KIDSTAGE Teaching Artists

Aaron Norman

Aaron 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 works as the director of music at Emerald City Bible Fellowship in Seattle. In his years with KIDSTAGE, Aaron has worked on many shows, including: Hairspray, The Lion King Jr., Les Misérables School Edition, Willy Wonka Jr., and Aladdin Jr. Aaron looks forward to future productions and classes with Village Theatre.

Adam Quillan

A PNW native, Adam grew up as a wee lad in the quaint city of Olympia, WA before venturing up to Seattle and earning his degree in Music Composition, Playwriting, and Directing from Cornish College of the Arts. An active member of the fabulous Seattle theater community for more than 10 years, Adam has had the pleasure of acting as the Issaquah KIDSTAGE Originals composing mentor for the past six years, working alongside incredible youth artists to create, develop, and give life to multiple original musical productions.

Aimee Hong

Aimee is a Music Director, Accompanist, Conductor, and Voice and Piano Teacher. Some of her favorite musicals she’s Music Directed are: Into the Woods, Heathers the Musical, Godspell, Sweeney Todd, Big Fish, and [title of show]. She has MD’d at: Bellevue College (where she is also an Adjunct Music Professor), Seattle Children’s Theater, Studio East, Pacific Northwest Theatre Company, Reboot Theatre Company, Renton Civic Theater, Bainbridge Performing Arts, and Lesser Known Players. Previously she taught with the Seattle Symphony and the Seattle Opera. She studied Music Education at Western Washington University.

Ana Maria Campoy

Ana Maria is a first generation Mexican-American theatre artist. As an actor, she has worked with various Seattle companies including Seattle Children’s Theatre, where she was the assistant director and understudy for Black Beauty. Her next project will be directing a bilingual production of Hamlet for Seattle Shakespeare’s touring program. At the center of her work lives the driving desire to create opportunities for artists of color, to remove economic and geographical barriers for audiences and students, and to expand and deepen our American identity.

Andrew Pang (he/him)

Andrew graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s Degree of Music in Viola Performance and from Seattle Pacific University with a Master’s Degree in Viola. He currently teaches at Village KIDSTAGE as an Educational Music Teacher and Director and is the Music Director for MyFloss Productions. Andrew enjoys transcribing and arranging music, as well as performing at weddings with a string quartet. He lives in Seattle with his cat.

Anna Vraney

Anna is a graduate of Western Washington University, having concentrated in Stage Management and Technical Theatre. She was a part of Seattle Repertory’s 2019-2020 Professional Artist Training Program as a Stage Management Apprentice on The Children and new musical, Shout Sister Shout!. She has helped mentor stage management students with Intiman Theatre’s Starfish Project as well as at The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Rising Star Project. From 2018-2019 she also served as the Drama Assistant for Shorewood High School’s theatre department.

Ariel Smith O’Neal

Ariel is happy to be returning to Village KIDSTAGE Issaquah for the Pop-Up Production series. Her previous production includes Black Lives Matter: Inspired by 13 the Musical. Other regional credits include Steel Magnolias at Taproot Theatre and Peter and the Starcatcher at Lakewood Playhouse. She is a graduate from Pacific Lutheran University.

Ben Bentler

Ben has been teaching voice for over ten years and uses an integrated form of movement and acting technique to tell stories through the art form of voice. He has worked on a wide range of musicals in a variety of theaters. Notable credits include: conductor/pianist at the acclaimed Marriott Theatre in Chicago; music director/accompanist for The 5th Avenue Theatre; resident music director/conductor for some of Broadway’s most beloved and award-winning shows at the Spokane Civic Theatre in Spokane, WA.

BJ Tindal (they/them)

BJ is a Black queer playwright, teaching artist, and sour candy enthusiast. They recently moved back to their hometown of Philadelphia after completing their MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage at Northwestern University. Since moving back to the city, BJ has been working with a number of organizations devoted to arts-Education, including Philly Young Playwrights and After-School Activities Partnerships as well as creating their own workshops designed to encourage writing-confidence for elementary school students.

