Village Theatre KIDSTAGE youth education classes, camps, and productions are led by some of the region’s finest teaching artists, directors, choreographers, music directors, and musical theatre writers and composers. They are listed alphabetically by first name.
 Aimee Hong is a Music Director and Voice Teacher. Mainstage Village credits: AMD for Camelot and Little Shop of Horrors. Pit musician for Mamma Mia. KIDSTAGE credits: Finding Nemo Jr. Aimee has also worked for the 5th Avenue Theatre, The Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Seattle Rep, Bellevue College, The Seattle Opera, and the Seattle Symphony, as well as many other local community theaters. |
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 Ana Maria Campoy (she/her) is a Mexican-American theatre artist, educator, and advocate. Regionally, she has worked for OSF, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Seattle Repertory Theatre among many others. One of her most cherished acting roles is Catherine in a bilingual adaptation of David Auburn’s Proof, which she also produced and translated alongside director Arlene Martínez-Vásquez. She’s developed multiple bilingual scripts for Seattle Shakespeare Company; her fifth adaptation, Romeo y Julieta, premiered spring 2021 under the direction of Sophie Franco. She works as a Theatre Mentor for Arts Impacts’ Voices from the Field Program, working with fantastic public school teachers in migrant districts across Washington state. She has toured nationally in Living Voices’s solo show, La Causa. Recently, she was one one of five Associate Artists with ArtsWest Theatre for their 2021-2022 Season. She currently serves on the board for Sound Theatre and was newly named as Associate Artist for Seattle Shakespeare Company. In addition to her work within the arts, she founded and now runs the volunteer collective, WashMasks Mutual Aid, to provide PPE, support, and advocacy for migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families during this current pandemic (www.washmasks.org; @washmasks on Instagram).
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 Anna Vraney 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. |
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 Ben Bentler 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. |
 Claire Marx (she/her) 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 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 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) 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! |
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(*Broadway World Regional Award Nominee, Best Director of a Musical) |
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 Jimmy Shields 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). |
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 Kate Jaeger (she/her) 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. |
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 Megan Adams began her Musical Theatre career at the early age of five (5) in Village Theatre’s first new musical, Beanstalk. Although Megan loved performing, she quickly developed a love of teaching dance and choreography as well. Her mission, to inspire and empower her dance students to express themselves through movement no matter their age or experience. Megan began choreographing and teaching dance in her late teens and has not stopped since having choreographed the SeaGals, Stealth Bombsquad, and tens of musicals and special events. Megan studied dance at the University of Washington, Cornish College of the Arts, Westlake Dance Center, and many studios across the region. Megan is A.C.E. certified and remains a lover of learning, continuing to take classes of all genres locally and across the US and Europe. |
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 Michael Nutting (he/him) 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). |
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 Sade Aset (she/her) , 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. |
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 Sheady Manning 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. |
 Sophia Franzella (she/her) is thrilled to be working with the Village Theatre KIDSTAGE team this year! With 11 years of classical ballet training, she decided to transition into the world of Theatre at the age of 14. After falling in love with Theatre in high school, Sophia earned her BA in Theatre Arts from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas in 2013. She is also a 2014 graduate of A Working Group (a Meisner-technique acting program). Sophia has taught acting and dance throughout Seattle over the past 6 years (Lakeside Middle School, Sing Out Seattle, Stone Soup Theatre, Mode Music). Sophia also offers private audition coaching preparation! When she is not teaching, Sophia works as a professional actor in Seattle. She is a co-founder and company member of the experimental theatre lab Filament: A Collab Lab. Sophia also enjoys hiking with friends, reading lots of books, watching spooky movies, and learning new subjects! |
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 twenty+ year tenure at KIDSTAGE she has produced 100+ 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 several 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.
Casey is a director/choreographer/arts educator based out of Seattle, WA. He has taught, directed, choreographed and been a guest speaker for several arts organizations throughout the West Coast most recently working with San Diego State University, Village Theatre, Central Washington University, The Northwest Voice Conference, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Casey holds an MFA in Musical Theatre, Theatre Arts from San Diego State University, and a BA in Dance from the University of Washington. Select direction and choreography credits include Bye Bye Birdie (Leavenworth Summer Theatre), The Little Mermaid (Bigfork Summer Playhouse), Chicago (Central Washington University) and The SpongeBob Musical (Village Theatre KIDSTAGE SummerStock). Casey’s research and training in social and emotional learning explores the normalization of emotion discussion, and mindfulness in the performing arts classroom. In cultivating emotion-based discoveries, educators send thoughtful performers into the professional arena – performers with a deeper understanding of empathy and strengthened coping and mindfulness skills.
