Davenport Junior Theatre

Daniel DP Sheridan
(Teaches - Advanced Acting / Mainstage)

Daniel is proud to have grown up in Davenport. He comes from a family of two parents, four younger sisters, two brothers and a couple cats. He is not afraid to say that he is used to constant negotiation and patience. A graduate of West High School, he was a longtime member of Davenport Junior Theatre (1994-2001). At Junior Theatre, he was a mainstage performer, teacher and on the Junior Staff. He would continue to come back and teach at Junior Theatre during college.

Daniel received his BA in Theatre from St. Ambrose University. While at St. Ambrose, Daniel had the chance to practice in theatre as an actor, designer and director. During his tenure, he spent a semester abroad at the University of London Queen Mary studying performance art. He also spent a couple summers directing and acting at Theatre L’Homme Dieu in Alexandria, Minnesota. Daniel was fortunate enough to win the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship through the American College Theatre Festival and move on to the final round at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, where he competed against 13 of the nation’s finest student actors for various scholarships. He was also a professional performer at ComedySportz (Rock Island) for five-years.

Daniel then focused back on performance at the University of Connecticut, where he earned his MFA in Acting. While there for three years, he studied Vocal Technique (Linklater, Fitzmaurice, Houseman, Stern), LeCoq Movement, Suzuki, Comedia, Clown, Shakespeare, and a variety of acting styles. As an MFA student, Daniel was a company member of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre and was seen in many productions. He also worked in the Connecticut Repertory Theatre's management office for three years. Daniel spent the summer of 2007 at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Studying alongside 13 other students who were selected out of the nation’s top 15 MFA acting universities, he had the chance to work with national and international theatre artists. One of those artists, Andrew Wade (former head of voice for the Royal Shakespeare Company 17 years), has come to Junior Theatre as a guest instructor.

Most recently Daniel directed Hamlet at the Antioch Classical Theatre Company, just outside San Francisco. He has directed multiple productions for the Curtainbox Theatre Company (Davenport, Iowa) including Three Viewings and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. He also recently was seen onstage in Glengarry Glen Ross. Daniel is a company member with the Curtainbox.

Daniel is currently the Artistic Director of Davenport Junior Theatre and the Performing Arts Supervisor for Davenport Parks and Recreation. At Junior Theatre he has directed, designed, and produced Mainstage Company Productions. Daniel is also glad to be back in the classroom as a teacher.

Most recent projects include Lighting Design for the Internet Players and director of Alice in Wonderland this Spring at Davenport Junior Theatre.

Kimberly Kurtenbach Furness
(Teaches - Acting / Advanced Acting / Teen Acting)

Kim has come back to the Quad Cities after spending several years in both Los Angeles and Chicago working as a professional actress and producer. Before arriving at St. Ambrose where she received her BA in Theater and Mass Communications, Kim attended such schools as Idyllwild Arts Academy in Southern California and The Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM).

In Los Angeles, Kim gained representation with the Levin Agency in Beverly Hills and dabbled in television doing small appearances on “That 70’s Show” and “Life on a Stick,” along with several commercials. Kim also successfully started her own theater company in Los Angeles called The Curtainbox Theatre Company. Kim successfully produced and starred in many shows with The Curtainbox, including Three Viewings at the Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood.

Now that Kim is back in the QC, she is finding plenty of work to keep her busy. She is no stranger to the Circa '21 stage having recently played Anna in The King and I, Chelsea in On Golden Pond, Rizzo in Grease, Prudie in Pump Boys and Dinnettes, June in Smoke on the Mountain, and most recently in Ring of Fire to name a few. Kim does many television and radio commercials here locally, as well as teaching at Davenport Junior Theater. Currently she is filming the movie "Splatter" out of Des Moines as the leading lady. The release date is yet to be set.

Kim was recently named President of the Junior Theatre Incorporated Board, the non-profit that supports all Junior Theatre activities. She is also the Producing Director for the Curtainbox Theatre Company, which has successfully transplanted from LA to Davenport. Kim is a member of both Actor’s Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild.

