of the Prairie, Belle of Amherst and Chapter Two. Fight direction credits include In the Heart of America, Romeo & Juliet, R (The Swashbuckling Tale of Anne Bonny and Mary Read), Chapter Two, 1001 Arabian Nights, Two Noble Kinsmen, Stages, Music Man and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Listed on file with the Metropolitan Opera Studio. Performed in various productions including Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and Ralph Vaughn Williams’s Riders to the Sea, as well as musicals including Gilbert and Sullivan. Since retiring from performing, she has coached students who have been chosen for prestigious music programs such as the San Francisco Women’s Summer Opera Program and Voice of America Summer European Tour. Trained with Jack Prenner, coach for Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.

Worked for 13 years performing in tours and regional shows all over the U.S. and Europe. U.S. national tours: 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Mame, Carousel, The Goodbye Girl and West Side Story. European tours:  Jesus Christ Superstar, The Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story. Performed for four years in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Director/choreographer: National tours of The Full Monty; Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starring Joe Piscopo (director); Dames at Sea; Barnum; The Wedding Singer; Urinetown; and Little Shop of Horrors. In the past two years, Keith has directed and/or choreographed over 25 productions, including two world premiere musicals: The 7 Little Foys and Cold as Ice, the latter starring gold medalist Oksana Baiul. He also directed The Full Monty starring Sally Struthers, Adrian Zmed and Broadway star Hunter Foster. In his brand-new area of expertise, ice skating, Keith is very proud to have directed Stars, Stripes and Skates, a yearly benefit for the survivors and families of the 9/11 tragedy, and Home for the Holidays, staring 2008 National Ice Dancing Gold Medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto and 2008 National Men’s Champion Evan Lysacek.

Music director, conductor, arranger.  Broadway/national tours include Les Misérables, Show Boat, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof.  Conducting credits include the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Harlem’s Apollo Theatre.  Television credits include “In a New Light” (ABC).  Winner of Bistro and MAC Awards for work in NYC cabarets.  Additional NY credits include Lyrics and Lyricists, Just for Tonight, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Variations on Shakespeare, and his off-Broadway debut, The Vocal Lords.  NYC readings include Merman’s Apprentice, Unlock’d, I Heard it in the Movies, Dorian, Caligula.  Training:  Southern Methodist University, Queen’s College, Oxford University.

Chicago native Miguel Antonio has been dancing since the moment he could walk. He began learning choreography at an early age which helped him discover his passion for creating movement. Miguel started choreographing before the age of ten and has been doing it ever since. Exploring and learning from all types of dance, Miguel still takes class on a weekly basis to stay inspired and motivated to create something fresh and new. Now living in North Hollywood, Miguel teaches regularly at Debbie Reynolds and has had the privilege to travel and teach all over the world since moving in 2009. Miguel has a true passion for inspiring others through his choreography, and plans on doing that for as long as he can. His teaching experience includes Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio (North Hollywood), Movement Lifestyle (North Hollywood), Boogiezone, Hip Hop ConnXion, FnF (Poland) and Hip Hop Meeting (Czech Republic).

Performing Artist, Actor, Singer. Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera- Christine; The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber; Featured soloist at Radio City Music Hall. International Theatre: Sunset Boulevard-Betty Schaefer-Sydmonton Festival, England; The Phantom of the Opera- Christine-Livent World Tour; The Sound of Music-Maria Von Trapp- Far East Tour. Regional Theatre: The King and I- Anna at Lyric Stage; The Sound of Music-Maria at Walnut Street Theatre; Master Class-Sharon at Denver Center Theatre; My Fair Lady-Eliza Doolittle and Music Man-Marian at Austin Music Theatre; Ragtime-Mother at Gateway Playhouse; Oklahoma-Laurey at Casa Manana and at NC Theatre. Teaching Experience: Voice and Individual Voice, Southern Methodist University; Individual Voice, Navarro College. Private voice lessons since 2011.