Nicole-Bethany began her performance career at just 5 years old on Broadway-sized stages, discovering the powerful impact of her voice on audiences. Having grown up in Far Rockaway, NY, she faced socio-economic challenges amongst others unique to her as Black girl when making attempts to access quality theatre education. Despite this, self-advocacy and sacrifice from her parents, she was able to receive and embrace the theatre arts, which has undoubtedly changed her life.

With over a decade of experience and a BFA in Acting from Ithaca College, she aims to transform the life of every child through theatre, all without facing similar obstacles. Nicole-Bethany developed Transformative Theatre™, an equitable and culturally conscious theatre education curriculum for youth K-12 that offers an innovative and creative way to develop literacy skills and engagement.

Since 2021, she has served as a teaching artist at the Community Unity Music Education Program (CUMEP) in Ithaca, where she became Theatre Director in 2022, revitalizing youth engagement with theatre and literacy. In 2024, she launched CUMEP’s first youth Winter Theatre Intensive Program and directed “CUMEP the Musical,” which premiered February 2024.

Nicole-Bethany has also taught at Hangar Theatre Company’s Next-Gen Summer Camps, artist-in-school projects with their Project 4 program, and high school students at the New Roots Charter School with Walking on Water Productions. She has received additional training from the Stella Adler School of Acting and Shuffles Tap and Musical Theatre School in NYC, is skilled in teaching neuro-divergent learners and is passionate about providing conservatory-style acting training for youth ages 7 and up. She looks forward to bringing Transformative Theatre™ and more to the CSMA!

Visit nicolebethany.com to learn more!