Megan Fennelly
(Teaches - Creative Theatre Fun / Acting)

Megan is thrilled to be at Junior Theatre as an acting teacher. Megan will be teaching the Creative Theatre Fun classes as well as some of the Acting I and II classes. Megan started classes at Junior Theatre when she was 10 years old. She then worked up to Mainstage, as well as becoming a member of the Junior Staff. Megan attended Western Illinois University, majoring in Early Childhood Education and is currently a preschool teacher along with working at Junior Theatre. This fall, Megan will begin earning her master's in Education at St. Ambrose University.

Some of Megan’s favorite memories are performing as Alice in Alice in Wonderland and attending the Junior Theatre 50th Year Reunion Celebration. Megan is firmly committed to providing high quality theatre courses that give children the tools they need to communicate. She looks forward to seeing you at Junior Theatre.

Jessica Sheridan
(Teaches - Acting / Advanced Acting / Teen Acting)

Jessica is a 2008 graduate of St. Ambrose University where she earned a BA in Theatre. During her time at St. Ambrose, Jessica was fortunate enough to work with acclaimed Broadway director, Phil Wm. McKinley in the world premiere of William Luce's Creme De Coco. For her work in Coco, Jessica was nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. The following year, Jessica was a semi-finalist acting partner for the same acting competition. Upon graduation, Jessica hopped the pond and spent two intense weeks studying the life of William Shakespeare in London, England and at his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon. After experiencing life abroad she headed out west to the tiny town of Blue Lake, CA where she studied with the world-renown Dell'Arte Company of California. During her time there she studied a new form of physical theatre developed by Richard Schechner, and taught by Paula Murray Cole. The style, known as RASAboxes, consists of Antonin Artaud's theory that an actor can become an 'athlete of the emotions', and the Eastern Indian aesthetic study of emotions known as Rasa, or flavor. Through her teaching she hopes to lead students to a new understanding of physicalization of a character.

Jessica considers herself an actor first and foremost. However, she has much experience in all aspects of the theatre including design, direction, acting and production. Some previous roles include 'Sgt. Dryvinski' in MEGAFAULT (recently aired on the Si-Fi channel), 'Woman' in Neil LaButes Pulitzer Prize winning BASH and 'Sister James' in John Patrick Shanley's Doubt. Currently she is working as Assistant Producer and Stage Manager for the Curtainbox Theatre Company (established by Kim Furness in Los Angeles, CA) where she works closely with the founder to bring quality theatre and performers to the Quad City stages.

Jessica first became involved with Junior Theatre in 2008 when she both set designed and directed 'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing'. This year she has set designed Winnie-The-Pooh and directed Scrooge in the Mary Nighswander Theatre. Since 2008, Jessica has been active as a day camp counselor and teacher for JT. Her upcoming Junior Theatre project includes designing the set for Ramona Quimby.

Jessica is a lover of art, nature and people, and hopes to radiate positivity to all those around her :)

Kathleen Lafrenz
(Teaches - Beginning Broadway)

Kathy holds a BA and MA in Dance from the University of Iowa and is the Artistic Director of Midwest Academy of Dance. Check out www.midwestacademyofdance.org. She teaches classes in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, and modern.

At Junior Theatre, she teaches Beginning Broadway (Musical Theatre). Sometimes she paints sets, sews costumes, performs as ShowTime Pal, and conducts drama and dance workshops in elementary schools. She has directed/choreographed shows for Davenport Junior Theatre including The Beeple, King Patch and Mr. Simpkins, Charlie Brown, Jungle Book (The Musical), The Secret Garden, Winnie the Pooh, Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, Peter Pan among others.

Kathy is Artistic Director of Midwest Modern Dance, a professional modern dance company, and M.A.D. Dance Ensemble (Midwest Academy’s student dance company). Kathy occasionally performs with IMANI! Dancers directed by Dorian Byrd. She has been on the Iowa Arts Council Artists in the Schools Roster for 20 years.

