Meet the Staff
MARIN JOHNSON
Marin has enjoyed being a professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator throughout the US and abroad since 1992. As a dancer, Marin has shared the stage with artists such as Brenda Lee, Wynonna Judd, Lee Greenwood, Pam Tillis, Steve Winwood and more. She has been featured as part of an adage couple as well as a soloist for several main stage theaters, television specials, theme parks, pageants, music videos, corporate conventions, etc. Her televison credits include videos and specials for CBS, CMT, TNN, TBN, VH-1 and local networks in the areas of TN, GA, PA and SC. Behind the scenes, Marin has choreographed several large scale production numbers for companies such as Radio Shack, Office Depot, Information Technologies and Redken, as well as for main stage shows such as Tribute in Concert and Superstars Live in Concert. Currently, Marin is the choreographer for Country Tonight Theatre in Pigeaon Forge, TN. Additional choreography credits include Jigsaw Entertainment's "Calling All Classics", Celebrity Cruise Lines (Assistant Choreographer), WSB Promotions, Music Theatre of Madison's "Floyd Collins" and several college and high school show choirs and dance teams. As an educator, Marin has worked with all ages and skill levels from 3 year old beginners to adult working professionals. She has been a guest artist in TN for several area dance programs as well as nationally for the Energy Soure Dance Company. Johnson also served as a faculty instructor for Columbia State Community College's Commercial Arts Program in Franklin, TN. For four years, Marin and her husband Wes successfully owned and operated A Step Ahead School of Performing Arts in Lavergne, TN, just outside of Nashville. The pair also directed, taught and wrote shows for Cannon County Arts Center's summer intensive workshops. Marin has a BA Degree in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has studied with former Radio City Rockette Jean Kettell as well as with Nashville School of Ballet, Gary Harrison, TN Dance Theater, Royal Academy of Dance, TN Association of Dance, and Lou Conte Studios. She is a certified member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin. Marin is currently dancing with the Jazzworks Dance Company in Madison, Wisconsin. She is currently the co-owner and choreographer for Jigsaw Entertainment Services. Go to www.jigsawentertainment.com to find out information on upcoming shows and services in your area.
Marin has enjoyed being a professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator throughout the US and abroad since 1992. As a dancer, Marin has shared the stage with artists such as Brenda Lee, Wynonna Judd, Lee Greenwood, Pam Tillis, Steve Winwood and more. She has been featured as part of an adage couple as well as a soloist for several main stage theaters, television specials, theme parks, pageants, music videos, corporate conventions, etc. Her televison credits include videos and specials for CBS, CMT, TNN, TBN, VH-1 and local networks in the areas of TN, GA, PA and SC. Behind the scenes, Marin has choreographed several large scale production numbers for companies such as Radio Shack, Office Depot, Information Technologies and Redken, as well as for main stage shows such as Tribute in Concert and Superstars Live in Concert. Currently, Marin is the choreographer for Country Tonight Theatre in Pigeaon Forge, TN. Additional choreography credits include Jigsaw Entertainment's "Calling All Classics", Celebrity Cruise Lines (Assistant Choreographer), WSB Promotions, Music Theatre of Madison's "Floyd Collins" and several college and high school show choirs and dance teams. As an educator, Marin has worked with all ages and skill levels from 3 year old beginners to adult working professionals. She has been a guest artist in TN for several area dance programs as well as nationally for the Energy Soure Dance Company. Johnson also served as a faculty instructor for Columbia State Community College's Commercial Arts Program in Franklin, TN. For four years, Marin and her husband Wes successfully owned and operated A Step Ahead School of Performing Arts in Lavergne, TN, just outside of Nashville. The pair also directed, taught and wrote shows for Cannon County Arts Center's summer intensive workshops. Marin has a BA Degree in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has studied with former Radio City Rockette Jean Kettell as well as with Nashville School of Ballet, Gary Harrison, TN Dance Theater, Royal Academy of Dance, TN Association of Dance, and Lou Conte Studios. She is a certified member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin. Marin is currently dancing with the Jazzworks Dance Company in Madison, Wisconsin. She is currently the co-owner and choreographer for Jigsaw Entertainment Services. Go to www.jigsawentertainment.com to find out information on upcoming shows and services in your area.
