Teaching Artists

On Tour

Our touring teaching artists have years of experience in education and childcare not only as artistic educators, but also as classroom teachers, camp counselors, nannies, and tutors. In addition to their experience in education, CCD teaching artists are Chicago-based actors, directors, stage combatants, playwrights, and other theatre professionals.
CCD is dedicated to assembling teams of teaching artists who are just as passionate about children and education as they are about the work they do onstage - artists who are not only able to provide your students and families with a nurturing and engaging educational environment,
but who teach by example so that your students can, in turn, learn to lead by example.
Andrew Clancey

Andrew joined the Compass Creative Dramatics team in May 2016 as an education intern and has since moved through the internship and apprenticeship programs to become an adept teaching artist, as well as a CCD Program Associate! In addition to the year-round educational touring and administrative work he does with CCD, he is also a teaching artist for Emerald City Theatre and a professional actor in Chicago. He received a BA in Theatre Arts as well as a BA in Cinema and Comparative Literature from the University of Iowa in 2011. www.andrewclancey.com ​
Audrey Catalano

​Audrey is a graduate of Tulane University, where she performed with The New Orleans Shakespeare Festival and toured their Shakespeare on the Road program to grade schools across the city. For several summers, Audrey taught with Trinity Repertory Company’s Young Actors Summer Institute, and recently toured with their Shakespeare en el Verano ensemble.
Brandon Lavell Eddins

A current ensemble member of GreatWorks Touring Theatre Company and The Black Ensemble Theatre, Brandon was accepted into the Theatre School at DePaul University and graduated in 2010 with a BA in Communication Studies. Through his work with GreatWorks, Brandon performs for students across Illinois and the midwest, including roles in "50 States in 60 Minutes," "The Diary of Anne Frank," and "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry." In addition to his work in theatre, Brandon has directed the youth choir at Mount Zion MB and currently sings with the choir at United Wesley Methodist.
​Cassandra Quinn
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Cassandra is a co-founder of Compass Creative Dramatics. Originally from Bedford, IN, she graduated from Huntington University with a BA in Theatre Performance and Sociology. Chicago credits include Space Wars: the Panto! at Piccolo Theatre, Devour with 20% Theatre and As You Like It with Spectralia Theatre. She has served as an actor, director, and educator for numerous educational theatres including Montana Shakespeare in the Schools, GreatWorks Touring Theatre Company, Imagination Theater, and CLIMB Theatre. Cassandra is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Theatre for Young Audience Division of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Theatre Association and is a proud member of International Performing Arts for Youth. www.cassandraquinn.com
Cathlyn Melvin

Cathlyn is a co-founder of Compass Creative Dramatics, and has worked with children and young adults as a tutor, forensics coach, theatre director, and nanny, and as an ensemble member of GreatWorks Touring Theatre Company for children. She has had the opportunity to work with many wonderful theatres in Chicago and Milwaukee, including three awesome kids' shows with GreatWorks and the Jeff-Nominated productions Hickorydickory with Chicago Dramatists and The Count of Monte Cristo with Lifeline Theatre.
www.cathlynmelvin.com
Dave Smith

When not traveling the country, David is the resident actor for SociAbility, where he uses theatre to help children and adults on the autism spectrum. David has toured the country with National Theatre for Children and Misssoula Children's Theatre, and has performed across Chicagoland with American Eagle Productions. During his spare time David enjoys playing basketball, reading, and spending his days along the shores of Lake Michigan. 
Jill Matel
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​Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Jill has resided and worked in the Chicagoland area for over 20 years.  Having studied dance and theatre at Barat College in Lake Forest, IL she currently choreographs and performs around Chicago and is the Managing Director and an educator with The All-Stars Theatre Company bringing Shakespeare to the classroom.  
Johanna Jackson

Johanna earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. She has been an active performer and educator with organizations in Chicago, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Texas, and across the country. As a performer, she has worked with Music Theatre of Madison, Four Seasons Theatre, Brownville Village Theatre, and Live Read Movie Parodies. As an arts educator, she has taught with Broadway at Panhandle and DalhArts. In addition to the arts, Johanna is also passionate about community service and served with AmeriCorps for 2 years tutoring and mentoring children.
Nicole Frydman

An internationally competitive swing dancer and educator, Nicole was featured in the film Mona Lisa Smile and has a 15-year history teaching with 920 Special in San Francisco, Dance Manhattan, Columbia University, LaGuardia High School, Lincoln Center, and NYU, as well as workshops and camps all over the United States and Europe. Nicole received her BFA from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.
Paul Kendall

Originally from Crown Point, IN, Paul is a Chicago-based actor and improviser, where he has performed with The Second City and other improv theaters. He holds his BA in English from Valparaiso University, and has continued his education through Columbia College’s Comedy Studies program, which he completed in 2016. Paul regularly performs with his improv team “Maximus Maximus” at The Comedy Clubhouse in Chicago.
Scott Sawa

Scott has been active in the Chicago theater scene for ten years, working with Lifeline Theater, First Folio Theatre, and iO, among other companies  Scott's training includes a BS in Acting from Illinois State as well as continued studies in the Meisner Method, On-Camera, and Improv. He also spent 3 years touring as Abraham Lincoln on a school tour with educational theatre company Historical Perspectives for Children.  When pronounced correctly, Scott Sawa rhymes with "Hot Lava".
Wyatt Kent

​Originally from Nebraska, Wyatt earned his Masters of Fine Arts in Directing from Arizona State University and now lives in Chicago, where he works as a theatre artist and educator. Credits include acting with Stray Cat Theatre and Southwest Shakespeare Theatre in Arizona as well as working with The Plagiarists and the Babes With Blades Theatre Company in Chicago. Additionally he has served as a teaching artist with The Mad Hatter's Tea at Create Academy in Arizona and The Lincoln Project at American Blues Theatre Company here in Chicago. www.wyattkent.com

In Chicago

Lead Theatre Educators
Summer Cultural Enrichment Program, Chicago Park District
Lincoln Park Cultural Center
Clarendon Park
Sydney Ray
Sydney is an Actor and Educator based in Chicago, IL. She is an Troupe Member and Teaching Artist with E.D.G.E. of Orion Theatre Company - assistant directing, teaching and choreographing for The Constellation Project (musical theatre productions and theatre classes for young people with Downs Syndrome) since 2012. With E.D.G.E. she has performed in various professional productions including 1776 (Charles Thomson), Into the Woods (The Baker's Wife), MacSith (Lady MonDuff), Steampunk Christmas Carol (The Ghost of Christmas Present) and Illyia (Meranda). She can be seen next on stage with E.D.G.E. this October in Spoon River Anthologies and with Music for Theatre Chicago as Kate in The Wild Party. She has also worked with 20% Theater Company of Chicago, The Unrehearsed Shakespeare Company of Chicago, Broken Nose Theater Company, and Compass Creative Dramatics. She loves making funny faces, being a Jedi, eating burritos, drinking coffee, and traveling.