Bunny (Alaina) Manchester 
Bunny (Alaina) Manchester, MFA Acting, University of Florida, BA Theatre and Communication Arts, Gannon University, Certified Teacher of the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique through the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium, and 200-hr Certified Satya Yoga Instructor. Alaina has directed, choreographed, coached, and consulted for many local theatres including The Erie Playhouse, Gannon University, Dramashop, Penn State Behrend, PACA, Shakespeare Summer Nights, and Cathedral Preparatory School. Her professional acting credits include Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM as well as Ms. Fezziwig in A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Hippodrome Theatre in Gainesville, Florida. Alaina is currently on the Board of Directors at the Erie Playhouse and teaches a Yoga for Actors class at Gannon University where she is an adjunct professor.
Devon Yates
Devon spent 10 years living in NYC as a singer/actor/musician. After two years traveling the world on cruise ships as a production singer, she was in the cast of MAMMA MIA on Royal Caribbean in the ensemble understudying Donna/Tonya/Rosie. Following sea life, she performed in cabaret venues all over NYC while simultaneously transitioning into music direction/audition/vocal coaching.
Her NYC clients can be seen in the Broadway/Touring shows such as MJ: THE MUSICAL, HAMILTON, MOULIN ROUGE, and FUNNY GIRL as well as shows in many Regional Theaters all over the country. Since returning to Erie, she was hired as the Music Coordinator here at the Playhouse.
Alyssa Rosalie
Alyssa Rosalie has been teaching Saturday Storytellers and Intro to Acting with the Erie Playhouse for the past year. She has been active in local theatre since 2013, with additional training at the Nancy Mosser Acting Conservatory. She is excited to continue to work with Erie students and help them grow as performers!
Daniel Collette
Daniel is a theatre educator, improviser, and dramaturg who has been creating theatre for over 10 years. He has a BA in English and a BA in Theatre and has performed on tour across the country, worked in film and TV, produced his own stagings of new and old works, written award winning plays, and still finds time to relax with his wife and two cats. He specializes in adapting old works for new audiences, long form improvised storytelling, and harnessing the creativity of students young and old.
Leah Johnson
Leah first started at the Playhouse Youtheatre camp over 30 years ago.
By day, Leah is a fourth grade teacher at Robison Elementary, and she spends her extra time as Assistant Director and Choreographer for the McDowell Center for the Performing Arts.
Leah also tries to sneak in opportunities to perform herself, last appearing as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls on the Playhouse stage, as well as a member of The Medieval Feast that performs yearly at Peek N Peak. Leah grew up in the Youtheater Program and is so excited to have the chance to help bring the same opportunity to new generations of theater lovers!
Ryah Lambert
Ryah Lambert, a student at Mercyhurst University studying Voice Performance, is beyond excited to be teaching with the Erie
Playhouse. Trained in classical and musical theater since the age of 9, Ryah has been a part of a tremendous number of choirs, musicals, and performances.
Recent musicals include GUYS AND DOLLS at the Playhouse, NEWSIES (Hannah) at the Playhouse, and LES MISERABLES (Eponine). Ryah is recognized as a NAfME All-National Singer (the first from her school district), and has placed in the top 4 at All-State Choir in Pennsylvania. She now takes part in the Erie Philharmonic Chorus and performs in two of her own bands in her free time. She can’t wait to bring her knowledge of group and solo music to classes!
Myles Bruce
Myles Bruce is entering his Junior year of college pursuing a B.F.A in Musical Theatre at Kent State University. He just finished his first professional job as the male swing in Fiddler on the Roof at Porthouse theatre this summer! He is excited to return to the camps this year and help kids to find the spark of performing that he found when he was their age!
Casey Conrad-Medvis
Casey Conrad-Medvis has loved theatre for as long as he can remember. He currently teaches English/Language Arts at J.S. Wilson Middle School, where he also helps direct the school musical. He earned his degree in English Education (with a minor in Theatre Arts) from Edinboro University.
