Eric Polani Jensen (Director) has been involved in the Pacific Northwest theatre scene over the last 25 years. As an actor, director and educator he has been involved in the development and presentation of both the classics and new works. He is continuously inspired by the creativity and determination brought forth through the various KIDSTAGE programs and is constantly living the adage: Skills for Theatre, Skills for Life.
Adam Quillian (Music Director/Music & Composing Mentor) 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. He currently splits his time between the corporate life of Amazon, the artistic life of theater across Burien, Northgate, Seattle, and Issaquah, the band-member life of his PNW-based band, Neither Bears Nor Forest, and playing doggy-daddy to his “spirited” tripawd, Jake. Love, hope, and glitter to all!
Danielle Mohlman (Writing Mentor) is a nationally produced playwright based in Seattle, WA. Danielle’s 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’s plays include Stopgap (Field Trip Theatre, DCCAH Larry Neal Award finalist); Nexus (Hubbard Hall, Dreamwell Theatre, The Kilroys honorable mention, DCCAH Larry Neal Award finalist, Woodward/Newman Award finalist); Dust (Dacha Theatre, The Kilroys List, Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center semi-finalist, Finish Line Commission); Rushing (The Scratch & Really Really Theatre Group, Umbrella Project Writers Group); Frankenstein (George Mason High School); Halcyon (Seattle Public Theater, Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center semi-finalist); and Rocky Road (Project 5 Commission). 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 and film.
Valerie Reid (Stage Manager) is excited to be back with the KIDSTAGE Originals Program for a third year. She spent the last two years stage managing for the KIDSTAGE Originals production of All That Glitters. Valerie has been stage managing for over 10 years now. Other favorite shows include Legally Blonde The Musical (TNP), Assassins (SSR) and Once on this Island (TNP). Though the last year has been very hectic and things might look a little different this year, she is very excited to be able to be back doing theater and working with these amazing students.
