KIDSTAGE hires highly trained professional artists and arts educators and provides them with additional training in child development and KIDSTAGE techniques.

Most teachers have at least two years experience teaching youth in the performing arts before joining the KIDSTAGE staff. Instructors are also required to pass a Washington State Patrol check and complete the Village Theatre Conduct with Minors form and an extensive orientation before working with students.

• KIDSTAGE Staff

  
  

  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.

  
  

• Issaquah Instructors

  
  

  Megan Adams

  Megan Adams has been performing for over 25 years and has trained in theatre and dance at the University of Washington, Cornish, Spectrum Dance Studio, and Westlake Dance Studio. Her experience ranges from director, to choreographer, to singer, to dancer, to teacher. Ms. Adams has also performed with Seattle Hip Hop Groups In-Effect, Breed, and Cruz Control. Ms. Adams currently teaches at Westlake Dance center in Seattle and is a KIDSTAGE teacher of all ages.

  
  

  
  

  Ben Bentler

  Ben Bentler has been teaching voice for over ten years and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and is proficient in Alexander technique. He uses an integrated form of movement and acting technique to tell stories through the art form of voice. He has worked as an accompanist, conductor, and musical director on a wide range of musicals in a variety of theaters; from high school programs to professional venues. Through all of his experience and dedication, he has been recognized as best music director at 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, in addition to other accolades. Some of his notable credits include being the conductor and pianist at the acclaimed Marriott Theatre in Chicago; music director and accompanist for the 5th Avenue Theatre; music director, conductor, and accompanist for a number of professional productions at the Porchlight Music Theatre in Chicago; and serving as the resident music director and conductor for some of Broadway's most beloved and award-winning shows at the Spokane Civic Theatre in Spokane, WA. Ben enjoys teaching and mentoring all levels of students, from those who are singing their very first note, to those ready to take the next steps in their career. His students have moved onto work on Broadway and regional theatres across the country as well as get accepted into conservatories all over the world. Music will always be an important part of his life, and he invites you to be a part of this amazing art form. He is currently accepting new private voice students and looks forward to working with each individual voice to produce a healthy and safe voice.

  
  

  
  

  Andrew R. Coopman

  Andrew R. Coopman is a new teaching artist, director, actor, and improvisor to the Seattle area, and couldn’t be more excited to be joining the theatre scene in the Emerald City, especially at the Village Theatre! In 2012, he received his BA degrees in Theatre- Performance and Community Based Theatre from Whitworth University and, more recently, completed his MA at New York University-Steinhardt in Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities, with an emphasis in youth theatre production and applied theatre. Previously, Andrew has worked with Missoula Children’s Theatre as a touring Actor and Director, and was a teaching artist in the New York city area at Opening Act and Stages on the Sound. He couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining the teaching artist teams at Seattle Children’s Theatre, Studio East, and Village Theatre-Issaquah, and directing The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Driftwood Players. His teaching and theatrical passions include acting, improv, directing, creative storytelling and movement, process drama, musical theatre, stage combat, and dance.

  
  

  
  

  Tony Curry

  Tony Curry has been one of Seattle’s busiest theatre artists for over 20 years. He has performed at many of Seattle’s Theaters including The 5th Ave, The Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Village Theatre, The Empty Space, A Contemporary Theatre, and The Seattle Group Theatre. His work in Television includes roles on The Fugitive and Northern Exposure. As a writer, Curry’s plays have been performed all over the country. In 2002, he was commissioned by the Seattle Opera to help create a children’s adaptation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute for both on tour and recording. Seattle has seen the premieres of nearly a dozen of his plays. Divine Hysteria: Armageddon Outta Here, the first of his Hysteria Trilogy, was produced Off-Broadway in New York at the Nat Horne Theater. He was playwright-in-residence for the Portobello Theatre Company in NYC which saw the New York premieres of Follies and Foibles, Habits and Waiting On Line Without The Bast’d. He was the recipient of the 2000 Artist Trust Fellowship for Playwrights for his play, Unidentified Flying Object.

  
  

  
  

  Jayla Harper

  Jalá is so excited to be an instructor with Kidstage this year! She is currently on Taproot Theater’s Road Company, touring bullying prevention shows to children! Recent Credits include: Legally Blonde (Showtunes Theater), Hairspray (Village Theater), The Odyssey (Seattle Repertory Theater), Dreamgirls (Village Theater) and more.

