Education Programs Faculty

Kyleigh Archer is a director, designer, and theater teaching artist. Graduated from Cornish with B.F.A in Theatre, in both the acting and technical realms; they have spent the last 7 years working with school districts and non-profits to bring the joys of theater, story telling, and improv to students. They are currently the Artistic Associate at Broadway Bound and a teaching artist at Seattle Children's Theatre. 

Mati Rafael Cardinale (she/her, they/them, he/him) is an emerging teaching artist who feels incredibly blessed to be a part of the SCT family. A queer immigrant from Venezuela, they use their life experience to work with immigrants and members of the LGBT community, striving to use theatre to bolster and comfort these groups in a society that marginalizes them. 

Ann Marie (she/her) finds joy in creating art with students! Ann Marie was captivated by how theatre education helps people become better collaborators and communicators during her time as an apprentice at SCT in 2004-2005. Since then, Ann Marie has taught with Macha Theatre Works, Youth Theatre Northwest, Arts Corps, Book-It, Arts West, and schools. Ann Marie serves as Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Community Education Programs Manager and Teaching Artist Training Lab (TAT Lab) Coordinator. She attended the National Seminar for Teaching Artists at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and is on the Community Arts Partner Roster for the Creative Advantage. Ann Marie strives to create a welcoming space for all students to express themselves, take risks, and succeed together. Ann Marie grew up in Idaho and holds a BA in theatre.

Rachel Carlson (she/her/hers) has been a dedicated teaching artist since 2016. Originally from Seattle, Rachel moved to Los Angeles to persue a performing career and attended AMDA: College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, graduating with a BFA in Acting in 2012. She enjoys teaching Shakespeare, Improvisation, Story Drama, and Acting Foundations to grades PreK-12th. She is currently teaching with Seattle Children's Theatre, and Youth Theatre Northwest, and has directed several plays at Bellevue High School. In her spare time she is usually painting, playing board games, or spending quality time with her fiancé, family, and friends

Elizabeth (Liz) Coen manages the Arts-Based Learning Program at SCT and serves as a teaching artist for grades 6-12. Prior to her arrival at SCT, she worked in higher education as a theatre instructor and teaching specialist for nontraditional students. As a dramaturg and arts administrator, Elizabeth has supported the development of playwrights and theatre artists at SCT, Samuel French Publishing, Premiere Stages, New York Theatre Workshop, and the playwriting collective America-in-Play. She serves on the Executive Committee of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) and edits the organization’s journal Review. Elizabeth holds an MFA in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism from Brooklyn College and a PhD in Theatre History and Theory from the University of Washington.

Caitlyn Davis (she/her) is the Drama School Operations Manager at SCT. She is a graduate of Emerson College where she got her BFA in Stage and Production Management. Upon graduation Caitlyn worked as a production management apprentice at Theatre Aspen, before moving to Seattle to start her career. She has held various roles at Seattle Opera, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Albatross Theatre Lab. Caitlyn champions the performing arts as one of the most powerful tools in building community and believes in making programming accessible to all young people.

Mari DeOleo (she/they) is an Afro-Latix play activation artist, writer, visual artist, educator and director based on the Southwest side of Chicago from Dominican Republic by way of rural Pennsylvania. Mari’s creative practice focuses on empowerment, connection and building community through comedy, participation and play. Her work is informed by spectacle theater, storytelling, clown, buffoon, improv, comedy and performance practices from the Caribbean, Latin America and West Africa. Mari is the founder and lead artist of DeOleo Creative LLC and PlayLab Productions.

Lara Dohner (she/her) is an Oregon-based Teaching Artist and professional actor, and holds her BFA in Acting from Webster's Conservatory of Theatre Arts. Lara has been on staff as a Teaching Artist with SCT since May 2019, and is enjoying teaching virtually with SCT this summer. She is so thankful and excited to be working with your students and seeing their creativity soar! Lara also specializes in performing devised, classical, and contemporary plays, and is currently Portland-based for her first in-person show since before the pandemic - The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde! She looks forward to pursuing her Masters in Acting in the fall of 2022, and is committed to being an ally in all her roles, both onstage and off. To learn more about Lara and her work, please visit laradohner.com.

Marquicia Dominguez (They/Them), known as QuiQui to most, is a Teaching Artist, and Behavioral Therapist in the Seattle area. In 2012 they received a B.F.A in theatre from Cornish College of the Arts and in 2018 received a Master’s in Education: Applied Behavior Analysis Programing and Instruction from Arizona State University. They are a Board Certified Behavior Analyst using imagination and creativity to teach life skills and behavioral skills to individuals with autism. Their desire is to create inclusive arts programs for all types of learners, no matter that individual’s abilities. QuiQui has worked with such companies as: ACT, Book-It, Greenstage, Seattle Repertory, and Seattle Shakespeare Company. They are co-host of The MirrorStage Podcast: A podcast that showcases Seattle artists and activists doing their part to make waves in the pacific northwest.

