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Meet the Performing Arts Teaching Faculty
Our 2026 Season Staff & Artist Bios are here! Read more about the talented people that help make music in the mountains.
Thank you to all artists and staff!
STELLA COLE
With a voice that bridges generations, Stella Cole has cultivated nearly 2 million social media followers through her fresh interpretations of timeless songs by iconic artists, including Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and Nat “King” Cole. Often described as a Laufey-meets-Bublé sensation, Cole brings a fresh interpretation of classic repertoire to a new generation.
While she was raised in rural Illinois on Hollywood musicals like Singin’ in the Rain and The Wizard of Oz, Cole told ELLE that she “never expected this life,” earning praise for her soulful interpretations of the Great American Songbook from legends including James Taylor, David Foster, and Michael Bublé. She’s performed on The TODAY Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, Tamron Hall, and stages throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
“It’s amazing to think that this music can be a balm for people's stress and anxiety,” says Stella. “Don’t forget, these songs helped people get through the Great Depression and World War II. That’s the most gratifying thing of all, experiencing how this music can help people.”
Cole is authentic and faithful to the traditions in which these songs have been heard for all these years, but with a personal charisma that transcends the generations.
BLAINE KRAUSS
Blaine Krauss, a Tampa native who later made St. Petersburg, Florida, home, recently completed a five-year run with the national tour of Hamilton, culminating in his performance as the titular role. Before being invited to close the tour as Hamilton, he joined the company as a standby for Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and King George, and later spent several months performing full-time as Aaron Burr.
Krauss was also thrilled to appear in season two of Pose while performing in The Cher Show on Broadway. Prior to that, he starred as Lola in Kinky Boots shortly after making his Broadway debut in the acclaimed Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. He also toured North America as Simba in The Lion King and starred in the only production of the Radio City Summer Spectacular.
A celebrated concert performer, Blaine regularly appears with symphonies around the world and is a frequent guest artist at Feinstein’s/54 Below, where his acclaimed solo show From the Soul earned him a Bistro Award.
His talent has taken him to prestigious stages across the globe. In 2011, he was featured in the largest commemoration of 9/11 outside the United States, held at the Trocadero in Paris, France. In 2010, he was selected as one of only 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, an honor that included meeting President Obama and performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. That same year, he was also chosen as the featured vocalist for the July 4th Celebration at the U.S. National Archives and participated in the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.
His additional theatrical credits include Godspell and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at West Virginia Public Theatre, as well as Evita, Into the Woods, The Civil War, Make Me a Song, Chess, and Les Misérables at CCM, where he performed as Jean Valjean.
Blaine Krauss is a proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Pizzi Strings
Pizzi Strings is an elegant New York–based string ensemble known for its refined sound, expressive musicianship, and versatile repertoire spanning classical masterpieces to modern favorites. With a style that blends timeless European charm and contemporary sophistication, the quartet regularly performs at luxury events, cultural programs, and distinguished venues across the U.S. For the Pocono Mountains Festival, Pizzi Strings brings together four accomplished musicians: Natallia Nerezko, violin Channing Hooper, violin Christiana Liberis, viola Stella Saliei, cello Together, they create a rich and cohesive sound, offering audiences a musical experience that is both intimate and elevated.
Meet the Performing Arts Camp Faculty
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Kelli Rabke - Vocal Coach & Camp Director
KELLI RABKE got her “big break” playing the role of Dorothy in the Paper Mill Playhouse’s acclaimed production of The Wizard of Oz. Shortly thereafter, she was handpicked by Andrew Lloyd Webber to play the lead role of the Narrator in the Broadway revival of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (US Cast Recording). Following that, she played her dream role: Eponine in Les Misérables on Broadway. She went on to perform in regional theaters across the country in such roles as Mabel in Mack And Mabel, Christine in Phantom, and back to Paper Mill Playhouse in Stephen Schwartz’s Children Of Eden as Yonah (American Premiere Recording). She is one of the only Broadway stars to originate a role in both a Stephen Schwartz and an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical — a distinction for which she is incredibly honored.
She has been seen and heard in loads of TV commercials and voice-overs, and was the voice of several animated characters, including Kat in the Discovery Kids series Kenny The Shark. She also played the recurring role of Bernadette on The Young And The Restless. Recent highlights include the Emmy nominated PBS American Songbook segment Stephen Schwartz & Friends, featuring the composer himself at the piano, featured soloist on the Grammy nominated album Sondheim Unplugged, debuting an original song by Kathie Lee Gifford and David Friedman on the Today Show, and reprising her role as the Narrator in Joseph…at La Mirada Center for the Performing Arts.
After leaving the bright lights of the stage to start a family, Kelli is now a staple in the concert and cabaret world. She performs regularly with symphony orchestras stretching from Mazatlan to Calgary and all throughout the country, in addition to creating her own cabaret shows, including the critically acclaimed Tiny Giants – Petite Powerhouses from Garland to Gaga.
She is most proud of her biggest “productions” to date: her son, Joseph, and daughter, Abigale!