  
  

  
  

  Evan Hildebrand

  Evan Hildebrand is an actor, director, and teaching artist from the Tacoma area, and he is ecstatic to join the KIDSTAGE family! A graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a BFA in Theatre, emphasis in Acting/Directing, Evan has been performing for more than 13 years and has found his love of teaching through the Arts Eduction Internship with Village Theatre KIDSTAGE and the Drama School Internship with Seattle Children’s Theatre. Evan also teaches for The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts in Tacoma, WA and ManeStage Theatre in Sumner, WA. Favorite roles include Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods (MST), The Stage Manager in Our Town (PLU), The Cat in the Hat in Seussical (MST), and his favorite show to direct has been Cowboy Mouth by Sam Shepherd and Patti Smith.

  
  

  
  

  Kate Jaeger

  Kate Jaeger is an actor, director, educator and improviser. In addition to teaching for Village KIDSTAGE and Institute, Kate also teaches at Jet City Improv and Seattle Children’s Theatre. She has directed youth of all ages in shows for Village Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre and ArtsWest. As an actor, Kate has had a varied and exciting career. Favorite roles include Darzee in The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi at Seattle Children’s Theatre and Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables at Village Theatre (for which she won a Gregory Award.) Kate has been a member of Jet City Improv since 2004.

  
  

  
  

  Danny Kam

  Danny Kam holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University, with concentrations in Acting and Directing. Since graduation, Danny has worked in multiple capacities throughout the greater Seattle area. As a director, he has staged a production of Elf, as well as serving as Assistant Director on KIDSTAGE’s production of Urinetown. He also directed The Jungle Book and Once On This Island for KIDSTAGE as well as Liberty High School’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received the 5th Avenue Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical. He teaches private voice lessons at Kaleidoscope School of Music in Issaquah and in Everett. Danny has performed with The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre, Mount Baker Theatre, ArtsWest and Contemporary Classics, among others.

  
  

  
  

  Lindsay Kujawa

  Lindsay is thrilled to be joining the KIDSTAGE team this season, as she cannot get enough of teaching theatre/dance to young people! Originally from Wisconsin, Lindsay graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with degrees in Theatre Performance, Education and Dance. She is loving the PNW lifestyle, and loves working within such a vibrant arts community with groups such as the education department at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Intiman, Studio East, Dandylyon Dramaand Lyric Light Opera. Prior to moving to Seattle Lindsay taught at the Renaissance School for the Arts in Appleton, WI where she completed her student teaching, and choreographed over 20 musicals across the state. In 2009 she (along with her now husband) also founded Introspect Arts, which is a performing arts group completely run and performed by young adults under the age of 25 who wish to create original art aimed at inspiring social change. Lindsay has a strong passion for the arts and education, and hopes to pass her enthusiasm along to her students. See you in class!

  
  

  
  

  Sean Lally

  Sean Lally : I started out my theatre career as a techie setting lights and sound. I then moved on to the stage with the Kidstage summer stock production of Ragtime. This past several years I have worked as an arts educator as a part of the Village theatre Kidstage team. During college, I continued to perform and expand my knowledge of music and theatre. I am a member of the 2015 graduating class of Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with focuses in conducting and vocal performance.

  
  

  
  

  Melissa Maaño

  Melissa has been a voice instructor at KIDStage since 2013. Prior to teaching, Melissa performed at Village Theatre, Harlequin Productions, Florida Studio Theatre, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Celebrity Cruises. She has musical directed at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Olympia Family Theatre, and Mount Rainier High School. Melissa teaches voice, piano, and guitar at Kaleidoscope School of Music in Issaquah. Her students have gone on to study music in college, some have performed at Seattle Opera, Village Theatre, and 5th Ave Theatre, and others perform solos regularly in their school assemblies and musicals. Melissa is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and Eastside Vocal Federated Music Club (EVFMC). Learn more about Melissa’s teaching style and studio at: www.melismaticstudios.com

  
  

  
  

  Donovan Mahannah

  Donovan is excited to be at KIDSTAGE as an Apprentice Instructor. Most recently he has been seen in Newsies and White Christmas at Tacoma Musical Playhouse and in the KIDSTAGE productions of Sister Act, Crazy for You, and Aida. He has also been a part of KIDSTAGE Institute and performed at the annual Sing It Forward gala. KIDSTAGE has had such a positive impact on Donovan and he is looking forward to working with your students and helping develop their acting skills!