Karissa Elliott is a Seattle teaching artist who loves teaching, directing, and writing plays for youth. She has a degree in Theatre with concentrations in Acting and Education from Western Washington University. She also teaches with other theatres and school groups, most frequently with Seattle Repertory Theatre and Salmon Bay K-8 School. Karissa is passionate about making sure every student can have a safe and fun learning experience. She especially loves creative drama, music, and movement, and she is excited to meet all of her future students.

Elizabeth (Biz) (she/her) is excited to be at SCT as a Teaching Artist! She graduated from Western Washington University (2016) where she earned a BA in Theatre, concentrating her studies on theatre education, directing, and acting. A long admirer of SCT as a Seattle native, she is thrilled to be a part of SCT’s education program and share her love and joy of theatre with students and campers. Biz enjoys playing board games, immersing herself in a good book, and spending time with her pets.

Originally from Missouri, Sapphire Goetz is a dancer, performer, and choreographer in Seattle. She holds a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from Cornish College of the Arts (Seattle), is a graduate of Broadway Dance Center’s Summer Professional Semester (NYC), was a two year member of Missouri All-State Show Choir, and recently became a certified Barre Fitness instructor. Goetz has performed with The 5th Avenue Theatre in West Side Story, and Kiss Me, Kate, Village Theatre in Dreamgirls (swing), Showtunes Theatre in Legally Blonde, Seattle Musical Theatre in Mamma Mia and Kiss Me, Kate as well as multiple dance projects in Seattle. As a choreographer, Goetz has worked with The Hi-Liners Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and was the choreographer for the Seattle Youth Opera Project for two years. When not training, performing, or choreographing you can find her thrifting, eating pasta, or reading the latest book on cryptozoology.

Chanel Gomaa holds a BA in Theatre Studies from the University of Central Florida, and has worked in multiple capacities with companies such as the Wekiva River Players, the Athens Theatre of Deland, the Flagler Playhouse, the Orlando Repertory Theatre, and more.  Chanel has also competed with her poetry on multiple national stages, representing the cities of Deland and Orlando Florida, as well as her alma mater.  Her book of poems entitled "On Being the Muslim in the Room" was a semi-finalist for the 2019 Button Poetry Chapbook contest, and her original play "Sabine and Scotty" was a 2020 semi-finalist for the Live & In Color theatre.  You can view Chanel's poetry published on the online platforms Slamfind and Write About Now. 

Carly Squires Hutchison (she/her) grew up at SCT is honored to be a part of the team! As a musical theatre performer, Carly is a passionate teaching artist, director, and choreographer. She has been teaching dance and musical theatre with SCT since 2013, and choreographed for Drama School in 2013 and 2015. Carly has also taught with Creative Dance Center, Village Theatre, DASSdance, Foundry10, Backstage Dance Studio, Spectrum Dance Theatre, and at Central Washington University where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre and Minor in Dance Performance. Carly has directed and/or choreographed all throughout the greater Seattle area. Additionally, Carly has performed locally with SCT, Village Theatre, StoryBook Theater, Taproot Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre, Wooden O (Seattle Shakespeare), and SecondStory Repertory. Carly brings a buoyant and positive attitude to her teaching and loves seeing her students grow in their technical abilities as well as their life skills learned through the arts. She says, “The arts are a way to connect communities and get to know people from all different walks of life. While learning songs and dances we are learning to work together, take turns, speak kindly towards ourselves and others, and have fun while trying something new. Sometimes trying new things can be scary, but if you’re in a supportive environment it can be invigorating, and that’s my goal!”

Leah is an actor, theatre-maker, and teaching artist currently based in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts from Haverford College where she completed a double major in English and Theatre. In her time at Haverford, Leah also founded Spotlight Theatre Company and received the Kaye Award for Acting/Directing. Leah is happy to be back in the classroom with SCT, having taught 2019-2020 (pre-pandemic) after completing her Drama School Internship in the summer of 2018. You might also know Leah as an educator with Queen Anne Elementary School or Northwest Educational Services. Fun fact: Leah was a SCT student growing up and loves having the opportunity to bring wonder and growth to a new generation of creative learners!

