Pam Gregg:

In 1988 Pam Gregg, along with founder and creator Mario Melodia, started the Mario Melodia Musical Theater Camp.

When Mr. Melodia retired in 1997 Pam became the managing director of the camp and realizing that all young people interested in theater are not necessarily interested in musical theater she added a non-musical program to the camp’s curriculum and changed the name to The Performing Arts Camp (PAC). The camp has been an incredibly successful summer activity for hundreds of young people and Pam is delighted to have been a part of this theatrical experience since its inception.

Pam, a theater arts major at Emerson College in Boston, graduated in 1965 and has spent over 50 years working with young people in theater. After graduation she taught speech and acting at Fox Chapel High School for eight years. In 1979 she started The Attic Workshop, an after school theater program for children and teenagers interested in the performing arts. The Attic Workshop continued until Pam started her work with Mario and the musical theater camp.

Along with her work with young people, Pam has also directed many community productions for Child Health Association, Sewickley Academy and St. Stephen’s Church.

Although Pam is always thrilled to hear that one of her students is achieving success in professional theater she is equally as delighted to hear that shy little Johnny or Sally was able to get up and give a book report or that adult Johnny or Sally was able to stand up and make a presentation to their colleagues with confidence and poise.

Thom McLaughlin:

Thom is a proud graduate of Point Park University. His greatest achievements are his many years of teaching and working with young aspiring thespians. Thom has worked at the following schools and organizations:

• Sewickley Academy, Sewickley, PA

• Cincinnati Country Day School, Cincinnati, OH

• Chadwick School, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA

• Lincoln Park Performing Arts, Midland, PA

• Baden Academy, Baden, PA

• Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Sewickley, PA

• Performing Arts Camp, Sewickley, PA

He has directed, produced, and acted in over one thousand productions in his forty two year career. Thom owns and operates “Thom McLaughlin’s School of Drama” http://www.thomdrama.com

Nina Mascio:

Nina Mascio is a graduate of Duquesne University with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music education. She is the musical director and accompanist/pit conductor for Central Catholic Masque, where they perform two musicals each year. She is musical director and accompanist for the Jewish Community Center high school show every winter. Nina plays for the musicals at Franklin Regional and Winchester Thurston. Every other year, she is musical director and accompanist for the Child Health Show in Sewickley. Nina plays keyboards for Campus Superstar each spring in Oakland. She has played in many bands, and has recorded for musicians locally. She has played in many industrial shows nationwide. Her full-time job is at St. Therese Church in Munhall, where she is the organist and choir director. She began PAC in 1990.

Tim Heavner:

Tim moved to the Pittsburgh area in 2011 to accept a position as the Chorus Teacher at Sewickley Academy. He has worked with PAC since the summer of 2013. Originally from Anchorage, AK, Tim worked with nearly every performing arts organization in his hometown, including Anchorage Opera, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, Alaska Light Opera Theater, the Anchorage Concert Chorus, the Alaska Chamber Singers, Anchorage Community Theater, Alaska Festival Theater, TOAST Theatre Company, the Anchorage Community Concert Band, the Alaska Festival of Music, and even a production of South Pacific in Nome, just to name a few. After obtaining a Piano Performance degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Tim eventually moved to New York City where he spent eleven years attending the Manhattan School of Music, pursuing a Master’s in Vocal Accompanying and doing everything from opera and musicals to church music, from jazz and pop concerts to chamber music recitals, from accompanying to conducting, and from performing to teaching up and down the East Coast. Tim now lives in Baden, PA with his wife, Rina, his two awesome sons, Ben and Tristan, and his fierce beast, Wampa.

Abbey Zorich

Abbey is a graduate of Robert Morris University. She danced competitively in college on the university's team. She began dancing at the age of two and has earned years of dance experience in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and hip-hop. She was trained by Paula Scriva Jersey and was a competitive dancer throughout her training. She is a former camper from Sewickley Performing Arts Camp, as well.

Abbey, now, works as a dance teacher and choreographer. Abbey’s students have won many state and national titles, high score cash awards, and numerous choreography awards and scholarships. Teaching dance is something that she loves to do, she remains committed to helping her students achieve their personal best, and she can't wait to share her passion for the art with you!

Katie Schurman

Katie Schurman grew up in Sewickley, Pa and began her dance training at the age of three. As a young child, she studied under the direction of Karen Prunzik, Lenora Nemetz, Svetlana Novodran, Mario Melodia, Pam Gregg, Ernest Tolentino and Miriam Scigliano. Katie went on to attend Point Park University where she received her B.A in dance in 2010. She studied under the direction of Douglas Bentz, Nicolas Petrov, Ron Tassone, Jason McDole and Kiesha Lalama. During senior year, she was honored to perform in the world premiere of Time After Time choreographed by Broadway legend Ann Reinking. She began her professional career dancing as a soloist with The Mid-Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Company under the direction of Gerald Holt. She has performed with numerous dance companies in Pittsburgh and continues to work in movies, commercials and music videos.

Katie has been teaching for over a decade in the genres of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary and musical theater. She is currently a teacher at The Pennsylvania Academy of Dance and Carol Leone. Katie is thrilled to share her love of dance at Performing Arts Camp!