Blair Smith

Blair is thrilled to be returning to work with the Village Theatre artist after her work as Assistant Stage Manager for Urinetown, performed at KIDSTAGE Everett. She has been seen on stages for over 25 years, most recently working as a Tour Actor/Director with the Missoula Children’s Theatre touring internationally and domestically everywhere from Bellevue to Bahrain! She can’t wait to work with this amazing group of artists and would like to thank the Village family, her mother and friends that are a constant support, thank you to all who consistently believe in the power of theatre and support local works. We got this, WA!

Carly Squires Hutchison

Carly loves being a teaching artist at KIDSTAGE! She has also taught at Creative Dance Center, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Backstage Dance Studio, and Central Washington University. Carly is also a director and choreographer and has worked at KIDSTAGE Everett (Willy Wonka Jr., Seussical KIDS, Aladdin KIDS, Chicago: High School Edition), Everett High School, Seattle Children’s Theatre Drama School, Liberty High School, Newport High School, as well as Blanchet High School, Issaquah Middle School, Forest Ridge School, and Auburn Riverside High School.

Christie Munson

Christie was an Arts Education Intern at Village Theatre KIDSTAGE in the summer of 2018. She graduated this spring from the University of Washington having studied Musical Theatre, Dance, International Studies, and International Human Rights. She centers her classroom on students’ individual voice, while enjoying movement and silliness. Her positive enthusiasm, paired with great planning and careful observation of her students, creates a wonderful classroom space whether it’s in person or online.

Christie Rotarious

Christie holds a Master of Music in Musical Theatre Performance and an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from NYU, Steinhardt. 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. A passionate teaching artist, voice teacher, and music director, you can find her collaborating at places like NYU, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Opera, and her private voice studio www.rotariusvoice.com.

Claire Marx (she/her)

Claire is excited to be back at KIDSTAGE! She works locally as an actor, music director, and teaching artist. She was in the ensemble of Hairspray for Village Theatre’s Mainstage and has also worked with 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 Misérables School Edition, James and the Giant Peach, 9 to 5, Peter Pan, and the annual Sing it Forward Soiree.

Cy Paolantonio

Cy is a Director/Choreographer/Performer who has dedicated their life to music theatre and the power it holds to bring positivity and change. In the span of 17 years, Cy has worked at notable venues such as: The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, The 5th Ave, Village Theatre, NYMF, NY Fringe, touring as a dancer with Steven Van Zandt, as well as tv/film/commercial work. Select credits: Matilda (Village); Holiday Inn (5th Ave); Oklahoma! (Arena); Knuffle Bunny, Wings, The Phantom Tollbooth (The Kennedy Center); Rockers on Broadway (with Tituss Burgess); Williamsburg! The Musical (NY Fringe); Petite Rouge (NYMF).

Danielle Mohlman

Danielle is a nationally produced playwright based in Seattle, WA. Her plays have been developed at Arena Stage, the Kennedy Center, the Cherry Lane Theatre, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Cygnet Theatre, Rorschach Theatre, Field Trip Theatre, Umbrella Project, Youth Theatre Northwest, The Scratch & Really Really Theatre Group, and Seattle Public Theater, among others. Danielle is an alumna of Playwrights’ Arena at Arena Stage, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Artist Fellowship, and the Umbrella Project Writers Group. She is a proud graduate of both Cal Poly Pomona and Emerson College. She is currently developing multiple projects for theatre, film, and audio formats.

Danny Kam (he/him)

Danny has spent the last decade teaching and performing musical theatre throughout the greater Seattle area. Besides Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE Institute, Danny teaches at Seattle Children’s Theatre and Cornish College of the Arts as well as maintaining a private vocal studio. His private students have worked professionally at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, ACT, Seattle Opera, SCT, Book-it Rep and others. As an actor, his Village Theatre credits include: String, Billy Elliot, ZM, The Passage, Great Wall, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, Big River, In the Heights, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Once a KIDSTAGE kid, always a KIDSTAGE kid!