Blaire Smith is a distinguished theatre artist and K-12 educator based in Seattle, WA, who has shared her love of theatre all over the world. With a passion for the performing arts that began early in life, Blaire has built a dynamic career in acting, directing, stage management, choreography, and design. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts (Acting and Drama Education) and a Master’s in Social Emotional Learning, blending these disciplines to enrich both theatre and education communities globally.
Blaire toured with the world’s largest touring children’s theatre, Missoula Children’s Theatre, for seven years, performing and teaching on stages across 49 states and 12 countries. Locally, she has been seen working the Double Shot play festival (Tacoma, WA), Ancient Lake Theatre Festival, Plank Island Theatre, and A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) (Seattle, WA). As a speaker, she has presented at major conferences including National University, the Michigan Afterschool Association Conference, the Washington State Bridge Conference, and multiple Girl Scouts learning conferences. Blaire is certified as a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialist and combines her unique expertise in theatre arts with SEL to create innovative educational programs. In 2024, she was selected as one of only 104 arts educators for a national Connected Arts Network project, advancing arts education in schools across the country.
Blaire is the founder of Beyond the Stage Youth, a Washington-based nonprofit, and owner of Social Emotional Theatre, a recognized provider within the Social Emotional Learning Providers Association. Through these organizations, she combines theatre and SEL to empower youth and enrich communities, believing that theatre and storytelling are vital tools for unity and personal growth. She holds certifications in CPR, AED, First Aid, and Mental Health First Aid Certified through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Blaire’s philosophy centers on the belief that theatre and creative storytelling are vital tools for unity and empowerment. As an advocate for arts education, she is dedicated to enriching communities by introducing the joy and benefits of theatre to diverse audiences.
Aaron is an educator, artist, and activist originally from Compton California. Aaron’s formal training includes studying at Biola Conservatory of Music, studying with opera singers while living in Heidelberg German, and Cornish College of the Arts. With a background in vocal performance, vocal health/technique, Aaron has performed in many musical arenas and has worked with incredible musicians across Europe, Canada, and the United States. From opera, to musical theatre, to gospel Aaron appreciates any chance they gets to work with other artist. As an activist Aaron continues to fight for equitable theatre education programs for youth and for diverse representation on stage and on productions teams. Aaron can currently be found as the Institute Manager at Village Theatre KidStage Everett, teaching voice Cornish College of The Arts and as the Co-Education Manager for Re:Theatre.
Angela has been with Village Theatre since 2008. She holds a BA in English from Seattle Pacific University and provides administrative and customer service support for all KIDSTAGE programming. She loves the energy, creativity and spirit of collaboration among students and staff at KIDSTAGE!
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. Since joining the KIDSTAGE Team in 2012, 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 Drama Club. She is living the dream every day here at KIDSTAGE!
Blaire is a Washington based theatre artist and drama educator, who is excited to return to Village Theatre KIDSTAGE as the education programs coordinator! Although she calls Seattle home, she has shared her love of theatre on stages all over the world. She enjoys all aspects of theatre and theatre education. Starting her theatrical journey at a young age, She has acted, directed, stage managed and designed on stages both large and small. Her most recent credits include works with Ancient Lake Theatre Festival, Plank Island Theatre, and Missoula Children’s Theatre, where she acted and directed in 49 states and 12 different countries. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Western Washington University. Her advocacy for the arts and arts education has inspired her to become the Founder of Beyond the Stage Youth, a youth empowerment program that teaches life and social emotional learning skills, through theatre arts to support arts educational opportunities in underserved communities. She believes theatre and creative storytelling have the power to unite and empower all people and is humbled and honored to bring theatre anywhere she goes.
Hayley is proud to be a part of the KIDSTAGE Everett team. Hayley attended Chapman University earning a BA in Theatre and Psychology. Following her graduation, she was an Emerging Professional Resident for Milwaukee Rep, joining their Education & Engagement team. There, she wrote Shakespeare curriculum for Milwaukee Public Schools, taught adult acting, supported youth programming, and much more. Since moving to Seattle and joining KIDSTAGE, she helps run day-to-day Summer camps and year-long classes, Institute, and the theatre’s Teaching Apprenticeship program. Hayley is excited to keep the creativity rolling with KIDSTAGE.
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.
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.
