WHO WE BE?
Aaron Shapiro, Executive Director and co-founder of Studio BE as well as President of the Executive Board, graduated with two B.A’s from Barat College of DePaul University where he received Departmental Honors in both Economics and Acting/Directing. As a child he performed in several productions with the L.A. Opera Company, the Los Angeles Children Chorus, and regularly worked as an extra in TV shows, commercials, movies, and music videos. After college Aaron founded Oracle Productions and opened their 40-seat black box theatre in Wrigleyville where he served 4 years as Artistic Director. He has worked professionally in Chicago as a director, stage manager, producer, actor, production manager, electrician, carpenter, sound technician, technical director, scenic designer and lighting designer for Collaboraction, American theatre Company, The House Theatre, The Lincolnshire Mariott, Shattered Globe, Theatre Wit, Devonshire Players, Downers Grove Players, Pegasus Players, Victory Gardens Greenhouse and Biograph, Teatro Luna, Teatro Vista, Timeline, Next, About Face, The Entertainment Project, T.U.T.A., Light Opera Works, Albany Park Theatre Project, and Pinebox Theatre
Tamara Drew, Artistic Director of Youth Programming, is also the Secretary of Studio BE’s Executive Board as well as co-founder of the company as a whole. A graduate of Millikin University with a BA in both Theatre and Sociology, Performer, social activist, educator, and mom, she incorporates values of commitment, hard work, integrity, and ownership into every facet of her teaching philosophy. She has worked as a mentor and educator at The Entertainment Project, Providence Catholic High School, The Beverly Arts Center, Union Park, the Skokie Park District, Decatur Park District, The Stanford University I Have a Dream Foundation in East Palo Alto, CA, and various other workshops, Master classes, and events. She has also worked as a professional vocalist, Art and Fashion Model, and competed at the National level in various beauty pageants and vocal contests. This combined experience in conjunction with a passion for social justice and a unhindered love for the performing arts and experiencing a child’s personal growth serves as Ms. Tamara’s springboard for her every professional endeavor. Tamara Drew is Studio BE. Innovating Creation since 2009
Mac Vaughey, Studio BE Executive Board Vice President, is a graduate of Brown University and recipeint of the University’s Weston Prize for Theatrical Design. He is the resident Lighting Designer at the 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, recently named the Chicago Reader’s “Best Emerging Theatre Company.” Mac is also an Artistic associate for Teatro Luna, and Premiere Theatre & Performance, and a company member at Walkabout Theatre. Additionally, Mac’s work has been seen at the American Theatre Company, Redmoon Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Collaboraction and Climax Nightclub. Mac has also worked with Infamous Commonwealth, The Sinnerman Ensemble, Open Eye Productions and many other theatre companies. Mac also serves as head of the ligthing department for the Next Theatre in Evanston, Light Opera Works, Timeline Theatre Company, and the American Theatre Company. Mac can also be found at Chicago Spotlight Inc, as rental manager.
Liz Yerkovich, Studio BE Director of Dance, started her training at a young age in Colorado Springs, and is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Liz was a student at the renowned Broadway Dance Center and has performed in numerous shows in New York including Noises Off, Baby, and Pippin. She moved to Chicago in 2002 where she performed in such shows as Chicago, A Chorus Line, and Grease, and choreographed Sweet Charity, Oliver, and Cabaret. She found her passion for children in Chicago educating at the Glenview Park District for 5 consecutive years and the director of dance at The Entertainment Project.. Liz has choreographed the schools shows including Moulin Rouge, High School Musical and Rent Jr. She has taught ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, and ballroom to children ranging from three to eighteen for over ten years. Liz strives on teaching proper technique to young dancers but also focuses on keeping dance the way it
