Meet the 2025 Guest Faculty
Claudia Benack – Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University.
Claudia received both her BFA and MFA degrees in Vocal Performance from CMU’s School of Music where she studied voice with Beatrice Krebs and Opera Workshop with Mildred Miller. She continued her vocal studies with Ellen Faull of the Juilliard School, the late Margaret Hoswell of the Manhattan School of Music, and Gary Race, formerly of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Iowa. Benack is a member of NATS, Sigma Alpha Iota, and has served as Vice-President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of NSAL. As a performer, Benack is comfortable in a broad range of settings. In the operatic genre, she is an award-winning lyric soprano: MTNA National First place winner in Voice (1983), NSAL Regional winner and National semi-finalist (1987) and recipient of the Minna Kaufmann Ruud Fund grant. She was a leading soprano for twenty years with Pittsburgh Opera Theater, and performed frequently with Pittsburgh Opera, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Pennsylvania Opera Workshop, and other regional opera companies. Benack also boasts an impressive array of musical theater credits. Favorite productions include BABY (Arlene), THE SOUND OF MUSC (Maria), Guys and Dolls (Sarah), OKLAHOMA! (Laurey), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Charlotte), OF THEE I SING (Benson), and MY FAIR LADY (Eliza). Benack is a true advocate and promoter of healthy singing through solid vocal technique and training and continues her studies in vocal teaching by attending singing workshops throughout the country and working with numerous vocal therapists and throat doctors. She also maintains her own thriving private studio. Benack’s favorite part of her career has become watching and enjoying former and present students appear in countless national tours and regional productions. Broadway shows that presently have or have had her students as cast members include 42ND STREET, JERSEY BOYS, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, MARY POPPINS, WICKED, 9 TO 5, DRACULA, FLOWER DRUM SONG, RENT, THE PAJAMA GAME, GOOD VIBRATIONS, ALL SHOOK UP, THE PRODUCERS and PACIFIC OVERTURES.
Jason DeBord – Associate Professor of Musical Theatre, University of Michigan.
Jason was appointed to the Department of Musical Theatre faculty in September 2014 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2020.
He most recently served as the music supervisor for the 2025 production of ONCE – THE MUSICAL in Seoul, South Korea. He was also the resident music supervisor for the Broadway and world tour productions of the show. His Broadway credits include SHREK, PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT, ROCK OF AGES, LEGALLY BLONDE, ALL SHOOK UP, AND RENT, among others.
In New York, his work includes Bare – The Musical, Fat Camp, Bat Boy – The Musical, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, City Center Encores!, and numerous developmental productions of new works.
In the summer of 2020, Jason DeBord served as a segment producer for the St. Louis Muny’s Online Variety Hour. He also created new dance, vocal, and song arrangements for the revised version of Lerner & Loewe’s PAINT YOUR WAGON, produced at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, the Ordway Theatre in St. Paul, and the St. Louis Muny.
DeBord played and conducted the national tours of A CHORUS LINE, RENT, AND URINETOWN – THE MUSICAL. His playing is prominently featured in the 2009 Sony Pictures Classics documentary EVERY LITTLE STEP, and he has performed on multiple recordings for stage, film, and television. Regionally, he has worked as a pianist and music director at the Old Globe Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, A.C.T., the Alliance Theatre, the St. Louis Muny, and the 5th Avenue Theatre.
From 1993 to 1994, DeBord served as an accompanist for the Vocal Music Department at the University of San Diego. He has also taught at the McCarter Theatre, San Diego Junior Theatre, and the American Theatre Wing’s Springboard program. He has been a guest artist in the theatre department at the University of Colorado, Boulder on multiple occasions and has provided private vocal and piano coaching, audition training, and master classes throughout his career.
From 2016 to 2019, he was the music director for Music Academy International’s summer musical theatre intensive in Mezzano, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. In 2019, he collaborated with Catherine A. Walker on the design of the SMTD minor in Musical Theatre Composition, a contribution he was especially proud to share credit for.
DeBord recently completed arrangements for composer Nick Spear’s theatrical cantata, EXTRACTION TO EXTINCTION, with orchestration by Olivier Award-winner August Eriksmoen (Come From Away, Bright Star). The piece weaves together a full orchestra, six-piece electric band, and actor-singers to explore the impact of natural resource industries on rural communities in the American West and beyond.
Kevin Covert – Director of Musical Theatre and Assistant Professor of Theatre, Shenandoah University.