  
  

  
  

  Mackenzie Malhotra

  Mackenzie has been teaching with Village KIDSTAGE for almost two years now. She is their Beginning/Intermediate Dance Essentials and Beginning/Intermediate Tap instructor. In addition to teaching theatre and dance classes, Mackenzie is the director of KIDSTAGE’s production of High School Musical Jr.! She is also a theatre instructor and director/choreographer with Edge Performing Arts & Dance, and a Community Outreach Instructor with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Mackenzie is also a performer herself--recently seen on Village Theatre’s Mainstage as a swing in The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes! She majored in Musical Theatre at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

  
  

  
  

  Sheady Manning

  Sheady is a musical theatre student and is excited to make his debut this summer as a KIDSTAGE instructor. A former Village Kid sheady has been with KIDSTAGE for 5years and do the past 3 years has been a TA/intern for various camps and classes. As well as being a performer around the Seattle area sheady has also worked as an instructor/choreographer at Skyline High School, The Girl Scouts of Western Washington, and Blue Dog Dance Studio.

  
  

  
  

  Michael Matlock

  Michael Matlock is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan with a BM in Composition. Before that he was a KIDSTAGE kid, performing both on stage and at the piano. And now he is excited to be working with the next generation of young talent! Favorite credits include music directing with Summer Independent performances of Sweeney Todd and West Side Story. In his spare time he also writes and records with the band Kuribo's Shoe.

  
  

  
  

  Claire Marx

  Claire is excited to be back at KIDSTAGE this winter! She works locally as an actor, music director, and teaching artist. She was in the ensemble of ‘Hairspray’ for Village Theatre’s Mainstage this summer and has also worked with The Seattle Rep, Sound Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare, and Seattle Public Theatre. She has music directed for a handful of KIDSTAGE productions including: ‘Chicago’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘James and the Giant Peach’, ‘9 to 5’, ‘Peter Pan’, and the annual Sing it Forward gala. She looks forward to working with your students, not only on the technicalities of singing, but also the joy of performing and making music!

  
  

  
  

  Callie Nissing

  Callie Nissing is a local dancer, performing artist and educator who is passionate about youth arts education, she has been teaching in the Seattle area for three years. Callie loves to dance and has trained in a variety classical and contemporary styles and attended programs at the Joffrey Ballet School (NYC), International Dance Academy (LA) and University of Washington. As for musical theatre, she performs locally as well, her most recent works include Matilda the Musical (Village Theatre) and in How Can I Love You (The Scratch Workshop Series). Callie has a double degree from the University of Washington in Spanish and Comparative History of Ideas, where she focused on arts' activism and education, and gained Spanish language fluency. She believes that the performing arts have a profound influence on learning and personal growth and loves getting to share that with her students!

  
  

  
  

  Michael Nutting

  Michael Nutting is entering his second season with Village Theatre. He earned his Bachelors in Piano Performance and Music history at Western Washington University. Upon graduation, he moved to Seattle to pursue his career in the arts and is keeping busy directing musicals, music directing, teaching piano, accompanying, composing, arranging, and, of course, teaching for KIDSTAGE. Most recently, Michael music directed Seattle Musical Theatre’s spring show “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

  
  

  
  

  Brandon Peck

  Brandon is so excited to join the Village Kidstage team! He is a Music Director/composer based in Seattle. Favorite Conducting/Music Director credits include Legally Blonde at Seattle Musical Theatre, Kiss of the Spider Woman at Second Story Rep, Associate Music Director for the Main Street New Musical Festival, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray, and Legally Blonde at Nathan Hale High School and Peter Pan for Ovation!. He holds a BA in Theatre Performance from the U of WA.

  
  

  
  

  Alex Robinson

  Alex Robinson is a former KIDSTAGE kid and has grown with the program since she was six years old. As a teaching artist, she currently teaches private voice and musical theatre at several schools and studios in the Greater Seattle Area. She completed Village Theatre's arts education internship in 2018 and has been a regular instructor with them ever since. When she is not teaching, she is usually directing or performing. Past directing credits include: The Boys from Syracuse (Assistant Director) at Showtunes Theatre Company; Legally Blonde (Director) and Seussical Jr. (Assistant Director) at KIDSTAGE Everett; One Act at a Time (Associate Director) and The Next Generation (Director) at foundry10. Past performance credits include: Junie B. Jones the Musical (Secondstory Repertory);Hairspray, James and The Giant Peach Jr, The Addams Family, Young Frankenstein, Willy Wonka KIDS, Chicago (KIDSTAGE). As a constant performing gig, she is also a Lead Tweenstar with Tweenland, a pop-cover band for kids, at NM Entertainment. She is always so excited to be teaching with the organization that gave her “Skills for Theatre…Skills for Life!”

