Lori Kolodziej- Executive Director
Lori has been the Producer/Executive Director for all productions at the Grand Theatre and now for Mon River Arts for the past twenty years. In addition to running a full time business, Lori works for the Elizabeth Forward School District at Mount Vernon Elementary. She also volunteers her time on a variety of committees in the community, including Plum Street Committee (Thursday night outdoor concert series) as Chairperson/ Entertainment Coordinator. Lori and her husband Ken are the proud parents of three girls, but their newest prides and joys are their three beautiful grandchildren.
Samantha Parks - Director of Curriculum
The world of the Arts and Theater has been an important aspect of Samantha's life since she was young. Helping with her mother's dance studio and performing business, she learned the ins and outs of the administrative duties of helping an Arts business be successful. Samantha has been dancing since she was a young girl in her hometown of Medina, Ohio. Her dance studies started at age two and continued through college. Through her experiences, she had the privilege of performing with American Ballet Theatre and Cincinnati Ballet Company. Her expertise is in ballet and jazz, but she also has extensive training in modern, contemporary, tap and musical theatre. Samantha graduated from Slippery Rock University, teaches English Language Arts and Gifted in the Baldwin-Whitehall school district, and works with the Musical Theatre program at J. E. Harrison Middle School.
Michael Nath- Technical Director
Meet our Instructors!
Jen Gorton - Summer Camp Director
Camp Director Jen Gorton attended the New England Conservatory, and East Nazarene College, in Quincy, Massachusetts and earned her Master’s degree in Voice Performance from Boston University. She has an extensive background in music performance and education. She directed a concert choir performance at Carnegie Hall, in New York City. She also conducted and accompanied jazz choirs and was music director for the productions of PIRATES OF PENZANCE, GUYS AND DOLLS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, CHILDREN OF EDEN, THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, FOOTLOOSE, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, NEWSIES, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, HAIRSPRAY, and BYE BYE BIRDIE. She has directed performances at the Olympic Games in Australia in September 2000 and was an Adjunct Professor at Point Park University from 2003-2008. Jen was Musical Director of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Summer Program from 2007-2008 and is currently a Musical Theater Instructor at the Center for Theater Arts. She directed five shows with Mon River Arts’ Petite Players and is a private voice instructor and Music Director of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church.
Camp Director Jen Gorton attended the New England Conservatory, and East Nazarene College, in Quincy, Massachusetts and earned her Master’s degree in Voice Performance from Boston University. She has an extensive background in music performance and education. She directed a concert choir performance at Carnegie Hall, in New York City. She also conducted and accompanied jazz choirs and was music director for the productions of PIRATES OF PENZANCE, GUYS AND DOLLS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, CHILDREN OF EDEN, THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, FOOTLOOSE, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, NEWSIES, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, HAIRSPRAY, and BYE BYE BIRDIE. She has directed performances at the Olympic Games in Australia in September 2000 and was an Adjunct Professor at Point Park University from 2003-2008. Jen was Musical Director of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Summer Program from 2007-2008 and is currently a Musical Theater Instructor at the Center for Theater Arts. She directed five shows with Mon River Arts’ Petite Players and is a private voice instructor and Music Director of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church.
Samantha Parks - Dance Instructor
See bio above
Amanda Rhoades- Rising Stars Class Instructor
Amanda Rhoades is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania majoring in Theatre Design/Entertainment Technology with a focus in Directing. She has directed children’s musicals since see was a young adult herself at the age of seventeen. In her free time, she enjoys designing light and sound designs for shows. Amanda cannot wait to get started with Mon River Arts and looks forward to working with little kiddos with big personalities.
Amanda Rhoades is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania majoring in Theatre Design/Entertainment Technology with a focus in Directing. She has directed children’s musicals since see was a young adult herself at the age of seventeen. In her free time, she enjoys designing light and sound designs for shows. Amanda cannot wait to get started with Mon River Arts and looks forward to working with little kiddos with big personalities.
Samantha Deconciliis-Davin- Stage Players and Showstoppers Instructor
Samantha DeConciliis-Davin is an English Teacher and Drama Club Moderator. She grew up in community theatre, and continued this passion by co-directing McGuffey High School's musicals. When she is not teaching or in the theatre, Samantha loves to sing, read, and spend time with her nieces and nephews. She finds theatre to be an important outlet for children and adults, and looks forward to helping students find their performance voice!
Samantha DeConciliis-Davin is an English Teacher and Drama Club Moderator. She grew up in community theatre, and continued this passion by co-directing McGuffey High School's musicals. When she is not teaching or in the theatre, Samantha loves to sing, read, and spend time with her nieces and nephews. She finds theatre to be an important outlet for children and adults, and looks forward to helping students find their performance voice!
Christine Pittman- Showstoppers Class and Dance Instructor
Christine grew up dancing and training in all styles of dance. She continued her dance training at Point Park University and Slippery Rock University, while still earning multiple degrees in education. She enjoys being a teacher as well as coaching dancers. Christine also loves singing and performing in musicals. She was last seen at the Grand Theatre in Gypsy and The Rocky Horror Show. Christine cannot wait to share her passion for dance with all her new students.
Christine grew up dancing and training in all styles of dance. She continued her dance training at Point Park University and Slippery Rock University, while still earning multiple degrees in education. She enjoys being a teacher as well as coaching dancers. Christine also loves singing and performing in musicals. She was last seen at the Grand Theatre in Gypsy and The Rocky Horror Show. Christine cannot wait to share her passion for dance with all her new students.
Diane McClintock- Stageplayers Class Vocal Instructor
Diane McClintock (Disy) is a familiar face at Mon River Arts & is so excited to be the Vocal teacher for the "Showstoppers" class. For the main stage, she was last seen as Georgie/Pastey in “Gypsy”, Sister Mary Lazarus in "Sister Act". For the Youth Theater, Diane music directed "Aladdin", "The Lion King", "Into the Woods", "My Son, Pinocchio", and "Willy Wonka", and stage managed "The Little Mermaid." She is also the current President of the Board of Directors for MRA, teaches music in the South Allegheny School District and is a substitute Choir Director at Hamilton Presbyterian Church. She also has the pleasure of being the Vocal Director for the spring musical at West Mifflin High School.
Diane McClintock (Disy) is a familiar face at Mon River Arts & is so excited to be the Vocal teacher for the "Showstoppers" class. For the main stage, she was last seen as Georgie/Pastey in “Gypsy”, Sister Mary Lazarus in "Sister Act". For the Youth Theater, Diane music directed "Aladdin", "The Lion King", "Into the Woods", "My Son, Pinocchio", and "Willy Wonka", and stage managed "The Little Mermaid." She is also the current President of the Board of Directors for MRA, teaches music in the South Allegheny School District and is a substitute Choir Director at Hamilton Presbyterian Church. She also has the pleasure of being the Vocal Director for the spring musical at West Mifflin High School.
Leah Prestogeorge- Dance Instructor
Leah Prestogeorge is so excited to be joining the Mon River Arts family as the Beginner Jazz instructor on Saturday mornings! She's a recent graduate from Seton Hill University where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre. She started taking dance and theatre classes at the age of 5 and it’s been a huge part of her life ever since. She can’t wait to see you all in class!
Leah Prestogeorge is so excited to be joining the Mon River Arts family as the Beginner Jazz instructor on Saturday mornings! She's a recent graduate from Seton Hill University where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre. She started taking dance and theatre classes at the age of 5 and it’s been a huge part of her life ever since. She can’t wait to see you all in class!
Kevin Milliken- Showstoppers Class Vocal Instructor
