FACULTY

Brooke Robyn Dairman, Director and Co-Founder of Professional Youth Theatre, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Columbia University (Masters).  A trained dancer, Brooke began her performance career immediately after completing her education.  She danced with multiple jazz and modern dance companies before launching a successful musical theater career in New York City in 2007.  She continued her professional performance career through 2017 as a member of the Actor's Equity Association.  National tours: Peter Pan (Tiger Lily, Peter u/s); Damn Yankees (Lola u/s); Hello, Dolly! starring Sally Struthers (Mrs. Rose, Minnie Fay u/s); How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Punky Who); and All Shook Up.   In addition to performing in and dance captaining All Shook Up, Brooke had the honor of choreographing this national touring production which gave her invaluable experience and insight into the show-development process.  Brooke has also choreographed several well-reviewed professional regional productions throughout the country and takes great pride in having served as dance captain for many acclaimed choreographers.  Brooke was the Dance Training Advisor for NYCinMA, a pre-professional musical theater training program in Boston, and she has taught master classes in dance and theater throughout the country.  In addition to her performance career, Brooke is the Co-Director of The Dance Loft and enjoys bringing professional-caliber education to her students.   Visit Brooke's website for more information.  

Lauren Barchi, Musical Director and Associate Artistic Director at Professional Youth Theatre, is a Long Island native who continues to perform and teach throughout the tri-state area. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Music at Rutgers University where she also received an Artist Diploma in Opera. Roles she has performed include Lady Billows in Albert Herring, Countess in Le Nozze Di Figaro, Blanche in Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, Monica in The Medium, 1st Lady in The Magic Flute and Jenny in There Once was a Girl named Jenny, a Kurt Weil review.  Ms. Barchi also enjoys recital and solo work. She was a guest artist at Anna Maria College in an all Bach recital. She has also been the Soprano Soloist in Les Noces by Igor Stravinsky with NYU chorale and the soloist for Touchstone by Scott Melillo with the Ridgewood Concert Band. In addition to being an active performer, Lauren Barchi is a voice teacher in north and central New Jersey Jersey and Long Island. She received her Bachelor of Music in vocal performance and music education from Ithaca College and her Master of Music in vocal performance from New York University. While at NYU, she received an advanced certificate in vocal pedagogy and taught voice lessons as an adjunct professor. She is an adjunct professor at Long Island University in the musical theater department. 

Zachary S. Berger hails from Niskayuna, NY and has appeared in both the U.S. tour and the international tour of CATS (Munkustrap); Jekyll and Hyde (World Tour); Hello, Dolly! National tour starring Sally Struthers (Cornelius u/s). Off-Broadway: The Kid, All That Glitters (Liberace). Regional: 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor) at Sacramento Music Circus, My Fair Lady (Freddy) at Theater by the Sea, The Little Mermaid (Scuttle) at Theater by the Sea; Holiday Inn (Ted Hanover) at Drayton Theater Festival; Chasing Rainbows at Flat Rock Playhouse (Clark Gable); Sting’s The Last Ship at Pioneer Theater Company (Arthur/Gideon u/s). Graduate of the Carnegie Mellon’s prestigious School of Drama, BFA Musical Theater/Drama. So much love for my teachers, friends, and family who have challenged me and supported me along the way. Member of AEA. “Spread love.”

Maurice Dawkins is an actively performing musical theatre and contemporary ballet dancer, having recently performed with THE PROM and CATS Broadway National Tours, as well as with numerous regional theatres and dance companies. He is an alum of LaGuardia High School for the Arts and Sarah Lawrence College, and trained at various performing arts institutions in NYC such as Broadway Dance Center, STEPS, Manhattan Youth Ballet, and Rosie’s Theatre Kids. Maurice is committed to being a champion for and fostering the artistic growth of his students!

Laura Stracko is a Broadway, film, and TV actor living in NYC with her partner (and fellow PYT instructor!) Maurice Dawkins, and their two perfect kitties, Mr. Business and Luna. Laura is trained in the Meisner acting technique and has studied voice at various studios around the country. Some favorite past roles include Tessie Tura in Gypsy (Theatre Aspen), Grizabella in Cats (Royal Caribbean), and so much more! She has appeared on Blue Bloods, as well as in the Original Broadway Cast of Diana: The Musical on Netflix, and can be heard talking about her Broadway experience on the Life's But A Song podcast. When she is not singing and dancing, she can also be booked all around the city (and online!) to teach chess - she can teach absolutely anyone! To see what she's up to in real time, give her a follow on Instagram @thisisLauraStracko and check out her website, www.LauraStracko.com. See you in class!