Theater Arts Academy

Academy Director (Ocean View, Galloway)

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Amy Joan Culleny, an alumna of the Ocean County Performing Arts Academy (2006), has been pursuing the art of theater for over 20 years, most recently studying acting at Stockton University.

 

Amy has been involved with Sojourn Productions since its first show in 2007. She has had the pleasure of directing several shows, including Annie Jr, Annie, Annie Get Your Gun, and to prove she doesn't solely direct shows with "Annie" in the title, also directed The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in 2017.

After founding and directing the Theater Arts Academy from 2017-2020, Amy is blessed to now be serving as the remote business manager... from all the way out in Missouri! Even though she lives far away, she is known to make surprise visits during show week. :-)

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Dance Instructor (Ocean View, Galloway)

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Emily Perkins has over eight years of dance training from Encore Performing Arts Center, and has participated in competitions with Encore since 2013. She competed in the Dancers Inc. Nationals Dance Competition. Her solo performance won an Elite award and her studio was the top scoring studio, winning National Champions. Most recently, Emily studied dance at Stockton University and now has her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Health and Wellness through Thomas Edison State University. 

 

Emily has taken the role as Lead Choreographer in Sojourn Productions' recent performances of The Little Mermaid, Jr, Annie, Jr, High School Musical, Jr and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and has choreographed several other dances and performances for both Sojourn Productions and Sojourn Community Church. Her biggest desire is using her gift for God's glory! 

Acting Instructor (Galloway)

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Chasen Bynum has been acting and singing pretty much all his life and as early as the third grade he knew for sure it was something he was created to do forever. Through the years he has dedicated a great deal of his time to the craft of performing, acting and singing in over 30 local stage productions (including two Sojourn Productions), as well as a few independent film features.

Chasen was a founding member of independent film group Red Flight Pictures and during his time with them produced and directed several independent shorts and features. Chasen has taught Drama and Musical Theater for several different arts programs throughout a span of 12 years and he currently serves as Director of the Champion's Arts Academy for Performing Arts in Egg Harbor City, NJ. More recently he has been writing and producing original musical theater productions for college campuses geared at helping students better navigate young adulthood.

He is passionate about teaching and helping young people discover gifts, talents, and ultimately themselves through artistic expression. His holistic approach to teaching the next generation of artists is driven by one strong question and belief : If artists shape our culture, then who's shaping them? For this reason he is delighted to continue in his teaching and artistic journey with Sojourn.

Music Instructor (Ocean View, Galloway), Technical Director

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Lee’s musical journey began when his mom signed him up for piano lessons (surprise!) at the age of 12. That (at-the-time-unappreciated) nudge led him to a career in music ministry and to Sojourn Productions.

 

Proficient in piano, guitar, bass, and vocals, Lee is the Director of Worship and Communications at the Ocean City Tabernacle. He has led the music ministries of various churches for more than 25 years and now enjoys playing and singing with the Sojourn Community Church worship team. He joined the Sojourn Productions staff in 2021 as Music Instructor and Music & Technical Director for The Little Mermaid, Jr. He has also served as Music & Technical Director for Atlantic Christian School’s productions of Elf, Jr. and Annie, Jr.

 

Lee and his wife, Jessica, have three children who have all enjoyed participating in Sojourn Productions’ summer camps, shows, and Theater Arts Academy.

Acting Instructor (Ocean View)

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Lada has been performing in local theater productions across Atlantic County since she was seven years old. She has landed several lead roles in various musicals, plays, and more over the years. She is a NJSTARS student at Stockton University, majoring in Business Studies with a concentration in management. She currently works in the film industry as an acting teacher for children and individuals with developmental disabilities, a casting associate, a production assistant, and an actress herself.

 

Lada often teaches scene work, technique, confidence, monologue studies, and more. Recent acting credits include Netflix Studios’ Unsolved Mysteries, director Ian Barling’s short film “SAFE” which recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France in the Semaine de la Critique section, and Halle Berry’s directorial debut Bruised, which was purchased by Netflix and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Lada has a passion for sharing art with others and investing into the gifts that God has given us in order to glorify Him.