Private Lesson Faculty
Any questions regarding your account or private lessons, please reach out to lessons@bamtheatre.com
PATRICK HILL, Interim Studio Manager, Voice, Acting, Piano
& Audition Coaching
Specialties: Audition Coaching (including college audition processes), changing male voices, Contemporary Commercial Music (pop/rock), Musical Theatre
Patrick Hill is a Chicago-based music director and educator who has worked with BAM for the last seven years. During his tenure, Patrick has contributed to a wide range of programming, including BCE Spring Productions, JrBCE Original Musicals, Broadway Kids productions, and Summer Mainstages. In addition to maintaining a private voice and acting studio, he currently serves as BAM’s Interim Studio Manager. Patrick’s educational credits also include teaching and music directing at Fenwick High School and the Chicago High School for the Arts. Beyond the theatre, Patrick is an associate therapist at QSTherapy Chicago, where he works with adolescents, adults, and couples.
PETER BROMANN, Voice, Acting, & Piano
Specialties: Audition Coaching (including college audition processes), changing male voices, Contemporary Commercial Music (pop/rock), Musical Theatre
Peter uses his diverse musical background of classical voice and piano and musical theatre to provide an exception educational experience. When not curating his own Christian youth music elearning YouTube show titles "Mr. Bromann's Cabarat" (@mrbcabaret) he collaborates with many Chicago based artists and organizations to lead musical theatre and audition workshops, and has been called in to accompany auditions for Broadway National Touring companies. Favorite creative positions include those with St. Isaac Jogues teaching K-8 music, Angels Sing Inc., SciTech Hand-On Children's Museum (Aurora), St. Barbara Parish (Brookfield), Fenwich High School (Oak Park), Theater of Western Springs, Clarendon Hills Middle School, St. Mary of Gostyn, Lyons Township, and Natural Talent Productions (Arcadia Theater - St. Charles).
MADYSEN FRANCES, Voice & Acting
Madysen got her Bachelor of Music Arts in Lyric Theatre from the University of Illinois. Theatre credits include My Fair Lady, The Gulf, Fun Home, and more. TV/Film credits include Chicago Fire, Disney's Saturdays, and Albany Road. She has been teaching young artists for over five years now and couldn't think of a better way to fill her time outside of performing than to teach the next generation of performers. Many thanks to her professors and mentors who molded her into the artist and teacher she is today.
CORY GOODRICH, Voice & Acting
Specialties: Song Interpretation, Audition Coaching, Golden Age Musical Theatre
Cory Goodrich is a Jeff Award-winning actress, singer/songwriter, and 200-hour RYT yoga teacher and sound meditation guide. Born in Wilmington, Delaware and raised in Clarkston, Michigan, she earned acclaim for her roles as Mother in Ragtime at Drury Lane Oakbrook and June Carter Cash in Ring of Fire at Mercury Theater Chicago. A five-time Jeff nominee, Cory has graced stages across the Chicago area, including the Marriott Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Ravinia, and Theatre at the Center.​
Most recently she appeared in Nunsense at Drury Lane Oakbrook and What the Constitution Means to Me at Paramount's Cory theatre. A graduate of Michigan State University, Cory is also a producer, writer, and mother of two. Her musical projects include award-winning children’s albums Hush and Wiggly Toes, and three solo folk albums: W.O.M.A.N, Wildwood Flower, and Long Way Around, produced by Ethan Deppe.
Specialties: Audition Prep, Acting Coaching, Song Interpretation, Belting, Legit Head Voice, Musical Theater, Pop, Classical
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Shannon Johnson has been involved with BAMtheatre since she was eight-
years-old, when she played a Who in their 2006 production of “Seussical.” Since
then, she has gone on to perform in their Summer Mainstage productions as a
student, direct the Broadway Workshop Series, and now teach voice!
She recently graduated from New England Conservatory with an MM in
opera performance, where she made her debut as Pamina in The Magic Flute in
Boston’s historic Jordan Hall. Johnson is also an alum of Northwestern University,
where she received a BM in vocal performance and BA in English literature, and
performed roles such as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance. Her current repertoire
focuses on opera, with an interest in uncovering lesser-known works by female
composers. Johnson has also studied in Vienna, Austria with Donna Robin of the
Vienna State Opera.
In addition to opera, she also has experience in pop and musical theater. With
BAM she performed roles such as Cosette in Les Misérables and Maria in West Side
Story. She was also a member of the Northwestern Undertones, an a capella group,
and was a semi-finalist in the 2018 International Championships of Collegiate A
Capella. She is passionate about both classical music and musical theater, and
believes that building technique in both can create a strong performer!
SHANNON JOHNSON, Voice
& Acting
KEVIN KUSKA, Voice
Specialties: Belting, Audition Coaching, changing male voices, Contemporary Commercial Music, Musical Theatre
Kevin is a multi-hyphenate artist as a performer, voice teacher, and music director. He has extensive education in teaching voice, in addition to his performing experience. He holds a Masters of Vocal Pedagogy from Rider University, has completed Levels 1-3 of Somatic Voicework the LoVetri Method™, as well has Levels 1-2 of Vocal Kinesthetics - Neurology-Based Voice Teaching. He is currently touring the country swinging the National Tour of The Music Man! His other theatre credits include shows at Broadway in Chicago, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, as well as numerous cabarets around the Chicagoland area. At BAM, Kevin has worn many hats, including Voice Teacher, BCE Lab Clinician, music director, sound engineer, and director!
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JULIE PETERSON, Voice, Acting
& Audition Coaching
Specialties: Audition Coaching (including college audition processes), Acting
Julie is a Chicago based performer and teaching artist with a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Julie most recently performed as a swing for the five time Jeff award winning company of Into The Woods at Kokandy Productions. She has also appeared Off- Broadway swinging for Ethel Merman in The Book Of Merman. When she is not performing, she absolutely LOVES working with kids and teaching them about all things theatre & singing. She grew up performing at BAM and is absolutely ecstatic to bring the knowledge she’s learned to the students of BAMtheatre!
SARAH OBERT Voice & Acting
Sarah Obert is a musical theatre performer and voice teacher in the Chicagoland area with a degree in Musical Theatre from Millikin University. Some of her favorite roles she’s brought to life onstage include Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins, and Fiona MacLaren in Brigadoon. She is passionate about bringing stories to life, connecting with people from all walks of life, and has found that when not performing, she has a passion for helping students find their voices and utilizing various storytelling techniques. When she’s not singing or teaching, she loves trying new recipes, doing yoga, or being outside!
KEELY UMSTOT, Voice, Acting,
& Audition Coaching
Specialties: Vocal Development for Children & Teens, Audition & Performance Coaching, Character Development, Performance & Vocal Expression
Keely Umstot is a dual-certified theatre and music educator originally from Texas, now making a dynamic impact in the Chicagoland area. With over 10 years of leadership experience in children’s theatre, she has consistently inspired young performers to reach their full potential. Keely’s deep passion for musical theatre and innovative teaching style bring boundless energy and expertise to every rehearsal and class, helping students excel in singing, acting, and dancing. Keely loves BAM and always looks forward to working with BAM’s students, aiming to inspire and nurture their confidence, creativity, and love for the performing arts.