The Innovators Leading Phosphorescent Theatrical Productions
Krissie Odegard Geye
Krissie Odegard Geye is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Expand Community Arts Alliance, a nationally recognized group of arts organizations dedicated to sparking community dialogue through art. She oversees the four organizational branches within the alliance: The Dance and Music Academy, The Trifecta Dance Collective, the Metamorphosis; Fearless Evolution experience, and Phosphorescent Theatrical Productions.
The Expand Community Arts Alliance's four companies share a mission: to ignite community dialogue through art. Working together, they inspire connection and catalyze social change. This is achieved through deepened partnerships with diverse community organizations, raising awareness, fostering artistic leadership, and expanding the reach of compassion, empathy, and artistic integrity throughout the alliance.
Aa a presenter and master clinician and adjudicator, Krissie has shared her expertise at the International Dance Pedagogy Conference and Performance Festival (Peridance, NYC), the Big River Dance Festival (West Virginia), CRU Dance REgionals and Nationals, and the United States Tournament of Dance National Finals (Atlantic City).
Her choreography has been featured at the Spring Choreography Showcase at Peridance (NYC), Jennifer Mueller's "Hatch" series (NYC), the Detroit Dance Festival, the Minnesota Fringe Festival, the Big River Dance Festival, and the Exchange Choreography Festival (Tulsa, OK). She has also conceptualized and produced four full-length works at Anita's Way in Times Square and was the awarded first place in in the Ovation TV-sponsored National Choreography Competition.
Kimberly Scott
Kim has been teaching piano and voice for approximately 20 years now, and enjoys all kinds of music! She trained classically at the Music Institute of Chicago, competing on solo piano, and with both classical and musical theatre voice. At Ithaca College, where she earned a degree in Musical Theatre Production, Kim sang for Janet Funderburck-Galvan and studied under Beverly Patton, among others, while nurturing her love of musical theatre. After some years working professionally, Kim began building a private studio that she continues today.
Her teaching philosophy centers around fostering a love of music in her students - one that will stay with them regardless of their future pursuits. She is a strong believer in the importance of fine arts in young people’s lives, and delights in talking about all the benefits of music, dance, drama, art. Kim is proud to be able to teach children such valuable skills as persistence, teamwork, and discipline in a fun manner and loves seeing students reach new goals. She is especially excited to be partnering with Phosphorescent Productions since it has been such a meaningful part of her own daughters’ lives!
Emily Ann Brooks
Emily Ann Brooks is a teaching artist, choreographer, director and performer thrilled to be on the DMA team. Regionally, she’s performed at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (Enchantress/Silly Girl in Beauty and the Beast), Drury Lane Theatre (Cinderella and The Little Mermaid), the Marriott Theatre (Zaneeta in The Music Man, Ermengarde in Hello, Dolly!, Janet in The Magic School Bus, A Christmas Story, The Wizard of Oz, and Big Fish), and Northlight Theatre (The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk) along with Seattle’s Second Story Repertory, 5th Avenue Theatre, and Village Theatre. On the other side of the table, she’s associate directed/choreographed Waitress at the Paramount Theatre, assistant directed/choreographed James and the Giant Peach at the Marriott, assistant directed Lookingglass Alice at Lookingglass Theatre Company, and choreographed A Christmas Carol at Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Inanimate at Theater Wit, The Fantasticks at Paradox Theatre Works, and In His Hands at First Floor Theatre. Emily graduated with honors from Northwestern University with a theatre major (focused on musical theatre performance and choreography) and world literature minor. Along with extensive choreography work for Northwestern’s mainstage, she directed and choreographed her senior honors thesis Going on Seventeen, recently published in Northwestern’s Undergraduate Research Journal. With 14+ years of experience in theatre and dance, and 10+ years teaching dance and theatre to students of all ages, Emily is passionate about celebrating the unique creative voice and agency of each individual artist, encouraging confidence, empathy, discipline, collaboration, and a fearless sense of play.
Elizabeth Bushell
Elizabeth Bushell is thrilled to be joining the Phosphorescent faculty! Elizabeth is a Wilmette-based theatre and on camera actor with a background in music and figure skating. Since relocating back to the Chicago area in 2017, she has immersed herself in the Chicago performing arts community, completing theatre and on camera programs at Acting Studio Chicago, Vagabond School of the Arts and Black Box Acting (The ACADEMY) as well as training with The Forge and MA School of Acting. Growing up, she studied piano at the Music Institute of Chicago, where she has also studied voice in more recent years. Elizabeth has 10+ years of choir experience, including as a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s University Choir and Choral Society and the Women’s Ensemble of the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus. Some of Elizabeth’s favorite on stage roles include – most recently – Chipper in Junior Claus (Citadel Theatre) along with Veta in Harvey, Tanya in Mamma Mia! and the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz. She is excited to be returning to the Citadel stage this summer to play Snow White in Snow White: An Original Musical. Elizabeth is an ensemble member of The Yellow Rose Theatre, a vibrant and immersive Chicago theatre which writes, directs and performs original work. You might also see Elizabeth in several commercial spots that are currently airing. She is represented by Dream Team Talent and The Talent Networks. Prior to relocating back to Chicago, Elizabeth worked in Finance in New York City and obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. In addition to performing professionally, she works as a strategy, analytics and finance consultant and serves as finance director of The Yellow Rose Theatre. She can’t wait to begin sharing her passion for the performing arts with aspiring pr-professional students.
Amanda Newman
Amanda Newman earned her BA in Musical Theatre Performance from Columbia College Chicago and her local theatre credits include shows at the Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Porchlight Theatre, and Pride Films and Plays, as well as choreographing Carnival for Lost Note Theatre Company. She has also danced with companies including From the Hip Dance Project, Tikvah Company of Artists, and RASA Dance Chicago. In 2016, she toured nationally with Letters From Home, a tap-dancing and singing duet of 1940’s music. She has been teaching for over 10 years, working with students of all ages, teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Musical Theatre, as well as music and vocal coaching, and choreographing Hairspray! and Grease with casts of over 100 middle-school students. She also earned a teaching certification from the Cecchetti Council of America in the Cecchetti Method of Ballet to further her knowledge of instructing classical ballet technique to beginning-level dancers. She is currently represented by Paige Model and Talent and continues to professionally perform as a dancer, actor, and singer. Amanda is also an NASM Certified Personal Trainer with specializations in Corrective Exercise and Youth Exercise. As a teacher, Amanda aims for her students to find the courage to try new things, to gain satisfaction through achievement, and to appreciate the life-long joy that dance and performance can bring.