WES JOHNSON
Wes has been a professional Vocalist, Host/MC, Production Manager, Writer and Business Owner in the entertainment business for 20 years. During that time, he has had the good fortune of working with several wonderful artists, producers, directors and organizations. As a performer, Wes has worked around the world with artists such as Pam Tillis, Lori Morgan, Lee Greenwood, Steve Winwood, Wynona Judd, Louise Mandrell, Vince Gill and Kenny Chesney. For two years, Johnson toured around the country with country music legend Barbara Mandrell as one of two background vocalists and dancers, The Do-Rites. He has been a featured vocalist and host for various main stage shows, televIsion specials, pageants, conventions and corporate events as well. One such production was "One Enchanted Evening", a national tour which paid tribute to the music and life of Richard Rogers. Wes played "Frankie" in the off Broadway hit "Forever Plaid". Other live performance credits include "Ballys" in Las Vegas, the Merv Griffin Production "Hitmakers" and "Cliff Notes", a one man show written and performed by Wes himself. Wes has been spotted on CBS, ABC, NBC, CMT and TNN. He was a two time contestant and finalist on the hit television show "Star Search". Other television credits include "A Tribute to Minnie Pearl", "Prime Time Country", "The Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade", the "Music City Bowl", "The Last Dance" and the host of "The Miss Pennsylvania Pageant". Behind the scenes, Wes has served as a production staff member for various artists and organizations which include Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, The Oakridge Boys, The Alabama Theater, The Chicago Club Cabaret Theater and most recently the Production/Project Manager for Celebrity Cruise Lines. As an educator, Wes has worked with all ages and levels as a voice teacher and vocal coach. He was the artistic director for the Cannon County Arts Center in Tennessee. As the artistic director, Wes not only produced and directed, but acted as the voice teacher and script writer for the performers. Johnson has served as a vocal coach for Cristaldi Music and Zona Productions. As a vocal coach, he worked hands on in the studio with various professional artists in the Nashville area. For four years, Wes and his wife Marin owned and operated the successful performing arts school "A Step Ahead School of Performing Arts" in the Nashville, TN area. Wes Johnson has a Music Business Degree (BS) with an emphasis on voice from Millikin University; Decatur, IL. He has studied voice, music theory, dance and ear training with Gene and Sharon Raymond, Marin Johnson, Mark Williams, Matt Davenport Productions, Gary Musick Productions and Phil Stegner of "Maestro Productions". Wes had recently been working with various productions companies as an actor, host, voice over actor and vocalist around the Madison area. He is the Co-owner, vocal director and producer of Jigsaw Entertainment Services. Go to www.jigsawentertainment.com to find out about upcoming shows and services in your area.
JAYME SHIMOOKA
Jayme grew up in Madison, WI where she has had the pleasure of performing and working with many different theatre and dance companies. Her love for the arts began when she was three years old and her parents enrolled her in dance classes. Throughout High School she continued studio training in ballet and jazz, and found her love of hip hop and lyrical on the High School Dance Team. During this time Jayme became very involved in many different aspects of theatre and dance whether it was on stage choreographing and performing with the Dance Team, Show Choir, and in the annual musicals; or behind the scenes playing in the pit orchestra, designing stage hair and makeup, or working on the stage crew. To visit Jayme's website, please click www.jaymejohnson.biz. Dance students can find out more about Jayme as well as access class choreography.
Jayme graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in 2005 where she earned a BA in Theatre Arts with a minor in Dance, and an emphasis in Music. During her collegiate career Jayme concentrated on theatre and dance management, continued to study ballet and jazz, and also gained a passion for tap and modern. While earning her degree, she was involved with student and faculty works as a member and choreographer of the Concert Dance Company, University Theatre, and Woman’s Concert Chorale.
Jayme recently decided to pursue a second degree in Dance Performance and Theory at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She enjoys being both a teacher and a student again, and looks forward to incorporating some of the new dance and teaching styles that she is learning at the UW into her classes at Forte.
Jayme graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in 2005 where she earned a BA in Theatre Arts with a minor in Dance, and an emphasis in Music. During her collegiate career Jayme concentrated on theatre and dance management, continued to study ballet and jazz, and also gained a passion for tap and modern. While earning her degree, she was involved with student and faculty works as a member and choreographer of the Concert Dance Company, University Theatre, and Woman’s Concert Chorale.
