Teacher & Staff Bios

BEN BAZAN, TEACHER. Benjamin Bazán recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Dance. During his time at UT, he performed in several productions and worked as a peer mentor for UT’s FIG program. He currently works as a teaching artist and performer for The Paramount’s “Literacy to Life” outreach program.

BETH KOEPP, TEACHER. This is Beth's first Fall teaching at ZACH Performing Arts School. Beth has been teaching and choreographing dance since the age of 14, and participating in Musical Theatre even before that. She recently completed a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from Texas State University with a minor in Theatre. She has performed and choreographed extensively at both collegiate and professional levels, most recently at Zach Scott Theatre as the muse Euterpe in Xanadu!. Beth is a skillful teacher who effortlessly communicates with students of all ages. She is committed to the success of her students and instilling in them an appreciation for dance that is matched by their understanding and expression of dance technique.

DEA LEMKE EGGLESTON, TEACHER.  Dea has been teaching dance, theatre arts and filmmaking in Austin since1982. Her experience includes teaching ballet, creative movement, tap, jazz and theatre arts to students from pre-school age to adult.  Dea has been an instructor for Ballet Austin Academy, Austin Dance Academy, Austin Contemporary Ballet, Texas National Dance Theatre, Barbara Lynn Kay Studio and various pre-schools.  She co-directed Tiger Choir and Musical Theatre for 4 years for elementary students in the Dripping Springs Independent School District’s after school Community Education Program.  In addition to her experience as dance and theatre arts instructor, Dea has led seminars on Storytelling and the Power of Myth, including Dream Journey with Betty Sue Flowers. She has been the creative media advisor and a collaborator for Ballet Austin’s, Arts Blitz. She especially enjoys introducing the young student to the magical world of dance and theatre, and engaging their creative spirit with a sense of wonder and awe.

ELLIE MCKAY, TEACHER & ASSOCIATE EDUCATION DIRECTOR. Ellie McKay is the Associate Education Director at ZACH Theatre creating program content,   mentoring up-an-coming teaching artists, and providing professional development for local classroom teachers.  She spent six years with Seattle Children's Theatre in various positions including Education Program Manager, Teaching Artist and Literary Manager.  In 2012, Ellie co-founded Austin Theatre Teaching Artists Collective, a group committed to strengthening teaching artistry in Austin.  Ellie was honored to serve on the Seattle Arts Commission in 2010 and her artistic work has garnered a CityArtists grant, three Seattle Times' Footlight Awards and a B. Iden Payne nomination for Best Director for Youth.  She is a member of TYA USA. 

 FRANK NAPPI, TEACHER. Frank Nappi graduated from Emerson College in Boston, MA in 2006 with a BFA in Musical Theatre. He toured as an actor with CLIMB children’s theatre in Minneapolis, MN and performed with Virginia Stage Company as a part of their resident Emerging Artists Ensemble. For the past few years he has been teaching at various theatres in Austin, TX encouraging and inspiring creation.

JENNIFER YOUNG, TEACHER AND PRE-PROFESSIONAL COORDINATOR.  Jennifer has been teaching and choreographing for over 10 years. She studied Dance and Musical Theatre at The American Music and Dramatic Academy and at Broadway Dance Center, NYC. Jennifer has taught dance, directed, and choreographed for the nationally acclaimed TUTS Humphrey's school (Houston TX), and also at many other schools, including Texas State (San Marcos), Alisa's Dance Academy (Austin TX), Austin Musical Theatre, Austin TX, Tex-Arts (Austin), West Lake School, Austin TX, City Dance (Houston), and Steps (NYC). In the Houston area, she was involved with Young Audiences and TUTS outreach programs to bring dance to under privileged schools.  Jennifer has danced for The Houston Rockets, NBA and has performed and toured in many theatres all over the country including ZACH Theatre. She is also a proud Member of The Actor's Equity Association.

MICHAEL JOPLIN, TEACHER. Michael Joplin graduated from the University of Texas with a BFA in Theatre and Dance. He has been performing and teaching improv for 15 years. He is a faculty member with Merlin-Works School of Improvisation and is a member of the Available Cupholders and The Knuckleball Now. He has extensive experience teaching adults and children the art of improvisational comedy. The performs regularly at The Hideout, Coldtowne, The Institution, and Salvage Vanguard Theaters. He can be seen in SVT's new play "Dream Cabinet" in late October.

KATE SHAW, EDUCATION ASSISTANT & TEACHER.  Kate Shaw is an actress, teaching artist, and choreographer who hails from Chattanooga, TN. Since moving to Austin in 2009, Kate has worked as a teaching artist, director, and choreographer at numerous High school theatre and dance programs and various arts organizations—including Creative Action, the Paramount, and kidsActing Studio. She has also begun acting with Austin Shakespeare including playing Gertude in their production of Hamlet and Chloe in Arcadia.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Lees-McRae College in NC, where she studied Performing Arts Studies—a well-rounded degree in all areas of the performing arts. After college, Kate has worked as a teacher and instructor in both classroom and workshop setting as a public school teacher, as well as, a resident and guest teaching artist. Ms. Shaw has also had the honor of performing and teaching for many theatre companies including the Blowing Rock Stage Company, Horn in the West Outdoor Drama, the Virginia Stage Company, and the Virginia Shakespeare Festival. She is also an accomplished choreographer mostly working for high school color guards—including her work with Ooltewah High School where she choreographed their NBC debut for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kate is thrilled to be joining the team at ZACH as a full time member of the Education staff and so excited to see what this new adventure will bring in the coming years.

