Meet the Faculty

2024 GRACELAND PERFORMING ARTS CAMP TEAM

Graceland has an amazing team working with the campers throughout the week, including our camp teaching faculty and group leaders. Graceland is excited to welcome back so many of our past camp teaching staff, including Analyse Capodiferro, Joey Valdez, and Pat Dunn! More announcements to come soon!

ANALYSE Capodiferro

Camp Director
Analyse is a Memphis native, currently based in NYC and is overjoyed to return for her 4th year with the Graceland Performing Arts camp! Camp is her favorite time of year so she could not be more excited to be back with everyone. She graduated from the University of Memphis with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance in 2022. She regularly performs in and produces comedy shows in various Off-Broadway theaters and teaches private acting lessons with K.Nichols Studio. She is so excited to see all of the returning faces at camp, as well as meet so many new ones!

Joel Valdez

Music Director
Joel Valdez, veteran instrumental and vocal music teacher at Memphis’ Overton High School, has led the school’s Overton Ovation band for seven years and has performed with several popular Memphis bands for the last 20 years.

PATRICK DUNN

Special Guest Mentor
Having made his NYC Theatre debut at age 12, Patrick most recently led the North American tour of the mega-musical Les Misérables in the role of Jean Valjean. Previous to that, he was seen in the ‘Spectacular New’ production of The Phantom of the Opera (Phantom u/s). Previous credits include Sara Bareilles’ musical Waitress (first national tour-original cast); Hal Prince’s directed Candide at NYC Opera (Candide u/s) & A Christmas Carol: The Musical at Madison Square Garden (Young Scrooge). He has also performed in The Pirates of Penzance, Titanic, and led the rock phenomenon Jesus Christ Superstar in the role of Jesus. Patrick has taught theatrical Masterclasses around the country for all ages, including at Michigan State University, Bob Jones University, and his alma mater The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. Amidst his love and work in the theatre, performing as an Elvis tribute artist has always been close to his heart. His most recent title was being crowned the 2021 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner at Elvis Week 2021. Patrick always gives a nod to the king and his fans with a subtle 'TCB' finishing every one of his professional musical Playbill biographies. 

Lexie Lang

Choreography Director
From Europe to Japan to America, Lexie has gone far and wide to pursue her career in the arts. Having danced since she was 4 years old, Lexie has 23 years of extensive experience in jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop, lyrical, aerial silks, and musical theatre dance. Lexie has been choreographing for 12 years for multiple theatres, organizations, schools, summer camps, arts councils, and variety shows. She has performed and taught dance in a total of 15 countries on 10 separate tours, and doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon. Lexie has choreographed for several theatres all over the Mid-South, most recently choreographing “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory” at Playhouse on the Square, and currently Associate Choreographing Grease at Theatre Memphis. She is thrilled to be choreographing for Graceland!  

Jordy Cardell

ACTING DIRECTOR
Jordy ‘Bel’ Cardell (she/her) was raised in Memphis and graduated from the University of Memphis with a BFA in Theatre in 2022. Since then, she has lived in NYC, pursuing her artistic endeavors, and studying event planning on the hopes of establishing her own firm. Jordy’s love of theatre began in a summer camp much like this one, and it is her honor to instill that same joy, passion, and confidence in the next generation of artists and world-changers. Let’s rock!