  
  

  
  

  Bailey Sipila

  Bailey Sipila is a recent graduate from Linfield College. She has worked on many shows both backstage and onstage and hopes to become a professor of Theatre History and Dramaturgy in the future. She grew up in Maple Valley and is excited to be close to home and helping improve her community through theatre with KidStage!

  
  

  
  

  Tasha Smith

  Tasha Smith is so excited to be working as a music instructor with KIDSTAGE this year! Since graduating with a BM in Vocal Performance and a minor in Theatre from Pacific Lutheran University, Tasha has music directed and performed in many shows around the Seattle/Tacoma area. Most recently, she was seen as Judy Haynes in White Christmas at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, as well as Ballet Girl in Freckleface Strawberry at SecondStory Repertory, and in Patience at The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Music directing credits include Stinky Kids and Tom Sawyer for TMP Family Theater, as well as Beauty and the Beast, Jr., The Lion King, Jr., Les Miserables: School Edition, and many more through CampTMP. Tasha also runs a full studio of her own, teaching private voice and piano lessons. tashachristine.com

  
  

  
  

  R.J. Tancioco

  R.J. Tancioco Favorite music directing credits: Joseph…Dreamcoat, Cabaret, Hair, Smokey Joe's Café at The 5th Avenue Theatre; The Gypsy King, Chasing Nicolette, Stunt Girl, Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, Evita, Peter Pan, Grease, and Joseph...Dreamcoat at Village Theatre; Piece, Iron Curtain, and Cold Turkey for Village Originals; Making Tracks at San Jose Repertory; The Wedding Banquet for 2G (Second Generation); Sisters of Swing at Broadway Rose; Plaid Tidings and Bat Boy at ArtsWest; Rent: School Edition at Seattle Children’s Theatre; New Voices series, A New Brain, and The Last Five Years for Contemporary Classics; and Songs for a New World for Raggedy Z Productions. Recording credits: TMC Work's Katie Tomlinson’s Original Passion, David Austin's A Christmas Carol and Every Little Vow; Jennifer Paz's Awakening. During the day, Mr. Tancioco is an instructor (over 10 years) to Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE classes and shows (High School Musical, The Wiz, Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Once On This Island, Children of Eden, Les Misérables, Seussical, and Footloose), was the touring musical director for Adventure Musical Theatre (It Happened at the World's Fair and Klondike!) at 5th Avenue Theatre, is an avid vocal coach, arranger, composer, and enjoys educating youth and young adults for theatre.

  
  

  
  

  Julia Thornton

  Julia Thornton has been teaching and music directing with KIDSTAGE for several years and is excited to back this year! She is a music director, pianist, accompanist, vocalist, and teacher who received her BA from the University of Oregon in 2011. She currently teaches musical theatre classes and music directs both youth and professional shows at numerous theatres around the area as well as teaches private piano and voice lessons to students of all ages. Most recently her work on Kentridge High School's award winning production of Hairspray was nominated for Best Music Direction at The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards. Last season she was seen music directing the Gregory Award Winning Production of Into the Woods. In addition to musical theatre, Julia enjoys playing, singing, and learning about many other genres of music from all over the world. See her next Associate Music Directing Pippin at KIDSTAGE Issaquah! Visit her at www.juliathornton.org.

  
  

  
  

  Eia Waltzer

  Eia Waltzer has been working with KIDSTAGE for the last 9 years. You may have recently seen her choreography in KIDSTAGE's productions of Legally Blonde, Rocket Science, The Music Man, West Side Story, Footloose, High School Musical, and Godspell. In addition to teaching dance and choreographing for various high schools and theaters around western Washington, she has completed her Masters in Teaching and is currently teaching music and theater to elementary aged students in the public schools.

  
  

  
  

  Zoe Wilson

  Zoe Wilson is a teaching artist and director passionate about creating spaces of transformation through theatre. For the last five years Zoe has been working with youth creating original plays, coaching monologues, and directing productions at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Youth Theatre Northwest, and Seattle Theatre Group. Zoe holds a BA in Theatre Arts with minor in Youth Studies from the University of Minnesota.

  
  

  
  

  Nathan Young

  Nathan Young is a music director, arranger, composer and vocal coach. Nathan studied vocal pedagogy and orchestration. Nathan has been an instructor and music director since 2010 He is passionate about conducting and accompanying. His favorite shows he has music directed have been A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 42nd Street, Shrek, The Jerry Springer Opera and Les Miserables He is especially passionate about creating unique and powerful textures from musical theatre vocal ensembles. Some of his favorite work is working with large choruses in both golden area shows and contemporary. Nathan is currently collaborating on several new works as the music supervisor and in the process of composing 2 new shows. Nathan approaches vocal ensemble with every level of detail from the beginning. There is nothing more thrilling than 8 staves of vocal harmony!

