Teacher

Betina Hershey is a multi-genre performer, writer, director, and educator. She has appeared as a principal dancer in feature films such as Mona Lisa Smile and Enchanted. As a singer/songwriter, her original songs are featured on multiple albums, including Lift You Up with The Scooches, which reached #1 on the FAI Folk Charts in July 2023. Her previous album, Get Us Out Of Fearland with Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches, peaked at #2 on the FAI Folk Chart in April 2018, just behind John Prine. Other albums include Wish I Could Stay and The Very Next Thing with Hot Jazz Jumpers and Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches.

In musical theater, Betina has performed nationally and internationally. Her credits include playing Meg in the National Tour of Phantom of the Opera, Anybody’s in the international tour of West Side Story, Jackie in Pump Boys and Dinettes, Isabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Luisa in The Fantasticks.

As a vocal and acting teacher, her students have won awards, been accepted into prestigious vocal and drama high schools and colleges, and go on to perform on Broadway, TV, film, and more.

As a writer, Betina’s musicals for children are widely performed and published through Beat by Beat Press. These works include We Are Monsters, The Grunch, The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever, Space Pirates, and Musicville. She is also the director and head of Garden Players, a musical theater program in NYC focused on developing original works with young performers. In addition, she offers two online acting courses for kids through DIY.org.

Betina is committed to creating socially aware musicals that inspire young audiences. Through her publishing company, Garden Players Publishing, she has released musicals such as So Far From Home, Your Turn - A Super Powered Earth Saving Musical, and Switch It Off, which promote environmental stewardship and kindness.