Theatre, Musical Theatre, & Technical Theatre
Nicole Accuardi
Theatre Instructor/Production Coordinator
Nicole Accuardi is an actor and theatre educator in Portland, Oregon. Locally, she has performed with various companies including Theatre Vertigo, The Miracle Theatre, Shaking the Tree, Clackamas Rep, and Lakewood Theatre. Internationally, she has performed and taught improvisational theatre at Impro Amsterdam and Cambridge University, and she is currently working as a founder to open an improv and devised theatre company called Deep End Theater in Portland. She graduated from the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts before finishing her BFA in acting at Point Park University. She then went on to get her MAT from Concordia University, and is currently the full time drama teacher at da Vinci Arts Middle School. Most importantly, she was a CIT and camp counselor at YMA for seven glorious summers. She is thrilled to return to one of her favorite places on earth!
Jordan Beck
Theatre Instructor
Jordan Beck's two professional passions are building theater with young people, and residential camps. If he had known about YMA in his youth in Portland he surely would have pestered his parents into letting him attend. He holds a BFA from Pacific Lutheran University in Acting & Directing, and a Masters of Theater Education from University of South Carolina. He's worked with theater companies around the country, including dog&pony dc, Wooly Mammoth Theater Company, Washington Improv Theater, Curious Comedy, and Comedysportz Portland. Jordan worked in residential camps for Girl Scouts of Northern California, and the MESD's Outdoor school program. He is currently the drama teacher of Meadow Park Middle School in Beaverton, Oregon where he co-runs the Meadow Park Theater Company.
Steve Boss
Theatre Instructor
Steve has explored Shakespeare with Young Musicians and Artists since 2009. Steve was a Lead Educator with the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association’s Age of Sail programs aboard the historic square rigger Balclutha. He was called in to be an emergency crew member when COVID closed the ship to the public, and served 4 seasons above the deck. He is an award winning actor, a director, and musician and has performed in many productions. Companies include We Players, Campo Santo, Shakespeare & Company, Shakespeare by the Sea, Portland Playhouse, Oregon Chil-dren’s Theater, Stark Raving Theater, Paula Productions, CoHo Productions, Sowelu Theater, and Defunkt Theater. He was part of Kristy Edmunds’ performance/installation Over There, and has done crisis training role-playing for The Department of Corrections at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Steve has worked with The Well Arts Institute Elder Writing Program as a scribe and actor, and with The Haven Project putting artists one-on-one with kids as a mentor, actor, composer, musician, director and stage manager. He was a founding member of the Resident Acting Company for Stark Raving Theatre, and has been an actor, musician, training programs manager, and education artist for Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA.
Alyssa Gibson
Musical Theatre Program Director
A Portland native, Alyssa spent her early years pursuing a musical theater career in New York City where she had been lucky enough to enjoy performing opera, musical theater and dance. Recently, she moved to Colorado with her two beautiful children, Elena & Jackson, 2 fur-babies and her husband, Cameron. She has been honored to have been able to music direct and choreograph a variety of local and regional performances including, Sweeney Todd (Gallery Players Theater, McMinnville) and Singing in the Rain (Mask and Mirror, Tigard). Alyssa loves to spend her time with her two beautiful children, Elena & Jackson, and her husband, Cameron. She enjoys dancing, rock climbing, hiking and camping, but she is most excited to be resuming dancing and performing in her new home! YMA is a second home to Alyssa and she cannot wait to see everyone soon!
Chris Meade
Musical Theatre Program Director
Christopher Meade is an educator and musician based in Portland, Oregon. While he specializes in vocal education, Chris has also taught drama, general music, and audio production. He is highly invested in bringing arts education to underserved communities and is active in multiple public school leadership teams to introduce and expand access to the arts. Primarily a singer and pianist, Chris has played accompaniment for both instrumental and vocal ensembles as well as individual musicians for performances and auditions. He has served as director and judge for musicals, honor choirs, and contest festivals. This will be his first summer at YMA and he cannot wait to share this experience with everyone!
Heidi Sprecher
Technical Theatre Director
Heidi Sprecher is a theatre technician and educator based in Portland, Oregon. In her professional life, Heidi has worked locally in many different technical capacities: Stage Management, costume shop, stagehand, and her favorite - stage lighting. Heidi graduated with a BS in Theatre (and yes, she chose a BS over a BA just so she could make that joke) from Portland State University. She went on to get her MAT from Concordia University. She spends most of her days working as a teaching artist and lighting designer at da Vinci Arts Middle School. This is Heidi’s first summer at YMA, and she is beyond delighted to be joining this family of artists!
Cassie Greer
Stagecraft Instructor
Cassie Greer (she/her) received her training in the MFA Acting program at Florida Atlantic University; the BA Theatre, History, and Music programs at Goshen College; and in the 9th Certification group of Fitzmaurice Voicework® teachers. She has worked professionally around the country as an actor, director, designer, stage manager, administrator, educator, and facilitator. These days you can find Cassie freelancing in the Portland area as a theatre-maker, creative producer, voiceover artist, team-building facilitator, and private voice coach; she also works and and plays in a variety of capacities behind the scenes at Portland Playhouse, and is thrilled to be spending the summer with YMA campers and faculty! Find details on Cassie’s various interests and projects past, present, and future at cassiegreer.com.
Aidan Tappert
Artistic Associate
Aidan Tappert (He/They) first attended camp as an awkward 11-year-old when his mom, Jayce Tappert, returned to camp as the new Camp Nurse. The young artist became enamored with the power of words, storytelling, and the magic art manifests into the world. Nearly a decade later, Aidan has attended camp as a Creative Writer, Actor, and a brief stint as an elusive Tuba Player. In life outside of camp, Aidan is getting their BFA from the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah and is set to premiere their first musical, titled A Night to Dismember (a campy, dark comedy), in the spring of 2023! Aidan hopes that in this new role he can help break down the barriers between artistic disciplines and foster the next generation of iterative and appreciative artists.