Meet The Teachers

Our Garden Players teachers are top notch professionals who love kids! Our assistant directors and assistant teachers are alumni and older students who have been through our program, love what we do, and are ready to step into leadership roles.

Betina Hershey

Artistic Director/Producer/Music Director/Director/Choreographer/Educator

Betina Hershey

Artistic Director/Producer/Music Director/Director/Choreographer/Educator

Betina Hershey’s recent projects, “Get Us Out Of Fearland” with Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches and “The Very Next Thing” with Hot Jazz Jumpers and have received rave reviews in London Times, DownBeat, Elmore Magazine, and more. You can find Betina playing with both bands in and out of town. Betina Hershey’s resume includes touring as Meg in the National tour of Phantom of the Opera, playing Anybody’s in the West Side Story world tour (Italy-Lebanon-Japan), appearing at City Center as Fleta in Iolanthe and Isabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and dancing in the feature films Disney’s Enchanted and Mona Lisa Smile. She loves writing, performing, and teaching and is thrilled that her musicals are getting published by Beat by Beat Press and being performed all over the world. She is delighted to be a Music Artist in Residence at P.S. 144, focusing on solfege, sight reading, ear training, and more through songs and music games with K-5! In 2002, she came in as a guest artist to play Peter Pan with the Garden Players and in 2003 she turned down a tour to become the Artistic Director of the Garden Players program. With a Dance Degree from LaGuardia H.S. of Performing Arts and a BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College, she’s thrilled to have had a varied and inspirational performance and teaching career. She’s loved every moment and is so thankful for all of the loving support and help from her collaborators, her husband Nick, the Garden Players parents and actors, and the community here in the Gardens!!!!

Orlando Diaz

Pianist / Composer / Music Director

Orlando Diaz

Pianist / Composer / Music Director

Orlando Diaz (music director, pianist, singer, composer) saw the Mary Poppins movie when he was a kid and was inspired by the character Bert to be anything he ever wanted, so he studied classical piano at the Eastman School of Music and then worked as a sushi chef, US Army Bandperson, landscaper, real estate investor, musical theater director, financial advisor, piano bar entertainer, deli clerk, and other fun jams. In 2022 he released his first album, Grey Shirt, and in 2023 he released his first book: Rosario Davez. This year he premiered his first opera, Adventure Gospel. Follow his projects at orlandodiazpiano.com. This year you’ll see Orlando playing the piano and musical directing at Garden Players, as well as our GP afterschool classes at PS303.

Lorenza Bernasconi

Assistant Director, Actor, Singer, Educator

Lorenza Bernasconi

Assistant Director, Actor, Singer, Educator

Lorenza Bernasconi (she/her) (Assistant Director) is a born and raised Peruvian actress with a Musical Theatre Degree and current career in bilingual theater in NYC. With a passion for helping to develop stories that new generations want to tell onstage, she is also a teaching artist and director for devised work at New York Children’s Theatre, Queens Theatre, and is excited to have joined as assistant Director with Garden Players! Currently onstage as Evaluna in the play ‘Evaluna’ (Repertorio Español) and winner of best actress 2023 at the NYLFF film festival, Lorenza is an acting company member for the Spanish Repertoire Theatre Company, Spellbound Theatre, and Theatre C (Off-Broadway). Some of her favorite credits include Encanto (Disney), Odd Man Out (Theatre C), Scandusical (The PIT), and the assistant director of Creature Mountain! Lorenza’s incredibly proud of this group of young actors and thankful for all the lessons learned under Betina and the Garden Players team’s guidance!

Milena Cataño

Assistant Director, Actor, Teaching Artist

Milena Cataño

Assistant Director, Actor, Teaching Artist

Milena Cataño is a Peruvian actress and director based in New York, driven by a profound love for storytelling and human connection. She trained at the Stella Adler Studio Professional Conservatory, mastering her craft in a second language to broaden her artistic reach. Milena has performed in theater productions including The Sweet Science of Bruising and Beautiful Bodies in NYC, as well as in Peruvian television series such as Princesas and Los Otros Libertadores. Her fascination with cinema led her to earn a degree in Film at UPC University, and directing has deepened her connection to acting, reinforcing her commitment to bringing untold stories to life with empathy and authenticity. Coming from a long line of educators in her family, Milena is proud to join the Garden Players team and continue the tradition by guiding young artists as they explore their creativity through the craft she loves most: acting. At Garden Players, Milena is thrilled to join Friday classes as an assistant director, and co-teach after-school classes at PS303 on Mondays: Storybook Theatre and Performing Arts Lab.