Elisabeth Money (she/her)

Elisa is a songwriter, musician and copyist from Vancouver, Canada. She has performed at 54 Below, The Commodore Ballroom, and played for The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Musical Theatre, and many more throughout the US & Canada. She has worked locally on new musicals at The 5th Avenue Theatre, ACT, Village Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, and The Seattle Rep. She has also worked on new musicals for The Arsht Center in Miami, Florida, as well as in California, New York, Pennsylvania, and British Columbia. elisamoney.com

Faith Bennett Russell

Faith is a Jamaican- African American, Brooklyn New York native, fighter and activist for Racial and Social justice pushing against barriers and taking on the status quo. She is an Actor, Director, Teaching Artist and Chorographer and has been for the past 30 plus years. She has also served as the Education Assistant Manager for Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE program. Past Directorial credits include, *Legally Blonde (ShowTunes Theater CO), *CROWNS (Taproot Theatre), In The Heights (Village Theatre KIDSTAGE) Once On This Island (Studio East).
(*Broadway World Regional Award Nominee, Best Director of a Musical)

Jasmine Lomax (she/her/they/them)

Jasmine is an Actor, Director, and Playwright specializing in Original Works. She completed her Village Theatre Arts Educational Internship in 2017 and has worked intermittently with KIDSTAGE. Her recent credits include When a Tree Falls premiering at 18th and Union, Chalk at 18th and Union, and Raisins in a Glass of Milk at Taproot Theatre. She is currently extending her solo show Thicc Girl Problems: Eating my Feelings for Macha Theatre Works’ 17 Minute Stories. When Jasmine is not on stage, she is enjoying time with her son Kayden, and her two dogs.

Jessica Spencer

Jessica is in her seventh full season at Village Theatre and couldn’t be happier to work with this team in the thriving Seattle theatre community. Jessica has worked around the country in arts management, administration, as a Director, and production for such companies as Arts Center Enterprises, Inc., Nebraska Theatre Caravan, and locally for Taproot Theatre and The Inverse Opera. Directing credits include: She Loves Me (Village Theatre, Assoc. Dir.), Modern (Director, VOFNM19), Cubamor (Asst. Dir., 29-hr Reading), and Sincerely Yours (KIDSTAGE Originals). Additional local directing credits include: Spitfire Grill (Showtunes!), Anne of Green Gables (SSR), Violet (Asst. Dir., ArtsWest), and others at Taproot Theatre Company.

Jimmy Shields

Jimmy is a performing and teaching artist from the Pierce County area. He has always known the arts was his calling and has never set his sights on anything else! Not just a lover of being on the stage, Jimmy is also an established choreographer and budding director. Recent theater credits include: Hairspray with Village Theatre (Gilbert/Co-Choreographer); Legally Blonde with Showtunes Theatre Company (Choreographer); Matilda with Village Theatre (Ensemble/Associate Choreographer); the west-coast premiere of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical with Tacoma Musical Playhouse (Director/Choreographer); and the Village Theatre new work Hansel and Gretl and Heidi and Gunter (Choreographer).

Josh Beerman

Josh is a playwright and screenwriter from North Carolina, New York, and Seattle. In Seattle his plays have been workshopped at ACT Theater, Seattle Rep, and produced by Theater Schmeater. In New York he has had work developed by Urban Stages, theNest, and The Management Theatre Company, as well as produced at Manhattan Rep and The Samuel French Off Off Broadway Festival. He was a resident playwright at Seattle Repertory Theatre from 2014- 2016. His screenplay, Dark, was developed with Tandem Pictures, and in addition, has several other screenplays and television pilots in various stages of development.

Kate Jaeger

Kate is an actor, director, educator, and improviser. She works with KIDSTAGE in both Issaquah and Everett as an instructor and director. Shows she has directed for KIDSTAGE include: Les Misérables School Edition, Beauty and the Beast, and Urinetown (Everett); Freaky Friday (Issaquah). Kate has also been an actor on the Village Theatre Mainstage; her roles include Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls and Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables. Additionally, Kate has worked with 14/48, ArtsWest, Book-It Repertory, Jet City Improv, Macha Theatre Works, New Voices, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Taproot Theatre Company, and Teatro Zinzanni.

Kiron Blackwood

Kiron is thrilled to be teaching another online class with KIDSTAGE this Fall! Kiron graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Mass Communication and Media Arts and a minor in Acting in 2017. After graduating, he moved to Seattle to pursue teaching youth theatre with the Seattle Children’s Theatre and eventually KIDSTAGE. Kiron is now currently back in his hometown of Evanston, Illinois, where he is in grad school remotely “at” Northeastern University, studying Computer Science with a specialization in Game Design.

