Alan Simon
Founder

Mr. Simon was educated at Brooklyn College and has a B.A. in English and Education. He began his career as a per diem substitute teacher and performer in New York City. His own experience as an on-set teacher inspired the formation in 1982 of On Location Education (OLE), of which he is founder and President, and The School for Young Performers (SYP) in 1995. An authority on the educational needs of young performers, Alan has written and conducted many seminars on the subject for the various unions and organizations within the entertainment industry.

Meghan Formwalt Shann
Head of School

Ms. Formwalt Shann holds a B.F.A. in Theater Performance from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA, as well as a M.F.A. in Dramaturgy, and a MSEd in General and Special Education from Brooklyn College, NY. She started as Head of School at SYP in the summer of 2011, after working for four years as a special education teacher in the NYC Department of Education, as well as working in the Indiana School system. In addition to being an educator, Ms. Formwalt Shann worked for years in the dramatic arts as a dramaturg, performer and director. She has worked at the National Theatre in London, New Dramatists in New York City, and the Jekyll Island Musical Theater Festival in Jekyll Island, Georgia. 

Karin Farrell
Dean of Students

Ms. Farrell holds a B.A. in Music and Education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. She began working for OLE in 1996 as a set teacher for Broadway theatrical tours, and joined the OLE/SYP management team in 2000. During her time as Director, Ms. Farrell developed an international travel program for students, wrote and produced seminars for young entertainers, and created a cultural education program for business clients and their children. She was promoted to Vice President in 2007. Ms. Farrell also has extensive experience as a performer. She has traveled with Broadway theatrical tours as a musician and as a singer and actress and has acted in film and television. Ms. Farrell is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and New York Women in Film and Television.

Jodi Green
Assistant Dean of Students

Ms. Green is a New Jersey certified elementary school teacher. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Seton Hall University and her M.A. in Theater, with a concentration in theater management, from Montclair State University. Ms. Green began working for OLE as a set teacher in 1988, teaching young performers in film, theater, television, and on Broadway theatrical tours. In addition to her current responsibilities as Director of SYP,, Ms. Green has developed educational teaching guides for a national Theater for Young Audiences touring company and is the author of an interactive program introducing young audience members to the magic of musical theater.