Ohio Performing Arts Institute
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide the community with multiple performing arts experiences. The organization's vision is to preserve and enhance the arts thought quality theatre education and performances in the community. We believe that the arts is space for everyone, and everyone should always feel as though they belong.
OPAI will strive to achieve this through the following activities:
1. providing quality public performances at an affordable price.
2. providing quality performance education
3. broadening the awareness of the arts in our community
Our Story
Founded in 1985 by D. Scot Davidge, OPAI offers a wide range of professionally instructed performing arts classes in a friendly, family environment as well as public performances throughout Springfield, Ohio and the surrounding community.
Meet Our Instructors
Scroll to read each instructor's bio and credits
Instructor Bios
D. Scot Davidge, a native of California, started dancing at the age of five. Mr. Davidge graduated from the United States International University School of Performing and Visual Arts in San Diego, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master’scdegree in Fine Arts. His Broadway career includes shows such as Grease, Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, 42nd Street, The Tap Dance Kid, No No Nanette, Twelfth Night, and A Chorus Line. Davidge originated the part of “Benjamin” in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on Broadway and toured with that production as well. Mr. Davidge discovered the Miami Valley while on tour with the Kenley Players. Upon moving to Springfield, Davidge choreographed several shows for the Springfield Arts Council’s Summer Arts Festival, South High School, and Wittenberg University. He has been a guest teacher at Wittenberg and Wright State Universities and at Antioch College. Davidge’s love for the performing arts and teaching inspired him to start a program for formal dance and theatre education in Springfield that evolved into OPAI. He is also the co-founder of the Springfield Ballet Theatre which debuted in 2005.
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Tessa McCaw began dancing with OPAI at the age of three. She studied at OPAI throughout high school and began teaching for the Institute after graduation. She has performed in 17 Nutcrackers, with the Sugar Plum Fairy being her favorite role. She also attended four years of Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Intensives to advance her training during high school. Mrs. McCaw has performed in several musicals with OPAI including Addams Family as “Wednesday Addams” and Suessical as “Gertrude McFuzz.” She also performed with Terry McGonigle in his production of Little Women as “Amy March.” She graduated from Wright State University with a BS in Communication Studies with a minor in Health Communication. She also loves being a part of the worship team at Fellowship Spring Hill Church. Fun Fact - Tessa taught her husband the final dance from Dirty Dancing and they performed it as the first dance at their wedding. She shared the video to Youtube and they were later interviewed and featured in a Wall Street Journal article.
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Moriah Smith began dancing with OPAI at the age of four. She studied at OPAI for 14 years and danced in numerous roles in the Nutcracker such as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, and the Snow Queen. After graduation, she moved to Mississippi to join Ballet Magnificat's trainee program where she danced, taught, and toured throughout the U.S. for four years. She moved back to Ohio in 2022 to pursue a career in Art and is now working as an Art teacher and painting murals. She recently began teaching at Ohio Performing Arts Institute and is excited to be dancing again.
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Emma Metzger is a performer, teacher, and choreographer, originally from Charlotte, NC. Emma holds her BFA in Acting with Musical Theatre Emphasis from Wright State University. She is now an adjunct voice professor for Wright State University and has been teaching there for over 2 years. Her teaching style could be described as kind and supportive while striving for technical mastery.
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Sarah Miles is an OPAI alum who has returned to teach acting lessons to our students. She is a fun bright spirit with over 20 years of acting training under her belt. She strives to create an environment where the kids can feel comfortable and are guaranteed to have fun each class, yet also learn important acting techniques and make improvements. Sarah is so happy to be back at OPAI!
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Amy D. Davidge began her formal training at the age of nine. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Education from Bowling Green State University and has studied with D. Scot Davidge, Shari Jerome, Deborah Tell, and Kathleen Cleary. She has also studied in New York City with renowned teacher Finis Jhung. An avid performer, Ms. Davidge has performed in and choreographed several productions for OPAI and co-founded the Springfield Ballet Theatre. She has performed in many productions including the roles of “Clara” & “The Sugar Plum Fairy” in The Nutcracker, Seussical, Carousel, The Wiz, The Pirates of Penzance, Cabaret, Grease, Pippin, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Damn Yankees, Bye Bye Birdie, Sweeney Todd, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Addams Family, A Grand Night for Singing and Anything Goes. Ms. Davidge has instructed ballet at Clark State Community College and OPAI.
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Cheyenne Williford began dancing at the age of three. She has a diverse training background with focuses in ballet, tap, and modern dance. She studied at OPAI for 4 years and danced in numerous roles in the Nutcracker such as the Spanish princess and Flower Queen. She has performed in many musicals with OPAI, Tecumseh Theatre, and Brookville Community Theatre- with highlight roles including "Belle" in Beauty and the Beast and "Rizzo" in Grease. After graduation, she studied Dance Performance and Choreography at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Chey has a passion for having fun and sharing laughs in class, while also prioritizing professional instruction. She recently began teaching at Ohio Performing Arts Institute and is so excited to be back!
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Heather Hare has danced for 7 years. The 4 years spent at OPAI have seen Heather in several Variety Shows and as the Nutcracker’s Clara, Snow Queen, Arabian, and Sugar Plum Fairy, among other roles. Of the dance styles she has learned; ballet, contemporary and tap are her favorite. Heather attends Cedarville University, studying Mathematics. Her advice for younger dancers is “Never be frustrated or disappointed with an opportunity. Each one only makes you better, and you will leave with more experience and lots of incredible memories.” Heather teaches and mentors younger dancers at OPAI and we are better because of her investment!
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Nathan Goff is a performing musician and published writer who has studied music theory, guitar performance, poetry and song-writing for over 35 years. He has been involved in the production of seven different studio albums of original music, with credits for song-writing, lyrics, lead and backing vocals, and rhythm and lead guitar. His teaching focuses on guitar/music theory and song-writing, and he strives to tailor the content and pace to each student's abilities and experience. Nathan formed his first blues and classic rock band in high school, and later branched into heavier rock and jazz. He recorded three hard rock albums with the bands Dark Theory and SNAG. Returning to college in his 30s, Nathan focused his studies on fiction writing and poetry. Nathan recorded two additional albums of original rock with the bands Entrenched and Killed by Art. For the last ten years, he has focused on the original rock band Far From Eden, founded by him and his partner Kimberly Weiss. They have created three albums of original material and are planning their 4th and 5th albums. Nathan also has side projects in the metal and blues genres, and performs regularly across Ohio. Nathan tries to play every day, and believes that music and arts are crucial for personal development, and finds teaching the next generation of musicians to be very rewarding.