Ian Smith (KIDSTAGE Production Manager, Issaquah) is excited to be the newest member of the KIDSTAGE family. Prior to his work at Village Theatre, he attended Whitman College where he specialized in Stage and Production Management. Credits include: The Winter’s Tale, Bare: a pop opera, The Thanksgiving Play, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and KIDSTAGE’s Summer Performance Intensive. Additionally, he is currently a Gibson Ek mentor and teaches stage management to youth through KIDSTAGE’s Technical Theatre Program. Ian is proud alum of the Summer Independent Production Program where he was the student production manager for Bright Star.
Ricardo Lastrapes is an actor, composer, choreographer, teaching artist, and a 2021-2022 Tacoma Artists Initiative Program funding recipient. He began to write music after performing in orchestra pits for multiple productions, including Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Parade, while attending Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. As his love for musical storytelling grew, he began to pursue theatre and dance, receiving his BFA in Acting from The University of Central Florida. He has performed in several regional productions in Washington and Florida (West Side Story, Newsies, In the Heights, RENT, Godspell). He has created a 15 Minute Story for the 5th Avenue Theatre and founded Break the Table, an online streaming channel for BIPOC creatives.
KIDSTAGE Registration & General Inquiries
(425) 392-1942
kidstage@villagetheatre.org
Questions about KIDSTAGE Productions
(425) 392-1942
KIDSTAGEproductions@villagetheatre.org
KIDSTAGE BELIEVES:
Everyone benefits from an inclusive, multi-cultural environment of students, staff and programming. We welcome people of every ethnicity, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, income and ability.
We want to hear from you! Reconnect with Village Theatre and share what you’re doing now.
Alyssa Keene is an actor, voice and dialect coach, writer, and podcast producer. Recent acting credits include: Fanny in Howl’s Moving Castle (Book-It Repertory Theatre), Maggie in Yen (ACT), Lili in Why We Have a Body (Strawshop), and Yvette in Mother Courage (Seattle Shakespeare Company). Recent voice and dialect coaching includes: What We Were (Pony World Theatre), Austen’s Pride, West Side Story (5th Ave); Language Rooms (Pony World); Jitterbug Perfume (Café Nordo). She has coached dialects for A Christmas Carol at ACT for over a dozen years and in 2013 was featured in an episode of 
Anthony Curry is now in his 8th year as the Play Writing mentor for KIDSTAGE’s New Works program. As a writer, he has more than 25 plays and screenplays to his credit. Seattle has seen the premieres of several of his plays including Café Ooh Longue, BlackJack, Unidentified Flying Object, Red, White & Turning Blue, Rumpelstiltskin and That Millennium Thing. He was commissioned by the Seattle Opera to help create a children’s adaptation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute for both a Northwest tour and recording. He was a recipient of the Artist Trust Fellowship for Playwrights. His screenplay, The Sand Sea, is in now pre-production and scheduled for filming in England and Morocco in Spring of 2022. But most of all, he loves working with these incredible young people as they create a new musical.
David Taylor Gomes (he/him) is a Composer, Music Director, Actor, and Educator, best known for writing the music and lyrics for Boxed Up: The Musical and Ranked, A Musical, which is the subject of the HBO Documentary Film My So-Called High School Rank. David is also a founding member of 
Emily Pfriem (she/her) is a teaching and performing artist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Western Washington University with a Dance Minor. She grew up as a KIDSTAGE kid and is excited to be back teaching! When not at KIDSTAGE, she enjoys teaching and performing all over the Seattle area. Emily spends her weekends performing with Seattle’s Princesses. Recent shows include, Western Washington University’s productions of Miss Julie, how to clean your room (and remember all your trauma), Winter Dances 2019-2020, HereToo-WWU, Commedia In The Park, An American Daughter and WWU Student Theatre productions of Copenhagen, Better Days, and Snapshot. Emily hopes to learn and grow alongside her students, as well as teach them all the wonderful skills, lessons, and stories that theatre has taught her over the years.
Faith Bennett Russell 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).
Gloria Alcalá (they/them) is a theatre artist and educator based in Seattle, WA and received their BFA in Theatre from Cornish College of the Arts in 2019. Gloria is ecstatic to be in their first year with KIDSTAGE teaching Pathway to Institute’s 1st year Musical Theatre students. Gloria has a background in vocal performance, extensive dance and acting training and has been onstage in Seattle at Seattle Shakespeare Company, The Taproot Theatre, Intiman Theatre and many others. Gloria has a mission to cultivate art spaces that, through story, connect us to each other and ourselves so that we may learn, grow, grieve, and heal. When not in the theatre, Gloria is often taking strolls through Seattle parks with their puppy Gallie or paddle boarding on Lake Union.