Jayme recently decided to pursue a second degree in Dance Performance and Theory at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She enjoys being both a teacher and a student again, and looks forward to incorporating some of the new dance and teaching styles that she is learning at the UW into her classes at Forte.
STEVEN STACK
Steven has played many roles within the world of theatre, most notably those of actor, director, playwright, and drama instructor. He has acted in professional productions both in the Columbia, SC area and locally, as well as voiceover work for television commercials. Steven has directed shows starring actors of all ages, from age 5 to adult, including 5 summers teaching accelerated drama courses for grades 4-9 through the Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth. He has written and directed two full-length plays, as well as countless scenes and one-acts. As a full-time drama teacher, Steven created a middle-school curriculum at a school that had never had a theatre program before. In addition to teaching drama full-time for several years in South Carolina, he taught at Spring Harbor Middle School in Madison before accepting his current job teaching 7th grade math at Wright Middle School. He continues to incorporate as much theatre as possible into his elective courses. He has directed actors of diverse populations: from youthful offenders to academically gifted students, from large church groups to one-on-one instruction. Steven has a BA in Elementary Education from Newberry College and an MA in Divergent Learning from Columbia College. He is very excited to be joining Forté Studios.
NATALIE MACHADO
Natalie Machado is a dancer and choreographer based in Madison, WI currently dancing professionally as an apprentice with Li Chiao-Ping Dance. Natalie began studying dance at the age of three and earned her Bachelor of Science in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Throughout her collegiate career, Natalie performed in works for Chris Elam, Paige Cunningham, Bill Young, Susan Marshall, Carrie Hanson, Parul Shah, Jin-Wen Yu, Chris Walker, Kate Corby, Karen-McShane-Hellenbrand, Beth Soll, and Susan Gringrasso. Additionally Natalie studied dance internationally in Taiwan, Italy, and Brazil, where her choreography made its international debut. In 2011, Natalie’s choreographic work was selected to represent the University of Wisconsin-Madison at the American College Dance Festival. Natalie has a passion for sharing her knowledge of dance with others and is excited to teach at Forte Studios.
JASON ATKINS
Jason Atkins has been performing for a very long time. He began studying voice at a very young age and has continued his education throughout his adulthood. While living in Florida, he studied voice and vocal technique with Jason Longtin. While studying with Longtin, Jason became versed in the various styles of music, ranging from classical voice to musical theater and pop.
As a performer, Jason has worked with several different vocal groups which include First Image, concert choir as well as Illumination, a premier madrigal group in Longwood, Fl. Jason has performed with the Orlando Chorale, a critically acclaimed group ensemble in Orlando, Fl.
In Madison, Jason has been involved in over 20 theatrical productions and shows including Jigsaw Entertainments production of "Calling All Classics". He is a performer with the Madison Opera and has been spotted with the UW-Madison Choral Union, Mens Chorus, and Edgewood colleges Madrigal Choir.
He has worked behind the scenes as a stage manager, lighting designer and assistant director. He most recently provided assistance with the production of Once On This Island, a children's show produced by Sugar River Community Theater, located in Belleville, WI.
Jason is excited to use the knowledge he has learned over the past 22 years to fulfill his desire to educate young people the wonder and versatility that that the human voice can produce. "You never know if your child could be the next Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra or Justin Beiber. "It is our job to bring the joy of song and dance to the next generation so they are able to pass it on to their children, and their childrens children. In these uncertain times it is important to ensure that music and art never dies."
As a performer, Jason has worked with several different vocal groups which include First Image, concert choir as well as Illumination, a premier madrigal group in Longwood, Fl. Jason has performed with the Orlando Chorale, a critically acclaimed group ensemble in Orlando, Fl.
In Madison, Jason has been involved in over 20 theatrical productions and shows including Jigsaw Entertainments production of "Calling All Classics". He is a performer with the Madison Opera and has been spotted with the UW-Madison Choral Union, Mens Chorus, and Edgewood colleges Madrigal Choir.
He has worked behind the scenes as a stage manager, lighting designer and assistant director. He most recently provided assistance with the production of Once On This Island, a children's show produced by Sugar River Community Theater, located in Belleville, WI.
Jason is excited to use the knowledge he has learned over the past 22 years to fulfill his desire to educate young people the wonder and versatility that that the human voice can produce. "You never know if your child could be the next Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra or Justin Beiber. "It is our job to bring the joy of song and dance to the next generation so they are able to pass it on to their children, and their childrens children. In these uncertain times it is important to ensure that music and art never dies."
