Education Programs Faculty

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 Kids Stage Everett, Youth Theatre Northwest, Stone Soup Theatre, The Evergreen School, Spectrum Dance Theater, Evergreen City Ballet and Whitman College Summer Dance programs. Angela has been Music Director and Choreographer for Chinook Middle School and Bellevue High School’s Spring Musical Productions since 2003, and has performed with BHS students at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2013, 2017 and will be going in 2023! Dracula, A Gothic Musical has been an annual event since 2015, of which she wrote both the book and music. Angela has composed and over 250 songs for Variety Plus Theater, which she co-founded with her husband in 1995 www.varietyplus.org. And will be premiering their Musical Adaptation of Petrocinella in November 2022. 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 New Age Meditation CD’s available on itunes.com.

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.

Brodrick Ryans (he/him) is a Seattle based musical theatre artist, director, teaching artists and the founder/host of Timeout w/Brodrick. Most recently Brodrick just finished his 20-21 Emerging Leaders in Theatre for Young Audiences Fellowship with TYA/USA. He also worked on the education materials for A Kids Play About Racism, Voices of Change and Creative Drama for Mental Wellness for Middle and High Schools, while serving as a teaching artists and the Education Coordinator for Seattle Children’s Theatre. “I am really excited about being back in space and working with students at SCT. I feel that it is my job as an educator to help students unlock the gifts and abilities that are already there, and teach them to move in space completely as themselves.” Follow Brodrick on Instagram @brodrickryans and @timeoutbrodrick.

Buddy Todd (they/them) has been a local actor, director, and teaching artist for the last eight years, having worked in Shakespeare, musical theatre, improvisation, voice and movement, and more. Buddy just recently completed an MFA in Arts Leadership at Seattle University where they were inducted into the Jesuit fraternity, Alpha Sigma Nu.

Carly Squires Hutchison (she/her) grew up at SCT and is honored to be a part of the team! Carly is a passionate teaching artist, director, and choreographer. She has been teaching drama, dance, and musical theatre with SCT since 2013, and choreographed for Drama School in 2013 and 2015. Carly has also taught with The Evergreen School, 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 exploring our theatrical selves 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!”

Danny Kam (he/they) is delighted to be back at SCT this summer. In addition to working as a musical director and voice coach, he has been seen on stages throughout the greater Seattle area. Recent credits include: Beauty & the Beast, West Side Story and Afterwords (The 5th Avenue Theatre), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Passage, ZM, String (Village Theatre) Chilifinger! and The Optimist (ACT) and a developmental workshop of Bruce (Seattle Rep).

Darby Sherwood (she/her) is a playwright, dramaturg, director, and teaching artist from Aurora, Illinois. Her writing has been developed and produced at Seattle Opera, University of Washington School of Drama, Horizon Theatre, and others. Her work has been published in print anthologies and online literary magazines. As a teacher, one of her favorite things to do is write new plays tailored specifically to her students' interests and learning goals. Darby is participating as a librettist in Seattle Opera's Creation Lab for the second time this year. She is a recent graduate of the University of Washington School of Drama and has previously taught at Taproot Theatre, School of Performing Arts, Kidz Kabaret, and BAM Theatre. Her teaching style focuses on learning and practicing effective communication and dynamic storytelling.

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 the 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, the Seattle Shakespeare Company, and for Seattle Children’s Theatre. In 2020, David worked in partnership with Arts Impact and Creative Start to develop state-wide curricula for arts-infused lessons in theater and Social Emotional Learning. David has been a Teaching Artist and Actor at SCT since moving to Seattle in 1998. As an actor at SCT, his most memorable performance was in the 2011 and 2015 productions of “Robin Hood,” with the 2015 production performing on Broadway at the New Victory Theater in New York City.

My name is Divya Rajan (she/her) and I am a creative practitioner - an inter- and multi-disciplinary performance artiste; my work is strongly driven by intuition and inspired by storytelling, rituals, healing & spirituality. I got acquainted with rituals while in my Amma’s womb and, as I cooed in my cradle my Thatha (my grandfather) led me into the world of mythology & folklore. Theatre really had happened for the first time at the age of three when I participated in my first fancy-dress contest as a fortune-teller and predicted prosperity, wealth & success upon the judges. Several years on, one-woman performance storytelling continues to remain my forte. When I perform a story, there never is a fourth wall. I completed my MFA in Theatre Arts from Towson University in 2020 as I forayed into site-specific & immersive theatre. I am also a trained cinematographer, a certified Scuba diver and a Reiki healer. A cultural thinker-conduit, I have volunteered with the Embassy of India on several cultural projects through their India Student Hub initiative. I have lived & practiced art in Mumbai & Chennai in India, Manila (Philippines), and Baltimore (USA). I currently reside in the Seattle area with my husband, and we bond over hikes, gastronomy, and cinema. I take my creative explorations to individuals & collectives through my offerings at Epiphany Sutra – a world of rituals that I am building.