Nick Russo

Band Class Director, Private Instructor, Guitarist/Banjoist/Composer

Nick Russo

Band Class Director, Private Instructor, Guitarist/Banjoist/Composer

Nick Russo has had the honor to play with Sir Paul McCartney while performing at Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s home. Nick has performed on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The U.N., and internationally. Nick plays banjo and guitar for PBS Kids “Peg + Cat,” appears in the Sam Mendes film “Away We Go” and PBS Masterpiece “The Chaperone.” Nick is also the author of Metallica Legendary Licks (series 1 & 2) and editor of various guitar instructional books for Cherry Lane Music (Hal Leonard Corp.). Nick leads 3 bands: Nick Russo+11, Hot Jazz Jumpers and Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches. Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches charted as top #2 artist, #2 album on April 2018 International Folk Radio.

Stefania Papadopoulos

Teaching Artist

Stefania Papadopoulos

Teaching Artist

Stefania Papadopolous is a graduate of City College of New York with a degree in Theater Arts and has extensive background in theater, dance, philosophy, design and martial arts. Born and raised in New York City, she has developed a diverse set of artistic skills, as writer, director and educator who has been collaborating with Garden Players since 2022. Stefania is pleased to teach Story Book Theater this year and assist Betina Hershey in all the wonderful work at Garden Players. An actor-centric director herself, she focuses on empowering young actors' creative choices that express the originality and uniqueness of each player as a key component to the storytelling. Her intent with each class is to hold space for each child to dive deep into their creative spirit.

Emma Dalessio

Teaching Artist

Emma Dalessio

Teaching Artist

Emma Dalessio is thrilled to join the Garden Players team. A recent graduate of The Manhattan School of Music with a degree in Musical Theatre, she brings both passion and experience to her work with young performers. Emma spent two summers as a Music Specialist at Pierce Country Day Camp, where she led engaging sessions in karaoke, improvisation, acting, dancing, and singing for children ages 6 to 13. She also worked as a camp counselor for a group of 7-year-olds, fostering teamwork, confidence, and creativity in a joyful and inclusive environment. Onstage, Emma has performed in Into the Woods (Little Red Riding Hood), Forget Me Not (Media Ensemble/Understudy Gail), and She Loves Me (Featured Singing Trio). She also appeared in the New York Theatre Festival’s The Golden Ibburs as Kit. Beyond the stage, Emma delights children as a princess performer at parties and showcases her quick wit as a cast member of the improv murder mystery group The Dinner Detective. At Garden Players, Emma teaches after-school classes at PS303: Broadway Kids Jukebox and Mini Musical Magic.

Nola Powell

Social Media/Assistant Director/Choreographer

Nola Powell

Social Media/Assistant Director/Choreographer

Nola Powell is a multifaceted artist, who joined the Garden Players this year. A recent graduate of Pace University with a degree in Film and Screen Studies, Nola’s diverse interests during her time at Pace included photography, sound design, writing, and acting. Beyond the classroom, she actively participated in various school clubs, such as The Collective at Pace, WPUB Radio, and Film Club. Nola also showcased her talents by teaching dance classes in various styles, hosting a radio show, and organizing Pace’s film festival. Teaching is Nola’s true passion, having honed her skills as an arts educator for eight years. Growing up in Oklahoma, she witnessed firsthand how significant the arts are for young people. After relocating to New York, Nola has had the privilege of presenting her choreography at Prairie Dance and The Tank. She has also performed with Nikki and the Noise Dance Company and eagerly anticipates future opportunities. Nola expresses her profound gratitude to the students at Garden Players for their warm welcome.

Special Guests

Sunny Knable

Composer / Guest Teacher / Music Advisor

Sunny Knable

Composer / Guest Teacher / Music Advisor

California-native Sunny Knable is a multifaceted composer who currently resides in New York City. He has won numerous awards including three “Best Composition” Awards from the Festival of New American Music, and the Iron Composers Award, for which he wrote a four-minute piece in five hours. He holds degrees from CSU Sacramento—where he received his Bachelor of Music in Composition, Piano Performance and Jazz Studies—Queens College(CUNY), where he completed a Masters of Arts in Composition—and from Stony Brook University, where he holds his PhD in Music Composition. In 2017, his chamber opera Beethoven in Love was performed at the National Opera Center. In 2016, Knable’s Symphony No. 2 “The Great Expanse” was commissioned and premiered by the California Youth Symphony, Leo Eylar conducting. Since its premiere in 2012, The Brothers Knable’s opera for young audience, The Magic Fish, has been performed multiple times around the country. Other professional credits include his debut album “American Variations” on Centaur Records and his multiple bassoon works published by TrevCo-Varner Music. Dr. Knable serves as Music Director of The Church-in-the-Gardens; Music Director of The Garden Players, and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queens College and LaGuardia Community College, while fulfilling commissions from around the country.