Danny Kam has spent the last decade teaching and performing musical theatre throughout the greater Seattle area. Besides working with SCT, Danny teaches at Village Theatre and Cornish College of the Arts and also maintains a private vocal studio. His private students have worked professionally at The 5th Avenue Theatre, SCT, Village Theatre, ACT, Seattle Opera, Book-it Repertory Theatre and Prospect Theatre Company.  As an singer-actor, his credits include: Afterwords, West Side Story, Cinderella, Jasper In Deadland (The 5th Avenue Theatre), String, Billy Elliot, ZM, The Passage, Great Wall, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, Big River, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Village Theatre) and Chilifinger! the musical (ACT Theatre).  He has also appeared as a singer/comedian/drag performer in Homo For The Holidays, Jingle All The Gay and Ms. Pak Man: Mazed and Confused.  He is delighted to be working with SCT again and making music outside of a Zoom call!

Anita Kuroiwa-Schiff (she/her) has been part of the SCT family for the past 27 years.  In addition to teaching Musical Theatre, she has choreographed over ten SCT Summerstage Shows. Four of these shows were also written and directed by her. Ms. Kuroiwa-Schiff founded the dance program at Seattle Academy and established two children’s dance companies (involving young performers - grades six through 12). She is currently on faculty at Seattle Academy.  She recently retired from Seattle Central College after 25 years of teaching the only accredited dance course within the Seattle College system. Originally from Chicago, Ill., Ms.Kuroiwa-Schiff began her training with the Chicago City Ballet.  Since then she has trained with Hubbard Street Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Pacific NorthWest Ballet.  Ms. Kuroiwa-Schiff often travels to France where she does additional training with the Paris International School of Dance. Ms. Kuroiwa-Schiff’s choreographic and teaching credits include working with such institutions as Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Group Theatre, Pacific Arts Center, Evergreen State College, Seattle Central College, NW Folklife, Seattle Contemporary Ballet, Paul Robeson Theatre, Langston Hughes Theatre, and Sphinx Dance Theatre. She has performed, choreographed and taught for over forty years in the greater Northwest.

Tiffany Maltos (she/her) is the Associate Director of Education at Seattle Children’s Theatre, a Staff Writer for TYA Today, and a founding member of the BIPOC Advisory Board for TYA/USA. Tiffany is an arts administrator, activist, and teaching artist. She graduated from Bowdoin College in 2011 with a degree in Interdisciplinary English/Theatre and focus on Theatre for Young Audiences. She received her Teaching Certificate in 2012 and taught in a high school before beginning her career in theatre. A native of San Antonio, TX, Tiffany was the Education Manager at The Magik Theatre and a teaching artist for The Classic Theatre before joining the team at SCT.

Taylor Melville is thrilled to be a part of the Teaching Artist family here at SCT! She was born and raised in the Bay Area California and attended Pacific Conservatory Theater’s 2 year training program. She had worked locally and regionally as an actress and theater educator. She is here in Seattle finishing her BFA at Cornish.

Johamy Morales holds an MFA in acting from The Ohio State University, with a specialization in outreach and devising new work, and a BA in Theatre from San Diego State University. Johamy currently serves as the Director of Education at Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT) and as a Trustee for Theatre Communication Group (TCG). Johamy has served on the theatre panel for Colorado Creative Industries, TCG’s Rising Leaders of Color, Creede Pride Committee and Theatre for Young Audiences/USA webinar series. Prior to working with SCT, Johamy served as the Education Director for Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, Colorado and directed the Comparative Arts Department and the Junior Musical Theatre Program at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan. Johamy has worked with Arena Stage in Washington D.C. and the La Jolla Playhouse through their education programs as a teaching artist. Johamy is an alumnus of the Allen Lee Hughes Fellowship at Arena Stage and the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, where she studied Contemporary & Classical works with Deborah Warner and Fiona Shaw. Johamy toured with the cast of New World Jukebox where she performed in the 2006 Grahamstown National Arts Festival, in Grahamstown, South Africa and with San Diego State University in, Carnaval de Calaveras, with performances in Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Mexico D.F. in 2004. In February of 2017, Johamy collaborated with the US State Department, the US Embassy & Consulate and several NGO’s to promote awareness of domestic and gender violence in Kolkata and Ranchi, India. As an educator, artist, and director Johamy has worked with various schools and nonprofit organizations both nationally and internationally including Hope College, Fort Lewis College, University of San Diego, Esperanza Charter School, Wexner Center, Dennos Museum, Students in Transition Empowerment Program, Traverse City Continuation School, Blackbird Arts and Columbus Refugee & Immigration Services.    

(she/her) Maddie Napel is excited for her fourth year with Seattle Children’s Theatre! After graduating from Northwestern University in March of 2017 (BA in Theatre and Sociology, focus in Theatre for Young Audiences), she has worked at SCT as the 2017-18 School Year Education Administrative Intern and as a House Manager and Teaching Artist. Maddie has also taught with Dandylyon Drama, Sweet Pea Cottage Lathyrus Theatre, Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory (Portola Valley, CA), and Seesaw Theatre (Evanston, IL), and Book-It Rep as their Primary Teaching Artist. In all of her work, Maddie is passionate about adapting curriculum to suit the needs of all students, particularly those with physical and developmental disabilities. Ask her about SCT’s Sensory Drama programs!