BRUCE BRADLEY
Bruce has been passionate about performing since he played King Herod in a nativity play at the age of five. Since then he has appeared in, directed and produced hundreds of plays in Britain, France, Germany and the United States. He has acted in styles as diverse as Elizabethan tragedy, Restoration comedy, Italian commedia dell’ arte, French verse drama, English mumming and pantomime.
Aside from his enormous wealth of onstage experience, Bruce also draws on his training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where he learned techniques such as Meisner, Stanislavsky and Suzuki. He has performed on traditional stages, in restaurants, on street corners, in parks, at business conventions, and once (memorably) strapped to a wagon wheel in an open field.
Bruce has also appeared on film, television, radio and in commercials. He is an award-winning voice-over artist with clients ranging from Disney to the LPGA, and he has narrated documentaries, public service announcements and corporate videos.
In addition to his performing background, Bruce is a playwright who has had many of his plays produced, and he is a songwriter, composer and musician whose music has accompanied many of his own plays as well as those of other writers. He ran his own production company - Dead Write Productions - that performed comedy murder-mysteries at corporate events, private functions and fundraisers, and he has adapted several books for the stage, including his own one-man show called We Belong to the Land.
As a teacher, he has taught at every level from children to senior citizens, from amateurs to professionals, and was a Shakespeare instructor for American Players Theatre’s educational outreach program. Bruce ran a theatre-in-education program in the New York City public school system, for which he also performed, wrote and composed music, and he has given private classes in all aspects of theatre skills, including voice, movement, character study and stage combat.
Aside from his enormous wealth of onstage experience, Bruce also draws on his training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where he learned techniques such as Meisner, Stanislavsky and Suzuki. He has performed on traditional stages, in restaurants, on street corners, in parks, at business conventions, and once (memorably) strapped to a wagon wheel in an open field.
Bruce has also appeared on film, television, radio and in commercials. He is an award-winning voice-over artist with clients ranging from Disney to the LPGA, and he has narrated documentaries, public service announcements and corporate videos.
In addition to his performing background, Bruce is a playwright who has had many of his plays produced, and he is a songwriter, composer and musician whose music has accompanied many of his own plays as well as those of other writers. He ran his own production company - Dead Write Productions - that performed comedy murder-mysteries at corporate events, private functions and fundraisers, and he has adapted several books for the stage, including his own one-man show called We Belong to the Land.
As a teacher, he has taught at every level from children to senior citizens, from amateurs to professionals, and was a Shakespeare instructor for American Players Theatre’s educational outreach program. Bruce ran a theatre-in-education program in the New York City public school system, for which he also performed, wrote and composed music, and he has given private classes in all aspects of theatre skills, including voice, movement, character study and stage combat.
MORGAN WITTE
This will be Morgan Witte’s eighth year studying dance. Before Forte Studios opened in Mount Horeb, she and her younger sister Kayla attended another dance school for two years. While there, she studied jazz and tap. At Forte, she added ballet to her curriculum. Morgan quickly began to truly appreciate ballet and understand why it is so important. She is now very excited to share her love for ballet to younger students. Throughout her teenage life, she has participated in many activities that allow her to be around children, including babysitting, teaching swimming lessons, assisting dance classes, and tutoring. Teaching at Forte will give Morgan the opportunity to do two things she loves; dance and work with kids. Along with ballet, Morgan is enrolled in modern, tap, jazz, pointe, and hip hop .
Outside of dancing, Morgan focuses a lot of her attention on school and volunteer work. She has volunteered for the Special Olympics, Salvation Army, our local Clothes Closet, summer school tutoring, swimming lessons and bike trail clean-ups. She is a member of Art Club and is currently taking classes involving architecture at Mount Horeb High School. Morgan is also a member or National Honor Society. Whenever she has free time, she enjoys relaxing with family and friends, reading, and writing.
Outside of dancing, Morgan focuses a lot of her attention on school and volunteer work. She has volunteered for the Special Olympics, Salvation Army, our local Clothes Closet, summer school tutoring, swimming lessons and bike trail clean-ups. She is a member of Art Club and is currently taking classes involving architecture at Mount Horeb High School. Morgan is also a member or National Honor Society. Whenever she has free time, she enjoys relaxing with family and friends, reading, and writing.