Denver Casado

Composer / Guest Teacher / Publisher of Garden Players Musicals at Beat By Beat Press

Denver Casado

Composer / Guest Teacher / Publisher of Garden Players Musicals at Beat By Beat Press

Denver discovered early on the joy of writing songs and telling stories. This led him from a small town in California to New York City, where he studied the craft of writing musicals with some of the best in the industry. Since then his 100010 musicals (6 written for the Garden Players kids to premier) have been performed in over 35 countries. Denver’s innovative approach to exploring musical theatre with kids has earned him invitations to speak at the national conferences of the American Association of Community Theatre and the American Alliance for Theatre Education.He loves working with the Garden Players who make him smile during every rehearsal. He’d like to thank Betina Hershey, the Garden Players and their parents, and The-Church-In-The-Gardens community for their generosity and support.

Kate DeFeo

Musical Improvisor and Educator

Kate DeFeo

Musical Improvisor and Educator

is thrilled to be working with Betina and the Garden Players performers and team. Kate is a graduate of University of Delaware’s Theater program and holds her MAT in Theater and English Education from SUNY Stony Brook. She has studied and performed long form and musical improvisational theater all over NYC and ran a very successful fiction writing and improv performance program at Hunter College for a decade before becoming a mama to her two children. She has been performing Musical Improvisational Theater for 8 years in New York City and can currently be seen on three house teams: Sequel at the Magnet Theater, Freeze Frame at the People’s Improv Theater and The Magical World of Musical Improv at the People’s Improv Theater. She didn’t think that there could be anything more satisfying than performing and creating her own musicals, until she has watched the Garden Players learn and develop their own songs and ideas! FoHiImprov for Adults

Brian Feinstein

Composer, Pianist, Songwriting Instructor

Brian Feinstein

Composer, Pianist, Songwriting Instructor

BRIAN FEINSTEIN began his career in entertainment at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and completed his master’s at NYU’s Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. His compositions have earned him rave reviews in The New York Times, six ASCAP Plus Awards, a Jonathan Larson Fellowship and the Anna Sosenko Trust Award. Brian is currently adapting the Paramount Studios classic 1976 film “THE BAD NEWS BEARS” into a Broadway-bound musical and the celebrated Random House book series “PUPPY PIRATES” for stage and TV. His original musicals “GIRLSTAR”, directed by two-time Tony Award-nominee Eric Schaeffer, premiered at the Signature Theatre in addition to “THE DOLLMAKER’S GIFT” at the Rose Theater in Omaha, Nebraska. Other credits include: “MIMI LE DUCK" starring the legendary Eartha Kitt (Off-Broadway), “THE TOP JOB” (Off-Broadway), “AS YOU LIKE IT" (Shakespeare on the Sound, CT), “THE CIRCUS IS COMING TO TOWN" (awarded best family musical in Southern California). Brian’s passion for education inspired him to create the FeinLine Musical Theatre Academy: a one-stop destination of “Musical Theatre Instruction & Creation from Beginner to Pro”. His “Superhero Songwriting For Kids” video series is now streaming on Broadway On Demand. Brian is a strong supporter of dog and animal rescue leagues across the country.

Melinda Faylor

Teacher/Accompanist/Pianist

Melinda Faylor

Teacher/Accompanist/Pianist

Melinda Faylor is a Filipina American pianist, composer, presenter and producer. She received her BM from the Oberlin Conservatory and her MM in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She has worked extensively with electronics and has performed original electroacoustic music throughout the United States for the past decade. Her current projects include her first solo album for piano and electronics, the interdisciplinary meme and emoji tarot game piece MeMeMeMe, and collaborative work with pianist-composer Sugar Vendil and composer and multi instrumentalist Lucie Vítková. She runs weekly concerts for FAB NYC's Open Arts program on the LES, and also curates a series at both Mise-En Place (Greenpoint) and Coffey St Studios (Red Hook). Melinda has just recently moved back to Forest Hills.

