Martha Cataldo, Founder and Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dance Teacher
Martha began her theater career at age 5 at the King-Coit Children's Theatre in NYC, performing in such classics as The Tempest. As a teen she performed at the Chase Barn Playhouse, an Equity summer stock theatre in NH. After receiving her Bachelors at Columbia University, she performed in Showboat, George M, Oklahoma and Fiddler on the Roof in dinner theatre and summer stock. She then joined the 1st National Company of Fiddler on the Roof, playing major cities including the Majestic and Shubert Theatres in Boston and Philly and the Place des Arts in Montreal. Off Broadway, Martha performed in Finian's Rainbow, Paint Your Wagon, Fiorello and The Apple Tree. She choreographed six musicals for the St. Barts Theatre, NYC and the Gallery Players in Brooklyn. Most recently, as a member of the Off Broadway Woman Seeking Theatre Company, she performed in five of their productions, including Midsummer Night's Dream (Bottom, Starveling, Moth) and Wild Dust (Marian-lead role). She also choreographed two of their productions and performed in Midsummer at the OOBR Awards Ceremony at the Daryl Roth Theatre, at which Woman Seeking was honored.
Martha earned an M.A. in Dance Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and is a NYS Certified Performing Arts Educator. She taught dance and theater in the NYC public schools for over 20 years, presenting hundreds of children's dance and musical theater productions. She is Co-Founder of the New York City Dance Educators/UFT, for which she produced Citywide Dance Festivals, bringing hundreds of children together to perform. She founded CurtainUp Kids in 2006.
Roseanna Mineo, Vocal Teacher/Musical Director, Drama Teacher/Director
Roseanna is a singer, dancer and actress with 35 years performance experience on Broadway, Off Broadway, National tours, Regional and Summer Stock. She played Soul Sister in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Winter Garden Theater on Broadway, and also played Donna in The Magic Show both on Broadway and in the National Tour. Off Broadway, Roseanna played the role of Josie in Tony and Tina’s Wedding, Mazeppa in Gypsy, and danced in several Dancers Over 40 productions. In Regional Theater and Summer Stock she performed in Grease, Fiddler, Oliver and House of Blue Leaves, and has film and television credits as well.
Roseanna's love of theater inspired her to teach young people singing and acting in summer theatre camps, upstate New York. Currently she continues to teach private singing and acting lessons to children ages 5 to 12 in NYC, and happily joined the staff of CurtainUp Kids NYC 2 years ago as a teaching-artist to do the same.
Barry Solowey, Consultant Vocal Teacher and Musical Accompanist
Barry received a B.A. cum laude from Queens College, C.U.N.Y., and attended graduate school at the University of Chicago, studying composition with the late Ralph Shapey. In New York, he studied piano with the legendary pianist Kurt Appelbaum, was a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and was choir director and pianist for the Presbyterian Church of the Ascension, East Harlem.
Barry taught music at the nationally recognized public elementary school, Central Park East 1 from 1978-2004. The CPE Music Program included an annual performance by the CPE Opera Company. Among the notable out-of-school performances by the CPE Mixed Chorus were concerts with Pete Seeger, the New York Choral Society in Carnegie Hall, and annual concerts at the Museum of the City of New York. Barry is also on the faculty of Philosophy Day School as music teacher. The PDS Chorus has appeared in public concerts as recently as March 15, 2008. He joined the staff of CurtainUp Kids in 2007 as Music Director and Vocal Teacher.
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