Krista Cassidy (she/her)

Krista holds a Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington University in music and theatre. She participated in the KIDSTAGE 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 afterschool organizations in Bellingham, as well as private lessons. In the mornings, she is the music teacher at Sammamish Children’s School. Krista has performed in KIDSTAGE SummerStock and Summer Independent Productions, including Tarzan, Legally Blonde, and 9 to 5.

Kyle Baiz (he/him)

Kyle wears many hats as a theatre artist, as a director, actor, designer, producer, and teaching artist. Kyle has worked in film and voiceover as well. He is the voice of Cranium Hullabaloo (game of the year 2002) and also worked in casting and recruiting for Holland America and Princess Cruises. Kyle was a founding member and Artistic Director of Seattle’s Fantastic.Z Theatre, which sadly closed in 2020 after producing 12 years of some of Puget Sound’s most inspired LGBTQ+ theatre. Kyle is honored to be teaching Pathways Acting this year.

Mackenzie Malhotra (she/her)

This is Mackenzie’s fourth year teaching with Village Theatre KIDSTAGE! She is also the KIDSTAGE Dance Curriculum Consultant and directed the KIDSTAGE production of High School Musical Jr. She is also an instructor with Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Community Outreach program, Emerald City Dance Complex, and is a director/choreographer with Edge Performing Arts & Dance. She has choreographed for Reboot Theatre, Renton Civic Theatre, Tahoma High School, and Edge Performing Arts and Dance. Mackenzie is also a performer herself–recently seen on Village Theatre’s Mainstage as a swing in The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes!

Meagan Moffat (she/her)

Meagan is a former KIDSTAGE kid herself and began teaching with the program in 2014 after completing her Arts Education Internship. Some of her favorite KIDSTAGE credits include: Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, Children of Eden (Yonah), High School Musical (Sharpay), and Bye Bye Birdie (Ursula). She has worked with Reflections School of Dance, Seattle’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society, among others, as a choreographer and dance teacher, and is currently pursuing a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is so excited you are here!

Megan Adams

Ms. 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.

Melissa Maañao

Melissa has been a KIDSTAGE instructor since 2013. She has taught and music directed at The Evergreen School, Mount Rainier High School, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, and Olympia Family Theatre. Performance credits include: Village Theatre, Cafe Nordo, Harlequin Productions, Florida Studio Theatre, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Celebrity Cruises. Learn more about Melissa’s teaching style and studio at her website: www.melismaticstudios.com.

Michael Nutting (he/him)

Michael is excited to be back teaching songwriting for KIDSTAGE. Michael loves to stay busy on as many projects as possible and has recently worked on: Hansel & Gretl & Heidi & Gunter, The 25th Annual…Spelling Bee, A Proper Place, String, Newsies, …Howard Barnes, (Village Theatre); Jasper in Deadland, Little Shop of Horrors, Urinetown (The 5th Avenue Theatre); How to Succeed…, The Addams Family, James and the Giant Peach Jr., Hairspray, Urinetown, Beauty and the Beast, Oliver!, Les Misérables, School of Rock (KIDSTAGE).

Molli Corcoran

Molli holds a degree in theatre from Western Washington University. She has worked as an actor, singer, and educator in the greater Seattle area for over ten years. In addition to teaching for Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE, Molli also teaches public health at elementary schools across the state of Washington. As an actor, Molli has worked largely at the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Some of her favorite roles include: Pippi in Pippi Longstocking, Cat/Bear/Mouse in Good Night, Moon, Dot in Dot and Ziggy, and Stellaluna in Stellaluna.

Porcha Shaw

Porcha is a recent graduate of the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Washington. She is a native of Richmond, Texas and a graduate of Santa Fe University of Art and Design where she majored in Drama under the training of Jon Jory. Her recent Seattle credits include: Seattle Rep’s Shout Sister Shout and NINA SIMONE’s Four Women; Upstart Crow’s Richard III, The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion, Lamplighter, 12 Ophelias, By The Way, Meet Vera Stark; Sound Theatre’s Hoodoo Love, As You Like It, The Octavia, Iphigenia and Other Daughters, Wooden O’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, and Force Continuum.

Rico Lastrapes

Rico is a Seattle-based actor who has been fortunate enough to perform internationally. He toured the United States co-hosting SeaWorld Kid’s Generation Nature LIVE with Bindi Irwin and performed in numerous events at the Walt Disney World Resort. Rico moved to Washington in 2015 after receiving his BFA in Acting from the University of Central Florida and has been very active in the Puget Sound theatre community. Regional credits include: Newsies, West Side Story, In the Heights, Godspell, Elf the Musical, RENT, Peter and the Starcatcher.