  
  

• Everett Instructors

  
  

  Jaimee Alonso

  Jaimee Alonso is thrilled to return to KIDSTAGE! Jaimee has had a love for theatre for as long as she can remember. She has been in a number of shows, such as Anything Goes (Ensemble) at KIDSTAGE, Kiss Me Kate (Hattie) in high school, and First Person (Roxie) at Western Washington University. She has since retired from acting and now focuses all of her time in the classroom and uses theatre as one of her foundations for working with young children. Jaimee is passionate about supporting our youngest students in the classroom and finds her purpose in allowing children to see themselves and their families in their learning through the materials that are carefully chosen, the experiences that are shared with families, and the stories that are told. She is a senior at Western and majors in early childhood education with a minor in education and social justice. This fall, she is entering her last year where she will be student teaching in a second-grade classroom!

  
  

  
  

  Grace Bryant

  These days, Grace Bryant is primarily a meditation, yoga and mindfulness teacher. They have been teaching with Village Theater Kidstage! since 2006 and are passionate about combining the arts with social emotional learning and mindfulness practices. Grace is committed to creating inclusive spaces and open classrooms where students can bring their innate creativity to the surface and learn the lifelong skills of collaboration, celebrating differences and empathetic communication.

  
  

  
  

  Krista Cassidy

  Krista Cassidy is a fresh graduate of Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Music. She participated in the Village Theatre Arts Education Internship in 2015 and has been teaching with KIDSTAGE ever since. She has a love for teaching voice, acting, and piano to all age groups, and has taught through public schools and after school organizations in Bellingham, as well as private lessons. Krista also participated in the Open Jar Institute in New York City where she worked with Broadway professionals in singing, acting, and dancing, where only 50 students are selected each summer to participate. Krista performed in Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE summer productions including Tarzan, Legally Blonde, and 9 to 5. At Western, some of her favorite roles include Hattie in Kiss Me Kate, and Martha in The Secret Garden. Krista hopes to inspire youth through music and theatre education, and to help everyone find their own unique voice and artistry.

  
  

  
  

  Kataka Corn

  Kataka Corn is excited to begin connecting with the youth of this community. Kataka’s empathy for others is the engine that drives her pursuit! Not only is performing a passion, but so is teaching. You may have seen her perform in Summerstock Productions as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, and Fantine in Les Misérables. She has graduated the Arts Education Internship with KIDSTAGE and prepares to further share her knowledge.

  
  

  
  

  Duncan Frost

  Duncan Frost is thrilled to be joining the KIDSTAGE faculty in 2017 after performing in Village Theatre’s Billy Elliot in 2016. Duncan works as an actor, director and teaching artist throughout Puget Sound, including work with Seattle Children’s Theatre, Key City Public Theatre, Seattle Public Theatre, Foundry10 and a number of local schools. Before coming home to the great Pacific Northwest, Duncan spent eight years in Minneapolis working and training with the Children’s Theatre Company, The Guthrie Theatre, Walking Shadow Theatre and Troupe America. While attempting to count all 10,000 lakes, he received his BFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theatre BFA Actor Training program. He has a funny dog who is somewhat long.

  
  

  
  

  Aimee Hong

  Aimee Hong is thrilled to be working with Village Theatre KIDSTAGE - Everett! Music Directing credits include: [Title of Show], Carnival, Into the Woods (Bellevue College), Sweeney Todd, The Boy Friend (Renton Civic), How I Became a Pirate (Secondstory Repertory), The Wizard of Oz (St Luke's Theatre Company), as well as many projects with Studio East and McClure Middle School. She is an Adjunct Music Faculty member at Bellevue College, working with the Concert Choir and teaching Class Voice. Aimee also teaches for The Seattle Symphony and Studio East. She received her Music Education degree from Western Washington University.