NAT MILLER, EDUCATION DIRECTOR.  Nat is joining ZACH after three years as the Education and Outreach Director at Paramount and State Theatres in Austin, TX.  Nat received his M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre for Youth at The University of Texas at Austin. He received a B.F.A. in theatre from Southern Methodist University, ranked as one of the top ten theatre schools in the country. Nat was also certified to be a classroom teacher from the University of Wisconsin, which led to a job teaching theatre in a public high school, where he won numerous awards for the shows he directed with his students. His professional experience in the field includes ten years of teaching a variety of acting classes for First Stage Children’s Theater, the second largest children’s theater education program in the country.  Nat couldn't be more excited about the future of training Austin's finest young actors at ZACH.

ROG WALL, TEACHER.  Rog has taught Acting, Creative Drama, Creative Movement, and more at ZACH, Austin Theatre for Youth, Dougherty Arts Center, One World Theatre, Our Story, Eanes and Austin ISD, UT Informal Classes, Austin Theatre for Youth, KidsActing, & VSA Arts and elsewhere for over 20 years.  Rog has taught at ZACH Performing Arts School for 13 years. Also a performer for youth, Rog was seen in ZACH’s Playspace show Ice Breaker, as well as elsewhere in The Magic Ride, The Reluctant Dragon, and more.  At ZACH’s Performing Arts School, Rog has developed many plays with youth including Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Wind in the Willows, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; and American Girls among many others. Rog is also the former chair of The City of Austin Cultural Contracts Theatre Panel, and is a member of the B. Iden Payne nomination committee, which awards outstanding works of theatre produced in the city.   She is the former Artistic Director of Word of Mouth Women’s Theatre Company. Rog is an animal lover, and has many, many, many pets!

SIOBHAN COOK, TEACHING ARTIST.  Siobhan Cook has been a “resident” at Tapestry Dance Company since her birth. As the daughter of Tapestry Co-Founder Deirdre Strand, she has been with the professional company since its inception and actually appeared in "The Games People Play" in 1995 as “the child”. She was trained through TDC's Academy and was a member of the junior company,Visions In Rhythm, where she studied and performed Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern. She attended Soul to Sole Tap Festival for 10 years Chicago Human Rhythm project for 4 years and performed in their showcases.Siobhan took classes with legends such as Dr. Fayard Nicholas, Dr. Jeni LeGon,Dr. Henry LeTang,Dr. Leonard Reed,Acia Gray, Dianne Walker, Brenda Buffalino, Derick Grant and Chloe Arnold. She has now been in Tapestry for 4 seasons as a company member. She has had the pleasure of touring "The Souls Of Our Feet 2: A Tribute to American Tap Dance" and paying tribute as the role of "Jeni LeGon" in Shanghai, China.She recently performed and taught at Festival Danse Encore, in Trois Riviers, Quebec and The Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival.Siobhan currently teaches dance to children and adults at TDC, St. Stephen's Episcopal School and a new member of the Zachary Scott Theatre . She has enjoyed teaching and being a part of premiering new works,within Tapestry concerts, such as Ears Wide Open,Voices of Rhythm & April Fools.

SUZANNE SCHELL, TEACHING ARTIST and MUSICAL DIRECTOR. Suzanne Schell has been teaching music and stage presence for over 30 years. She received her classical vocal training from the University of North Texas School of Music. She keeps current by attending vocal pedagogy classes in New York and VA at Shenandoah University. She recently completed the most advanced level in Somatic Voiceworks™ The LoVetri Method studying various voice styles (musical theatre, belting, pop, rock, jazz). She has directed both children and adult choirs and led worship services in various churches. As a performer, Suzanne has sung in various professional ensembles and been a soloist in Handel’s Messiah. She was the youth vocal coach for Anchorage Opera’s production of Carmen working under the Maestro Stephen Sulich. She is the Founding Music Director of Alaska’s Broadway Kidz, a professional group who performed for state dignitaries. Suzanne has had the opportunity to work with Broadway professionals at TexARTS, music directing many shows including Annie Jr, FAME, Disney’s Cinderella & AristoCATS, Grease and CATS. She also directed HONK! Jr. and taught musical theater classes at Regent’s and Veritas Academy.  Suzanne is the owner of Cornerstone Studio, a private voice studio in Austin where her students have been accepted into prestigious performing arts programs all over the country, while others have performed professionally not only in New York and Las Vegas but also on international television. www.cornerstonestudio.net  She is a member of NATS (Nat’l Asso. of Teachers of Singing) and MTNA (Music Teachers Nat’l Asso).