Brad Simmons - Music Director
From legendary night clubs to symphony concert halls, singer/pianist, composer and maestro Brad Simmons has shared the stage with Broadway luminaries Tonya Pinkins, Beth Leavel, Donna McKechnie, Mary Testa, Penny Fuller, Betty Buckley, Carole Cook, Leslie Uggams, Alice Ripley and recording icons Sandi Patty, Marilyn Maye and Kate Pierson of The B-52s. Brad is “clearly The MAN” (NPR), devoting 25 years to creating new musicals in New York City. He is Music Director for the Douglas Carter Beane & Lewis Flinn musicals To Wong Foo, Up with America, Like Love and Hood. Career highlights include acting in the cult movie Camp with Stephen Sondheim and Anna Kendrick; conducting Lysistrata Jones on and off Broadway; music directing the movie musical Hello Again with Martha Plimpton, Audra McDonald and Cheyenne Jackson; playing Me and The Girls with Alan Cumming; teaching piano to John Lithgow for Mr & Mrs Fitch; composing the musicals A Kiss from Alexander, A Woman Onstage and A Dickens of a Carol with librettist Stephan de Ghelder; producing his singer/songwriter albums Dreamworld, Mundane Existence and his recent acoustic “(Live)” collection. Find Brad’s full catalog wherever you enjoy music.
Campbell Fields - Songwriting/Creative Expression Teacher
Campbell Walker Fields is versatile singer and keyboardist with equal comfort on concert, musical theatre and arena stages. His professional career began when cast at the age of nine as Artful Dodger in Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s 2011 production of ‘Oliver!’. Soon after he played JoJo in ‘Seussical the Musical’ at the University of Oklahoma, and Foo (Lost Boy) in the seven week run of the world-premiere Dallas Theatre Center production of the musical ‘FLY’. Other Lyric credits include the role of Slim in ‘Oklahoma!’, and productions of ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Big Fish’ and ‘Les Misérables’. Favorite student roles have included Tom Collins in ‘RENT’, Joseph in ‘ … the Technicolor Dreamcoat’, Seaweed in ‘HAIRSPRAY’, Jack in ‘Into The Woods’ and Rum Tug Tugger in ‘CATS’.
In the summer of 2016 he was seen competing on Season 11 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, making it to the middle judge cuts round, and attended GRAMMY Camp Nashville, a music industry program for high school students interested in the music business. He has performed as soloist with symphony orchestras including Abilene Philharmonic, The Signature Symphony and the OKC Philharmonic where he was featured artist in 'The Christmas Show’ and its Independence Day concerts ‘Red White & Boom’and he has performed at Cast Party/Birdland in NYC. Commercial work includes the feature film “Home Run” and TV and print commercials for SandRidge Energy, and he is regularly invited to perform at special events and galas. Since 2018 Campbell has been part of the all-star faculty for the Pocono Mountains Performing Arts Camp where he both teaches and shares the stage with a rotating cast of Broadway luminaries including LIsa Howard, Klea Blackhurst, Nellie McKay, Kelli Rabke, and Savion Glover.
Campbell is a graduate of Classen School for Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City and Oklahoma University. He's a National Anthem favorite with Thunder audiences.
Will Porter - Acting Teacher
Will Porter is thrilled to join the PMMF Family! Will recently served as the associate director and choreographer of Into The Woods for the UMKC Conservatory, and has provided choreography and theatrical movement for Virgin Voyages (Never Sleep Alone), and the National Tour of Chefs: A Sizzling Kitchen Showdown, and for Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre. Acting work: CATS, Chorus Line, Bye Bye Birdie (Nat’l Tours); Frozen at The Fulton (PA Regional Premier), Cyrano De Bergerac, Peter Pan & Wendy, Little Shop of Horrors at KCRep, Legally Blonde at Starlight, The Little Mermaid at The MUNY, and many others. Will has trained with Shakespeare & Company, Upright Citizens Brigade, and extensively in Clown with Joel Jeske (Big Apple Circus) and Christopher Bayes (Juilliard, Yale). MFA Acting & Directing, University of Missouri Kansas City.
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Madison Embrey - Dance Teacher
Madison Embrey grew up dancing at The Dance Shoppe in Michigan under the guidance of Terri Newman and Lauren Lenter. She graduated from Pace University and the Pforzheimer Honors College in NYC with her BFA in Commercial Dance.
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Favorite performance experiences include arena stunt show Marvel Universe Live!, dancing on Modern Love, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt & The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, interviews on Good Morning America, The Today Show & Disney Channel XD, and video game motion capture for Mortal Kombat 11 & Rogue Company. Madison recently finished touring North America with the arena stunt show, Jurassic World Live Tour, playing the show’s heroine, Dr. Kate Walker. She also did the voiceover for her character. Madison received the Lorna Strassler Award for Student Excellence while studying at Jacob’s Pillow under Chet Walker. When she isn’t performing, she travels the globe sharing her passion of dance with the next generation as a teacher, choreographer and judge! She also love reading, petting dogs, learning new things, golfing, all things Ted Lasso & London!
IG: @madisonembrey
Dance Teacher
We are currently seeking a passionate and inspiring Dance Teacher to join our Performing Arts programming. This role is an important part of our creative community, offering the opportunity to work with talented students and help bring energy, confidence, and artistry to the stage. If you or someone you know has a love for teaching and a desire to make a meaningful impact through dance, we would love to connect, email Kelli Rabke at pace@poconofest.org