Josh Padilla (he/him) is a teaching artist and performer based in Seattle. He graduated from New Mexico State University in 2014 with a BA in theater arts and has been in Seattle ever since. He started his journey with SCT as a part of their 2018-2019 apprenticeship program and hasn’t looked back. Josh is passionate about creating spaces for students that are playful, thoughtful, and leave room for curiosity and expression. He’s also passionate about mental health awareness and bringing self care skills to his students. When not expanding student’s minds through imaginative play or creative skill building, you can find him in the local theater, improv, and music scenes.

Beth Pollack (she/her) is thrilled to be back for another adventure at SCT! A graduate of SCT's Apprenticeship Program, Beth was also a Drama School Intern (Summer 2014) and Drama School student. As a performer, she has been involved in various classical, contemporary, and devised pieces in New York and Seattle. As an educator, Beth has worked with New York’s Mad and Merry Theatre Company, Seattle’s Young Shakespeare Workshop, The 5th Avenue Theater, and ACT Theatre. Beth holds a BA in Theatre Studies and the Historicization of Dramatic Literature from NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study and would be happy to explain exactly what that means.

David Quicksall (he/him) has been a Teaching Artist in Theater for 30 years.  He received his MFA in Acting from UCLA and has worked professionally in Theater as an actor, writer, and director across the country.  As a Teaching Artist, David trained with The Bernstein Center and its affiliate, the Nashville Institute for the Arts.  David also taught for five years as a Wolf Trap Artist, working in Head Start Centers in both Nashville and at the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.  In Washington state, David has been a Teaching Artist for Arts Impact and for Seattle Children’s Theater.  Most recently, David has been working in partnership with Arts Impact and Creative Start to develop state-wide curricula for arts-infused lessons in theater and Social Emotional Learning. 

Brodrick Santeze Ryans (He, Him) is currently serving as the Education Coordinator at Seattle Children’s Theatre, supporting the Drama School, Community Engagement and Arts Based Learning Programs. Brodrick is a current 2020 TYA/USA Emerging Leader in TYA Fellowship. He is an arts leader, actor, teaching artists and podcast founder and host. His podcasts TIMEOUT w/ Brodrick is dedicated to bridging the gap between BIPOC culture, creative art forms and educational theatre. Brodrick strongly believes in the work of arts education. “It is through arts education that we can inspire, direct and implement creative change in young people and how they move through society. It is our job as artists and educators to help young people tell their stories.” Brodrick’s background as a performer helped him to morph into the position of teaching artists and coordinator. He has worked as the Operations Coordinator for the School of Social Work at The University of Alabama, a tour director and actor for Missoula Children’s Theatre, and as a professional freelance actor and artist.

Angela (she/her)has been a Teaching Artist at Seattle Children's Theatre since 2003, teaching Voice, Dance, Acting, and Playwriting along with directing Once on This Island for SCT’s summer season in 2009. She has taught theater classes at Youth Theatre Northwest, Stone Soup Theatre, The Evergreen School, Spectrum Dance Theater, Evergreen City Ballet and Whitman College Summer Dance programs. With a dance education from Cornish College, Angela has been Music Director and Choreographer for Bellevue High School’s Spring Musical Productions since 2003, and has performed with BHS students at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2013 and 2017.  Dracula, A Gothic Musical has been an annual event since 2015, of which she wrote both the book and music. She has also Music Directed and Choreographed Frozen, Jr., Seussical, Little Mermaid, Willy Wonka and Once Upon a Mattress for Chinook Middle School. Angela has composed and over 250 songs for Variety Plus Theater, which she co-founded with her husband in 1995.  Auditions for SNOW QUEEN MUSICAL will be in September.  For more information, visit the web site: http://www.varietyplus.org. She currently serves as Principal Accompanist at Spectrum Dance Theater and Dance Musician at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Cornish College of the Arts Dance Department. As a proud member of the Musician’s Association Local-76, she is also promoting her Music for Ballet Class compact discs and New Age Meditation CD’s available at www.angelarinaldimusic.com, Apple Music, Spotify and on itunes.com. 

Samip Raval (he/him)is a performer, director, and teacher. He has worked regionally at PlayMakers Rep, Arena Stage, Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, ACT Seattle, and internationally with PingPong Arts in China. He has worked with the Seattle Children's Theater as a Teaching Artist since 2018, and is excited to return to the classroom this summer! Education: UNC School of the Arts.

