CAMP LEADERSHIP TEAM
Michael Popovsky
Founder, Owner & Director
Megan Charlesworth
Studio Manager & Camp Supervisor
Christyn Rutter
Owner & Director
Rebecca Snyder
On Site Camp Director
CAMP STAFF
Nina Bonanno
Music Director
Rebecca Gentry
Choreographer & Teaching Artist
Carmen Mandley
Teaching Artist
Trinda Shaull
Music Director
Alyssa Cooper
Teaching Artist
Abigail Golden
Teaching Artist
Serena Monteforte
Teaching Artist
Ryan Slusky
Teaching Artist
Bios
Learn more about our incredible 2024 Summer Camp Staff!
Nina Bonanno – Music Director
recently graduated from Millersville University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Minor in Theatre. She took on many leadership positions during her time there, including vice president of the All Campus Musical Organization and music director of the acapella group VilleHarmonics. Nina has had many experiences working with students in grades PreK-12. Most recently, she worked as a Penn Manor School District paraprofessional while pursuing her degree. In addition to being a part of the Popovsky Performing Arts Studio team, Nina is working as a Music Director for the Manheim Performing Arts Community Theatre. Nina has had the opportunity to perform in many different shows. Some of her favorite roles have been Sandra in Big Fish and Wednesday in The Addams Family. Nina is so grateful for the opportunity to join the Summer Camp Team at Popovsky Performing Arts Studio, and she cannot wait to meet everyone!
Rebecca Gentry – Choreographer & Teaching artist
is a professionally trained ballet and ballroom dancer, though she dabbles in a variety of dance styles, from Bachata to Bollywood, Tap to Tango. She is the owner of City Ballroom Ballroom Dance Studio and the director of The Dance Collective, Lancaster’s only youth ballroom and latin competitive dance team. She has performed locally with the Grant Street Dance Company, UpFront Theatre Company, and PRiMA Theatre, has choreographed for both PRiMA and UpFront, as well as Encore! Home School Productions, the Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts, the People’s Shakespeare Project, and The Musical Box Theatre in Red Lion. She is resident choreographer in the Manheim Central High School theatre department. Her most favorite shows to work on include Jesus Christ Superstar, HAIR, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She enjoys teaching and connecting with kids of ALL ages!
Carmen Mandley – TEACHING ARTIST
Bio coming soon!
TRINDA SHAULL – MUSIC DIRECTOR
is an experienced private music instructor and educator, having substantial experience in both the classroom and private lessons. She is excited to join the PPAS Summer Camp staff as a music specialist after two years of working for PPAS as a private piano and ukulele instructor, Music Together teacher, and recital accompanist. Before joining the studio, Trinda directed several ensembles, including percussion, choral, and symphony groups. She also had the pleasure of music directing Annie Jr and producing Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure.
She holds a B.S. in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College. Outside the studio, Trinda teaches private lessons from her home in Reading. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and gardening. She lives with her husband, two cats, and her crazy toddler!
Alyssa Cooper – TEACHING ARTIST
is beyond excited to work for the Popovsky Performing Arts Studio this summer! Previously, she toured the country for many years, working with Missoula Children’s Theatre on many shows such as: Sleeping Beauty, Tortoise vs the Hare, Snow Queen, and Blackbeard the Pirate. She graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre and taught Theatre at a charter school in NYC for four years. Besides teaching, directing, and producing shows, she loves performing and watching as much live theatre as possible. She would like to thank her support system for their love and for always encouraging her to follow her heart and her love for theatre.
Abigail Golden – TEACHING ARTIST
Abigail Golden studied Theatre with an emphasis in Performance at Bloomsburg University. While there, she performed in a number of mainstage productions and was nominated for a KCACTF Irene Ryan Scholarship. Abby is also a Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble Improv Performer, where she regularly performs in the Alvina Krause Theatre. She has years of experience working with students of all ages, most recently as an Assistant Stage Manager/Deck Crew for The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble). Abby is ecstatic to join this summer’s PPAS Summer Camps, and can’t wait to meet everyone!
Serena Monteforte – TEACHING ARTIST
is a rising senior at Muhlenberg College pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Media & Communication (focusing on filmmaking) with a minor in dance. She is president of a sketch comedy and improv group on campus. During her high school years at Linden Hall, she participated in every theater production and was the vice president of her International Thespian Society chapter. She grew up in dance training and danced competitively for two years. Serena was active in her school’s music department as a trumpet player, vocalist, and pianist. This past spring, she was a part of a production of Legally Blonde in Ireland! She was a part of the ensemble and had two featured roles. Those roles were Sundeep Agrawal Padamadan and Store Manager. She also was asked to perform two songs at an awards ceremony while she was in Ireland. While studying abroad her friends came up with a phrase to best describe her, “To be Serena is to perform.” She plans to continue to grow in the arts and maintain theater in her life. She is very excited to return to PPAS for another summer working with young Thespians!
Ryan Slusky – TEACHING ARTIST
is a Senior at Millersville University studying Childhood Education K-4 with a minor in theatre. This year, Ryan was a student teacher in a 3rd/4th grade multiage classroom at Doe Run Elementary. Ryan has been performing in Musical Theatre since he was seven years old and wants to continue performing in the future. His recent theatre credits at Millersville University include Carrie the Musical (Tommy Ross), The Addams Family (Gomez Addams), Big Fish the Musical (Edward Bloom), and Hunchback of Notre Dame (Phoebus de Martin) at the Belmont Theatre. Ryan will perform in the PPAS main stage musical Footloose as Ren McCormack this summer! Ryan cannot wait for his second summer with PPAS summer camps and is thrilled to get started!