Elefante Music’s performing arts instructors are respected professional teaching artists and leaders in arts education, actively working in the industry. Their professional backgrounds include Broadway, top regional stages, television, and film, as well as membership in AEA (Actors’ Equity Association) and SAG (the Screen Actors’ Guild). Our staff is frequently requested by professional casting directors, agents, and managers to recommend young performers for professional opportunities.
KAREN CANTOR
Karen has been serving as Director of Elefante Music’s Performing Arts program for many years. She is the creative force overseeing the many performing arts classes at Elefante, and is the Camp Director of Elefante’s popular Musical Theater Camp. As a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, Karen’s professional credits include the role of Venus in the long-awaited revival of Kurt Weill’s One Touch of Venus at the Goodspeed Opera House. She played Louisa in The Fantasticks with the Miami Opera, toured as Susan in The Desert Song with Ron Raines, played the title role in Naughty Marietta in New York City, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, The Mistress in Evita with Carolee Carmello, Anna in Tintypes, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Starting Here, Starting Now in the Cayman Islands. On the concert stage, Karen’s credits include West Side Story at the Caramoor Festival, musical comedy selections at Carnegie Recital Hall, and a debut as Cunegonde in Candide at Michigan’s Midland Center for the Arts. On television she has been seen as Katie on ABC’s All My Children.
Karen has written, directed, and or served as the musical director for several New Jersey productions that have met with popular acclaim, including cabaret shows/revues for companies such as the Light Opera of New Jersey, South Mountain TheatreWorks, and the Summit Playhouse. For children’s theater productions, Karen has served as the director and/or musical director of Elefante’s productions of Once Upon a Mattress, Alice in Wonderland, Honk, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka, and more. A fervent aficionado of The American Songbook, Karen’s cabaret performances have been seen at many local venues and countless private functions, charitable fundraisers, parties, and corporate events. Favorite stage roles include Alaura/Carla in City of Angels, Phyllis in Iolanthe, Liliane LaFleur in Nine, Signora Naccarelli in The Light in the Piazza, and Tessie in Gypsy.
Karen is particularly proud of the success of her students, many of whom have been cast on Broadway, National Tours, television, film, music video, top New York cabaret venues, professional regional theaters, local community theaters, and their school plays and musicals.
DAVID CANTOR
David appeared on Broadway as Bobinet in La Vie Parisienne and covered the role of Che in Evita, later playing Che with the First National Tour on the West Coast. He appeared Off-Broadway for a year and a half as both Amshel and Nathan Rothschild in the critically acclaimed revival of The Rothschilds at Circle in the Square Downtown. Other credits include Vernon Gersch in They’re Playing Our Song; Benny, the comic lead, in a national tour of The Desert Song; Stanley Jerome in both Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound; Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors; Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing; Tony Lumpkin in She Stoops to Conquer; Matt in The Fantasticks in a special production directed by the show’s creators, Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt; John Adams in 1776; and Charlie in Tintypes.
David won a Perry Award as Best Actor in a Play for his performance as Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross, a role he took on with only four days notice when the original actor left the cast. He was also nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Fagin in Oliver!. He played the Reverend Crisparkle in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Maltz Jupiter, FL), Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Chrysale in Moliere’s The Learned Ladies, Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps, and countless other roles. In addition, David has performed principal roles in all thirteen Gilbert and Sullivan operas in the USA, Great Britain, and Italy. He has been seen in films including Working Girl, Prince of the City, So Fine, and The Chosen, industrial films for Fidelity Investments and Sharp Electronics, and television appearances include Orange is the New Black, Jessica Jones, Madam Secretary, Mysteries at the Museum, Redrum, I’d Kill for You, Celebrity Ghost Stories, as well as soaps All My Children, Loving, Another World, and Ryan’s Hope. For more, visit david-cantor.com.
ALEXIS CARDWELL
Alexis has a bachelor’s degree in education from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Northeastern University.
She is a trained singer, actor and tap dancer. Fun fact, her acting coach was Elefante’s own Karen Cantor! Alexis’ voice can be heard singing the jingle for Zippy Shell, which she co-wrote and recorded with her father.
