Who We Are - PAPAS INSTRUCTORS
DEDRA BAKER - PAPAS Director & Director of Music & Choreographer
Dedra founded PAPAS back in 2002. It started as a summer show choir camp “Singsations”. In 2015 we added an acting division and became PAPAS and also expanded our program to include competitive show choirs. Dedra has a passion for providing a creative space for students of all abilities. Dedra has her Bachelors of Music Education from Illinois State University and is also a Private Voice Instructor and freelance choreographer. She loves performing in the area. Some favorite roles include Francesca - Bridges of Madison County (Cornstock Theater), Donna - Mamma Mia (Peoria Players theater), Witch - Into the Woods (Eastlight Theater) and Woman 1 - Songs for a New World (The Waterhouse), Mayor/ Ma - Toxic Avenger (CST Winter Playhouse) Nancy - Oliver (CST)
CELESTE MATHESON - Acting 1, 2 & 3
Celeste "Cookie" Matheson
Celeste has been performing in community theatre since she was 8. Since then, she has continued to perform, and has loved opportunities to teach and coach students. Along with theatre, her other favorite performance outlet has been Speech. In college, she competed for Illinois State University's Speech team and won the title of national champion in Prose Reading. After receiving her master's degree in communication studies, she served as the Director of Speech at the University of Northern Iowa where she coached students in competitive speech. Once she became a mother, she assisted in music directing at St. Thomas grade school in Peoria Heights. Celeste currently serves on the Board of Corn Stock Theatre as Vice President and continues to perform in the area. She is excited to share her love of performing and to help build confidence and performance skills with the students of PAPAS.
PEGGY HUPP - Director/Choreographer The Spongebob Musical Youth Edition
Peggy Breaux Hupp has been directing and choreographing theater for over 50 years. She has performed in numerous shows in the Peoria area. She has attended Dance Masters in Chicago and receive numerous hours in dance. Peggy has been involved with directing and choreographing numerous shows at Peoria Players, Corn Stock, Community Children’s Theater and Corn Stock for kids. Peggy also ran the Richwoods High School Theater program for 11 years. Peggy is passionate about working with students and help them find their talent and watching them perform.
SAM MULLIGAN - Choreographer Soundwave & Vocal Velocity
Sam is a Singer/Songwriter, Recording Artist, Freelance Choreographer and Professional Dancer based out of Nashville, TN. A graduate of Belmont University in Commercial Music, he brings us his unique blend of Urban Funk & Hip Hop to our competitive show choirs. Students love Sam for his positive outlook and fun choreography . Sam has spent the summer as a backup dancer for the Walker Hayes National Tour.