Kathy is well known for her choreography in community theaters which includes Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2 times), Hello Dolly, Damn Yankees, Annie, Music Man, Carnival for Music Guild, The Sound of Music, Annie Get Your Gun, My Fair Lady at Anamosa High School. This summer she will be choreographing All Shook Up at QC Music Guild.

She also has performed in several area shows. Fiddler on the Roof, Singing in the Rain, and Little Women are a few of her credits.

Her children Kailan and Brent grew up a part of the Davenport Junior Theatre program and Midwest Academy of Dance programs. Brent graduated in 2007 with a BA in Theatre/Acting from the University of IL. Kailan is a theatre major at Western IL University.

Jeff De Leon is the current Artistic Director at ComedySportz Quad Cities, where he has been a performer and instructor for 15 years. He is proud to have worked with Circa '21 Dinner Theatre, Quad City Music Guild, Genesius Guild, Playcrafters Barn Theatre, Eclectic Theatre Company, New Ground Theatre, Harrison Hilltop Theatre, Riverbend Theatre Collective, and Prenzie Players in the area. Jeff was also fortunate enough to work with acclaimed Broadway director Phil Wm. McKinley in the world premiere of William Luce's Creme de Coco at St. Ambrose University.

A native to the Quad Cities, Jeff grew up in Moline and graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island with BA's in both Theatre and Speech Communications. Following graduation, Jeff relocated to Chicago to pursue studying improvisation. While there, he studied and performed with The Second City Conservatory, i.O. Theater (formally ImprovOlympic), Annoyance Theater, and The Playgound. Since returning to the Quad Cities, Jeff has taken on some of his greatest theatrical challenges to date, including the role(s) of Prince Hal/Henry V in consecutive performances of Henry IV and Henry V. He also made his local directing debut with the two-person comedy Hate Mail (in which he also co-starred) this past summer. Jeff was honored to be named Best Local Comedian in the 2009 River Cities' Reader Best of the Quad Cities poll - although he doesn't consider himself a 'comedian' per se, and he opted to share the title with the rest of the cast and staff at ComedySportz (which was also voted Best Comedy Venue).

Jeff has taught youth improv workshops through ComedySportz, Quad City Metro Arts Program, Iowa Thespian Festival, Circa ‘21 Dinner Theater High School Workshops, New Ground Theatre Youth Program, Davenport Junior Theater, and The Bell Tower Theater in Dubuque, IA, in addition to teaching many other college and adult level improv workshops across Iowa, Illinois, & Missouri.

Andrew Wade was Head of Voice at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1990 to 2003. He joined the Company in 1987 as Assistant Voice Director to Cicely Berry. When he took over the Department, his responsibilities involved overseeing all the voice work for the RST, Swan and TOP and for all touring, residencies and, until the Company left the Barbican in 2001, the work in London as well. He co-directed and devised with Cicely Berry ‘Journeys’, ‘Words, Words, Words’, ‘More Words’ and ‘Lifespan’ - a poetry and prose collection later developed into a theatrical program which was commissioned by the BBC World Service and won a Bronze Medal at the International Radio Festival in New York in 2000.

Andrew has a particular interest in exploring language in a practical way, which he fulfills by working with youngsters, students, teachers and academics.

Andrew has traveled widely, lecturing, leading Master Classes and Workshops, as well as coaching with theatre companies and actors abroad - Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland, Trinidad and extensively in the United States of America. He has published several articles on his work. In conjunction with Cicely Berry, he has recorded ‘Working Shakespeare’, a series on voice and text work with Helen Hunt, Samuel L Jackson, Toby Stevens, Clare Danes, Blythe Danner, Emily Watson and introduced by Jeremy Irons. He is currently working with SourceBooks on ‘Shakespeare Experience’, editions of Shakespearean recordings, plus audio excerpts with contemporary actors, currently ‘As You Like It’, ‘Julius Caesar’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Hamlet’, ‘King Lear’, ‘Taming of the Shrew’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Andrew trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama from 1973 to 1976. He has worked in many different drama schools including Mountview Theatre School, the Rose Bruford College, the Arts Educational School, and he was Head of Voice at East 15.