Hannah White is a performing and teaching artist! She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Cornish College of the Arts. Some favorite credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Peter, Dance Captain), Company (Susan), and Chicago (Ensemble, Dance Captain). Hannah previously taught dance classes in New York City schools, and is currently teaching musical theater classes and camps in the greater Seattle area. Most recently, she was Associate Choreographer for the KIDSTAGE SummerStock production of Legally Blonde The Musical!
Jon Lutyens works as a cross-disciplinary theatre artist around the Puget Sound region. As an actor, Jon’s work has been enjoyed by audiences at ACT Theatre, Village Theatre, Strawberry Theatre Workshop, Taproot Theatre, Book-It Repertory, Showtunes Theatre Company and several others in the region. As an educator, Jon has worked and continues to work in curriculum and after school for public schools in Seattle and Everett for 15 years. Across all disciplines, Jon is committed to working toward a future with greater acceptance and support for all theatre-makers of any age. Jon is a Theatre Arts graduate of WWU, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Josh Zimmerman is thrilled to be part of this wonderful program! He is a recipient of Broadway World Seattle and Gypsy Rose Lee awards for music direction. Credits include Assistant Music Director/Keys 2 for GREASE: das Musical (Musical Tommy GmbH) and Children’s Music Director for the first national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock (Troika). He maintains a private studio and accompanies for Cornish College of the Arts and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Kataka Corn (they/them) has been dedicated to performing musical theatre and strives to create meaningful art. They devote their time to training, performing, and teaching students the art of theatre and the many life skills this art form creates. Kataka is excited to inspire, collaborate with, and support student artists from all walks of life. They’ve most recently been seen in the Village Theatre “Welcome Home – A Holiday Concert”, and continue to work with The 5th Avenue Theatre, and ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (Mopsa in the 2019 production of “Head Over Heels”).
Kekoa Dilay (he/him) is a Native-Hawaiian professional theater artist, educator, choreographer, and director throughout the Puget Sound region. Kekoa is a teaching artist for the Village Theatre KIDSTAGE’s Institute program and recreational classes. With Village Theatre KIDSTAGE, he was the Associate Director/Choreographer of Beauty and the Beast, Associate Choreographer of Guys and Dolls, and was the Choreographer for the KIDSTAGE Original, While They Last. On stage, Kekoa appeared in Newsies (Davey) and the 2022 Sing It Forward Soiree with Village KIDSTAGE, as well as in many Tacoma community theater and high school productions. Kekoa is dedicated to uplifting voices of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. @kekoadilay
Keoni Dilay is a Seattle based performer and choreographer. Fresh off of performing in Mamma Mia on Village Mainstage, he is very excited to get back to teaching! Keoni strives to create a safe space for all actors to express themselves. He is also a huge advocate for prioritizing BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices
Lexi Warden (she/her) is a theatre artist, educator, and advocate based in Seattle. Her movement/choreography work has been featured by Seattle Shakespeare Company, Dacha Theatre, Village Theatre KIDSTAGE, 5th Avenue Theatre’s Rising Star Project and the Vermont Dance Alliance. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2021 with a degree in Theatre modified with African and African American Studies and is dedicated to using her artistic and teaching practices to promote underrepresented voices in theatre.
Marguerite Ainsworth (she/her) is a Seattle-based musical theatre performer & teaching artist! After graduating from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA and training with Actor Therapy in New York, she moved back to Seattle and loves singing with Naomi Morgan Entertainment and Premier Vocal Entertainment in the Seattle area. As a teaching artist, she’s a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) after completing levels I & II of Evidence- based Voice Function with Maddie Tarbox Vocal Studio. Marguerite is thrilled to be part of the teaching community with Village Theatre KIDSTAGE, and encourage students to sing confidently and make big choices!
Mackenzie Neusiok (she/her) is a dance instructor, choreographer, and performing artist based in Seattle. She works with students of all ages and levels throughout the Seattle area from ages 8 – 68. Her expertise is in theatre jazz, tap, and ballet, with experience in hip-hop, contemporary, and swing. As a choreographer, her work was last seen with Nice Work if You Can Get It (2022) and Curtains (2019) with Woodland Park Players, and Legally Blonde (2018) with Seattle Musical Theatre. Mackenzie is a member of the Coharie Tribe.
Meagan Moffat (she/her) is always so thrilled to be teaching with Kidstage! A former Kidstage kid herself, Meagan went on to complete her Arts Education Internship in 2014, and has been teaching with the program ever since. She last performed in Legally Blonde (Showtunes), and has taught with Reflections School of Dance, and in special education. Meagan has had the honor & privilege of performing as a percussionist at Carnegie Hall, conducted by her mother & guest conducted by her grandfather. Currently, she attends Arizona State University where she is pursuing a degree in Speech & Hearing Sciences. She is a Disney College Program alum and loves all things magic, most things coffee, and her favorite tv show is Survivor!
