Jeffrey Schecter (Artistic Director/Musical Theatre Teacher)
!
JEFFREY SCHECTER, better known in the theater community as “Shecky” has been a professional performer for more than 30 years. Jeff’s Broadway credits include A Chorus Line, The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town, Beauty And The Beast, Guys And Dolls, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Anything Goes, The People and the Picture , Fiddler on the Roof and Once Upon A Mattress (Now playing on Broadway). Jeff is also a successful Television Actor and can be seen in such hit shows as "Blue Bloods," "Law and Order SVU" and "Escape at Danemmora (On Netflix right now).
Most people in the musical theatre community recognize Jeff from the documentary film, Every Little Step where he can be seen auditioning for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. Jeff ultimately won the role of “Mike,” (I Can Do That!) and went on to star in the revival for the entire run.
After the success of A Chorus Line, Jeff was in high demand as coach and teacher. He started teaching Broadway Master Dance Classes with a special focus on A Chorus Line.
Jeff has expanded his resume and taught all over the United States for dance studios, Schools and Organizations that include: STAGE DOOR CONNECTIONS in New York, AMERICAN THEATRE DANCE WORKSHOP on Long Island, THE BIZKIDZ in Los Angeles, HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION in California, various dance studios in Manhattan, PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL in New Jersey, and one on one instruction with a client as young as 14 and one as old as 60.
In 2015, Jeff and his wife, Melissa workshopped their first I CAN DO THAT NYC CLASS. The rest as they say is history.
Melissa Swender - Schecter (Owner/ Ballet and Musical Theatre teacher)
MELISSA SWENDER - SCHECTER began her performing career as a classically trained ballet dancer. She trained with the Houston Ballet and Ballet Met, among others. She made her Broadway debut in the 2004 revival of “Wonderful Town”. Other credits include many Broadway National/European tours: Meg in “Phantom of The Opera”, The Tango Dancer in ”Evita” and West Side Story. Other Theater credits include “Kiss Me Kate”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, “La Cage Aux Folles”, and “Chicago”. TV and film credits include “All My Children”, “As The World Turns”, ”Late Night with Conan O’Brian”, “Farm Girl in New York”, and The Sundance Award winning film, “Phoebe in Wonderland.” Since hanging up her dancing shoes Melissa has become the parent of 2, Helena and Mattias. She hopes to be able to pass on her great love of dance and theater to the next generation.
Avery Infranco (Musical Theatre Teacher and Asst. Ballet Teacher )
AVERY INFRANCO is a New York-based performer with a BFA from Temple University. Some of her favorite roles include Pace in The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek and Margery Pinchwife in The Country Wife. Her work spans from the stage to exciting workshops and solo shows (A Trip to the Moon, Moonlit Jazz Soirée). Avery’s vibrant energy and versatile vocals have also brought her to iconic NYC venues like 54 Below, where she’s performed both solo and as a backup vocalist. Alongside performing, Avery loves teaching kids, sparking joy and confidence in young performers and helping them discover the world of theatre. Avery has been teaching with I Can Do That for the last 4 years and is thrilled to be leading these future actors and dancers and helping them find their confidence and love for theatre and dance.
Shoshana Mozlin (Jazz/Hip Hop and Musical Theatre Teacher)
SHOSHANA MOZLIN is a professional contemporary modern dancer with Jennifer Muller/The Works and MODArts Dance Collective, based in New York City. She has danced for numerous companies in Los Angeles including Blue13Dance Company, California Contemporary Ballet, and Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, and has danced in music videos and commercials for The Strokes, Madden NFL, and Keyes on Van Nuys. Shoshana has been teaching dance for all ages in Los Angeles and NYC since 2013 and a teacher for ICDT NYC since 2018.
Jonathan Gellert (Improvisation/Scene Study Teacher)
JONATHAN GELLERT has been directing and teaching theater for more than 30 years with groups ranging from Kindergarten through graduate school. Mr. Gellert is currently teaching and directing at COOPER UNION COLLEGE , FOUR QUARTER THEATER COMPANY and LEHMAN HIGH SCHOOL in the Bronx where he teaches a full schedule of theater classes and also runs the after school production club. Jonathan has directed more than 100 full theater productions, most recently this past summer premiering a new Beatles musical called "Let it Be" and directing a production of "Nine" at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts.. He was a professional actor and director for 10 years before starting to teach full time with credits including the long-running Off-Broadway comedy "Grandma Sylvia's Funeral" and productions in the fringe festival. Mr. Gellert has an M.F.A from UCLA in Theater Directing, an M.A from Emerson College in Theater Educationand a B.F.A in Acting/Directing from Syracuse University. He is most proud of his three wonderful sons, all NYC students and Stuy Town residents - Asher who is 17 and a junior, Micah who is 14 and a freshman and Jesse who is 10 and in 5th grade.