Casey has performed in numerous Erie Playhouse productions through the years; favorite shows include Shrek: The Musical (Shrek), The SpongeBob Musical (Patrick Star), and Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth). In addition to his work in the classroom and on stage, Casey sings with the Erie Philharmonic Chorus. He’s thrilled to join the EP Youtheatre Camp team this summer and can’t wait to help young performers discover the magic and joy of theatre!
Brent Johnson
Brent Johnson is currently the Director of the McDowell Center for Performing Arts and the Department Chair of the Secondary Music Program in Erie, PA. His teaching responsibilities include directing the award-winning McDowell High School jazz band and wind ensemble, all performing arts classes (including musical theater), and piano class. He also served as the marching band director from 2010 through 2015 before assuming his current role. Brent has directed and produced over 40 theater productions for McDowell’s after-school theater program, which features four major theatrical productions each year. He also initiated a student-directed, sensory-friendly production that is performed free of charge for many special needs students within the Erie community. Brent is a graduate of Edinboro University with a degree in music education. Through Edinboro, he also completed a Master’s in Educational Leadership and earned a Principal’s Certification. Brent has played trumpet, conducted the orchestra, and performed on stage in many shows at the Erie Playhouse. He is also the music director of the Gem City Concert Band in Erie, PA.
Petra Shearer
Petra Shearer (she/her) is an actor, writer, director, and teacher born and raised in Erie, PA. She earned a B.A. in Theatre and English from Gannon University and an MLitt/MFA in Shakespeare & Performance from Mary Baldwin University. As an actor, Petra’s local credits include Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), SHREWD (Tranio), and Titus Andronicus (Tamora) with Shakespeare Summer Nights. She also directed The Tempest in 2022 and assistant directed Twelfth Night in 2020 for SSN. Other credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena) with the Meadowlark Shakespeare Players; The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Daniel) with the American Shakespeare Center; and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Ensemble #5) with the Greenbrier Valley Theatre. Recently, she made her debut on the Erie Playhouse mainstage in The Da Vinci Code (Sister Sandrine).
JP Driscoll
John-Patrick Driscoll holds an MFA from the University of South Carolina and has been a working industry professional for over 20 years.
Latest credits include: JP appears November 12th on Chicago P.D., with additional credits on The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, SWAT, InHumans, and numerous regional theatre productions. JP holds an MFA from the University of South Carolina, is a member of SAG/AFTRA, and his full film credits and reel can be found on IMDB.
Summer Camp Interns:
Addy Johnson
Summer Camp: Intern
Addy is entering her 9th grade year at McDowell High School, and loves to make bracelets, play piano, dance, sing, and participate in shows. Addy has been in previous productions playing Maleficent in DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL, and Gertrude in SEUSSICAL JR. last year, as well as many other productions at the Erie Playhouse, and other shows at her school. She has been participating in shows at the Erie Playhouse avidly since a young age including her involvement with Youtheatre Camp from ages 5-9. She’s so elated to be an intern for her third summer in a row, and always has loved building relationships with the kids.
John Fleming
Summer Camp: Intern
John is a rising Senior at Mercyhurst Preparatory School and has done 9 shows with the school. He participates in the MPS Show Choir, recently taking a trip to Walt Disney World to perform in Disney Springs! He is a part of Student Government being the Senior Class President and is a member of ITS. He also was in DISNEY’S NEWSIES last summer as Spot Conlon at the Erie Playhouse, and this summer in CATS as Carbucketty!
Amelia Van Riper
Summer Camp: Intern
Amelia is 14 years old and has been an active member of the Erie Playhouse community for more than four years. You may have seen her recently in THE PRINCE OF EGYPT ensemble or in TUCK EVERLASTING as Jesse Tuck. She has been taking tap and jazz at Marguerite’s Academy of Dance for three years and vocal lessons at Berlin Music Studio for four. While off the stage, she enjoys going on bike rides and reading. She is beyond excited to be returning as an intern to the Create-A-Play Camp for a second summer!