  
  

  
  

  Lee Ann Hittenberger

  She has taught theater to kids from Village Theater (Combat Instructor), West Sound Academy (Drama Instructor), Bainbridge Performing Arts Theater School (1st thru 8th grade including workshops in film and stunt fighting), Edmonds Children’s Theater Camp (Education Director), Stone Soup (Teaching Artist), Tacoma Little Theater (Fight Combat Instructor), Bainbridge KidiMu (Brain Dance), Costume Construction for the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and Garment Construction for the Art Institute of Seattle and Roosevelt High School. Ms Lee Ann is the Education Coordinator for Youth Theater Camp in Kitsap. She directed Charlotte’s Web for Edmonds Community College. Professionally she has produced stage fight and/or dance choreography for numerous regional groups including BPA, Driftwood Players, Burien Little Theater, Freehold Studio Series, Mountaineer Forest Theater, Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater, Jewel Box (Poulsbo), Greenstage, Seattle Prep, Madrona School and Lakeside Middle School. She trained at Freehold Studio, has an AA in Fashion design from Seattle Art Institute, and BS in Occupational Therapy from U of W with additional training in The Brain Dance from Creative Dance Center. She has skill proficiency in 8 stage combat weapons with the Society of American Fight Directors. Ms. Lee Ann has worked for PNB, 5th Ave Theater, ACT, Paramont, Intiman, & Seattle Opera through the Theatrical Wardrobe Union and has performed professionally with Village Theater, Civic Light Opera, Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater, Renton Civic, and Minnesota Rep. She has assisted at Cornish College with teaching stage combat with Fight Master Geof Alm.

  
  

  
  

  Kate Jaeger

  Kate Jaeger is an actor, director, educator and improviser. In addition to teaching for Village KIDSTAGE and Institute, Kate also teaches at Jet City Improv and Seattle Children’s Theatre. She has directed youth of all ages in shows for Village Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre and ArtsWest. As an actor, Kate has had a varied and exciting career. Favorite roles include Darzee in The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi at Seattle Children’s Theatre and Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables at Village Theatre (for which she won a Gregory Award.) Kate has been a member of Jet City Improv since 2004.

  
  

  
  

  Danny Kam

  holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University, with concentrations in Acting and Directing. Since graduation, Danny has worked in multiple capacities throughout the greater Seattle area. As a director, he has staged a production of Elf, as well as serving as Assistant Director on KIDSTAGE’s production of Urinetown. He also directed The Jungle Book and Once On This Island for KIDSTAGE as well as Liberty High School’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received the 5th Avenue Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical. He teaches private voice lessons at Kaleidoscope School of Music in Issaquah and in Everett. Danny has performed with The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre, Mount Baker Theatre, ArtsWest and Contemporary Classics, among others.

  
  

  
  

  Autumn Fire Lambright

  Autumn Fire Lambright has been a KIDSTAGE kid since she was six years old, has been in or involved in over nineteen productions with KIDSTAGE, and has completed KIDSTAGE’s Arts Education Internship. Autumn graduated dental school in 2015 and is a practicing Dental Assistant at Harbour Point Orthodontics. She is also exploring what it’s like to be on the developing side of theatre, as she is helping write a musical with foundry10. Autumn is passionate about the transformative power and beauty of theatre, and loves sharing her passion with young minds. This is Autumn’s first year as a KIDSTAGE instructor and she is very excited to teach “Skills for theatre, skills for life.”

  
  

  
  

  Gabrielle Friedman

  Gabrielle Friedman is a rising senior at Cornish College of The Arts where she studies Theater with a concentration in Musical Theater. She is happy to return to KIDSTAGE after graduating from the Arts Education Internship last summer. Children's theater and education has always been very significant to her development as an artist. She is thankful for the opportunity to have seen and act in musicals as a child. She wouldn’t be who she is today without it. Early exposure to art and theater encourages children to vocalize and express themselves in creative and safe environments. She believes that, now more than ever, we should facilitate their bright ideas amplify their voices.

  
  

  
  

  Chelsea LeValley

  Chelsea LeValley Actor/teacher/director on the East and now West coast as she is a recent Seattle transplant! She’s toured with and trained Missoula Children’s Theater actor/directors and in addition to Village Theater teaches with Stone Soup Theater, and has assisted at Seattle Children’s Theatre. BFA Music Theater, Elon University in NC ’11.

  
  

  
  

  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.

  
  

  
  

  Ellen McLain

  Ellen McLain enjoys a busy career in theatre, opera, voice-over, and teaching. She received her Bachelor and Masters Degrees with Honors in Music from The New England Conservatory in Boston. Ellen’s Broadway credits include My Fair Lady with Sir Rex Harrison and Peggy Lee in her show, Peg. Regional and national theater credits range from Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman (Montana Rep/Nat/l. tour) to Mimi in La Boheme (Seattle Opera Outreach). She served on the voice faculty of Cornish College of the Arts from 1996 to 2001 and has had a private voice studio for over twenty-five years. Ellen is also well known in the computer game community for her voice-over work in Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Portal 2.

