top of page
DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE THROUGH EARLY ARTS EDUCATION
Hello Summer 2026
Here at Mindsteward Kids Theater, we believe that theater education should be an all encompassing experience. This is why our two week summer camp offers personalized schedules for each camper, intertwines an internship program, and allows children to collaborate on a 60-minute musical theater production. We teach all the bells and whistles that come along with theater productions, including robotics and backstage crew, and set design through visual art. Each camper gets to choose a major: Onstage theater or backstage theater, which includes robotics, stage crew, props, lighting, sound effects, and visual arts. We also offer a wide variety of electives including but not limited to candy-making, acro, visual art, dance, instrumental music, chess, crafts, and legos. Campers can each choose three electives.
Register August 1 - December 31
$600 for two-week camp
Register after January 1, 2026 +
$700 for two-week camp
THE MINDS THAT STEWARD OUR TEAM
Joanne Link, CEO
Joanne Link has been teaching music and producing performances for young people for over 27 years. She has taught in 12 different schools, holding teaching certifications in NJ and PA to teach music for grades K-12 and certificates for Violin Suzuki Books 1-3. Joanne is the orchestra director at Toms River South Intermediate School and owner and founder of Mind Steward, Mindsteward Kids Theater: The Complete Theater Experience, Mindsteward Teen Theater, Viobling, and My Mom’s Here Blog. In over 30 productions, she has held positions including director, music director, producer, violinist, pianist, stage manager, vocal coach, and conductor. She performs violin with Toms River Multigenerational Orchestra and is the pianist and vocalist on Ocean Community Church worship team.
Joanne specializes in motivating children to pursue skills in the arts and strives to bring people together while assimilating to the local culture and needs of each community she interacts with. She happily runs and grows the infrastructure of Mindsteward Kids Theater with the contagious energy and skills of the arts community of education enthusiasts and professionals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She has taught thousands of children how to play instruments and innovates pedagogical techniques to increase zeal and motivation for arts education.
Joanne enjoys spending time with her supportive family, husband, and children, playing games, playing music together, and scuba diving.
Dena McKell, Technical Director of Teen Theater/Director of Kids Theater/Choreographer
Dena McKell (Director/Choreographer) is from the Harrisburg region and has been a teacher, choreographer, and director of theater arts for over 27 years. She began teaching dance instruction at the Harrisburg Dance Conservatory under the guidance of Forrest Gehret at the age of 16. Ms. McKell currently teaches in the Children’s Division at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet. Ms. McKell also serves as the choreographer for East Pennsboro High School Panther Productions for which she has choreographed GREASE, NEWSIES, SISTER ACT, MATILDA, and HELLO DOLLY! Ms. McKell is currently the director and choreographer for Encore Homeschool Productions. Her choreographic works include SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE MUSIC MAN, PETER PAN, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST to name a few. Ms. Mckell is also an Apollo Award Recipient for her Outstanding Choreography for PETER PAN in May 2016. Ms. McKell also received an Apollo Award for her choreography in May 2017 (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), May 2018 (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), and most recently in May 2022 for her choreography in THE LITTLE MERMAID. In May 2022, Ms. McKell directed Encore Homeschool Productions Apollo Award Outstanding Musical THE LITTLE MERMAID. Encore Homeschool Productions also received the Apollo Award for Outstanding Musical in May 2024 for their production THE WIZARD OF OZ under the direction of Ms. McKell. Ms. McKell also works with local community theaters and colleges such as Keystone Theatrics, Creative Pursuits Academy, Lancaster Bible College, and Oyster Mill Playhouse.
Mary-Teresa Lee, Artistic Director of Teen Theater
Mary-Teresa Lee has worked in theater arts for over a decade. Music Director – Peter Pan Jr., The Music Man Jr., Mary Poppins Jr. (SMMS), Frozen Jr., Flat Stanley – A Zoomsical, The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka Jr., Finding Nemo Jr., Seussical Kids (Eisenhower), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winnie the Pooh Kids, Anne of Green Gables (Pollock Center), The Jungle Book Kids (Mind Steward). Associate Music Director – Newsies Jr. (Pollock). Director – Aladdin Kids, Aladdin Dual Language, Beauty and the Beast Jr., Cinderella: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale, Beauty and the Beast: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale (Mind Steward). Book - Cinderella: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale, Beauty and the Beast: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale. She also performs as a solo musician as well as with the group Seasons with which she has recorded four albums. Mary-Teresa Lee has worked in theater arts for over a decade. Music Director – Peter Pan Jr., The Music Man Jr., Mary Poppins Jr. (SMMS), Frozen Jr., Flat Stanley – A Zoomsical, The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka Jr., Finding Nemo Jr., Seussical Kids (Eisenhower), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winnie the Pooh Kids, Anne of Green Gables (Pollock Center), The Jungle Book Kids (Mind Steward). Associate Music Director – Newsies Jr. (Pollock). Director – Aladdin Kids, Aladdin Dual Language, Beauty and the Beast Jr., Cinderella: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale, Beauty and the Beast: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale (Mind Steward). Book - Cinderella: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale, Beauty and the Beast: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale. She also performs as a solo musician as well as with the group Seasons with which she has recorded four albums.
Melissa Ayvas-Manolakakis, Music Director for Lion King Jr.