As an Actor, he has been seen in the Original Broadway casts of SPAMALOT, MEMPHIS (Fred Astaire Nominee 2010), and most recently the hit revival of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING starring Daniel Radcliffe, Darren Criss and Nick Jonas. Kevin can be heard on the Original Broadway Cast Albums of all three. He has toured the country with SOUTH PACIFIC, CATS, GRAND HOTEL, and the 50th Anniversary production of OKLAHOMA!. In addition to being a Broadway Actor, Kevin also serves as one of Tony Award Winner Christopher Gattelli’s (NEWSIES) associates, working with him on the Broadway revival of SOUTH PACIFIC as well as the World Premier of EMMET OTTER at the Goodspeed Musicals. He has directed and choreographed all across the US. Kevin has studied with Jose Quintero, Craig Carnelia and Fred Chappell. Kevin is a proud BFA Music Theatre graduate of Florida State University.
Victoria Bussert – Head of Music Theatre, Oberlin College and Conservatory.
Victoria Bussert has been working as a professional director for more than 30 years. New York credits include THE GIG at Manhattan Theatre Club, DUST AND DREAMS at the YorkTheatre and concert stagings of THE BREAK UP NOTEBOOK: THE LESBIAN MUSICAL, FACTORY GIRLS and THE CIRCUS IN WINTER at New World Stages. Regionally, her work has been seen at Goodspeed Opera, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse, Portland Stage, Dallas Theatre Center, Firebrand Theatre, Playhouse Square, Cleveland Playhouse, Dobama Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, Pegasus Players, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and Great Lakes Theatre where she serves as Resident Director; her opera direction has been seen at Anchorage Opera, Piedmont Opera, Pennsylvania Opera Theatre, Skylight Opera and Cleveland Opera.
Victoria directed national tours of INTO THE WOODS, BARNUM, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, GUYS AND DOLLS, THE SECRET GARDEN and THE WHO’S TOMMY. International credits include the Danish Premieres of AVENUE Q (2012 Reumert nomination) and [title of show] for the Fredericia Theatre along with the Danish and London premieres of LIZZIE. Victoria is the Director of Music Theatre for Oberlin College and Conservatory.
Robin Lewis – Head of Musical Theatre, Rider University.
Robin is a Broadway and national Broadway touring veteran. Credits include: FOSSE, Dance Captain of DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and Dance Captain of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Madison Square Gardens. He toured with the first national tour of THE PRODUCERS with Jason Alexander and Martin Short in Hollywood. He has toured in A CHORUS LINE, HELLO DOLLY, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, as well as performances at The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Off-Broadway, he was the Dance Captain for Charles Busch’s musical THE GREEN HEART for the Manhattan Theatre Club. Robin can also be seen on the PBS Dance in America movie FOSSE: A CELEBRATION IN DANCE. He has choreographed numerous productions regionally: KINKY BOOTS, NEWSIES, MARY POPPINS, THE WHO’S TOMMY, DROWSY CHAPERONE, RENT, URINETOWN, and HAIRSPRAY. He works with Broadway Dreams, Camp Broadway, and Broadway Artists Alliance. He also choreographed the movie “BERNIE” starring Shirley MacLaine and Jack Black directed by Rick Linklater. Robin is currently on the musical theatre faculty at Rider University in New Jersey.
Rachel Stevens- Assistant Professor of Acting in Musical Theatre, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
A director, developer, educator and acting coach originally from Philadelphia, Stevens has called New York City home for more than a decade. She was assistant director on the Broadway run of the Tony Award-winning musical NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812. Her Off-Broadway credits include SMART BLONDE (associate director, 59E59) and PRELUDES (assistant director, Lincoln Center Theater, LCT3), and her New York directing and devising credits include work with The Civilians’ R&D Group, SheNYC Festival, NYMF, Theatre Now, TheaterWorksUSA and New York Film Academy.
Her regional credits include a production of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 at American Repertory Theatre directed by Rachel Chavkin and The Bandstand at Paper Mill Playhouse directed by Andy Blankenbuehler, along with productions at Quantum Theatre, City Theatre Company and Front Porch Theatricals.
Stevens has also directed and taught at Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse, Oakland University. and Concordia College. Her teaching artist and guest lecturer experience includes work at University of the Arts, The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, Point Park University, Musical Theater College Auditions (MTCA), The Broadway Jr. Program, Upper Darby Summer Stage, Imagination Stage, Young Playwrights and ArtStream Access Theater.
Most recently, Stevens served on the musical theater faculty at Oakland University (Rochester, MI). In her role as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre, she directed mainstage, children’s theatre and the New Student Showcase. Stevens also served as faculty advisor for Oakland University’s inaugural Kaleidoscope Cabaret—featuring students of the global majority, she led as Chair of the DEI Committee for the School of Music, Theatre and Dance—and she spearheaded the direction for that university’s first ever sensory-friendly relaxed performance.
Stevens holds her BFA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University, her MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University and is a proud SDC associate.
Her artistry stems from her commitment to the Hebrew adage of “Tikkun Olam,” or “to repair the world.” Her guiding purpose as a director, educator and mentor is to cultivate brave spaces where artists can unabashedly create from their authentic selves, collaborate from a place of trust and lead with compassion.
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