  
  

  
  

  Meagan Moffat

  Meagan Moffat is elated to be back at kidstage for another fun summer! A former kidstage kid herself, Meagan has been teaching with kidstage or several years after completing her internship back in 2013. Most recently the youth ensemble director for Willy Wonka Jr. here at kidstage, Meagan is also the current Pathway to Institute dance instructor. She has worked with Reflections School of Dance, Seattle's Gilbert and Sullivan Society, among others, as a choreographer and dance teacher. She looks forward to having you in class!

  
  

  
  

  Aaron Norman

  Aaron Norman has a background in vocal performance and vocal health/technique. Aaron has performed in a wide range of musical arenas from singing the lead role of Cesare in Handel’s Giulio Cesare to singing backup for Stevie Wonder, and now currently working as the director of music at Emerald City Bible Fellowship in Seattle. In 2016, Aaron had a blast working on Hairspray with KIDSTAGE and has had just as much fun working on The Lion King Jr. in 2017. Aaron looks forward to future productions with Village Theatre.

  
  

  
  

  Michael Nutting

  Michael Nutting is entering his second season with Village Theatre. He earned his Bachelors in Piano Performance and Music history at Western Washington University. Upon graduation, he moved to Seattle to pursue his career in the arts and is keeping busy directing musicals, music directing, teaching piano, accompanying, composing, arranging, and, of course, teaching for KIDSTAGE. Most recently, Michael music directed Seattle Musical Theatre’s spring show “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

  
  

  
  

  Lukas Poischbeg

  After completing the Arts Education Internship, Lukas Poischbeg is ecstatic to join KIDSTAGE as a dance and musical theatre instructor. Lukas started as a KIDSTAGE kid and has worked on over twenty productions through the program. He holds an associate’s degree in arts and sciences and is working towards his BA in dance and education through the University of Washington. Lukas has a wide dance background with training from ARC School of Ballet, Westlake Dance Center, the Studios, and Village Theatre. Lukas views his role as a mentor and instructor as one of uncovering, activating and nurturing his students’ own mental elaborations of knowledge. He monitors and guides his student’s own thinking and learning to help them grow in their capacity. “When we learn to take risks, and express ourselves in front of others, we develop valuable life skills beyond theatre or dance.”

  
  

  
  

  Alex Robinson

  Alex Robinson (she/her/hers) is a former KIDSTAGE kid and has grown with the program since she was six years old. As a teaching artist, she currently teaches private voice and musical theatre at several schools and studios in the Greater Seattle Area. She is an experienced preschool teacher. In 2018, she completed Village Theatre's arts education internship and has been a regular instructor with them ever since. When she is not teaching, she is usually directing or performing. Select directing credits include: The Boys from Syracuse (Assistant Director) at Showtunes Theatre Company; Legally Blonde (Director); One Act at a Time (Associate Director) and The Next Generation (Director) at foundry10. Select performance credits include: Junie B. Jones the Musical (Secondstory Repertory); Hairspray, James and The Giant Peach Jr, Willy Wonka KIDS, Chicago (KIDSTAGE). As a constant performing gig, she is also a Lead Tweenstar with Tweenland, a pop-cover band for kids, at NM Entertainment. Alex also recently joined Showtunes Theatre Company as their new Operations and Strategic Development Administrator. She is always so excited to be teaching with the organization that gave her “Skills for Theatre…Skills for Life!”

  
  

  
  

  Faith Russell

  Faith Russell has been working in Seattle as an actress, teacher, choreographer, and director for the past 20 plus years, and is so excited to be with KIDSTAGE for another session of fun! She has also been pleased to teach and direct for Taproot Theater's Acting Studio in Seattle, and for Studio East in Kirkland. She was in Village Theatre's production of Once on This Island and can often be found at Storybook Theatre!

  
  

  
  

  Hannah Schuerman

  Hannah Schuerman has been involved in KIDSTAGE for five years. She is currently studying Theatre Performance at Seattle Pacific University. While at KIDSTAGE she was seen in shows such as Into the Woods, Children of Eden, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Urinetown. After graduating she plans to pursue musical theatre and hopes to continue teaching throughout her life.

  
  

  
  

  Katy Tabb

  Katy Tabb is an instructor of dance for the KIDSTAGE Institute program in Everett. Past KIDSTAGE choreography credits include: HAIRSPRAY, HELLO MY BABY, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, ANYTHING GOES, and SHREK. She most recently choreographed SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN for the Village Theatre Mainstage and will be choreographing NEWSIES this fall. She loves sharing her passion for dance with her students.

