San Diego Junior Theatre: Education: Teaching Artists

San Diego Junior Theatre
Teaching Artists

Andy (Andrea) Aguirre our Education Program Manager, came to Junior Theatre in January 2005 from the City of Coronado's Recreation Department, where she created a drama program called "Off Broadway" for children ages 5-11. Andy wrote all of the plays and she directed and choreographed the shows. Andy worked in recreation for 8 years, but she has worked with children in many capacities for most of her life. Andy was awarded the Rising Star Award last spring from Kids Included Together for her outstanding work as an Inclusion Facilitator for children with special needs. She strives to make all children included in every way. Andy received her Bachelor’s degree from UCSD in Psychology with and emphasis in child development. She is very excited to be teaching Junior Theatre in the classroom and through our Outreach Programs. She also enjoys creating new classes and curriculum to be taught through the education department. Her future plans include becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Sherri Allen is a San Diego-based actor, director, and teacher with extensive credits in both local and regional theatre. She holds a BA in Drama from San Diego State University, studied Shakespeare and British Theatre in London, interned as an actor at PCPA Theaterfest, and did graduate work in theatre on a full scholarship at Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Sherri also holds a teaching credential in English from California State University, San Marcos, and is a member of the San Diego Actor's Alliance. As an actor, she has worked with La Jolla Playhouse, Asolo Theatre Company, PCPA Theaterfest, Moonlight Stages, North Coast Repertory Theatre, the Old Globe Theatre's Education Department, Lamb's Players Touring Company, and Summer Repertory Theatre, among others, and was a performer and show captain at Legoland California for over three years. When not working in theatre, Sherri enjoys working with children who share her love for the arts. Besides working with all the wonderful students at San Diego Junior Theatre, Sherri is also a Teaching Artist with Playwrights Project, J*Company Youth Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, the Theatre School at North Coast Rep., and MiraCosta College. Additionally, Sherri has taught in the public school system and with San Diego Lyric Opera.

Steve Anthony has been singing and dancing professionally since he was eight. He's had the opportunity to work with such great director/choreographers as Gower Champion, Hal Prince, Tommy Tune, Peter Gennaro, Martin Scorcese and Graciella Daniel. Steve's most memorable moment was being chosen by Michael Bennet as one of the original 22 dancers to participate in a series of workshops which led to the production of "A Chorus Line". As a result, part of Steve's life story is portrayed in that hit show. Steve's other Broadway credits include SeeSaw, Spotlight, Rockabye Hamlet and The Act starring Liza Minelli. Theater in Old Town audiences will remember Steve as Tony Whitcomb in Shear Madness, Mr. Howell in Gilligan's Island, The Musical, Spike Spaldeen in the West Coast premiere of Song of Singapore and Sylvia St. Croix in Ruthless! Regionally, Steve has been awarded two Dramalogue Awards for Gangster #1 in Kiss Me Kate and Moonface Martin in Anything Goes at The Lawrence Welk Theatre. Other favorite regional theatre roles include: Cocky in The Roar of The Greasepaint, The Smell of The Crowd, The Emcee in Cabaret, the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors and Dr. Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Steve is a faculty member at Saddleback College and also teaches for the MFA Musical Theatre program at San Diego State University. He has also directed and choreographed extensively for San Diego Junior Theatre including this past summer's hit, Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Bernard Baldan has credits at the Rep that include: A Christmas Carol, Red Noses, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Tragedy of Tragedies, Scapin, Hold me, The Duchess of Malfi. Regional credits include: Blue in The Unseen Hand, Father Rivard in the west coast premiere of The Runner Stumbles, The Sunshine Boys for The Old Globe Theatre, The Boise Club for The Laguna Playhouse. Original member of the ITP - Improvisational Theatre Project for the Mark Taper Forum. Awards include: Old Globe Atlas Awards for lead and supporting roles, Drama Circle Award. Founding member of The San Diego Repertory Theatre, and Indian Magique. Created the role of Scrooge in the original Rep production. Author of The Boise Club, produced at the Laguna Playhouse and directed by Douglas Jacobs. United States International University School of Performing Arts -Acting/Directing.

Randi Driscoll is a professional singer/ songwriter/ pianist and composer who has shared the stage with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Jason Mraz, Pat Benetar, Rufas Wainwright and numerous others. Her credits include performances at Lincoln Center, The Reagan Center in DC with Key Note Hillary Clinton, Paramount Studios, and the Place’ des Arts in Montreal. She has been awarded Campus Activities Magazine Female Performer of the Year 2004 and her music has been featured in films, commercials and the hit series Dawson’s Creek. The choral version of her anti hate benefit single “What Matters” was performed at Carnegie Hall, and the same piece has was featured in a commercial directed by Spike Lee. Randi tours extensively at colleges, clubs, festivals and corporate events. She has been a devoted teaching artist for ten years, teaching and directing in New York, San Diego and San Francisco. She also coaches over twenty personal piano/voice/ composition students. Randi is thrilled to be back at San Diego Junior Theatre, a place she loves to call home!