Christine De Frece (Musical Director)
CHRISTINE DE FRECE is so thrilled to be part of the I Can Do That NYC family! She has been teaching vocal technique for 19 years. Her students can be seen performing on Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tours, cruise ships, and in regional theaters across the United States, Canada and internationally. She is currently a voice specialist at New York Film Academy and former Chair of
Vocal performance at Circle in the Square Theatre School.
As a Musical Director, Christine has directed productions of Cabaret, Urinetown, The Music Man, Gypsy, Meet Me in St. Louis and A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum. Christine is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge (BMus Vocal Performance) and Circle in the Square Theatre (Professional Musical Theatre Workshop). As an actress, Christine has been seen in productions such as Titanic, It Shoulda Been You, Ragtime, Rumors (Carbonelle AwardWinner), A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The
Forum, The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Follies, And The World Goes ‘Round, Cinderella, and many more. Christine was a company member of the critically acclaimed An Evening With… concert series at Green Room 42 and can be heard on their album An Evening With… Volume 1. She can also be heard on the studio cast recording of the award winning Off-Broadway musical, Wanda’s
World. Christine is featured as Mrs. M on the soundtrack for the Danish musical M For Marriage and won ‘Best Vocalist’ in the 2019 Broadway World Cabaret Awards.
Haley Nachlas (Hip Hop/Jazz Dance teacher)
HALLEY NACHLAS comes to I CAN DO THAT with years of dance and teaching experience. She has taught extensively in Maryland at the Studio of Ballet Arts, the Savage Dance Company and Company One Canvas. She recenly appeared in the musicals Beauty and the Beast, and High School Musical and is recent graduate of Pace University as a commercial dance major.
John Reed - (Assistant Musical Theatre Teacher)
JOHN REED Born in Houston, Texas, John relocated to Melbourne, Australia in 2004 and
studied all facets of dance, singing and acting at the May Downs School of
Dancing under Renie Ann Martini and Centrestage Performing Arts School under
Ian and Leanne White. He went on to graduate from the Federation University
Arts Academy in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre. His Australian
theater credits include Funny Girl , Merrily We Roll Along , Jesus Christ Superstar (The Production Company), and ‘Action’/‘Riff understudy’ in West Side Story on Sydney Harbour Opera Australia). John has also been teaching since the age of 19 at many Australian dance studios, renowned college programs and full time performing arts courses, educating students in jazz, tap, musical theater dance and acting. They include Federation University Arts Academy, May Downs School of Dancing, Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, Transit Dance, Cheryl Witchell School of Dance, Theatre Blacks, ShowFit and Centrestage Performing Arts School. John now lives in New York City and
has had the opportunity to perform in Guys and Dolls (Plaza Theatricals) and
Something Rotten (FPAC) where he both served as Dance Captain.
Susannah Crowell (Intro to Musical Theatre and Ballet Teacher)
SUSANNAH CROWELL is a performing artist, writer, and entrepreneur based in NYC. Past work includes originating Jenny in Human Resources: the Musical, originating Creon in Christopher Anderson's Oedipus the Tyrant, originating Simran in Build Your Own Bollywood: DDLJ (Agni Arts), Annie (TexArts), Jungalbook (ZACH Theatre), Amazon Prime’s Good Omens live activation (SXSW), Hulu’s A Handmaid’s Tale live activations (SXSW & NYC), The Drowsy Chaperone (Texas Performing Arts), The Who’s Tommy (City Theatre Austin), and the Under the Shroud podcast. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from the University of Texas at Austin.
​
Susannah has a decade of professional experience as a teaching artist, director, and curriculum writer with KidsActing Studio, ZACH Theatre, Leap of Joy, and Love of China Dance Studio in Austin, Texas. Since relocating to New York in 2020, she has also created and taught innovative new classes with Tiny Broadway, Village Wholehearted Preschool, and independently. She is thrilled to be on the I Can Do That Team.
​
Melissa Buriak (Admin Assistant)
MELISSA BURIAK, more commonly known as "Mel B" at I Can Do That (too many Melissa's gets confusing) is excited to bring her energy into the ICDT classroom! After graduating with a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Oklahoma City University, Mel began performing at regional theatres across the country and soon made the move to NYC! Favorite regional credits include Anytime Annie in 42nd Street, Cheryl Finfer in Miracle on 34th Street, Phyllis in 42nd Street (with original choreography staged by Original Cast Member Amiee Turner), Rhoda in White Christmas, and Purity in Anything Goes. She performs and choreographs regularly with GPC in NYC and loves spending any spare time she has with the incredible students of ICDT NYC!
Nadia Hudson (Assistant Musical Theatre Teacher)
NADIA HUDSON is thrilled to be a part of the I Can Do That family. She went to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy to study Musical Theatre. Since then, she has been teaching dance while continuing her training. Recently, she appeared in Matilda (Gallery Players), and performed in cabaret venues such as 54 Below, Green Room 42, and Don’t Tell Mama. She looks forward to continuing her journey in the performing arts, inspiring others along the way.