Megan Ruth Smith graduated from Central Washington University with a BFA in Musical Theatre Cum Laude and has been working as a choreographer, performer, and teaching artist across the Northwest. Immediately upon graduation, she was hired as the resident choreographer and dance instructor for the Central BFA Musical Theatre Program. Megan has since been working across the PNW including Oregon Children’s Theatre, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, Leavenworth Summer Theatre, The Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Seattle Musical Theatre, Spotlight Musical, Theatre Academy, and Walt Disney World.
Michael Matlock (he/they) is a Seattle-based musician, instructor, and composer. Theatre highlights: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, She Loves Me, Singing in the Rain (Village Theatre), Beauty and the Beast, Austen’s Pride, Holiday Inn (5th Avenue), Spitfire Grill, Bright Star, Sweet Land (Taproot), Bruce (Seattle Rep), Ride the Cyclone, Assassins (ACT). He has also been with KIDSTAGE since he was young enough to be enrolled in the program and always loves coming back! Thanks, as always, to Suzie and R.J.
Olivia Villalobos Sutherland (She/They) is a Seattle based performer and vocal coach excited to join the KIDSTAGE team! While she spent her college years at Western Washington University studying and performing opera, after graduating with a BFA in Vocal Performance they dove headfirst into discovering themselves as a teacher and director. Favorite directing credits include: Music Director, Kentwood High School’s production of ‘Pippin’ and Vocal Director, Madrona Children’s Theater’s production of ‘Shrek Jr.’ They are also an avid dancer and a recent graduate of the Instructor Training Program at Positive Spin Pole Dance. As a dancer and teacher, she is a strong believer in tying music to movement to help ground harder-to-grasp musical concepts. Between teaching, noodling around on poles at Positive Spin, and snuggling with her bunnies (Benjamin and Theodor), she endeavors to perform as much as she can. Favorite credits include: Doofey in Lowbrow Opera Collective’s production of ‘Sweets by Kate’, law clerk/ensemble in Strawberry Theater Workshop’s production of ‘Miss You Like Hell’, and Mrs. Mayor in KFT’s production of ‘Seussical’.
Olivia Pedroza is thrilled to be back at KIDSTAGE for the 22-23 season! She just finished playing keyboard 2 in Village Theatre’s summer production of Mamma Mia, and is often writing and producing her own music with her brother. She has been singing and playing piano her entire life and has always loved musical theatre. Olivia specializes in 20th century music, pulling her influences from Cole Porter and Stephen Sondheim, and minimalist composers like Steve Reich and Meredith Monk. With students, she emphasizes the importance of accountability, and strives to make the rehearsal space fun and open! She also loves to tap dance and go to the movies!
R.J. Tancioco. Select musical direction credits include: Beauty and the Beast (2022), Urinetown, Mamma Mia!, Grease, Jasper in Deadland, Little Shop of Horrors, RENT, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Hair (The 5th Avenue Theatre); You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (2022), She Loves Me, …Howard Barnes, In the Heights, Hairspray, Newsies, Dreamgirls, Pump Boys and Dinettes (Village Theatre); The Winter’s Tale, As You Like It, The Odyssey, Here Lies Love (Seattle Rep); Head Over Heels, Violet, American Idiot (ArtsWest); The Spitfire Grill (Showtunes!); Daddy Long Legs, Bright Star (Taproot Theatre); How Can I Love You (Ignite Creative); Spring Awakening (Balagan). Music Supervisor: Lizard Boy (Seattle Rep). A 2010 Gregory Award and 2011/2014 Gypsy Rose Lee award recipient, RJ Tancioco is a vocal coach, arranger, and composer who enjoys educating youth and cultivating new musicals. Support live theatre!
Shalonia Wonch (she/her) is very excited to be working for Kidstage and to be back in the physical classroom with students. Having received her BFA in Theatre Performance and an M.Ed. In Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Idaho, Shalonia is dedicated to helping young people discover more about themselves and the world through a theatrical lens. In addition to her work at Kidstage, Shalonia is also a director for Bellevue Youth Theatre, a teaching artist for Seattle Rep, Education coordinator at the Intiman and a lifelong adventurer. Having grown up in theatre programs herself, Shalonia has seen first-hand the impact that arts can have on an individual and looks forward to sparking her students’ curiosity and creativity. When Shalonia is not teaching she enjoys reading books with her cat, Iago, kayaking, or enjoying a challenging hike.”