Teaching Artists

Vivian Appler Lee has been living, acting, creating, and teaching in Philadelphia for the last three years. She has taught frequently at People’s Light in addition to her independent projects. She is currently performing with the Gas and Electric Arts Company and Enchantment Theatre. Vivian holds a Master of Arts from the University of London and a certificate of completion from the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre.

Kevin Bergen is a Barrymore Award nominated actor and a member of the Resident Ensemble of Artists at People’s Light (Six Characters in Search of and Author, Twelfth
Night, Fabulation or the Re-education of Undine). Other Philadelphia region credits include: The Wilma Theatre, Arden Theatre, Bristol Riverside Theatre, and InterAct Theatre. Kevin has acted Off- and Off-off- Broadway and appeared in independent films, and on The Guiding Light. He is a graduate of the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard.

Kaleo Bird has worked with the Walnut Street Theatre, Arena Stage, Azuka Theatre Collective, Philadelphia Theatre Workshop, The Eternal Spiral Project, Roots and Branches Theatre, Metro Stage, The Shakespeare Theatre, and Wayside Theatre. Kaleo holds a BFA in Acting from NYU and an MFA in Acting from Temple University. She is the Producing Artistic Director of Deep Sea Theatre and has taught acting classes at Temple University and Walnut Street Theatre.

Kim Carson is an actress and teaching artist, working with Philadelphia theatres including the Arden, Walnut Street, Peoples Light, 11th Hour, Mum Puppet Theatre, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. She recently taught in the fall theatre school and Youth Summerstage 2007 at People’s Light.

Jano Cohen is certified in The Alexander Technique by the Alexander Alliance and is a teaching member of Alexander Technique International. She has been teaching the Alexander Technique independently since 1988. She holds an M.F.A. in dance from Temple University and a B.A. in dance from Bennington College.

Mark Del Guzzo began his affiliation with People’s Light as an 8-year-old student in Summerstage. As a company member, he has done a number of productions with the Theatre, and teaches regularly with the Theatre School and Summerstage. He was most recently seen in Six Characters in Search of an Author. Mark’s recently been on the road promoting his band’s new album “Lover’s Arms,” and playing shows.

Justin Jain appeared as a pirate in Treasure Island at People’s Light and has worked with several area theatre companies including The Arden, Azuka, Enchantment, Hotel Obligado, 1812 Productions, National Constitution Center, Pig Iron, Theatre Horizon, Shakespeare in Clar Park, the Wilma, and McCarter Theatre (Princeton). Justin graduated from the University of the Arts and did the Arden Professional Apprentice Program. He currently also teaches with the UArts Pre-College Institute and Philadelphia Young Playwrights.

Elizabeth Klinger is a director, teacher, and performer who comes to People's Light, via California, where she received her M.F.A. in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre from The Dell'Arte International School. Elizabeth has performed with the Dell'Arte Company across the Pacific Northwest, and has locally appeared in productions at the Prince, the Walnut Street Theatre, and with Storybook Musical Theatre. As a director, she has staged original, traditional, and adapted works.

Benjamin Lloyd is a member of the Artistic Company at People’s Light and has been a teacher here at various times since 1996. He has taught acting at Villanova and Princeton Universities, and at professional studios in New York and Philadelphia. At People’s Light, he recently performed in The Imaginary Invalid. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.

Susan McKey has been performing and teaching at People’s Light since 1988. She has been in over thirty PLTC productions, including most recently Splittin’ the Raft, The Crucible, Holes, and the holiday pantos: Sleeping Beauty, Jack & the Beanstalk, Robin Hood, and Treasure Island. Susan performs throughout the region and is also a member of the Freedom Rising Company at the National Constitution Center.

Ceal Phelan most recently appeared in Anne of Green Gables and Six Characters in Search of an Author at People’s Light. She has taught in the adult and teenage programs for several years and will be directing the Adult Ensemble’s performance piece this spring. She is a member of the People's Light acting ensemble and is directing The Tempest for Arcadia University this season.

Ahren Potratz appeared in Theophilus North at People’s Light this fall and was recently appointed Resident Teaching Artist in the Education Department. He has also performed regionally at the Wilma, Lantern, New Freedom Repertory, and McCarter Theatres and taught a Shakespeare camp at Arcadia University. Ahren is a graduate of the University of the Arts.

Pete Pryor Pete’s previous PLTC appearances include Humble Boy, The Foreigner, Sleeping Beauty, and Holes. He is an actor/teacher/director and the cofounder of 1812 Productions in Philadelphia. He has worked for the Arden Theatre, Act II Playhouse, Azuka Theatre Collective, The Philadelphia Theatre Company, Theatre Exile and the Wilma, among others. Recently, Pete appeared in the title role of the Lantern Theatre’s production of Richard III. He is a Barrymore Award-winner and a recipient of the Independence Foundation’s Individual Fellowship Award.

Marcia Saunders has been a member of the PLTC acting company for 30 years. She was seen recently at People’s Light in Anne of Green Gables, The Man from Nebraska, and Six Characters In Search of an Author. Marcia received a 2004 Barrymore Award as Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Claire in A Delicate Balance. She is also the recipient of two Emmy awards for her narration of Teacher TV on the Discovery Channel.

Mary Elizabeth Scallen has been a company member at People’s Light since 1991 and has served in numerous capacities as an actor, teacher and writer. She also teaches acting to undergraduates at Penn. Last season, she was seen in People’s Light’s productions of Twelfth Night, The Imaginary Invalid. This season she appears in Theophilus North and Getting Near to Baby.

Kathleen Schadt is a recent graduate of Arcadia University. Kat has taught with Arcadia Camp Shakespeare, and currently teaches for Philadelphia Young Playwrights. She has assisted with outreach programs designed for Reach Kids with Culture and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Most recently, Kat performed in the National Constitution Center’s First Ladies Exhibit.