Torrie Dunlap Torrie Dunlap holds a degree in Theatre for Young Audiences from San Diego State University and served as Junior Theatre’s Education Director from 1993-2003. While at Junior Theatre she directed a number of productions including How to Eat Like a Child, Miss Nelson is Missing, The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Really Rosie and choreographed many others. Torrie spent 6 years on the Executive Board of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and chaired their national conference in 2001. Torrie has taught dance and drama at schools and studios all over San Diego County since 1987. Currently, Torrie is the Director of the National Training Center on Inclusion for Kids Included Together (KIT). She is thrilled to be spending her free time at Junior Theatre and in addition to teaching is directing this season’s production of Busytown.

Todd Durrance holds a BFA in theatre arts with emphasis in directing from Millikin University. Todd has been teaching and directing theatre since 1990 through his small company as well as teaching drama for two private schools. He also teaches adults beginning acting once a week for a program in Poway. Todd specializes in teaching acting, improv, mime & movement, directing and modern puppet techniques. He also has had the privilege to do professional technical work at La Jolla Playhouse, Starlight Theatre and Gas Lamp Quarter Theatre. He has an extensive background working with youth as a counselor for 10 years on a national youth crisis hotline. And enjoys helping youth use theatre to explore creative and innovative ways to share story with an audience. When he is not teaching theatre you might catch him subbing in one of San Diego’s city schools.

Wyatt Ellison is thrilled to be working with Junior Theatre! He traveled for two years with Up With People where he worked as a Dance Captain. He recently completed his Bachelors degree in Music Education at SDSU. He is currently seeking his Masters in Theatre Arts, with an emphasis in music, dance and musical theatre also at SDSU. Most recently Wyatt was seen in Moonlight Amphitheaters production of "Me and My Girl." He is also a student of both Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais Technique and hopes to gain his certification after he graduates. Wyatt loves working with youth and strongly believes that the arts provide tools for survival in a world that is constantly re-inventing itself.

Estrella Esparza-Johnson Ms. Esparza-Johnson is a second-generation member of El Teatro Campesino and a graduate of the School of the Arts, San Francisco. Her theatre credits include: Ion Theatre: La Gaviota by Claudio Ragoza, adapted from The Seagull by Anton Checkov (MIchi) CSU San Marcos: Life in Questions and Exclamation Marks by Anton Chekov (Ensemble), El Teatro Campesino: 25th Anniversary Production of Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez (Alice Bloomfield), Mummified Deer by Luis Valdez (Armida Bravo), Mundo Mata by Luis Valdez (Guera Mata/Dona Lola). L.A. Theatre Works: Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez (Della Barrios) CSU Monterey Bay: Gila River by Lane Nishikawa (Sumiko Suzuki) The Magic Theatre: Man of the Flesh by Octavio Solis (Romelia/Anne). Her Television, Video and Film credits include: En Busca de Excelencia(On Camera Host), Woodenship Productions, directed by Marilyn Abad-Cardinalli, The Young and the Breatheless (On Camera Host),Ideas in Motion Directed by Lynn Adler, La Pastorela (Supporting role), Great Performances/KQED Directed by Luis Valdez, Seeing is Believing (Principal), Hotwire Productions, Directed by Lynn Hershman, Between Friends (Principal) Ideas in Motion, Directed by Severo Perez.

Bryn Fillers A graduate in Theatre Arts from Reed College, Bryn is a playwright, director, and actor who has been a member of an Improv troupe both in Portland and San Diego. She has written and directed for the Firehouse Theatre in Portland, Theatre Rhino in San Francisco, and the California Center For the Arts in Escondido as well as schools across Los Angeles and San Diego including Warren-Walker and Roosevelt Middle Schools. Bryn also writes and directs for classes at San Diego Junior Theatre, and she has directed for the mainstage through their Page to Stage program. She dramatizes and teaches historical curriculum through the CCAE’s Suave program, Warren-Walker Middle School and the School in the Park program. Bryn teaches playwriting through Playwrights Project and J*Company. Her students have won awards, and just last summer, she had the privilege of directing two of her students’ plays in the AASD Actors Festival starring Triple Espresso’s Keith Reay along with some of her most talented students from JT. This fall she will be teaching drama classes through Gillispie’s enrichment program and assisting with the Improv class at Bishop’s. Bryn is currently featured in the short film, “Flamingo Tango,” directed by JT’s Leasa Thernes for Persnickety Pictures.

