
Kati Nickerson
Director of Education
For 21 years, Kati has been the driving force of what is now one of the largest and most in-depth theatre arts education programs for youth in the country. Over 1 million people in King and Snohomish County have been impacted by Village Theatre’s youth education program since she took the helm. Over half are young people from 3 to 20. Today the programs serve 26,000 diverse youth each year throughout the region, with dedicated theatre facilities in both Issaquah and Everett. Kati leads through her philosophy of “Skills for Theatre …Skills for Life” and her innovative leadership ensures that staff and theatre artists are skilled at providing not only exceptional arts education but also 21st Century, and social emotional skills. Kati developed free outreach programs including in-school workshops, sensory friendly performances and theatre in the Wetmore Plaza in Everett. Kati has the second longest tenure on the senior staff of Village and is an active leader in equity, diversity and inclusion efforts for the program and organization. She serves on Everett’s Cultural Commission, and in 2014 received the Everett Mayors Arts Award for her achievements and contributions to theatre education.

Suzie Cameron Bixler
Associate Director of Youth Education
Suzie Bixler enthusiastically joined Village Theatre in 2003, days after leaving high tech corporate life to follow her lifetime passion of working in a theatre. Ms. Bixler has directed Aida, The Little Mermaid Jr., Seussical Jr., 13, High School Musical, The Secret Garden, Les Misérables, and the 2005 Last Exit for KIDSTAGE. In her fourteen-year tenure as the KIDSTAGE Programs Manager at KIDSTAGE she has produced over fifty shows for KIDSTAGE including several original musicals. Ms. Bixler has a B.A. in theatre arts from Western Washington University with concentrations in both directing and acting. She has performed at Intiman, Seattle Children's Theatre, Renton Civic, and the late Pioneer Square Theatre. Her directing credits include Crimes of the Heart, Steel Magnolias, A Shayna Maidel, Royal Gambit, The Death of Bessie Smith, and The Firebugs. Ms. Bixler also was in the 1985 Village Theatre KIDSTAGE production of Bye, Bye, Birdie.

Janet Cole Hamilton
Education and Outreach Manager, Issaquah
Janet Cole Hamilton rejoined educational theatre after a nine year sidetrack in corporate America. Armed with a BA in theatre arts from Western Washington University and a Washington State initial teaching certificate in drama through the University of Washington, Janet enjoys the challenges of each new project within the vast Village Theatre Youth Education program. Janet has worked as a theatre artist throughout the Puget Sound region with Arts West, Civic Light Opera, Renton Civic, Driftwood Players, and many others. Directing credits include Romeo and Juliet, Penguin's South Pole Christmas, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You, Sylvia, The Foreigner, The Woman in Black, and A Midsummer Night's Dream for KIDSTAGE. Personal motto: duck for luck.

Maurianna Zingarelli
KIDSTAGE and Outreach Manager - Everett
Mauri Zingarelli has a passion for bringing theatre to students of all ages and backgrounds. With nine years of teaching experience with organizations like KIDSTAGE, Seattle Rep, and Young Women Empowered, Mauri started out as "KIDSTAGE Kid" over 20 years ago and is thrilled to be back designing the KIDSTAGE classes and outreach programming. Dedicated to the notion that every child deserves arts education, Mauri is trained in arts education advocacy, racial equity, and creative facilitation. She holds a BA in Peace Studies and Documentary Filmmaking from Chapman University.

Angela Linder
Youth Education Administrator - Everett
Angela Linder is entering her sixth season with Village Theatre. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, and enjoys bringing her "grammar guru" skills to the Youth Education department. She has a background working in the preschool environment, as well as in an office environment, and loves the unique blend of creativity, energy, laughter and collaboration that surround her in the Youth Education office.
Joel Arpin
KIDSTAGE Production Manager
Joel is super excited to be a part the KIDSTAGE staff! Joel is now entering his 10th year with KIDSTAGE, working as a student in various roles including directing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and designing lights for Into the Woods for Summer Independent. He graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in Theatrical Management and Design.

Aaron Alonso
KIDSTAGE Production Manager - Everett
Aaron loves how he gets the opportunity to collaborate with so many passionate young artists and watch firsthand their growth as performers and as people. He was a KIDSTAGE kid and stage manager before joining the Village Theatre family, working at theatres including KIDSTAGE Everett, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Mount Baker Theatre, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, The Kennedy Center, and his alma mater of Western Washington University. He gives his deepest thanks to his family, friends, and mentors for their constant love and support as he valiantly attempts to put his theatre degree to good use. His personal motto: “I can MacGyver that!”

Casey Craig
Village Theatre Issaquah Institute Manager/Instructor
Casey Craig is a local performer/choreographer/arts educator based out of Seattle, WA. He has taught and choreographed for several arts organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest, most recently working with Village Theatre and Cornish College. Casey spent the 2016/2017 academic year as resident choreographer, and stage dance instructor, for the Central Washington University Theatre Arts department. Performance credits include West Side Story (Baby John, 5th Avenue Theatre - 50th anniversary production), Zanna, Don't! (Zanna, Contemporary Classics), Hello Dolly (Barnaby, Village Theatre), and The Music Man (Tommy, ART).

Jessica Low
Institute Manager/Instructor - Everett
Jessica Low has worked with KIDSTAGE since 2005 with credits including: Urinetown, The Addams Family, The Wizard of Oz, Anything Goes, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, High School Musical, Once Upon A Time in New Jersey, Disney’s The Jungle Book, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown and Honk! Jr. Jessica has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from UW and works as a performer, director and choreographer. She recently Associate Directed Village’s Singing In The Rain and Billy Elliot. In 2014 she won the Gregory Award for Outstanding Choreography for The Wild Party with Sound Theatre Company. Other Credits: The 5th Avenue, Arizona Theatre Company, Harlequin Productions, ArtsWest, Capital Playhouse, Seattle Musical Theatre, Coeur d‘Alene Summer Theatre, Centerstage, Bainbridge Performing Arts and the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. She is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.
Sean Lally
Education Assistant/Instructor
Sean started out his theatre career setting lights and sound. He then moved on to the stage with the KIDSTAGE SummerStock production of Ragtime. During college, he continued to perform and expand his knowledge of music and theatre and is member of the 2015 graduating class of Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with focuses in conducting and vocal performance. Sean completed his KIDSTAGE Arts Education internship in 2013 and has been teaching KIDSTAGE classes as a full-fledged teacher since 2014. He joined KIDSTAGE administrative staff in fall, 2016.
Ayana Uriu
KIDSTAGE Production & Programs Assistant - Everett
Ayana Uriu is proud to be part of the KIDSTAGE family. A graduate of Everett HS, Ayana attended Western Washington University and earned a B.A. in Theatre. In her four years with KIDSTAGE, she’s worked on many shows including Godspell, Seussical Jr., How to Succeed, The Addams Family, and Hairspray. Ayana also works with the Evergreen MS Drama Club and has worked as Production Assistant for Village Theatre Mainstage productions.