Theatre Faculty
Joan Bendix
Theatre Instructor
Joan studied piano and voice at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Joan has served as music director and performed on the keyboard/piano for musical productions in schools and theaters, including the Cleveland Playhouse, Cleveland Public Theater, Chagrin Valley Little Theater, Mercury Theatre Company, Walsh Jesuit High School, and University School. She is currently Music Director at First United Church of Christ in Eastlake.
Joan loves teaching children and helping them find that spark of passion for music. She believes in guiding students to find their own voice and the confidence to participate in the community of theater and musical production.
Bri Clark
Theatre Instructor
Bri Clark graduated with a BA in Musical Theater and a MBA from Heidelberg University. She has participated in theatrical productions since she was a kid and continued on the play roles including Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth in The Letter G, Pugsley in The Addams Family, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and many more! She also previously worked at Heidelberg University and Porthouse Theater as their Scenic Charge. Bri loves sharing her knowledge and passion for theater and arts and is so excited to continue chasing her dreams!
Merlynne Hancock
Theatre Instructor
Merlynne Hancock joined the Fairmount faculty in 1989 as a choreographer for the Youth Theatre and has taught a variety of children’s classes and camps, including Movin’ Together and Kreative Kids. For 35 years, Merlynne has choreographed productions at area schools, from elementary to college level. She started dancing at age 6, and studied under Bea Fried, Noreen Londregan, and Ernst Hillenbran. She graduated from Heidelberg College with a degree in Communication and Theatre Arts and French, with an acting/directing emphasis.
Jasmine Renee
Theatre Instructor
Jasmine Renee is a multi-disciplinary artist born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated with a BFA in Dramatic Arts from The New School’s School of Drama. When Jasmine was a sophomore, she was first exposed to teaching during her course work at The New School. She taught elementary and middle schoolers in Harlem and was instantly hooked. She is excited to be in the classroom teaching again from what she has learned over the years. Favorite regional acting credits include: Dreamwalkers (Molly Walsh) with Shadow of the Run, Hamlet (Ophelia) with Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, Teddy Bear Mountain (Maya) with Cleveland Play House.
Patti Susman
Youth Theatre Director
Patti is an honors graduate of Cleveland State University. She has a degree Dramatic Arts. She has been with the Fairmount since 1982, where she has directed over 80 productions. She has also taught dance, art and gymnastics. Patti was the first Youth Theatre Director at the Solon for the Arts and was also an Assistant Director and instructor for the Heights Youth Theatre.
Patti trained as a dancer with Dave and Shirley Morganstern. She was a member of the Morgan Dancers. She and her sisters performed throughout the Cleveland area. She began her acting career at the old Musicarnival Theatre, located in Warrensville Hts. Ohio. At age 13, she was selected as one of the youngest apprentices in the theatre’s history. She spent 3 summers working, in various capacities, on Broadway touring company productions, concerts and children’s theatre performances. It was at Musicarnival that Patti was given the opportunity to teach and direct theatre classes to younger students and that is when she decided that arts education was her passion, and she has pursued that passion ever since.
Cody Swanson
Theatre Instructor
Cody Swanson is a professional actor, teacher, stage manager, and fight choreographer. He has a BFA in acting with a minor in musical theatre from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also at the university, he studied stage combat. He is an advanced actor combatant with The Society of American Fight Directors, certifying in eight weapon disciplines. At school, some of his favorite roles include “Kiss Me, Kate” (Gangster #1), and “The 39 Steps” (Clown #1). Favorite regional credits include “Young Frankenstein” (Igor) at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, “Romeo & Juliet” (Mercutio) and “Measure for Measure” (Duke Vicentio) both with The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, “Assassins” (Sam Byck) at Lakeland Civic Theatre, and “Bus Stop” (Carl) at Big Dog Theatre. Cody also has credits with SmashUp Entertainment, Shadow of the Run, and The Cleveland Play House.
Cody has been teaching theatre in one way or another for over 10 years at various places including Laurel School, Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute, The Academy for the Performing Arts, and Beachwood Theatre Camp. He believes that learning is lifelong, and hopes to learn something new from his students every day. Cody will be teaching theatre and is on the Homeschool teaching team here at Fairmount.