Ellen Dessler Smith (she/her) is a local actor/ director who has worked on many stages around town including (but not limited to): Village Theatre, Reboot, Seattle Musical Theatre, ArtsWest, Bainbridge Island Performing Arts, and is on the board of ReAct Theatre. She has toured schools around the country with Living Voices and Small Change Original Theatre. Is a teaching artists for Stone Soup Theatre and works with The Criminal Justice Training Center, UW Medical Center, Effective Arts, and Life Center NorthWest as a scenario actor. She rounds out her theatre work with being a voice over artist and emcee.

Eric Bradler (he/him) is excited to be back at SCT this fall where a musician with a speciality in accordion can feel at home. He received his MM from the University of Denver and has been a classroom educator for over twenty years, teaching students from preschool age through college. In addition to his work in the SCT studios, Eric has been seen on the mainstage in productions including Into the West, Mario and the Comet, The Little Prince, 101 Dalmatians, and Aristocats.

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 and share his passion for collaborative storytelling and for education surrounding mental health and social emotional wellness through theatre. James earned his B.F.A in Theatre - Original Works from Cornish College of the Arts in 2018 and is an avid tabletop roleplayer.

Jay Chavez (they/them) is a Seattle based playwright, educator, and all around theatre maker. Through the power of Red Bulls they earned a BA in Theatre from Western Washington University, concentrating in Directing, Dramatic Writing, and Education. They are the founder and artistic director of Haus of Hazard Theatre Productions which does free theatre in the PNW. They were crowned the unofficial title of Lil’ Miss Kennedy Center for their play “how to clean your room (and remember all your trauma)” which was awarded The KCACTF National Undergraduate Playwriting Award 2020 and the David Mark Cohen National Award in 2021. “how to clean” is featured in the Methuen Drama Book of Trans Plays, a first of it’s kind anthology of Trans plays written by Trans playwrights for Trans people. It’s been over two decades and Jay is still chasing the knowledge of how wind works. As a freelance teaching artist they have taught with ACT’s Young Playwright Program in 2019, Fairhaven Middles School’s after school program in 2018-2019, and as a Teaching Assistant in Western Washington University’s Playwriting Program in 2018-2021. When they aren’t working, they love to drink coffee, write bad adaptations of classic plays, and cooking delicious meals their mother describes as “too spicy”. They are super excited to work at Seattle Children’s Theatre and bring joy and compassion to theatre. 

Jen Myers Hewitt (she/her) is a recent transport from Los Angeles. She has been working as a Teaching Artist for 12 years. Her favorite jobs include helping Centre Theatre Group launch their Disney Musicals in Schools program and creating plays with her students with the BRIDGE Theatre Project in Lynwood, California. Jen also has a two year old daughter. In her spare time she loves teaching yoga and going to Disneyland with her family.

Jo Ben-Shmuel (she/her) is a Seattle-based actor and teaching artist who centers queer joy, accessibility, and compassion in her work. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Cornish College of the Arts, and has been involved in theatre since early childhood. She is dedicated to honoring the queer experience as that of joy and educating students of all ages on the importance of generosity in theatremaking.

Jonathan M. Rizzardi (they/he) is a Seattle-area performing artist and theatre historian. After moving from Washington, D.C. to begin their PhD in Theatre History and Theory at the University of Washington School of Drama, Jonathan has continued to teach youth theatre, act, facilitate teacher training programs, and develop arts integration curriculum here in the PNW. 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. A former public school teacher, Rizzardi was member of the Maryland State Department of Education’s Fine Arts Education Advisory Panel, a Professional Learning Community Leader in St. Mary's County Public Schools, curriculum writer with Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes and Education Closet, arts administrator with Round House Theatre, and is a current contributor to the UW School of Drama Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access Task Force. Jonathan has additionally taught with Imagination Stage, Everyman Theatre, Young Playwrights’ Theater, The Bell Tower Theatre, and as a guest artist in numerous DC/Maryland/Virginia public schools. On stage, Rizzardi has worked with Monumental Theatre Company, Theatre Prometheus, Source, Dacha Theatre, Tenth Muse Productions, Kensington Arts Theatre, Watermelon Inc., IStage, RHT. He hopes to support the educational and artistic aspirations of children of all ages!

Josh Padilla (he/him/his) 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.

Kai Winchester (he/him) is a Pacific Northwest native currently living in the Tacoma area with his service dog. Thanks to an early start in Deaf theater through a previous educational program at SCT, Kai has worn many hats in a variety of stage productions – actor, writer, ASL coach, workshop facilitator, and backstage jack-of-all-trades. He holds a BA in K-12 education from Western Governors University and a Masters in Deaf Education from University of Arizona, and maintains a current WA state teaching certificate. When not meddling in theater affairs or teaching, he enjoys reading, trying to write the next great American novel (and failing), and tabletop puzzles and games.

Pala Winchester (she/her) is a service dog trained by Dogs for Better Lives in Oregon and has been partnered with Kai Winchester since Christmas of 2016. She is an old hand at the theater and teaching business, and enjoys laying on her blanket and watching people be creative! When not working, she loves tummy rubs, treats, and destroying squeaky toys.