Robin Logerstedt

Robin is very excited to be working with Village KIDSTAGE for this Winter Cabaret. As a KIDSTAGE kid themself, it’s very exciting to see theatre continuing for everyone. The holidays will be very different this year but seeing and hearing joyful songs will make it feel special. They can’t wait to help these young artists show their skills in a new and unconventional way. Their previous KIDSTAGE credits include: High School Musical (2019) and Sister Act (2018).

Rogelio Resendiz

Unapologetically bold, loud and proud, Rogelio Resendiz is a queer latinx, classically trained countertenor, hailing from Los Angeles CA and currently residing in Seattle WA, Rogelio is an innovative artist and educator who strives on breaking traditional forms of classical music/opera by defying gender and ethnic norms with a methodically inclusive sense of presentation, deep metaphor and meaning. Resendiz is an advocate for arts education and LGBTQ+ minority youth. Resendiz has chosen Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington to continue his musical education/degree. Resendiz is well known in Paramount, CA for his choral and musical theatre work with middle schoolers, high schoolers and the elderly.

Sade Aset (she/her)

Sade Aset, born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, recently graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting/Directing and minor in dance at Pacific Lutheran University. Not only has her work been showcased at PLU, but also on the stages of The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, and many local community theaters and high schools. Her goal is to use art as an opportunity to build up the community by exchanging knowledge and experience under the lens of creativity.

Shanelle Loenard

Shanelle starting teaching youth at the age of 21, teaching Pre-K and preschool-aged children in her hometown. After receiving her BFA in theatre, she began teaching theatre and performing arts at Seattle Infant Development Center to her Pre-K students. Shortly after, she went back to school to receive her Master’s in acting at UNC (May 2019). While at UNC, she taught acting fundamentals to high school and college students, and was so inspired she created her own curriculum, and, after completing her Master’s, launched her very own classes for inner city children and young adults in her neighborhood. Her true passion is teaching and performing.

Sheady Manning

Sheady is thrilled to be back with his second home, KIDSTAGE, after spending the past two years teaching and acting in Los Angeles! He has been working closely with KIDSTAGE for over 10 years now, first as a student and now as an instructor. As an actor, Sheady has worked with theaters all around the Seattle area such as Village Theatre, ArtsWest, and Balagan Theatre to name a few. As an Arts Educator, Sheady has worked in multiple schools, dance studios, and youth theaters across western WA and southern CA. It is his goal to make musical theatre training available to children of all ages, races, and income levels.

Sophie Franko (they/them)

Sophie is a bilingual, Peruvian-American theatre artist and interrupter of the status quo working in the Seattle area. They evaluate the world and their artistic work through the lenses of the sociopolitical, the intimate, and the mysterious. They have worked professionally as an actor, director, playwright, dancer, bilingual text coach and teaching artist for companies in the Seattle area including: Seattle Shakespeare Company, Intiman Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Upstart Crow Collective, ACTLab, Burien Actor’s Theater, and Seattle Public Theatre. Franco is currently the Director of Food-Based Joy at Washington Ensemble Theatre, where they have been an ensemble member and Resident Actor since 2017.

Steven Tran

Steven is a multi-hyphenated theatre maker and composer. Favorite recent credits include: arranger/orchestrator for Howl’s Moving Castle (Book-It Repertory Theatre), associate MD for As You Like It (Seattle Rep), and additional composer/arranger/orchestrator for The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion at ArtsWest (2019 Gregory Award co-nominee for Best New Play). He is the playwright and solo performer of The Sonata Years, which was recently workshopped at Seattle Rep. Steven also works as a sound designer, director, performer, and teaching artist. BA from Princeton University in Computer Science and Theatre. @snk_tran

Tony Curry

Tony has been one of Seattle’s busiest theatre artists for over 20 years. He has performed at many of Seattle’s theaters, including: 5th Ave, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Village Theatre, The Empty Space, A Contemporary Theatre, and 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.