Favorite directing credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Syracuse University and Clue: High School Edition at American History High School.
She also organized and performed her own one-woman cabaret fundraiser for the Brooke Healey Foundation.
As a motivated arts education advocate, Alexis has founded and managed drama programs including a theatre program at the Determination Center in Syracuse New York, and a pilot drama program in Newark Public Schools. In addition to teaching classes and high school programs, Alexis is also proud to be the director of Elefante’s summer musical theatre camp.
ERICA LYNN CENCI
Erica has over ten years experience teaching tap, hip-hop and creative movement for young children.
Erica’s extensive work as a choreographer, has earned her prestigious accolades, including a prestigious nomination for Best Choreography from Paper Mill Playhouse’s Rising Star Awards.
She graduated from Muhlenberg College with a B.A. in Theatre and in English and had the honor of dancing at the Kennedy Center as part of the American College Dance Association.
Erica performed in children’s theatre companies and has completed training programs at Williamstown Theatre Festival and Manhattan School of Music.
Erica has starred in the National Tours of A Chorus Line and Cats, Fiddler on the Roof at the Barrington Stage Company, and 42nd Street at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse.
LAURA CHANESKI
Laura has been a performing arts teacher for students ages 2-adult at studios throughout NJ for over 15 years. Laura has prepared her private lesson students for auditions that have earned them roles on Broadway National Tours, NBC’s Annie LIVE!, television shows, films, commercials, school plays and musicals, in addition to their dream performing arts high schools and college conservatory programs. In 2023, one of Laura’s students won the highly prestigious NJ Perry Award for Outstanding Youth Actor in a Play. Laura’s choreography work includes The Little Mermaid and Oklahoma! at Madison High School and Chicago, Mamma Mia!, The Lightning Thief and Freaky Friday at Governor Livingston High School.
Laura graduated from Rutgers University where she studied at Mason Gross School of Arts. As a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity, Laura’s professional credits include Singin’ in the Rain (Kathy) with the Ocean City Theater Company, White Christmas (Rita) at Surflight Theater, Greetings (Randi) at Off-Broadstreet Theater, White Guy on the Bus (Molly) at Passage Theater and Miracle on South Division Street (Ruth) at Shadowland Stages in addition to shows at Bucks County Playhouse, Centenary Stage Company, Waterfront Playhouse, Society Hill Playhouse and Bickford Theater. Her television appearances include Law & Order: SVU, House of Cards, YOU, Do No Harm, The Last O.G., That Damn Michael Che, the Hallmark movie Redemption in Cherry Springs and over 50 commercials. Laura has also recorded numerous voice-overs including a radio jingle for Tide.
For more, visit laurachaneski.com
JOE ELEFANTE
Joe Elefante has traveled 4 continents as a pianist, saxophonist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and bandleader.
He has musically directed, conducted or played countless musical theater productions, including several at the Paper Mill Playhouse and Jersey Boys on Broadway and National Tour.
Joe founded the Joe Elefante Big Band in 2001, which was the house band at Cecil’s Jazz Club for three years, and was featured on ABC’s Nightline and in The Wall Street Journal.
Joe taught Vocal Music at both Columbia Middle School and Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights.
Joe is now the Fine & Performing Arts Supervisor at Rahway Public Schools, the Artistic Director at Celebration Singers, a freelance composer/arranger/ performer, and is the Artistic Director of our wildly popular Summer Musical Theater Camp.
MICHELLE FINNERTY
Michelle Finnerty has worked as a professional musician since completing her Bachelor of Music degree from Towson University in 2005. In addition to performing with various theater companies, Michelle is also a private vocal coach.
