2026 Confirmed National Teaching Artists
Erin Carr
Erin Carr (she/her) is a physical theatre practitioner, intimacy choreographer, and creative leadership coach based in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received her BFA in Acting from NYU-Tisch, where she studied experimental/physical theatre and Viewpoints with Mary Overlie. She also has an MBA in Entrepreneurship and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Organizational Psychology and a certification as an NLP practitioner.
As the creator of OpportunityUnlocked, an online coaching studio program, her passion is unlocking the physical narrative for individuals and empowering those in collectives to work towards a common goal.
Brian Curl
Brian Curl is a professional teaching artist, actor, choreographer, director, and producer. Since 2008, Brian has been traveling the world teaching at conferences, high schools, and universities.
As an actor, he has performed in 49 of the 50 states as well as off-broadway, off-off-broadway, regional theaters, summer stock theaters, and Walt Disney World.
In 2019, Brian founded daily8count.com, an online choreography education tool for the classroom...check it out! Brian is also a proud founding member of the Teaching Artist Alliance.
A big kid at heart, Brian enjoys working with the future of the theatre industry! Insta: @briancurl81 & @daily8count
Adam Rose
Adam Michael Rose is a Los Angeles-based dialect coach and teaching artist. Adam has worked with actors from Game of Thrones, You, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. He was also the production dialect coach for ABC’s American Crime Season 3 starring Regina King.
On stage, he’s coached productions throughout the country including Newsies, The 39 Steps, and Mary Poppins.
He’s been a guest artist at state festivals all over the country for almost 10 years.
Adam is a certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork, a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and a member of VASTA, EdTA, CETA, AEA, and SAG-AFTRA.
Aretta Baumgartner
Aretta Baumgartner (she/her/hers) is a proud member of the Teaching Artist Alliance. She served as Education & Advocacy Director at Atlanta's Center for Puppetry Arts from 2011-2024, has presented thousands of workshops all over the country, held the role of President of Puppeteers of America for numerous terms and is a producing partner with ONE DOUBLE-O FOUR EIGHT (with which she creates original work that’s presented at fringe and puppet festivals). She performs regularly in puppetry, theatre and as a backing vocalist. Aretta is dedicated to using puppetry as a tool to unlock potential, passion and story in every human she meets.
Mike Catron
Mike Catron is a Stage Combat Choreographer, Performer, and Consultant working out of Lincoln, NE. A full-time High School English Teacher and Assistant Director in his school's Theatre Program, Mike has decades of experience working with young thespians. He has presented Stage Combat Workshops at International Thespian Festival and a State and Regional Festivals in the Midwest. In addition to his Theatre and Education backgrounds, Mike is a 7th Dan Black Belt in the Universal Taekwondo Association and is ranked in Kendo by the Kyoto Prefecture (Japan) Kendo Promotions Board. He has taught martial arts for over 20 years and worked as an assistant director and combat choreographer for over 10. Mike's study of myriad combat arts ranging from Boxing to Aikido and brings a practical understanding of combat to his choreography. Mike's principle work as a choreographer has been for high school productions: designing, training, and directing high school performers in combat scenes in plays and musicals. Mike's workshops focus on performer safety and understanding stage violence as part of larger narrative arc.
As the creator of OpportunityUnlocked, an online coaching studio program, her passion is unlocking the physical narrative for individuals and empowering those in collectives to work towards a common goal.
Brittany Mendoza-Pena
Brittany Mendoza-Pena grew up performing in Spokane, WA and her love for performing arts education remains a pillar of her work & mission. She is based in Denver, CO and works within the Rocky Mountain, MidWest and Southern California markets. She continues to foster community both as a professional actor & performing arts educator.
Brittany has worked alongside studios such as Mountain Performing Arts (CO) & Performing Arts Academy (CO) to provide comprehensive & professional children’s programming. Additionally, Brittany has extensive experience as a performer on multiple theater for young audiences (TYA) contracts. She has performed for regional companies, including Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, and the Boulder Ensemble Theater Company.
When she is not involved with a theatrical production, Brittany spends her time supporting her local film community, both as on-camera talent & production crew.
Training: BFA in Musical Theater (Conc. Choreography). Representation: Big Fish Talent (CO) | Wehmann (MN).
Leo Yu-Ning Chang
Leo Yu-Ning Chang (He/Him) is a bilingual storyteller and educator based in NYC. Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Leo co-founded the award-winning A Cappella band-Guess What. In 2016, he took a leap of faith and moved to the U.S. to pursue his passion for musical theatre. Upon getting his M.F.A. in Musical Theatre at San Diego State University, Leo moved to NYC and participated in a variety of performances as an interdisciplinary artist.
Currently, Leo serves as an adjunct professor at Marymount Manhattan College. As an educator, Leo’s priorities and strengths are creating brave and inclusive learning spaces, amplifying and celebrating different voices, and teaching through an inclusive lens.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility will always be the pillars of Leo’s creative works and teaching. @jumpingleo
MORE COMING SOON!