MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

 

Heather Allen/ Children's Acting

Heather Allen holds an Associates in Theatre Arts from Gloucester County College and a BA in Theatre Performance from Richard Stockton College. Heather is a former drama teacher for Drama Kids International where she taught for 3 years. Shows Heather directed while with Drama Kids include : "The Old woman and the Shoe","Circus Capers","The Grasshopper and the Ant","Fancy That","The Legend of Tim Sandy","Paradesia", and "The Bold Buccaneers". After Drama Kids Heather went on to teach at Fusion Academy of the Performing Arts for one great year. While teaching at Fusion Heather co-directed Outcast Theatre Company’s production of “Godspell Jr.” . Before teaching Heather had performed in countless productions throughout the South Jersey area. Some of her past favorite roles include Corie Bratter in “Barefoot in the Park”, Fastrada in “Pippin” (received ACTF nomination), Uriah Shelly in “The Elephant Calf”, Irina Vladu in “Mad Forest” (received ACTF nomination), Asaka in “Once On This Island”, Lucy in “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” & Sister Amnesia in “Nunsense”. Heather is thrilled for the opportunity to continue to do what she is passionate about at the Portside Arts Center.

Kim Creighton/ Mosaic

Kim Creighton has a unique style of art and design, which is based largely on geometric shapes and simple objects. She also enjoys working with several different materials such as metals, glass, tile, wood and paints. In turn, out comes beautiful and breath-taking sculptures, mosaics, floor and wall mirrors. She also likes to use found and recycled objects turning them into some of the creations presented at the Portside.

Jeff Kilpatrick/ Cartoon Character Creation/ Comic Book Workshop

Cofounder of the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society, Jeff Kilpatrick was recently spotlighted as one the top 25 young creative Philadelphians to watch in the Philadelphia Weekly. His work for the Children‘s Crisis Treatment Center led to the creation of his first full-length comic “Petey”, the story of a little turtle seeking love. It has gained praise and commendations worldwide since it was published. He is also the Dark Horse Comics internet Strip Search Champion. As a part-time teacher at his former high school, North Catholic, he always finds time to work for Carelift International, a non profit organization. All of these experiences, his local hangouts The Starboard Side and Bob and Barbara‘s Lounge, and his upbringing in Fishtown have fed and inspired his truly honest approach to cartooning and comics. A member of the New York based comics group Meathaus, he splits his time between charity work and cartooning by working on several projects at once. His new book, Wonderful is due out from Baboon books in the coming year.

Tyrel McCoy/ Fun with Drums

Tyrel McCoy has been playing drums since the age of 15. Born and raised in New York and New Jersey, Tyrel began his career playing in his father’s church in Philadelphia, where he quickly learned to create, but more importantly, to feel music. Eventually he began playing with a number of local Philly community choirs and groups, most notably the Philadelphia Soul Movement. It was there he cut his teeth learning how to groove and play “in the pocket”.
Tyrel’s professional career started when he met singer-songwriter Billy Thompson Jr. and became his drummer both in studio and on-stage. He also began playing with great gospel artists like Grammy and Stellar award winner John P Kee, Shirley Ceasar and Kim Burrell.
Currently, Tyrel tours with a number of renown Gospel, R&B, Jazz and Hip Hop artists, such as Benita Farmer, Jazmine Sullivane, Brett White, Stephen Hurd, Oliver Johnson, Black Reign, Chubb Rock, Eric Roberson and others.