From 1993 to 1997 he was External Examiner for the Postgraduate Diploma in Voice Studies and MA in Voice Studies at the Central School of Speech and Drama. In 2002 he was made a Fellow of the Rose Bruford College.

Andrew was Verse Consultant on the film ‘Shakespeare in Love’. He also coached Courtney Love for the role of Lady Macbeth.

‘Working Shakespeare’ is a filmed series of Workshops led by Cicely Berry and Andrew. The series addresses approaches to working on the language of Shakespeare. It is introduced by Jeremy Irons and features Kate Burton, Claire Danes, Blythe Daner, Lindsay Duncan, Victor Garber, Tony Goldwyn, Helen Hunt, Samuel L Jackson, Cherry Jones, Robert Sean Leonard, Latanya Richardson, Toby Stephens, Cathy Tyson, Diane Venora, Emily Watson and others.

Since leaving the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2003 he has continued to work all over the world in a freelance capacity, lecturing, voice coaching and leading Master Classes. He has particular links with the Stella Adler Studio in NYC, Delaware University, the National Theater School in Montreal and with the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, where he has voice coached ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, ‘Comedy of Errors’, ‘Othello’, ‘As You Like It’, ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Merchant of Venice’. Since 2003 he has worked on the Guthrie Experience each summer and regularly contributes to the BFA Guthrie Theater/Minnesota University course.

Andrew is Consultant Adviser to the faculty at the London Business School in Regent's Park, London. He also works as Consultant for the CLE Minnesota, working with lawyers.

In 2005 he worked on ‘Lord of the Rings, The Musical’ in Toronto and again in 2006 in London. Also in London he coached ‘La Traviata’ at the ENO, ‘Donkeys’ Years’, and ‘Boeing Boeing’, as well as teaching at St Olaf College, Carlton College and Syracuse University. Andrew worked on ‘Triple Sensation’, the reality TV program charting the progress of a group of young actors through an intensive training program for CBC, filmed in Toronto in the summer of 2007 and 2008. He also was Artist in Residence at Rhodes College, Memphis, NYU's Classical Studio and the Experimental Studio in their study abroad program in Amsterdam, the Blackfriars Theatre in Staunton, Virginia, Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. He worked with the Collage Dance Company in LA on ‘Beowulf’.

In 2008 Andrew coached ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ and ‘Clay Cart’ at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ at the Guthrie Theater. In 2009 Andrew coached ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ and ‘Henry V’, for the Guthrie Theater, ‘Henry V’ was also a co-production with the Acting Company. Andrew is currently working on ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Romeo & Juliet’ at the Guthrie Theater, ‘R&J” is also a co-production with the Acting Company and will tour nationally. Andrew then works in Glasgow at the Royal Academy, the Stella Adler Studio, the Julliard, the National Theatre of Canada in Montreal, Delaware University, leads a Workshop for Director’s for TFANA in New York, a Summer School on Shakespeare and begins working on 2010 Guthrie Experience before arriving in Davenport.

Stefano Brancato holds a B.F.A. in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College and an M.F.A. in Puppetry and Directing from the Jim Henson School of Puppetry (University of Connecticut). He most recently created a full-length, puppet and human ensemble production called “Icarus” which incorporates larger than life puppets, physical stunts, music and spectacle (Visit www.Flyingboyproductions.com). Stefano has designed puppets and acted at La Mama, Hartford Stage, The NYC Fringe Festival, Madison Square Garden and the O’Neill Puppetry Conference. Stefano was also co-founder of an experimental theatre ensemble called company MUDD at La Mama under the direction of Elizabeth Swados and co-created and designed puppets for 5 original productions. Currently, Stefano is working on a series of toy theatre productions in NYC.