playbill vip

Christina Crawford (Pit Orchestra Director), a native of Jamestown, New York. She finished high school in Indiana and then went on to graduate cum laude with a B.S. in Music Education from Ball State University. She has participated in several pit orchestras as a player and director for works that include 9 to 5, Into the Woods, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Hello Dolly. Miss Crawford will complete her fourth year at Perry this year and her eighth year teaching overall. Perry Meridian has been a wonderful space to facilitate young musicians into musical theatre. Outside of school, she enjoys playing bassoon and violin in ensembles around Indianapolis as well as vintage clothing and fashion.

Natalie Friar (Assistant Director) is in her ninth year at PMHS teaching Freshman English.  She is also involved in music ministries at her church. Miss Friar graduated from Taylor University in 2012 with a degree in English, Secondary Education.  Since childhood she has been involved in theatre related programs, from bit parts in church programs to musicals and plays in high school.  She was also involved in the choreography-based Airband competitions at Taylor.  Miss Friar would like to thank all of the people involved in making this show possible, as well as her family and friends.  Psalm 32:11

Jessi Plourde (Choreographer) is thrilled to be a part of another musical at Perry Meridian! Jessi is a Perry Alumni (’15) and University of Indianapolis graduate (‘20) where she majored in French and Elementary Education, alongside minors in Music, Special Education, and Reading. They’re now in their first year of teaching at the International School of Indiana as a middle school English teacher. Within the PMHS Choral Program, Jessi has been an accompanist since 2015 and a choreographer since 2018. Outside of their work at Perry, she is a dance teacher at Impulse Dance Academy, a free-lance piano instructor, a member of Ride that Train band, and a mentor for the Big Brother Big Sister Program. Jessi would like to thank all of the magnificent humans involved with putting this show together. Jessi is also grateful to Miss Walsh for including her in all the wonderful things happening within the choral program at PMHS.

Melissa Ai-Ling Walsh (Director and Vocal Director), a native of Toledo, Ohio, is the Director of Choirs and Musical Theater Productions at PMHS where she has been teaching since 2005.  In the 2014-2015 school year, she was selected as the PMHS Teacher of the Year. For the past twelve years, she has been the stage and vocal director for the school musicals and has directed the school’s State Finalist choirs.  Walsh also freelances as a violinist, performs and music directs with community theater and educational youth theater, and serves on the executive board of the Indiana Choral Directors Association. Walsh has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Anderson University (IN) where she was a Presser Scholar, Master of Music degree in Music Composition from Butler University (IN), and Master of Music degree in Music Education from Bowling Green State University (OH). She feels so fortunate to work with amazing students at PMHS, including this fantastic cast and crew!  She is continuously thankful for her loving parents who introduced her to music at an early age and for her superstar husband Andrew Martin for being incredibly supportive and spending so much time taking care of sweet little Junia.  “I love you so much!”