PROGRAM DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER

Corey John Snide is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Capital District Arts Initiative. Snide started dancing in Albany, NY at a very young age competing at the regional, national and International level. His earliest accomplishments were receiving two gold medals for Team USA for Tap and Contemporary dance at the age of 10. From there, his professional career took off as he started performing in the hit West End show as the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical. Having performed the role in both London and Australia for a year and a half, he returned to NYC to immediately join to Original Broadway Cast of Jason Robert Browns 13 the musical leading the show alternating the role of Evan Goldman. He then continued to pursue his education and completed four years of training at The Juilliard School graduating with a BFA in Dance in 2015. Upon graduation, he joined the regional production of Andy Blankenbuehler’s Bandstand at the Papermill Playhouse. He has since been the Dance Captain for the Broadway revival for Cats and Rogers and Hammerstein’s Carousel (both of which covering every male track in the show). Recently, he Tapped on the FX hit mini-series Fosse/Verdon as USO Bob. He then returned to London to be the Assistant Choreographer for the Cats film as well as performing in the principal ensemble. Whenever he’s not performing on stage or screen, he is constantly working on his own choreographic career having several of his works performed across NYC. He is sought out internationally as a versatile teacher and mentor and is currently on faculty at PACE University in NYC. Most recently, he originated the role of Tiger (u/s Riff) in Ivo von Hove’s West Side Story. Corey’s passion for arts empowerment and collaboration is the driving force behind co-founding the initiative.

VOCAL COACH & MUSIC TEACHER

Lisa Franklin - Broadway Concerts: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Secret Garden - Lincoln Center. NYC Credits: The Real Desperate Housewives of Columbia County - Laurie Beechman Theatre, Velma in Hairspray - FSF Theatre, The Franklin Family in Concert - 54 Below, Manuel Versus the Statue of Liberty - NYMF. REGIONAL CREDITS: Mother Superior in Sister Act - Arizona Broadway Theatre; Marie Lombardi in Lombardi - Dells Palace Theatre in Wisconsin, The Most Happy Fella - Broward Stage; numerous productions with CapRep, Mac-Haydn Theatre, Park Playhouse, SLOC and Sharon Playhouse. Lisa has taught at The New York State Theatre Institute and has Musical directed at Park Playhouse and at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. Lisa has vocal studios in NYC and Albany and is the voice teacher of many of today’s young Broadway Stars. Lisa’s students have performed in more than 40 Broadway Shows and National Tours. Her proudest accomplishment is her four children, Julia, Charlie, Emily & George - all who have appeared in Broadway or Off-Broadway shows, Radio City Music Hall and National Tours.

ACTING TEACHER & DIRECTOR

Sammy Wilson is a theatre educator, with a passion for inspiring creativity and fostering artistic growth in performers of all levels. With a BA in Theatre and minors in Musical Theatre and Film Studies, Sammy has studied various acting and movement techniques, such as Meisner, Stanislavski, and Laban. She has worked with multiple theatre companies and educational institutions, helping actors develop their skills, confidence, and love for the stage. Sammy's most recent directorial credits include: Six (CDAI), Footloose (Not So Common Players), and Clue: On Stage (Shaker High School). With the exceedingly supportive and talented team at CDAI, Sammy is so excited to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for the performing arts, guiding students on their journeys to becoming confident, intelligent, and versatile performers.

MUSIC AND VOICE TEACHER, CO-MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Nick Contois is a class of 2018 Shaker graduate, born and raised in the heart of Latham. After high school he studied at Rider University where he received his BA in Musical Theatre Performace with a minor in French in 2021. Since then he has stayed involved with the capital district theatre community, playing featured roles in productions such as The Trunchbull in Matilda (SLOC) and music directing productions such as Footloose (Not So Common Players). Nick has always had a passion for sharing the language of music and he strives to foster an inclusive environment where his students feel encouraged to do their best work.