  
  

  
  

  Cy Paolantonio

  Cy Paolantonio has performed, directed, choreographed, and camera op’ed for theatre & film in DC/NYC/LA/Seattle for the past 20 years. Select credits: Matilda (Village); Holiday Inn (5th Ave); Oklahoma! (Arena); Knuffle Bunny, Wings, The Phantom Tollbooth (The Kennedy Center); Rockers on Broadway (w/ Tituss Burgess); Williamsburg! The Musical (NY Fringe); Petite Rouge (NYMF).

  
  

  
  

  Christie Rotarius

  Christie Rotarius is happy to be spending some time at Village Kidstage this summer! She holds a Master of Music in Musical Theatre Performance and an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from NYU. With a varied background in theater and music education for more than 20 years, she is also an accomplished performing artist (under the stage name Christie Lynn Devoe), having performed regularly in the Seattle and NYC area in theatre, opera, television, film, sketch comedy and improv at venues including Broadway's George Gershwin Theatre, Madison Square Garden, and the Original Improv Comedy Club. A passionate teaching artist, voice teacher, and music director, you can find her collaborating at places like NYU, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Village Theatre, and her private voice studio www.rotariusvoice.com. She is also providing training opportunities regularly found in NYC to her new theater family here in Seattle via her Broadway in Seattle Masterclass Series www.playthepartseattle.com. Christie believes in storytelling as a means of empowerment for every voice and encourages both young and old to find their own voice and share it!

  
  

  
  

  Carly Squires Hutchison

  Carly Squires Hutchison loves being a teaching artist at KIDSTAGE, both in Issaquah and in Everett! She has taught dance and musical theatre at Creative Dance Center, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Backstage Dance Studio, Spectrum Dance Theatre, and Central Washington University (CWU) and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and Minor in Dance Performance from CWU. Carly is also a director and choreographer and has worked at KIDSTAGE Everett (Willy Wonka Jr., Seussical KIDS, Aladdin KIDS, Chicago: High School Edition, Shrek Jr., Beauty & the Beast), Everett High School (Footloose, 42nd Street, The Little Mermaid), Seattle Children’s Theatre Drama School (Urinetown), Liberty High School (The Drowsy Chaperone), Newport High School (Jekyll & Hyde), as well as Issaquah Middle School, Forest Ridge School, and Auburn Riverside High School. In addition to directing, choreographing, and teaching, Carly is a local performer and has worked with Taproot Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre, Wooden O, SecondStory Repertory and Village Theatre including: Hairspray, Newsies, Show Boat, Meet Me in St. Louis, 42nd Street, and Funny Girl. Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Carly’s heart belongs to the PNW.

  
  

  
  

  Pamela Turpen

  Pamela Turpen has been dancing for 24 years. She received her BA in dance performance with an emphasis in choreography from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. She has taught and choreographed many dance forms to all ages and levels for 18 years, choosing to focus on classical jazz, classical modern and musical theatre dance.
  
  Locally she has performed with 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Opera, SD Prism Dance, and Arc Dance Productions. You may have seen some of her choreography at The Moore Theatre, Chamber Theatre, Broadway Performance Hall, and various clubs and cabarets in the Seattle area. She also has done local commercial and film work as well as corporate modeling for numerous photographers around the country. She hopes to inspire audiences with her vision and to push the limits on how we approach storytelling on stage.

  
  

  
  

  Callie Williams

  Callie Williams is tickled to get to play around in class with the students of KidSTAGE. Hailing from Las Vegas originally, she has been fortunate to perform in an array of productions ranging from August: Osage County to Pericles to Hairspray. She’s a graduate from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

  
  

  
  

  Matt Wolfe

  Matt Wolfe has been seen in eleven Village Theatre mainstage productions and has been honored to serve as an educator for Kidstage for over thirteen years. He works as a freelance director and is also the Artistic Director of Showtunes Theatre Company in Seattle, which produces concerts of Broadway musicals. Matt is still a working actor as well. He was recently seen at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle as Bill in Mamma Mia, Bert Healy in Annie, Ralph in Kiss Me Kate, and in the ensemble of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other recent, favorite roles include Sam Byck in Sondheim's Assassins at ACT Theatre and Harold Hill in The Music Man at Coeur d'Alene. He played Cornelius in the National Tour of Hello Dolly starring Sally Struthers in 2013-2014, and before that he was part of the Broadway debut of Scandalous. More information is available at www.matt-wolfe.net.