Jonathan M. Rizzardi is an actor, director, vocalist, and teaching artist originally from the Washington, D.C. area. He moved to Seattle in 2018 to start his PhD in Theatre History and Theory at the University of Washington. Prior to moving to the West Coast, Jonathan earned his BA and Master of Arts in Teaching at St. Mary's College of Maryland where he was winner of the Margaret Eagle Dixon Award in Literature and Maryland’s Teachers of Promise distinction. Since, his artistic and professional focus has been on developing innovative arts education programs for at-risk and underserved students. Jonathan previously taught for four years as a high school Theatre Arts and English Literature teacher in Maryland, and has taught with Round House Theatre, Imagination Stage, Everyman Theatre, Young Playwrights’ Theater. On stage, he has worked with Dacha Theatre, Monumental Theatre Company, Imagination Stage, Theatre Prometheus, Source, and numerous other Washington, D.C. metro area theatres. 

James Schilling (he/him) is an actor, playwright, and educator based in Seattle, WA. He has taught with Village Theatre KIDSTAGE in Everett and with Seattle Children’s Theatre, and has participated for several years in Freehold’s Engaged Theatre Tour to bring shows and workshops to incarcerated people throughout Washington. He is honored to return to SCT in delivering education surrounding mental health and social/emotional wellness through theatre to young people. James earned his B.F.A in Theatre - Original Works from Cornish College of the Arts in 2018. 

Abby Sledge is a recent graduate from Rice University in Houston, Texas, with majors in Theatre and the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She loves all aspects of theatre, having performed, stage managed, choreographed, costume designed, and more during her college years. Her greatest passion, though, since she performed in her first musical in the fifth grade, has been theatre for youth. That’s why she’s spent the past seven summers working with children in theatre, came to SCT as an Education Fellow and is and is delighted to be a part of the SCT team as the Education Registrar!

Marty Smith (she/they) is a teaching artist and actor and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Cornish College of the Arts. Her previous work with SCT includes acting on the mainstage in The Little Prince and playing Syd in the touring production of Ghosted, as well as teaching workshops for Above Between Below, Ghosted, RiseUp, and teaching classes for multiple age ranges. They care deeply about using theatre as a gateway to create space that empowers, uplifts, educates, and supports whoever needs it.

Deepmala Tiwari is from New Delhi, India. She graduated in Theatre for Youth at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her work allowed the broader community to elevate the conversation, creating a safe space for divergent voices and encouraging collaboration. Working with international artists from various fields (including music, visual art, educators, and theatre artists), Deepmala crafted her own company “The Color Bakery” in India. She has worked in hospitals engaging in clowning with young cancer patients, in the Red-Light district with sex workers and their children, in street theatre performances advocating for the rights of women, on professional stages in India as an actor, in public schools integrating arts into the curriculum, and much more. Deepmala was selected as one of three Emerging Leaders in the field by TYA/USA in 2019. Her ability to access all aspects of the field in her work is simply astounding. She is a true theatre artist and educator – embracing every aspect of the craft whole-heartedly. 

California native Markeith Wiley (they/them) is a multi-dimensional art maker, who creates out of necessity. Their vast movement vocabulary spans a lifetime of influences from break dancing to musical theater & all in between. Markeith is also a curator, sound designer, DJ Dark_Wiley & a community activist. Wiley has been an arts educator in Seattle since 2009 teaching at Rainier Dance Center as the director of hip hop/street styles dance, choreographing with Seattle Children’s Theatre & teaching at Markeith's alma mater Cornish College of the Arts. Markeith has performed, collaborated or created work with Kitten N Lou, Dani Tirrell, On the Boards, the CD Forum, Velocity Dance Center, Gibney Dance (NYC), Cal State San Luis Obispo & many others.

Kai Winchester (he/him) is a Pacific Northwest native currently living in the Tacoma area with his service dog. He got involved in Deaf theater at an early age through a previous educational program at SCT -- the Deaf Youth Drama Program -- and is delighted to contribute to the development of a new program here at STC to bring the magic and power of theater to Deaf youth around the Sound. In recent years, he has worked with Tacoma Little Theatre, Play Your*Part, Sound Theatre Company, and Deaf Spotlight in a variety of roles: actor, stage crew, scriptwriter, consultant, and Director of ASL. An ardent advocate of diversity, inclusion, and authentic representation in the arts, Kai believes that everyone has a message to share with the world and uses his lived experiences to establish connections and create opportunities for others to bring their own stories to life. In addition to his theater experience, Kai has a background in K-12 education and currently teaches ASL online and in Deaf classrooms in the Tacoma area.

