Andrea Belser

As stated before, Andrea started her professional acting career in 2008, performing in shows at Dobama Theatre, Karamu House, Cleveland Public Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, and many more. Andrea has been awarded Best Actress in Cleveland in 2008 and was also nominated for Best Actress in Cleveland in 2012 for her role as Pecola in The Bluest Eye at Karamu House. She is thought to be a force to be reconned with on stage!

(photo from “The Bluest Eye” at Karamu House)

Since the age of 3, Andrea has loved and studied dance of several different forms, including ballet, tap, African folk dance, jazz, musical theater, hip hop, contemporary, modern, Latin ballroom (salsa, merengue, cha cha, bachata), and anything else she can jump into. Currently, she is a professional company member with Blakk Jakk Dance Collective, and teaches ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theater dance styles.

(photo from “Soft Animal” with MegLouise Dance at Cleveland Public Theatre)

The funny thing is that Andrea began too afraid to sing in front of people. But after many nights of karaoke and an Applied Voice minor (mostly opera/classical voice), she has gone on to perform in opera and musical theater. She is well versed in classical voice, musical theater, popular music, and character voices, though she primarily teaches voice for musical theater.

(photo from “Golden” at Talespinner Children’s Theatre)

Following a love of dancing, singing, and playing pretend, Andrea felt she was made for musical theater. She credits her Bachelor of Arts from Wright State University as a “makeshift musical theater degree”, as she majored in Theater Studies, minored in Applied Voice (singing), and earned more credits in dance than her given minor of music! It still stands as her favorite artform not only to perform, but to teach as well!

(photo from “Little Shop of Horrors” at French Creek Theater)

Thanks to Alison Garrigan, Andrea found a new talent of puppeteering. The art of using a puppet as an extension of yourself and your artistry can be exciting and thrilling. From hand, stick, and full body puppets, Andrea has worked extensively with a wide variety of puppets, both in size and style.

(photo from “The Boy Who Stole the Sun” with Alison Garrigan)

There’s nothing more enjoyable and satisfying than performing for kids. The pure, unapologetic, and unbiased reactions, the smiles and laughter, and the sheer love they share is incomparable to any other performance. Andrea has performed with and taught for Talespinner Children’s Theatre, Spark Theatre 4 the Youth, KIDShakes, and Cleveland Play House to bring the joy of the performing arts to thousands of children primarily in Northeast Ohio.

(photo from “Sundiata” at Talespinner Children’s Theatre)

Beginning in 2009, Andrea (Ms. A) began teaching theater acting, then around 2012 adding dance and musical theater. She has taught all ages, abilities, stages of artistry, and demographics for a number of organizations, including but not limited to Playhouse Square, Great Lakes Theatre, Cleveland School for the Arts, Ohio Contemporary Ballet, The Musical Theater Project, and Fairmount Center for the Arts where she also worked as their Dance Director. She’s a well-qualified teacher who holds credentials in Creative Inclusion, Behavior Management, Teaching Artist Program Development, and Physically Integrated Dance Teaching. Fun fact: she is also a licensed Zumba instructor!

(photo of Disney Musicals In Schools Teaching Artists at Playhouse Square)

Andrea has had the amazing opportunity to take her talents around and outside of northeast Ohio, including Chicago, Illinois. She has toured in various performances for Cleveland Play House, Spark Theatre 4 the Youth, Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, and Cleveland Public Theatre.

(photo from “Why Won’t Zee Quack” with Spark Theatre 4 the Youth)

David D. King, a novice to the drag scene, has appeared at a few Pride in the CLE events, and performed for Geauga SOGI Support Network events. Coming from a vast performance background, David is quickly making a name for himself in the Cleveland Drag scene!

(photo from Pride in the CLE)

In addition to performing and teaching, Andrea has also worked backstage as a stage manager, dresser, choreographer, director, and more. She has been nominated twice for best choreographer in Cleveland, once in 2023 for Jesus Christ Superstar with Willow’s Edge Creations, and again in 2024 for Seussical the Musical with Theatre Agape. She enjoys her behind the scenes work just as much as she enjoys being on stage.

(photo from “A Doll’s House” with Mamai Theatre)