Faculty

Gabi Bazinet Douglas (she/they) was born and raised in Albany, NY where she grew up dancing from the age of 2. She went on to study Musical Theatre at Rider University. She has performed professionally here in Albany at Capital Repertory Theatre, and made her Playhouse Stage Co. debut in Something Rotten. When she isn’t dancing or performing, she is also a stage manager and a dog mother.

Lance Douglas (they/them) has worked as an artist with Playhouse Stage Company since 2023 and is excited continue growing their role on-stage and off, both in theatre operations and youth education. Passionate about storytelling, and the future of the arts, Lance is grateful to be part of the Playhouse community, creating meaningful work alongside family, and friends.  Rider University, BFA MT Class of 2019.

Jessica Forte is the co-owner of Forte Spirit Solutions, a cheerleading consulting business. She travels choreographing routines, as well as training cheer coaches on how to teach tumbling and stunts. From 2005-2023 she owned a cheerleading and tumbling gym in Albany called Cheer Intensity. She has over 20 years of experience in coaching tumbling across all abilities and has a huge passion for working with youth. She also teaches yoga at a local studio!  She’s excited to join the PSA team teaching Acro Gymnastics to these amazing dance and musical theatre students!

Jake Goodman (he/him) is a proud PSA Alumni who recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from PACE University. A proud member of Actor’s Equity, when Jake isn’t acting himself, he is sharing his talents with the students of Playhouse Stage Academy.

Brandon (he/him) has performed Off- Broadway, in National Tours and Regional Theaters across the country - including Park Playhouse, where he began as a student in the Park Playhouse II program! He is a private voice teacher and musical director in the Albany/NYC area, and focuses on vocal health and performance quality. He is a frequent performer with Playhouse Stage Co and a frequent musical director for Playhouse Stage Academy. A proud Actor’s Equity member.

Ashley (she/her) has been with Playhouse Stage Co. in many capacities since first appearing in Annie Get Your Gun at Park Playhouse in 2010 as Ensemble/Dance Captain. She is now the Director of Education of Playhouse Stage Academy, and also serves as a frequent director and choreographer. Her dance training began at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Pennsylvania Regional Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary and Sandra Carlino, respectively. She received her BFA in Dance with a concentration in Ballet in 2010 from Marymount Manhattan College, under the direction of Katie Langan. She is on the theatre faculty at SUNY Albany and teaches at dance studios and theaters across the country. She is a proud member of SDC, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the union representing professional stage directors and choreographers throughout the United States.

Chuck (he/him) is a Park Playhouse II graduate and holds a BA in Acting from SUNY New Paltz. A performer turned director, Chuck is the Managing Director at Playhouse Stage Co. and directs regularly for Playhouse Stage Academy.

Casey (she/her) is loving her time working with Playhouse Stage Company. She is currently The Box Office Manager, Props Designer, Set Painter, and a Teaching Artist. Her passion for the arts began at a young age growing up in a musical household which led to a love and appreciation of all things musical and artistic. She has performed all around the country as an actor and singer, and was a Co-Founder and Managing Director to a non-profit touring children’s theater company. Through her experience in many aspects of theater, she believes that arts education at a young age helps develop individuals into better performers and theater artists, but also more confident individuals regardless of career path. That belief can be seen in her own children, who inspire her every day to imagine and create.

Owen (he/him) is a proud resident of the City of Albany and former Park Playhouse II student, and has served as the Producing Artistic Director of Park Playhouse & Playhouse Stage Co for the last 11 years. From 2012-2018 Owen also served as the Managing Director of the Palace Theatre where, alongside Holly Brown and the wonderful Palace team, he helped to lead significant growth in the historic venue’s programming and financial performance. In 2014, he was pleased to be named one of the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40, and he received The Norman Rice Arts, Culture & Education Award from the Downtown Albany BID in 2015. Before returning to the Capital Region in 2010, Owen was a founding member of The Clockwork Theatre in New York City, and directed several productions off-Broadway for the company. During his time in New York, Owen served as the Assistant General Manager at New York’s Theatre for a New Audience, and his work as an actor was seen in the 40th Anniversary National Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Owen is a native of the Capital Region and was inducted into the Bethlehem Central High School Hall of Fame in 2017.