In addition, Michelle has extensive experience performing and directing for community theater groups across New Jersey. In 2009 she was nominated for a Perry Award for her performance as Belle in the Maurice Levin Theater’s production of Beauty and the Beast. Some of her other recent roles have included Mrs. Cohen in Rent and Janet in Rocky Horror Picture Show with South Mountain Theater Works. She was the musical director for the Chatham Community Players production of Seussical, which was nominated for a Perry Award as well. Prior to that, Michelle assumed the roles of Meg in Little Women, Sharon from Master Class and Belle in A Christmas Carol with the Chatham Community Players. Michelle also played Hope in Urinetown with the Strollers of Maplewood.
Outside of her extensive involvement with community theater, Michelle competed as contestant for American Idol and ultimately became a semi-finalist during the show’s second season. Currently, Michelle is a cantor for The Church of Christ the King in New Vernon and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bernardsville. Not only does she perform the duties of mass cantor but she also sings for weddings, funerals and various liturgical celebrations.
LISA HYMAN
Lisa’s professional credits include Syracuse Stage’s production of Pygmalian, and Improv with Freestyle Repertory Company, The Dead Comics Society, Snazz and Guffaw, Sunday Night Improv Jam, Felix Culpa and others NYC based groups, including Bette Midler’s Annual Hulaween Charity Gala. She performed Stand-Up Comedy at Caroline’s, Stand Up NY, Gotham Comedy Club, and various venues around the Tri State Area.
As a singer, she toured with trio The Angeltones. She performed her set as an opening act for several off Broadway shows and charity events.
Lisa has written and performed industrials for national brand clients and trade shows all over the country.
She received her BFA from Syracuse University Summa Cum Laude in Acting with a dual minor in Psychology and Communications. She also completed a two year program with The William Esper Studio under Barbara Marchant.
In addition to teaching with Elefante, she is the Director and Producer of Temple Emanu El of Edison and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Metuchen’s Youth Theater Program.
Lisa loves nothing more than sharing the joy of theater with kids of all ages.
NICOLE LABRIT-PETREWSKI
Nicole Labrit-Petrewski holds a B.A. in Theater Arts and English from Arcadia University and attended the prestigious LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts in NYC as a drama major. She holds a Masters of Arts degree in Teaching from Columbia College.
While teaching in New York, San Diego, and New Jersey, she directed and choreographed a number of shows for students ages 3 to 18, including Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr., Fame, Scream Queens, The Nutcracker, On Your Toes, Hairspray, Jr., and Suite Surrender.
Nicole is the former Director of the Musical Theatre Department and Touring Ensemble at Scripps Performing Arts Academy. Nicole served for several years as the Performing Arts Department chair at the Purnell School and choreographed their award winning dance company. She is currently the Theatre Arts teacher at Warren Hills Regional High School.
Nicole has spent many summers with Elefante Music School and always looks forward to the Musical Theater Summer Camps. She has also co-directed and choreographed several of Elefante’s Spring Musicals with Karen Cantor.
MARIA MALANGA
Maria Malanga hols a Master’s Degree in Dance Education, and a Bachelor’s degree from the NYU Vocal Performance, both from from NYU. Maria is an Adjunct Dance Professor at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and an Adjunct Dance Professor at Kean University Theatre Conservatory. She also teaches Theatre Dance at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey.
Maria choreographed NYU’s production of Pins and Needles, and has remained the associate choreographer for their Main stage productions of Kiss me Kate, Grand Hotel, Carousel, and The Drowsy Chaperone.
Maria has performed professionally at TriArts Sharon Playhouse (Damn Yankees) in Connecticut, as well as in Off-Broadway productions of Angelina Ballerina and at the Snapple Theater Center’s Piggy Nation: The Musical in New York City.
She believes in story-telling through movement, song, and dance, and guides students to develop an ability to transition elements of confidence, collaboration, and open-mindedness into their everyday life. She consistently encourages creativity, uniqueness, and acceptance.
Maria is thrilled to be a member of Elefante’s performing arts community!
EMILY MAMRAK
Emily Mamrak began dancing as a little girl. She quickly fell in love with the art of dance and with stage performance.