UJ Mangune

UJ is a teaching and performing artist whose vision focuses on vulnerability, honesty, and sharing his experience as an American of color in this country. Growing up in Lynnwood, he became isolated as he moved to a high school in Duvall where he first began training in dance from studying YouTube videos. Recently awarded best choreography for Head Over Heels at ArtsWest and fresh from a nationwide co-production of In The Heights as Graffiti Pete, UJ has both taught and performed through venues including: Village Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Rev Theatre Company, and The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.

Kati Nickerson
Director of Youth Education and Community Outreach

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 enthusiastically joined Village Theatre in 2003, days after leaving high tech corporate life to follow her lifetime passion of working in a theatre. She has directed The Little Mermaid, 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 seventeen-year tenure at KIDSTAGE she has produced over eighty shows for KIDSTAGE including several original musicals. Suzie has been a driving force behind the KIDSTAGE Originals Program and is passionate about youth voice and encouraging future writers, composers, directors, and designers. She spearheaded the youth program quality initiative over the past seven years leading the efforts in incorporating Social Emotional Learning skills into the KIDSTAGE curriculum. She is passionate about developing future leaders both on stage and off and has been an active partner in equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts for the program. Suzie has a B.A. in theatre arts from Western Washington University with concentrations in both directing and acting. Her directing credits include Crimes of the Heart, Steel Magnolias, A Shayna Maidel, Royal Gambit, and The Firebugs. She has performed at Intiman, Seattle Children’s Theatre, the late Pioneer Square Theatre, and was in the 1985 Village Theatre KIDSTAGE production of Bye, Bye, Birdie.

Aaron Alonso
KIDSTAGE Production Manager, Everett

Aaron was a KIDSTAGE kid before joining the Village Theatre family, working at theatres including: The 5th Avenue Theatre, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, The Kennedy Center, and his alma mater of Western Washington University, where he holds a BA in theatre arts with an emphasis in stage management and technical theatre. Some of his favorite productions at KIDSTAGE include: In the Heights, School of Rock, Chicago, Les Misérables, The Lion King Jr., Hairspray, and James and the Giant Peach Jr. Aaron thanks his family, friends, and mentors as he valiantly attempts to put his theatre degree to use. He is living the dream every day, being in the “room where it happens” to make shows with the most talented students and artists in the world. Member of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology. His motto: “MacGyver it!”

Angela Linder
Youth Education Administrator

Angela has been with Village Theatre since 2008. She holds a BA in English from Seattle Pacific University and provides administrative support for KIDSTAGE programming. She loves the energy, talent, and spirit of collaboration of students and staff at KIDSTAGE!

Ayana Uriu
KIDSTAGE Company Manager / Production & Programs Assistant, Everett

Ayana is proud to be part of the KIDSTAGE family. A graduate of Everett HS, Ayana attended Western Washington University where she earned a BA in Theatre Arts. In her eight years at KIDSTAGE, she’s worn many hats, working with Institute/Pathway, classes, camps, and productions. Ayana has also had the honor of stage managing many KIDSTAGE shows. Favorites include: The Addams Family, Hairspray, The Lion King Jr., Les Misérables School Edition, and In the Heights. Ayana also works with the Evergreen MS and Whittier ES Drama Clubs. She is living the dream every day here at KIDSTAGE!

Gabriel Carbajal
Pathway Manager, Issaquah

Gabe has worked in both Issaquah and Everett in the past as a teaching instructor and assistant director. He is a published children’s musical theatre writer, director, and actor and has been an elementary school teacher for the past seven years including work running a Spanish Immersion multi-age program. He has worked as an educational director at Kids Discovery Museum, Jewel Box Theatre, and Bainbridge Performing Arts.  He has a passion for curriculum and his training in educational/behavioral ideologies and how theater helps students thrive!

Janet Cole Hamilton
Education and Outreach Manager, Issaquah

Janet has been with KIDSTAGE since 2006. She developed her own, “Skills for Theatre… Skills for Life” through acting, directing, forming a theatre company, serving on boards for arts organizations, and time in corporate America working with freelance artists, graphic designers, and game designers. Janet has served KIDSTAGE in a variety of roles and at different points has managed classes, camps, productions, and Institute/Pathway. KIDSTAGE allows Janet to pursue her lifelong passion for arts integration as she develops the emerging STEM and school outreach programs. Personal motto: Duck for Luck.

