Joe DeMita is one of the founders, and current Artistic Director, of The F.U.D.G.E Theatre Company, Inc. He graduated from Stonehill College in 2005 with a degree in Psychology. Favorite directing credits include Company, Urinetown, The House of Blue Leaves, Into the Woods, Bat Boy, I Love You Because, Fuddy Meers, and the Boston premiere of the musical bare. Joe has also served as the directing intern to Rob Ruggiero at TheatreWorks Hartford on productions of The Exonerated (featuring TV/Film star Kim Fields) and the world premiere musical Ella: Off the Record (starring Broadway's Tina Fabrique). During the summer, Joe works in the pre-school program of the KIDSTOCK! Educational Theater Center. During the school year, Joe teaches 7th grade drama in Brookline, and also serves as the coordinator and teacher for the 3rd and 4th grade Runkle Extended Day program at the same school.

Samm Hammel, Director/Founder has been coaching young actors, singers, and dancers since 1998. She graduated from Wagner College in 2006 with a B.A. in Theater Education. Samm has studied theater at the Walnut Hill School for Performing Arts under Eileen O'Brien and Kirstin McKinney; dance at Broadway Dance Center (NY) and Dancers Workshop (MA); and voice with Bob Marks (NY) and Marsha Vleck (MA). In 2002 she had the privilege of working under Lynda St. James at The Cameo Agency, New England's largest talent and modeling agency for kids and teens and was the recipient of the Metrowest 2002 Future Leaders Award. Also in 2002, she produced two full-length children's albums. Samantha co-created Girl Authority with Rounder Records. As a director, Samantha proudly studied under Chris Catt at Wagner College and Snug Harbor Cultural Institute. Since the age of fourteen, she has directed, produced, and/or choreographed eight seasons of The Friends of Broadway, a dozen mainstage musicals, and seven youth musicals. She is thrilled to bring one of her many dreams to life with The Performing Arts Connection.

Tom Violet received his B.A. in Drama/Music from Bennington College in Vermont. He has worked as a director with Samantha Hammel since 2004. His inherent belief in a theater that is organic, unexpected, both amusing and transformative, malleable, serious and silly, bare, and accessible and essential, has found a kindred pulse with the Performing Arts Connection. Tom also spends his time as the Adviser to the Youth Video Club at Billerica Access Television, as well as the Outreach Coordinator for the 2008 Massachusetts Poetry Festival in Lowell.

Carla Gerken has been assisting and teaching dance for the past seven years. She graduated in May with her BFA in dance from West Texas A&M University. While there she was a member of the dance ensemble performing in all of their productions as well as many associated with the theatre department. She taught her way through college at the WT Dance Academy as well at Lonestar Ballet. She was also seen on stage during Lonestar Ballet's productions of Nutcracker and Giselle. She has been a dancer and line captain for Texas Musical Drama for the past two seasons and has taught at various dance camps.

Bonnie Petry began her training with the East Derry Dance Studio in NH, where she trained and performed in various pieces including the Nutcracker for 15 years. She spent two years training at The Boston Conservatory, with a focus on Dance Education. Bonnie was a co-director of a non-profit dance troupe, the Derry Dance Theater for 6 six years and she has spent the last 8 years teaching and choreographing performances for private and public showings. Bonnie has studied various styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, and African. She currently trains and performs with the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in Boston.

Abby Schwab is a Certified Yoga Teacher, Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer and Zumba Dance Teacher. She enjoys teaching adults, teens and children. All of Abby's classes are designed to inspire confidence through movement and personal expression, tapping into each student's unique spirit. Abby is continuously inspired by her students, encouraging them to live a life of vitality, with humor, healing and wellness.

Lauren Elena Drapek has been on staff at The Performing Arts Connection since the summer of 2006. She holds a B.Mus. in Music Education with a concentration in Vocal Performance from New York University and is currently working towards her Ed.M. at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has trained in both classical and musical theatre singing, most recently under Professors Erin Heisel and Gregory Sheppard. Lauren has also trained in acting under Anna Smulowitz and Bonni Jean Wilbur of the Firehouse Theater. Though primarily a singer, Lauren has an extensive background in instrumental music, including piano, French horn, mellophone, and clarinet. She has years of experience as a performer, director, music director, and educator through New York University, Danvers Youth Theatre, Inverse Theater Co. (NYC), the North Shore Music Theater, and others.

John Bower comes to The Performing Arts Connection as a recent graduate from Haverford College where he earned a BA in music theory/composition and vocal performance in May, 2007. He was selected to direct his a cappella group, the 'Ford S-Chords, as only a sophomore and has retained the position arranging music, teaching parts, and conducting the group since then. In addition to his work with the S-Chords, JB was a co-founder of Haverford's student-led musical theatre company, Greasepaint Productions, and has been active as a performer, musical director, and accompanist for Godspell (Jeffrey), Once Upon a Mattress (Sir Harry), The Last Five Years (musical director), I Love You You're Perfect Now Change (musical director/accompanist), and Cabaret (musical director). For the past three summers, he worked at the Ravenscroft Summer Musical Theatre Program in Raleigh, NC, where kids ages 10-17 learned about audition techniques, stage presence, as well as the fundamentals of singing in a musical theatre setting. Currently, he studies voice, both classical and musical theatre, with Randall Scarlata.

Michelle Drapek Bio and photo coming soon!

Beth Ledeboer Bio and photo coming soon!