Therese Walden-Murphy

Director of West Chester Studio for the Performing Arts, Therese is a professional actress who has performed in New York City, Los Angeles as well as regional theatres across the country.    She holds an MFA in Classical Theatre from the Old Globe Theater Professional Actor Training Program and has been seen and heard in Commercials, Voice-overs, TV, Soap Operas, Industrials, Film, and on Stage.  Therese joined the 1997 Broadway Company of Annie as Mr. Charnin’s assistant director and continued on with the National Tour.  Some of her favorite roles played are: Mme. Giry in Phantom of the Opera (National Tour), Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet the Musical (The Ordway Theatre), Grace in Annie (Dramalogue Award for Best Actress, Fullerton Civic Light Opera), Margaret in The Lady’s Not For Burning (The Old Globe Theatre), Goneril in King Lear (LA Repertory Company), Princess of France in Love’s Labour’s Lost (McCallum Center), Faye/Angel/Gwen in Here on the Flight Path (Walnut Street Theatre), Belle in Tiny Tim’s Christmas (Brooklyn Academy of Music), and Fiona in Brigadoon (Robby Award Nomination for Best Actress, Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera). Films: National Treasure, Joe vs. the Volcano and When I was a Boy, TV: Renegade, Guiding Light, As the World Turns, and Another World.   Therese is a proud member of AEA, SAG and AFTRA.

Therese has worked with Tony Award winners: Jack O’Brien, Hal Prince, Terrence Mann, Richard Easton and Martin Charnin.

In addition to performing Therese has taught Musical Theatre, Shakespeare, Acting and Speech for over 20 years at many theaters and schools: The Old Globe Theatre, LA Repertory Company, Flat Rock Playhouse, Performers Theatre Workshop in NJ, The Hedgerow Theatre, The Media Theatre as well as private coaching in New York City.

Christine Petrini

Christine is a singer/actress with a BA from Temple University’s School of Communications and Theatre. She also studied Musical theatre at Catholic University. She recently appeared at Act II Playhouse in Burt & Me and at Society Hill Playhouse in Respect. Christine performed for Tokyo Disney Resort and toured the East Coast as Mary in American Family Theatre’s production of Babes In Toyland.  Other credits: Bernstein’s Mass at The Kennedy Center, Buddy Holly at Media Theatre and Ragtime at Lincoln Theatre.

Christine has Assistant Directed for Garnet Valley High School Musicals and teaches musical theatre and acting in Delaware County.

Krista Master

Krista is a musical director, accompanist and music educator for children grades K thru 12. She earned her BA from Temple University’s Music Education program. She has been the musical director and/or accompanist for numerous productions at the following schools and theaters: Archbishop Carroll High School, St. John Chysostom, Strath Haven Middle School, Arrowhead Day Camp and The Media Theater.  Krista is an elementary music teacher in the Garnet Valley School District and maintains her private piano teaching studio. Krista loves working with kids.

Jessica Edwards

Jessica comes to WCS with a diverse background. Jessica grew up on the North Shore of Chicago, enjoying acting, singing, painting, softball, ice skating and working at a Nature Center with children. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a BFA in Music Theater. Jessica has performed in Summer Stock, entertained on Silversea Cruiseline and Oceania, and worked in regional theater: Adrienne Theater, Montgomery Theater, Media Theater, Arden Theater and Bristol Riverside Theater to name a few. Along with her stage work Jessica has been seen in Commercials and Industrial Film work. By day Jessica is a Registered Nurse at Jefferson Hospital and a singer with the Jump City Jazz Orchestra at night. She is also the Co-Founder and Artistic Associate of the Laugh Out Loud Theatre Co., which focuses on producing comedy, musical comedy and overall ridiculousness.

Christine Fisher

Christine is an educator, accompanist and performer.  She graduated from West Chester University in May 2010 with her Bachelor of Music Education degree, focusing on her piano studies.  In college Christine accompanied many students, choirs and other ensembles as well as performed in the select choir and marching band.  Christine has accompanied many choirs in Rose Tree Media, Ridley, Conestoga Valley, and West Chester Area School Districts.

Christine currently teaches choir and general music at Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby School District.  She has served as the indoor percussion instructor at Chichester Middle School for the past three years.  After school Christine teaches private piano lessons to students in the West Chester area and as the Malvern School of Music.  Christine is passionate about performing and teaching music and will be continuing her education at West Chester University as she is starting her Masters in Music Education.

Kristin McLaughlin (Director)

Kristin has been working as an actress and director/choreographer in NYC for almost two decades. Most recently she assistant directed the Broadway Revival of Lend Me a Tenor, directed by Stanley Tucci, receiving critical acclaim for the “curtain call” of Tenor which she directed and staged, (3 Tony nominations including Best Revival of a Play), directed The Incredibly Deaf Musical at The Duke Theatre in NYC as part of The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Ave. Q at The Geva Theatre, Spamalot at The Cape Rep Theatre, Lydia (world première), and A Christmas Carol. Kristin has also worked as assistant director on dozens of productions including the European Tour of A Chorus Line, I/O (world premiere, Theatre Garonne, Toulouse), and The Music Man National Tour, with directors such as Chet Walker and Phil Soltanoff. As an actor Kristin has performed in over 20 countries worldwide. Some of her favorite roles include Shelia in A Chorus Line, Lola in Damn Yankees, Rachael in As It Is In Heaven, Cathy in The Last 5 Years, and Phillia in …Forum. Off Broadway Kristin played Leila in Sessions, Laurette in What Makes Sammy Run, and over 20 roles in The World According to Ruth Wallis.

She recently moved to West Chester, PA where she has been teaching acting to kids through adults at Bucks County School of the Performing Arts, GEM studios, Music Training Center, and The Germantown Friends School.

She is also on the planning committee for Uptown Entertainment Alliance which is working to bring a professional theatre and arts center to West Chester, and the founder of Artists for Elephants, a not-for-profit organization protecting elephants in Thailand. She earned a BFA in theatre from Emerson College, and was awarded a fellowship to study conservation biology at Columbia University’s Graduate Certificate Program.