Nicholas Caycedo (he/him) is an actor/director who appeared Off-Broadway in a new musical called Good Morning New York in 2020. He has performed regionally at theatres across America, including Creede Repertory Theatre, Seacoast Rep, The Kitchen Theatre, St. Michael's Playhouse, Middlebury Acting Company. Notably, Nicholas starred in an two-person original musical produced by Creede Repertory Theatre called Seeds of Change, directed by Melissa Firlit, that toured throughout the Southwest. Nicholas has worked as a teaching artist for over 10 years—directing, music directing, choreographing, and penning shows for youth theatre company Very Merry Theatre in Burlington, VT, most recently developing an online theatre intensive called, Zoomtopia. Born and raised in Burlington, VT, Nicholas attended Walnut Hill School and holds a BFA from Ithaca College.

Khalia Davis (she/her) is a bicoastal multidisciplinary artist splitting her time between the San Francisco/Bay Area and New York. Recently named Artistic Director of Bay Area Children’s Theatre where she led the premiere of A Kids Play About Racism, based on a kids book about racism by Jelani Memory, creating a new hybrid between live theatrical storytelling and film. This work brought together over 40 theater producing partners and was viewed on Broadway on Demand nearly 80,000 times during its limited run. Now it lives on as a free resource for educators and their students. Directed and devised other new works like the award-nominated world premiere, She Persisted the Musical, based on the popular children's book by Chelsea Clinton with Bay Area Children’s Theatre as well as other prominent theaters: Atlantic Theater Company’s Atlantic for Kids, New York City Children’s Theater, Disney Theatrical Group, Spellbound Theatre and more. As a producer, Ms. Davis has helped organizations reach hundreds of thousands of young people through, interactive “edu-tainment” with the nationally known Story Pirates, generating new digital pre-school content with Spellbound at Home, and a new children’s web series chronicling the experiences of a little black puppet girl named Nia living through the COVID-19 pandemic with her personal web-based company, Kids at Heart Productions. Before assuming her new role as Artistic Director, Ms. Davis served as the Director of Inclusion and Education with Brooklyn Children’s Theatre restructuring their children’s musical theater programming through an anti-racism lens. BA in Theater Arts from the University of Southern California www.khaliadavis.com!

Melissa Firlit (she/her) was nominated for 3 Henry Awards by the Colorado Theatre Guild for her 2019 production of Jekyll & Hyde at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. Her theatre company, Resolve Productions, received the 2020 Open Space Grant at the Episcopal Actors Guild for Marrow by Brian Quirk, which also had a run at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Recently she directed Analyze Zoom by Nandita Shenoy at Mile Square Theatre’s online fall series, where prior to “pandemic pause” she directed 5 Times in One Night by Chiara Atik. She directed the Ireland National Tour of Misterman by Enda Walsh. Melissa’s work has been seen nationally at 59East59th, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, New Light Theatre Project, The Princeton Festival, Creede Repertory Theatre, Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts and more. As part of her personal commitment to collaboration with playwrights, Melissa is the Artistic Director for the Thingamajig Playwrights Festival which provides a hands on development opportunity over the course of a ten day residency to two playwrights. Her favorite part of that festival is the Youth Playwrights Festival which brings to life the plays of young artists in the community with a professional team. To provide up and coming thespians with the same passion she thrives on, Melissa helmed a Musical Theatre Bootcamp Program at The College of St. Rose for 8 years. She is currently on faculty at Molloy College/Cap 21 Theatre Arts Program and National Theater Institute (NTI) at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Training: MFA, Rutgers University, BA, The University of Hartford and National Theater Institute. Member SDC. www.melissafirlit.com.

Joel Francois is a Haitian-born, Brooklyn-raised storyteller, who wishes to share his vista as a black writer and tell stories of love, family, and race through that lens. He believes that the artist is the architect of humanity and writes in search of God, love, and community. Joel's writing is an act of personal healing as his ultimate goal is to do good work with little harm. He is the 2015 Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion, the 2016 and 2017 Bowery Grand Slam Champion, was listed as one of New York City’s top poets by Culture Trip, and earned a top 20 ranking in the 2016 Individual World Poetry Slam. Joel has dedicated the past three years to traveling the country and sharing his work.