Kaley Hinrichs (she/they) is a teaching artist originally from Lincoln, Nebraska. She began her journey with SCT as a teaching artist intern and has loved living in Seattle since. They studied theatre education and entrepreneurial management at Ball State University. She enjoys igniting spaces that are playful, innovative, and student-centered. They are passionate about social/emotional wellness and mental health awareness through theatre education. She also has a background in theatre administration, community engagement, modeling, directing and performing.

Kyleigh Archer (she/they) is a director, designer, puppeteer, 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 8 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.

Laurie Lynch (they/them/she/her) is a queer artist, educator, activist based in the Pacific Northwest. From developing original new work to performing as Drag King Dan D Lite to facilitating DEI trainings, Laurie's work is centered in storytelling and connecting with people's human-ness. Laurie worked as one of Intiman's Emerging Artists in 2017, where they began developing their latest solo adventure entitled, "Dandyland: Queering Motherhood One Day at a Time."

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.

Tatyana (they/she) is a Tufts University graduate invested in creating community through theatre education. As a theatre maker, Tatyana seeks to create safe classrooms in which students feel comfortable to write and rewrite their personal narratives-bringing to life the stories that inspire them on stage. As an educator, they are proud to have worked with organizations such as The Theater Offensive, Central Square Theater and Tufts Children’s Theatre in building strong youth ensembles where students are invited to embrace the theatre of the everyday.

Taylor-Nicole (She/They) is a Black Queer educator and artist, born and raised in Mississauga Territory (Detroit, Michigan). She's an actor, trained voice actor, published writer, dancer, and mixed media artist with a BA in Educational Studies from Arizona State University. They have over 10 years of experience working with all ages from infants to high school students. Their special interests are improv, comedy, spoken word, imaginative play, puppetry, and children's media. They'd love to be an actor/puppeteer on a children's show like Sesame Street one day! Taylor-Nicole's philosophy is prioritizing the art of play and using theater as a way to understand ourselves and the world around us. They aim to curate safe creative spaces for historically excluded folks to heal and express joy, and have worked with organizations like Black Farmers Collective and Nurturing Roots to develop programming that combines performing arts and outdoor education. When she's not working with youth, she enjoys longboarding, meditation, volunteering, and snuggling her kitty Babydoll!

Amanda (she/her) is an actress, professional princess, dog mom, and fiber artist born and raised in the Seattle area. Some favorite past credits include Legally Blonde, the Spitfire Grill, Moon over Buffalo, and Noises Off. Amanda has previously worked in the Social Services field as a Crime Victim Advocate and is finally taking the leap to a working artist. Amanda is passionate about youth and making sure theatre is accessible to all. She holds a criminology degree with a music minor from Biola University in sunny Southern California. When not working you can catch Amanda crocheting, drinking coffee, and hanging out with her rescue pup.

Bella Orobaton (she/her) is an actor,  playwright, educator, fiber artist, and activist based in Seattle, WA. Some of her professional theatre credits include Pinoccio in Theater Schmeater’s Pinocchio, Various characters in Auntie Val with Freehold Theatre, and Beatrix in This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing at ArtsWest. Bella is thrilled and honored to join the team of teaching artists at SCT and share her love for movement, collaboration, and storytelling with the next generation of artists. Bella earned her BFA in Theatre Original Work from Cornish College of the Arts in 2020.

Abby Sledge (she/her) is a 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 spent seven summers of her teen years in Austin, Texas 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!

Brianna Canning (she/her) is the School Programs and Partnerships Manager at Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT). She joined the SCT community in June 2021 as a Teaching Artist intern, and then was welcomed to the Teaching Artist faculty starting in the fall of 2021. Before diving into the world of theatre education, Bri focused on stage management and production management, both at her college and on a regional level. She moved to Seattle after graduating in May 2021, eager to join the theatre community. In addition to working as a Teaching Artist with SCT, Bri has also worked as a residential faculty member and after-school supervisor at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue, WA. Brianna completed her undergraduate education at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where she received a BA in Government and Legal Studies, and Latin American Studies. While in college, she was a Head Proctor for Residential Life, President of the student theatre group on campus, and worked for the Bowdoin College Department of Theatre and Dance in various capacities. In addition, Bri was invited to study abroad at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán in Mérida, México, in the Spring of 2020 where she fully engaged in the Spanish language and Mexican culture. Brianna is ecstatic to be working full time at SCT. She loves theatre for its unique capacity to cultivate empathy, and produce social and political change through storytelling and community-building. Additionally, she is passionate about providing opportunities for young people to create, imagine, and learn about themselves and others. In her free time, Brianna enjoys baking and eating cookies!

Gabriela Tatone (she/her) is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University where she got her BA in both Theatre and Sociology, researching how child-geared arts programs emphasize inclusivity. After graduating, she started her journey with SCT as a Teaching Artist Intern in 2020 and transitioned into Teaching Artist Assistant soon after. 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 continue working with SCT and hopes to grow even more as a theatre educator and administrator!

Johamy Morales (she/her) 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.