dr. andrea

warren

Executive Director

Dr. Andrea F. Warren came to the School after serving twenty years in Virginia Beach City Public Schools where she taught Health and Physical Education, coached basketball and track, served as the Assistant Principal at Bayside Middle School and High School, and was Principal at Plaza Middle School. She is married to Rev. Samuel Warren, the Supervisor of Custodial Services of Chesapeake City Public Schools. Rev. and Dr. Warren have a daughter, Adrienne, who is a 2005 GSA graduate. 

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Dr. Warren became involved with GSA in 2002 as a member of GSA's Foundation and served on the parent committee. In 2008 she became the Assistant Director.  She has seen, first hand, what GSA does in developing young artists and believes her daughter's success is due to the training she received in the GSA Musical Theatre Department. 

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Dr. Warren is very proud of her daughter, who has made her Broadway debut in "Bring It on The Musical" originating the role of Danielle, the queen bee of Jackson High School and who is a TONY nominee for her role in "Shuffle Along" on Broadway. 

deborah

thorpe

Assistant Director/Foundation Director

Deborah Thorpe earned her BA degree in Dance and Education from Goucher College and her M.Ed degree in Dance Education from Colorado State University.  Her professional modern dance career ranged from regional dance companies in Colorado, Baltimore and New York City. In 1984 she assisted in forming GSA, and from 1985- 2011 she was Chair of the GSA Dance Department.  Her position of Assistant Director and Foundation Director began in the fall of 2011. She has been an integral part of the arts community in Hampton Roads and has recently served on the executive committee of the Downtown Norfolk Council, chair of the NEON district, as a panel member for the Virginia Commission on the Arts, and was President of the Board for Todd Rosenlieb Dance for 8 years.  She was also member of WHRO Community Advisory Board and the Horizon Circle of CHKD.   She is currently on the community advisory board for the Hunter House and a volunteer for the DNC and the NEON district. She is the Founding Director of the Regional High School Dance Festival and received the Outstanding Service Award from the National High School Dance Festival in 2002.