Silvana Gonzalez

Teacher/Actress/Dancer/Singer

Silvana Gonzalez

Teacher/Actress/Dancer/Singer

Silvana is a Mexican actress, dancer and choreographer who graduated from NYU Tisch with a Founders Day Award and BFA in Theater. Her theater credits include Olena in Mariupol: Diary of War, Liuba in Radio 477!, Ondine in A Thousand Suns at La MAMA, Hera in FauxBia! The Musical at Carnegie Hall, Milenia at The Lucille Lortel, Hermia in A Midsummer Night´s Dream. Silvana is a company member of Something From Abroad, Yara Arts Group and Magis Theater. She has been working with children for the past 7 years and has found immense meaning by teaching the performing arts and fostering creativity within the classroom.

Caitlin Burke

Alumni Assistant Director

Caitlin Burke

Alumni Assistant Director

is a third year student at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School where she is studying classical and contemporary drama. She started her training as a Garden Player at the age of nine and has since continued to expand her knowledge and craft as an actor. She has workshopped and performed scenes from many well known and up and coming playwrights. She has acted and participated in many student films, stage readings, and improv competitions. She plans to continue her training and craft by pursuing a directing or acting BFA in college.

Nicholas Bompart

Alumni Advisor

Nicholas Bompart

Alumni Advisor

is an actor, director, writer, and musician from Forest Hills, New York. He began acting at the age of five in the Garden Players. He wrote and acted in his own short films which were screened at multiple national and international film festivals and won extensive laurels including awards for Best Horror Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Best Actor. Nicholas has authored and directed theatrical plays and starred in many Off-Broadway productions, his plays received accolades and were selected for the Rogue Theater Festival, CHAIN Theater Festival, Strawberry Theater Festival and others. He also sings opera and has performed at Carnegie Hall. He is happy to return to the Garden Players and be involved in this amazing show under the direction of his mentor, Betina Hershey.

Jack Kuniya

Student Teacher

Jack Kuniya

Student Teacher

has been a part of Garden Players for five years. He is returning as a student assistant.

Paige Levy

Alumni Teacher / Social Media Director

Paige Levy

Alumni Teacher / Social Media Director

is an actor and singer based in New York. A recent graduate of LaGuardia High School for Music and Art and Performing Art (better known as the ‘Fame’ school), she has nearly a decade of training in classical voice and musical theater. She is pursuing acting professionally and will be attending The Royal Central School in England as an Acting Major. Paige spent her high school years performing with pre-professional theater companies, playing roles from Julie in ‘Carousel’ to The Witch in ‘Into the Woods’. She has years of experience coaching and teaching kids acting and singing, helping her students get into acclaimed arts schools such as LaGuardia or Frank Sinatra. When not performing, Paige works in grassroots organizing. She firmly believes in the power art has to make the world a better place, and empowers those she teaches while helping them approach their work with sensitivity, care, and compassion. She is passionate about helping others grow and realize the power they hold through performing.

Amanda Talero

Teacher

Amanda Talero

Teacher

spent most of her childhood as a Garden Player. She is more commonly known for her role as Charlie in The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever and as Piano in Musicville. Amanda then enrolled in Frank Sinatra School of the Arts for her high school career, as a vocal major. Now, she’s returned to Garden Players, where she helps in directing students as they explore their creative liberties. She is a recent theater graduate of City College of New York and is enjoying pursuing her acting career.

Yurina Shin

Accompanist/Pianist/Arranger

Yurina Shin

Accompanist/Pianist/Arranger

is a classically trained composer who blends the richness of the classical tradition with the fast paced, moving rhythms of today. Her music has appeared in internationally acclaimed films and television shows, and has breathed life into video games, animations and commercials. Her compositions have been performed live at venues such as the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center, international universities and music and art festivals around the world. Yurina holds a M.A in Film Scoring from New York University, a B.A. in Music Education from Chonnam National University and has studied orchestration at the Juilliard School in New York City. yurinas.com

Julianne Abouzaid

Singer, Choreographer

Julianne Abouzaid

Singer, Choreographer

has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Point Park University (Conservatory of Performing Arts) in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to performing at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, she sang with the Pittsburgh Opera and toured as a featured performer with Latshaw Productions. After graduation, she worked as a singer/dancer for Opryland Productions at their theme parks in Nashville and San Antonio and their Christmas productions in Colorado Springs. After moving to New York, she continued to work in regional theater as well as sing with the NY Grand Opera and the NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players. Currently, she is an assistant dance teacher in the Children and Teen Program at Broadway Dance Center. She also teaches musical theatre and dance summer camps in her hometown of Staunton, Virginia.