Israel Jiménez fue hecho en CDMX. He is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and the College of Santa Fe. Israel currently serves as Director of Community Engagement for Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) and is the host of the TUTS Spotlight Series - an initiative that works to break boundaries in order to make theatre accessible to everyone. Before joining the TUTS family, Israel led Arizona Theatre Company’s (ATC) Learning & Education department and ATC’s Summer On Stage (SOS). SOS directing credits include The Addams Family, She Kills Monsters, and American Idiot. Israel has worked with Childsplay, Arizona School for the Arts, and the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) through their education and/or outreach programs. As a performer and/or director, Israel has worked for regional and local theater companies including Seattle Children’s Theatre, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Childsplay, Valley Youth Theatre, Southwest Shakespeare Company, and Arizona Theatre Company. Israel’s play, Yo Soy Frida, won a Dorothy Webb Playwright Award at the Write Now symposium and was selected to be published as part of the second edition of the anthology, Palabras del Cielo: An Exploration of Latina/o Theatre for Young Audiences. Israel is father to his terrier son, Macallan Jiménez.

Amberlee Joers (she/her) endeavors to build and support greater equity, accessibility, and inclusion in the arts through her work as an arts administrator, teaching artist, and theatre artist. Most recently, she was Seattle Theatre Group's (STG) Education Manager, overseeing programs such as Disney Musicals In Schools and the Broadway Inclusion Program. Her other work at STG includes STG's Art Sessions program, supporting Sensory Friendly & Inclusive Performances, creating theatre arts programming for refugee students in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and STG+MCP (Melodic Caring Project) in Hospitals.

Amberlee has also facilitated professional development workshops and events for educators and teaching artists and has taught with Seattle Children's Theatre, Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE program, and Youth Theatre Northwest, among others. She received her B.A. from Oklahoma State University and is a graduate of Washington's Teaching Artist Training Lab and Creative Dance Center's Summer Institute for Teachers. Amberlee strives to foster arts environments and experiences where people can connect, create, and celebrate.

Alexandra Kronz (they/them) is a Seattle based teaching artist whose work spans playwriting, dance, choreography, drag and theatre.  Their creative and pedagogical approaches are informed by their own lived experience, their passion for social justice, and their academic background in Socio-Linguistics and Psychology.  Currently, Alexandra serves as Director of Education at The Shattered Glass Project where they just launched a professional development program for playwrights & directors facing gender-based career barriers.  Recent work includes: teaching youth theatre workshops at the Rainbow Center Tacoma, acting in Dacha Theatre’s interactive digital play Secret Admirer, dancing for Lucille Jun in Velocity’s The Bridge Project, and writing/directing Wormwood, an original evening length play, at 18th & Union’s Springshot Festival.

Teague M. Parker (He/Him) is an Actor, Playwright, Improviser, Producer, and Teaching Artist. After graduating from Western Washington University, he founded Come Up Productions which highlights up-and-coming artist, while bringing Free Theatre & Live Events to the Washington community. Through Come Ups, Teague shares his Improv for Wellness workshops & classes: using Improvisation as a foundation to help people uncover their creativity, grow awareness of themselves and others, and learn to love everything about themselves. Working with Universities, Entrepreneur groups, Professional Theaters, and graduate programs; he believes creativity is everyone’s birthright, and that we all deserve to reclaim our self-worth. He’s got nothing but love for everyone on their journey. 

Chip (they/them) has been performing in and outside the art of drag for 20+ years. In the theatre you may have seen them as a Core Company Member at ACT in our productions ofRomeo + Juliet, Christmas Carol, and Alex and Aris, and here at SCT in And In This Corner: Cassius Clay and most recently as the titular character in Corduroy. In drag you may have seen them moonlighting as Isis in and out of the drag duo, LüChi, in their resident weeklies at Rplace; TWINSday w/ LüChi, Thirsty Thursday w/ Mila Skyy, and Lashes w/ the Lashes Cast, at the Kremwerk Komplex; in their resident monthlies Noir w/ Skarlett Dior Black and London Bradshaw, and QiQi Cabaret w/ CarLarans.

Rudy Ramirez (they/them) is a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist, director, deviser, and arts educator. An Arizona State University alumnus, Rudy's first artistic home was at Childsplay in Tempe, AZ, where they served as an ensemble member and teaching artist for a number of seasons. Some of their favorite Childsplay projects include The Yellow Boat, Tomas & the Library Lady (national tour), and The Smartest Girl in the World. Rudy then moved on to the east coast, where they began working as a teaching artist with a focus on devised work with young people that explores personal identity, origins, and worldview. To that end, they facilitated residencies through Ping Chong + Company's Secret Histories Education program in New Jersey and New York schools. Additionally, Rudy created and developed the Devised Theatre program, centering the same social justice themes and explorations, for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's YASI: Young Artist Summer Intensive. Most recently, Rudy served as the Director of Education for The Magik Theatre in San Antonio, TX. Rudy firmly believes in the transformative power of storytelling, art-making, and theatre for all.