Jay O’Leary Woods
Lead Facilitator of Inter-Cultural Training and Program Design

Jay is an Afro Puerto Rican artist-activist transplanted in Seattle from New York. She currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Sound Theatre (four-time Theatre of the Year Gregory Award winner). As a response to the 2020 pandemic and racial uprising, Jay founded a Puget Sound Theatre Leadership Board for which she serves as chair and lead facilitator. Anti-Racism, belonging, and community building are foundational to everything she does. Jay has been a lead teaching artist, artist in residence, curriculum developer, trainer, or master coach for Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Public Theatre, Intiman Theatre, ArtsWest, Village Theatre, and ACT Theatre, as well as a guest lecturer at Duke and Carnegie Mellon. Directing credits include: World Premiere of REPARATIONS by Darren Canady (Sound Theatre), CITIZEN: an American Lyric (Sound Theatre), U.S. Premiere of B (Washington Ensemble Theatre), World Premiere of Anansi & the Halfling (Annex Theater), Skeleton Crew (ArtsWest), and Welcome to Arroyo’s (Theater Schmeater). Jay holds a BA in Theatre from SUNY Brockport, studied film in Thailand at Mahidol University, and recently earned an MFA in Directing at Edinburgh Napier University.

Jessica Low
Institute Manager, Everett

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from The University of Washington and works as a director, choreographer, performer, and educator in the Seattle area and beyond. She has worked with Village Theatre and KIDSTAGE for 15 years. Village Theatre Mainstage credits include: Xanadu, Big River, Annie Get Your Gun, Jesus Christ Superstar, It Shoulda Been You, 42nd Street, The Full Monty, Tommy, Beauty and the Beast, Saint Heaven; Associate Director for Newsies, Singin’ In The Rain, Billy Elliot; Choreographer for The Passage and The Tutor. Other Professional Credits: The 5th Avenue, ACT, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Showtunes, Harlequin Productions, ArtsWest, Sound Theatre Company, Seattle Musical Theatre, Coeur d‘Alene Summer Theatre, and the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. KIDSTAGE credits: 12+ shows including School of Rock, A Christmas Story, Chicago, Shrek Jr., and The Little Mermaid. Jessica also works with NM Entertainment as the Director of Singing for Seniors. She is a Gregory Award recipient for Outstanding Choreography for The Wild Party produced by Sound Theatre Company in 2014. www.jessicaannlow.com

Joel Arpin
KIDSTAGE Production Manager, Issaquah

Joel started his tenure with KIDSTAGE as a student and is proud to be a member of the KIDSTAGE staff. It is an incredible opportunity to give back to the program that inspired his so much in his youth, and hopefully encourage students in all aspects of theatre. This is his sixth year with KIDSTAGE. He graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in Theatrical Management and Design.

Maurianna Zingarelli (she/her)
Education and Outreach Manager, Everett

Maurianna has 12 years of teaching and facilitation experience and is deeply committed to racial equity in the nonprofit sector. With the mission to create inclusive environments and brave spaces, she has worked with over 15,000 students in the creative arts. With her theatre journey starting at KIDSTAGE many moons ago, Maurianna often says, “Once a KIDSTAGE Kid, always a KIDSTAGE Kid.” Her passion for storytelling shows up in many ways, including through film; she has worked on documentary projects in Europe, Africa, and North America. Maurianna holds a BA in Peace & Reconciliation Studies from Chapman University. In her spare time, she volunteers at Young Women Empowered as a mentor and participates in several anti-racism learning/activism groups.

Nicole Beerman
Institute Manager, Issaquah

Nicole is an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, teacher, and mother to 8-year-old Max and 4-year-old Huxley! She has directed and choreographed locally at KIDSTAGE, Cornish, Village Theater, Seattle Children’s Theater, and Café Nordo, as well as in NYC for the HERE Center, Clubbed Thumb, and Astoria Performing Arts Center. As an actor, Nicole’s credits include: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (The Kennedy Center – canceled due to Covid); The Constant Wife (Seattle Rep); Cabaret and Wonderful Town at The 5th Avenue Theatre; four shows at Seattle Children’s Theatre; and Village Theatre productions of Cabaret (Gregory Award Nominee), Mary Poppins, Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, How to Succeed…, Once Upon A Time in New Jersey, and many Village Originals. Nicole holds a BFA from Cornish and is a member of Actors’ Equity. www.nicolebeerman.com