Aviv Fetaya

Teacher/Accompanist/Pianist

Aviv Fetaya

Teacher/Accompanist/Pianist

has been acting, directing, and performing music since he was young. From his first ever role as Captain Hook in his elementary-school production of Peter Pan, to his current work as a performer across New York City, he credits the opportunities to share his energy and creativity with a diverse set of artists and audiences as his motivation to participate in the performing arts. A Garden Players alumnus himself, Aviv returned to the Garden Players in his freshman year of high school as a Director’s Assistant. That same year, he joined the Nassau Chamber Chorale, a child ensemble of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York, and as a vocalist he has accompanied the group to Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and on international concert tours for four years. He has also performed as principal percussionist of the New York City Honors Symphonic Band, a clarinetist and timpanist of the Townsend Harris Wind Ensemble, and conductor of the Townsend Harris Symphony Orchestra. Aviv is attending Yale University where he studies music and theater arts, and he has studied film scoring, audio engineering, and digital production at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College and at Berklee College of Music.

Arden Arabian

Director’s Assistant

Arden Arabian

Director’s Assistant

dedicates her time helping students bring emotion to their scenes and songs. From Freshman year at The Kew Forest High School through junior year she was a dedicated assistant. She is best known for playing the role of Jack in Beanstalk! The Play!. She attends Saturday classes at the Young Actors Program at Strasberg in NYC where she studies method acting technique on scene and monologue work, as well as, Acting for Film and TV and Musical Theater. When Arden is not on stage she can be found on the tennis court. Arden also plays the ukulele and dances. She attributes her passion for acting to Betina Hershey, who first instilled in her the magic of performing.

Stella DiCicco

Director’s Assistant

Stella DiCicco

Director’s Assistant

is an alumnae of Garden Players. She attends McGill University, pursuing her love of theater, science, and history. Stella discovered her skills from GP translated well to Speech & Debate. She credits her years with Betina as the reason she made State Championships this past year. Stella has loved working as a GP Assistant for Rising Stars and GP1. Watching the children develop new skills in improvisation, vocal projection, and portraying emotions has been such an amazing and rewarding journey. She is so proud of the hard work and energy they put into each class every week. Congratulations to both casts & the Rising Stars on a job well done!

Stephanie Fittro

Actress, Director

Stephanie Fittro

Actress, Director

starred in the Broadway musical Legally Blonde as Kate/Chutney. Past credis include national tours of Hairspray and Carousel; favorite NY credits include Met Opera (The Merry Widow featured as Joujou, starring Placido Domingo!), Encores!, and Irish Repertory Theatre, as well as the role of Mandy in Eric Bernat and Robin Carrigan’s new comedy Jesus and Mandy at Theatre For The New City. Stephanie has appeared in numerous productions of West Side Story (directed by Alan Johnson) and Finian’s Rainbow at theatres all over the US. Teaching and choreography credits include Diamond Head Theatre (Honolulu, HI), Ft. Salem Theatre (Salem, NY), The Gem Theatre (Detroit, MI), Prospect Theatre (NY, NY), Michigan State Unviersity (East Lansing, MI), Academy of Dance (Clark, NJ), as well as many workshops and outreach programs. As an actor she has studied with Shakespeare and Co. (Lenox, MA), specializing in acting and Shakespeare; as a dancer, she trained at the Boston Ballet and Alvin Ailey Schools. She is proud to be an interpreter of classical musical theatre choreography, especially material melding ballet, character, modern and jazz. She is also proud to have studied with the late great Mr. James Jamieson, Agnes DeMille’s beloved sword dancer in the original Brigadoon, who inspired her to no end, and to whom she dedicates her teaching.

Simone Zubkis

Student Teacher

Simone Zubkis

Student Teacher

has been a part of Garden Players for five years. She currently attends Russell Sage middle school, and is known for playing Pepper in a production of “Annie”. She created a role for a fellow student in the Garden Players production “Magic it Up”, and has continued writing scripts independently since then. Simone plays the piano and has been participating in musical theatre since she was six years old.

Sarah Lydon

Director’s Assistant

Sarah Lydon

Director’s Assistant

volunteered her time as a Garden Players assistant during her junior and senior years of H.S.

Erin & Nicholas O’Sullivan

Director’s Assistants

Erin & Nicholas O’Sullivan

Director’s Assistants

Erin attended LaGuardia H.S. for Drama, and came back to volunteer her time as a Garden Players assistant for the advanced classes during her junior and senior years. Nicholas attended LaGuardia H.S. as a Music major, and came back to volunteer his time as a Garden Players assistant for the advanced classes during his junior and senior years.

History & Programs