FSPA Alumni
From Franklin to Broadway and beyond! Alumni of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts have taken their training to extraordinary heights: performing on Broadway, in national tours, with world-renowned ballet companies, on television and film, and in prestigious arts organizations around the globe. Many continue to shine as performers, educators, and leaders in the industry, while others return home to inspire the next generation as part of our faculty. Alumni who do not pursue the arts professionally, put their arts training and life skills to work in myriad other careers. Their achievements reflect the strength of FSPA’s training, the dedication of our faculty, and the lifelong community built at 38 Main Street.
FSPA Alumni
From Franklin to Broadway and beyond! Alumni of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts have taken their training to extraordinary heights: performing on Broadway, in national tours, with world-renowned ballet companies, on television and film, and in prestigious arts organizations around the globe. Many continue to shine as performers, educators, and leaders in the industry, while others return home to inspire the next generation as part of our faculty. Alumni who do not pursue the arts professionally, put their arts training and life skills to work in myriad other careers. Their achievements reflect the strength of FSPA’s training, the dedication of our faculty, and the lifelong community built at 38 Main Street.
FSPA Alumni
Caitlin Nasema Cassidy | LubDub Theatre Co. Artistic Director
Colleen (Megley) Chang | New York City Ballet Associate Director of School Programs
“FSPA was so much more than a school to me – it was my second home! As a dancer, performer, and educator, I now know how rare the high level of training I received at FSPA is and I am so grateful for all the incredible opportunities provided. The professional teaching faculty and staff are beyond compare and continue to support me in every step of my career.” – Colleen Megley Chang
Dan Gleason | Wicked on Broadway
“Performing eight shows a week is exciting and rewarding, but can also be very taxing on the body. I owe a lot of my consistent vocal health and technique to my years at FSPA. Healthy singing habits were ingrained in my body and it has become second nature. Singing a variety of music styles at a young age also set me up to be a diverse performer in my career. FSPA has set me up for success in life and I am so thankful for my years of training in my hometown!” – Dan Gleason
Collin Hancock | How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway
Lauren Kelleher | Le nozze di Figaro with Regina Opera
“The professionalism I learned at FSPA became a huge advantage for me. Important details like knowing exactly how to dress, act, and present myself at auditions became key to my confidence as a performer. I had incredible vocal training at this school as well. I [was] prepared for the intensity of a conservatory.” – Lauren Kelleher
Chris LeBeau | The Producers and Chicago National Tours
Nadine Malouf | Lincoln Center Emerging Artist
“Everything that I learned at FSPA I see and use every day in my professional life. I attribute my discipline, my drive, my work ethic, my knowledge, and my talent to the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. It was my foundation. It was the beginning of my understanding and my growth as a performer.” – Nadine Malouf
Ryan Powers | Grease: LIVE!, How I Met Your Mother, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Pretty Little Liars, and more.
Noura Sander | Kansas City Ballet
Janna (Burke) Spock | Chief Development Officer of Jazz at Lincoln Center, former Director of Patron Giving at The Metropolitan Opera
FSPA Alumni have gone on to attend prestigious performing arts college programs including:
- Baldwin Wallace University
- Berklee College of Music
- Boston Conservatory
- Boston University
- Brown University
- Carnegie Mellon
- Eastman School of Music
- Elon University
- Emerson College
- Georgetown University
- Harvard
- Ithaca College
- Marymount Manhattan College
- Missouri State University
- New England Conservatory
- New York University
- Oberlin Conservatory
- Oklahoma City University
- Pace University
- Penn State University
- Princeton
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (London)
- Shenandoah Conservatory
- Skidmore College
- Syracuse University
- UCLA
- University of Miami
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Southern California
- Wagner College
- Yale School of Drama
- Baldwin Wallace University
- Berklee College of Music
- Boston Conservatory
- Boston University
- Brown University
- Carnegie Mellon
- Eastman School of Music
- Elon University
- Emerson College
- Georgetown University
- Harvard
- Ithaca College
- Marymount Manhattan College
- Missouri State University
- New England Conservatory
- New York University
- Oberlin Conservatory
- Oklahoma City University
- Pace University
- Penn State University
- Princeton
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (London)
- Shenandoah Conservatory
- Skidmore College
- Syracuse University
- UCLA
- University of Miami
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Southern California
- Wagner College
- Yale School of Drama
FSPA Alumni currently on FSPA Faculty:
- Ali Funkhouser | Instructor of Voice, Acting, and Repertoire Consultation
- Katie Gray | Instructor of Voice
- Elizabeth Meyers | Instructor of Violin
- Aidan Padula | Instructor of Percussion
- Matthew Padula | Instructor of Woodwinds
- Ryan Padula | Instructor of Piano
- Hannah Rezendes | Instructor of Ballet and Pointe
- Kim Rezendes | FSPA Assistant Director, Director of Little Music School and Children’s Music; Instructor of Piano
- Maddie Rezendes | Instructor of Voice
- Ali Funkhouser | Instructor of Voice, Acting, and Repertoire Consultation
- Katie Gray | Instructor of Voice
- Elizabeth Meyers | Instructor of Violin
- Aidan Padula | Instructor of Percussion
- Matthew Padula | Instructor of Woodwinds
- Ryan Padula | Instructor of Piano
- Hannah Rezendes | Instructor of Ballet and Pointe
- Kim Rezendes | FSPA Assistant Director, Director of Little Music School and Children’s Music; Instructor of Piano
- Maddie Rezendes | Instructor of Voice