Emily received her B.F.A in Dance from Montclair State University studying with Nancy Lushington, Lonne Morreton, Jay T. Jenkins, Maxine Steinman, Maureen Glennon, Maxine Steinman, and Donna Scro. She continued her dance education at (then) Dance New Amsterdam in New York from contemporary modern performers such as Oliver Steel, Stephanie Liapis, and Diane McCarthy. She performed for Six Degrees Dance Company at Merce Cunningham Studios. Emily holds an elementary teaching certificate and currently teaches kindergarten.
Emily has been teaching dance for over ten years across New Jersey in studios and after school programs. She has taught ballet, hip hop, jazz, and lyrical/contemporary. She has also co-directed and choreographed several of Elefante’s Spring Musicals with Karen Cantor.
She believes in the power of dance to teach self-love and confidence. Emily is so very excited to be a part of the Elefante family!
KATIE SHULTS
Katie holds a BFA from NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts and Tisch’s New Studio on Broadway (NSB) program.
She grew up in New Jersey, participating in Paper Mill’s summer conservatory and New Voices concerts from 2008-2015, where she was prominently featured as a vocal soloist and served as the company dance captain. She has worked at surrounding community theaters, such as Gaslamp, Montclair Operetta Club, and the Playwright’s Theatre of NJ.
She has over a dozen years of training and experience in acting, singing, and dance, including tap, jazz, modern, and ballet. She has studied with many leading industry professionals such as Howard McGillin, Byron Easley, and Michele Shay, and has been trained in master classes with Broadway stars Lonny Price, Gavin Creel, and Telly Leung.
Katie recently starred as Lizzie in Pride and Prejudice at the Lost Nation Theater, a role for which she won the Broadway World Regional Award for Best Actress in a Professional Production. She played Emmy in A Doll’s House Part 2 with the Peterborough Players, Song Bird in Wicked City Blues with The Actors’ Temple, Margo in the new musical Butterflies at The Barrington Stage (directed by Graciela Daniele and supervised by Bill Finn), and starred as Ellie Greenwich in Leader of the Pack, at NYU Tisch’s New Studio on Broadway. For more, visit katieshults.com.
DR. SUSAN SPEIDEL
Dr. Susan Speidel appeared in the off-Broadway revue Olio, A Modern Vaudeville and in The Student Prince and Jesus Christ Superstar at Paper Mill Playhouse, in addition to playing leading roles at many other regional theaters.
She has directed more than 50 high school productions, as well as numerous shows at Surflight Theater, Chatham Playhouse, and Plays-In-The-Park in Edison.
She has sung with the Seattle and Portland Symphonies, the Key West Symphonic Pops, and the Orchestra of St. Peter’s by the Sea, as well as performing her cabaret show in NYC clubs, at Tennessee Williams Theater in Key West, and at the legendary Odette’s in New Hope.
She served for 20 years as the Director of Education for Paper Mill Playhouse, where she founded the Adopt-A-School Project, the Rising Star Awards, and the Summer Musical Theater Conservatory. She has taught acting and theater management at Kean University and Seton Hall. Dr. Speidel holds a B.A. in English and Theater from Montclair State, an M.A. in Theater Administration from New York University, an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Kean University, and earned her Doctorate at Drew University. She also studied at HB Studios and the Globe Theater in London. She is a recipient of the NJ Governor’s Award for Excellence in Theatre Education, received the New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s Applause Award in 2000 and 2007, and was recently inducted in the NJACT Hall of Fame for her contributions to arts education in New Jersey.
Upright bass, also called string bass or double bass, is a member of the orchestra family. Just as often, however, it appears in jazz, bluegrass, folk, and other genres. With a large hollow body and 4 thick strings, the tones produced by the upright bass are low and rich. The instrument is capable of long, expressive tones when played with a bow; and short, percussive tones when plucked with the strings. String bass is a dynamic and impressive instrument to play!
The oboe is a woodwind and a member of the double-reed family. It is played by blowing air through the reed, attached at the top of the instrument. The reed consists of two very thin pieces of cane, pressed together with a small opening to allow air to pass through. The sound can be high in pitch, but it has a variety of colorful tones, from bright and piercing to low and mysterious.