This is Melissa’s 1st summer with Mindsteward and excited to join the team! She is currently the Choir Director/Music teacher at Wood-Ridge Jr./Sr. High School in Wood-Ridge, NJ (2003-Present). Melissa also currently runs her own private voice and piano studio (2003-Present). She currently teaches at Allegro Arts Academy in Carlstadt, NJ (2004 - Present). Director of the Wood-Ridge Recreation Program (2009-2011); graduate of Wood-Ridge High School - 1999; Bachelors in Music: Major Music Education and Vocal Performance – 2003 from The College of New Jersey; Masters in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College in 2007.
Musical performance experience: Carnegie Hall Performance - March 2015, 2016, 2017 with the National Festival Chorus - Manhattan Concert Productions; Studio workshops for Margaret Leary 1999-2009, Vocal Soloist; Bethany Worship Team 2004-2007, 2015 - Present Vocal soloist and back up singer, Wyckoff, NJ.; A Gala Evening of Music of the Stage 2001-2003, Soloist with orchestra, TCNJ; TCNJ Winter Orchestra Concert 2002, vocal soloist, Nov. 23, 2002; TCNJ Opera Theatre Productions 1999-2002: The Boys From Syracuse: Luce, TCNJ; Die Fledermaus: Chorus; Brigadoon: Lead dancer/chorus; Westside Story: Anita, On-Stage Theatre Company in Oakland, NJ; Summer 2001; Wood-Ridge HS Productions 1995-1999: Grease: Sandy, The Wizard of Oz: Cowardly Lion, The Sound of Music: Maria, Mame: Mame, Inherit the Wind: Howard, Annie: Annie.
Awards/Recognitions - Her select choir was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall March of 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019 with the National Festival Chorus in New York City; Received a 4 year grant from Paper Mill Playhouse “Adopt-A-School Project” for Wood-Ridge High School from 2011-2015; Wood-Ridge Memorial Fund Educator’s Award 2016; Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award for Wood-Ridge High School for 2009-2010; Advisor of the 2009 Year: For the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute for the state of New Jersey for years of service to teen leaders and drug prevention from 1996-2009; Resolution from Wood-Ridge Board of Education for years of service to Teen Institutes for the Wood-Ridge School District October 2009; Wood-Ridge Memorial Foundation 2016 Honoree for Excellence in Music Education for Wood-Ridge Students; Coordinator for NJPAC Hip Hop Class for W-RHS; Helped students get into College Vocal Auditions and Bergen County Chorus numerous times; Awesome news - Her former choir & private vocal student was one of the leads in “Spring Awakening” & “Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway (Connor Murphy) and much more. - Alex Boniello (Wood-Ridge Native)! So proud of him and all my students. She would like to thank God, all her teachers and family for all of their love and support. To my cast members…Break a Leg!!!
Dawn McDonnell, Implementation Specialist
Dawn McDonnell is an award-winning painter and author from Manahawkin, NJ. She has a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her work has been showcased in galleries throughout the tri-state area and sold world wide. McDonnell is a full time artist and focuses on showing her art at festivals and galleries and online. On any given day you will find McDonnell in her studio with her dog Shadow by her side, as well as her very supportive husband and two grown children.
McDonnell started working for Mindsteward in 2022, and loves her experience and cherishes her growth from working with such a great team.
Naomi Link, Assistant Manager
Hey Guys! I am Naomi Link. I am a competitive dancer. I love working with kids, helping them learn new things and grow from their experiences. I have been in many shows and have had professional dance training in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Manahawkin, New Jersey as-well as Houston, Texas. Some of you may know but we recently moved to NJ and that has really opened "A Whole New World" to me, I am so thankful to have all my friends and teachers that have made me who I am today. I have been with mindsteward from the very start, and some would say that this camp was even based around my family and our needs. I have seen this camp grow from the 13 kids that were in the very first one to now almost hitting 100!! I hope I will always be able to bring "The sunny side to every situation" as they said in my last show 42nd Street!😎😎
Emily Goranson, Front House Director
Emily Goranson is the Box Office Manager for The Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre at Penn State Harrisburg. She graduated from Penn State with a BA in English and a minor in theatre. She has contributed to many Penn State Harrisburg productions in varying roles – stage manager, stage crew, performer, and charge scenic artist. Emily has also assisted local theatre companies such as Teatro Paloma, Gamut, and Narcisse. She was the backstage director for Mindsteward's theatre camp in 2022 and is excited to be involved again this summer!
Alana Moldawsky, Marketing Manager
Hello! My name is Alana Moldawsky. I am a former student of Mind Steward, and I am beyond excited to now be working with this incredible community! I have a background in dance and acrobatics, and 5 years in aerial arts training/performing. I also have hands-on experience in tech and stage crew in high school musicals and plays. I love music, art, photography, and anything that has to do with creativity! I have been doing various social media marketing projects for the past few years, and during this time, I have developed a profound understanding of audience engagement, content creation, and analytics. I look forward to creating more and growing with Mind Steward!
Amy Eckel,
My name is Amy Eckel and I live in Harrisburg, PA with my family. Music is an important part of our home, including our homeschool. When I was in high school I was a band geek through and through and loved being a part of the musicals. I graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2003 with a dual degree in special education and elementary education. After teaching for about 6 years I became a stay-at-home mom, eventually homeschooling our four children.
I love being a part of Mind Steward Kids Theater and observing children finding and growing in their skills and talents. Working together to create a unique experience is a highlight for me. So many people of many ages and gifts bring together something amazing every summer.
bottom of page