Kristopher Thompson-Bolden (he/his) has spent the last 2 and a half years performing in the Australian and New Zealand premier of the hit musical The Book of Mormon!! His other credits include: Mamma Mia at The Hollywood Bowl, Dear World starring Tyne Daly, Anything Goes Revival directed and choreographed by Tony Winner Kathleen Marshall, Billy Elliot, The Color Purple starring American Idol Winner-Fantasia, and he also played CJ in the World Premier of the musical The Nutty Professor directed by the late legendary comedian Jerry Lewis. In addition to performing he has taught for Joffrey Musical Theatre Intensive in NYC and South Africa.

Dedra Woods (she/her) is an Actor/Storyteller/Creator/ and Change Agent.  She has been working in the Seattle Arts scene since 2012. She has had the privilege to perform with several companies around Seattle including, Seattle Children’s Theater (Corduroy, The Little Prince), The WIlliams Project (A Bright Room Called Day, Small Craft Warnings, The Time of Your Life), Seattle Public Theater ( Fire Season), Intiman (WIld Horses, Wedding Band), Seattle Shakespeare Company (Medea), Upstart Crow (Bring Down the House, Richard III), and Book-It Repertory Theater (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings), Arts West (An Octoroon, The Revolutionists). Dedra has also worked in television, film and as a voice over artist. She is the creator and curator of  Artist's of Color in Seattle, AOC(S), a social media platform that celebrates Black, Indigenous and POC artists in Seattle and their work, while inviting everyone to bear witness to their humanity and artistry.  AOC(S) strives to lift the voices of historically marginalized folx and support local Artists in the Seattle Area as well as engaging with Artists on the national scene.

Emma Bentsen (she/her) spent last summer interning at SCT and is so excited to be back this winter. She recently graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. Emma is a proud PNW native who grew up attending performances at SCT. She has also worked as a teaching artist at other theatres in the area including the Village Theatre and Youth Theatre Northwest. As a teaching artist, she has a passion for bringing theatre to underserved communities and she is grateful for the opportunities SCT has provided her to continue that work.

Jo Ben-Shmuel (she/her) is thrilled to be back at SCT after completing the Drama School Internship in Summer 2020! Originally from the Bay Area, Jo is a senior at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle earning her BFA in Musical Theater. She has been involved in theater since she was eight years old, and is currently completing a Teaching Assistantship for a collegiate-level Musical Theatre course at Cornish. Jo is so excited to combine her passion for theatre - and the immense power it holds - and enthusiasm for education at SCT!

Victoria Hernandez (She/Her) is so excited to be back with SCT after being a Drama School Intern in summer 2020! She is from Russellville, Arkansas, but is entering her senior year at the University of South Dakota, where she is studying Elementary Education and Theatre. She is so thankful for the opportunities that have led her to where she is today, including working at Harand Camp of the Theatre Arts, and participating in theatre productions on her college campus, her favorite being Cabaret. Victoria loves working with children, and she hopes  she can help children further the love for theatre that she found when she was a child!

Cassandra (Cassie) Paulsen (She/Her) is heading into her senior year at Pacific Lutheran University where she is earning a BFA in Acting. She fell in love with theatre in the seventh grade, and her love has blossomed ever since. A long-time Shakespeare lover and newly initiated improv fanatic, she has an emerging passion for arts education and the power of theatre in the lives of students. She is beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with Seattle Children's Theatre!

Gabriela Tatone (She/Her) is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a double major in Theatre and Sociology, closing out her senior year researching how child-geared arts programs emphasize inclusivity. With her passion for inclusive educational theatre, she has worked in a variety of positions such as director and choreographer at The Performer's Academy in her home state of California, International Intern at Chickened in London, and Acting and Musical Theatre Interns at Tacoma Arts Live. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with SCT and hopes to grow even more as a theatre educator.

 Chloe Tower (she/her) is entering her senior year as a BFA Theatre for Youth major at Samford University. She grew up in Orlando, Fl but currently lives in Birmingham, AL. She believes in sharing the transformative art of theatre with every student from every walk of life, ensuring that everyone can see themselves in the stories that are told on stage. Chloe has worked as a teaching artist at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, FL for the past to summers. In college, she has had the opportunity to launch the first arts program at Hale County Middle School in rural Moundville, AL. When she’s not in class or rehearsal, she enjoys music and taking care of her plants. Chloe could not be more excited to be back at SCT after her summer 2020 internship.

Julian X is a theater director, actor, educator, and overall artist who seeks to remind humans of their humanity. He is a student at Boston University's School of Theatre and is pursuing a BFA in Theatre Arts and a BA in French Studies. X was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, which presented him with many inspirations through culture and music and served as the foundation for his artistry. They have worked as a theatre educator for numerous theaters in the Greater New Orleans region and is excited to serve as a teaching assistant for Seattle Children's Theatre