Development and Coaching Team

Christopher Presly Christopher Presley is an award-winning director and instructor based in New York City. A lifetime member of the prestigious Actors Studio and an associate of The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Mr. Presley has directed numerous productions in New York, across the country and in England. On Broadway, he worked with Michael Mayer on the Tony Award winning revival of A View from the Bridge and in London’s West End on Miss Saigon. As an instructor, he serves as a guest professor at NYU, Pratt Institute, and The Actors Studio Drama School while frequently teaching at various conservatory training programs and privately coaching performers On and Off-Broadway. Also, Chris works on several Off-Broadway producing teams implementing marketing, promotions and audience development. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from The New School in New York where he graduated Valedictorian and a Bachelor of Science in Radio, Television and Film from The University of Texas at Austin, College of Communication.

Dara Whitehead Allen Dara Whitehead Allen M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist, vocal coach and communication specialist with a vast repertoire of clients that include attorneys, business executives, radio broadcasters, physicians, teachers/professors, sales executives, ministers, actors and singers. Her clients work and perform across the country, including participation on the celebrated American Idol. A critically acclaimed singer and actress, Ms. Allen has been a soloist with nationally recognized symphony orchestras, has appeared in countless leading roles on the regional stage and has toured nationally. She received her Bachelor of Music from Texas Tech University and has completed graduate studies at Texas Tech University as well as The University of North Texas. Ms. Allen holds a Masters Degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. She is a member of the Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS), the American Society for Speech Language and Hearing (ASHA) and The Voice Foundation.

Courtney S. Loving Courtney S. Loving offers a varied and versatile background. After three years of studies in Europe where she obtained an Associates degree from Franklin College and a French language certificate from L’Institute de Tourraine, Ms. Loving completed her Bachelor of Arts at The College of William & Mary in Theatre and International Relations. She uses this diverse academic background and training to create success not just in her professional acting career, which includes many regional stages and national touring, but in several entrepreneurial endeavors.

Greg Allen, Ph.D Greg Allen, Ph.D received his Ph.D. from the Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at San Diego State University and The University of California, San Diego, recently cited as the top clinical psychology doctoral program in the country by The Chronicle of Higher Education. He completed his predoctoral internship in clinical neuropsychology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and his postdoctoral residency in clinical neuropsychology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Cognition and Neuroscience in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Allen is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychological assessment. He also has received specialized training and certification in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. In addition to his clinical training in psychology and neuropsychology, Dr. Allen has extensive experience in cognitive neuroscience research using magnetic resonance imaging. He has received research funding from the National Science Foundation, the Cure Autism Now Foundation, and Autism Speaks. Findings from his research have been presented at international meetings and published in some of the most prestigious journals, including The American Journal of Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, Archives of Neurology, NeuroImage and Science. In addition to his clinical and scientific pursuits, Dr. Allen has extensive experience in professional theater and vocal performance on the regional stage.

Charlotte Cohn Charlotte Cohn is an international award-winning actress. She is a lifetime member of the prestigious Actors Studio and a founding producer of the highly successful New York Music Theatre Festival. She started her professional journey at the age of 12, singing classical music and opera all across Israel, Europe and the U.S. On Broadway, she was fortunate to work with the acclaimed Australian director Baz Luhrmann, as Musetta in La Boheme, a role for which she was given an Ovation Award. She can also be heard as Hallelujah Lil in a recording of Kurt Weill's Happy End. Charlotte served as a commander and officer in the Israeli Army and is fluent in four languages. She has a successful private studio for both singing and acting and has been asked to give master classes in several schools in the NY area. Charlotte holds a Bachelors Degree in languages and teaching English as a second language and a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School.