Erin Hatch has a B.A. in theatre from UCSD, where he got into teaching theatre arts through an elementary school outreach program with Artsbridge America. Erin started at Junior Theatre as a student, and performed in both main stage and Conservatory Black Box productions. He has performed in a variety of student and independent projects as well as in shows with the California Playwrights Project, the Fault Line Theatre, and as a zombie at the Del Mar Fair's Screamzone. Erin writes comedy music for Random Gibberish Productions, and wrote most of the original lyrics for their musical comedy When Lightening Strikes, which was performed at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2006. He also contributed to several skits by Random Gibberish that ran on the radio program Whistling in the Dark on KZSC Santa Cruz public radio between 2003 and 2006. Having worked at JT as a student and an aide, Erin is very excited to be returning as a teaching artist.

Kalin Hove received her B.A. in theatre and a minor in studio art from the University of California, at San Diego. At the American Conservatory of Theatre in San Francisco she advanced her theatre studies with classes in clowning, improvisation, voice, and movement. Kalin has performed in such shows as Guy's and Dolls, Company, As You Like It, and How to Succeed in Business... She has also directed her own one-woman show and several puppet shows. Kalin is proud to have been teaching theatre and art in San Diego for the past three years. She currently teaches theatre for the San Diego Unified School District as well as several non-profit organizations.

Nicole Labrit Bio coming soon!

Patrick Lathrop is an actor, director, costumer and educator. He holds a BA in Theatre Performance, an MFA in Musical Theatre, and an MA in Costume History and Design. As an actor, some of his favorite roles include Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, and Sancho in Man of La Mancha. Some of his directing credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Working, The Grass Harp, Story Theatre, Anything Goes and Oliver. As a Costumer he has designed Cloud Nine, Macbeth, Man of La Mancha, The Tales of Narnia, and Alice in Wonderland to mention a few. Patrick has worked with Imagination Celebration of Orange County as the Programs Director, the Pacific School of Music & the ARTS as the Administrative Assistant and a teacher of voice and drama, and most recently with Pasadena Junior Theatre as Education Director. Patrick has also been a lecturer on Period Movement & Manners and Costume History with San Diego State University's Annual Writer's Conference, San Diego City College, and the Mission Viejo Library. Patrick has a wide and varied background, from being a company dancer and actor with Utah Shakespeare Festival to being a Travel Study Coordinator with SDSU, where he had the opportunity to travel and study in England, Europe, Mexico, and Central America. Patrick brings a lifetime of experience to the San Diego Junior Theatre where he serves as a teacher, director, and Education Program Manager.

Doug Lay has been an equity actor for over 25 years. He has worked throughout the US in almost every major Shakespearean Festival from Oregon Shakes to New York Shakes, from the Old Globe to Alabama Shakes, having over 30 Shakespearean roles to his credit. He has toured throughout this country, playing in 37 of our 50 states and extensively through Europe. Mr. Lay has worked off-Broadway and the West End in London. As a director and educator, he is known for his ground-breaking and innovative work focusing primarily on classic drama and children’s theatre. He is the artistic director of The Theatre, Inc. in San Diego, on the board of directors of the Actors Alliance of San Diego and Will & Co. in LA. He has been honored with two Back Stage West Awards, a Dramalogue Award, a Patte Award and two Playbill Awards. He holds a BFA from SOSU and an MFA from Florida State University.

Richard May Bio coming soon.

Lynn Mendoza-Khan has worked as an opera singer, composer, music arranger, musical director, choir director and private voice teacher over the last 20 years. She has performed throughout California and Europe. She is very enthusiastic about showing others how to sing with a healthy beautiful tone. To find out more about her go to www.sandiegovoiceteacher.com

Richard Morrison holds a BFA in theater from Webster Conservatory, and has been a professional musician and stage manager since he was in high school. He is overjoyed to return to his native San Diego after spending the last several years working in New York City and around the country. Richard loves sharing his experience and enthusiasm with the next generation of artists.

Sarah Siegel holds a B.A. in theatre from San Diego State University. She began her theatre career in the San Francisco area performing and directing for several years before moving to New York City where she started two theatre companies and continued her work in both theatre and film. While in New York City she continued her training studying under Milan Stitt and Lanford Wilson at the Circle Repertory Company and worked as a private audition coach and acting instructor helping her students land roles on both stage and screen. In San Diego Sarah has worked as an assistant casting director at Stu Segall Productions and has produced The Fritz Theatre’s Fritz Blitz for the past two years.

To Be Determined. Check back soon!

Leasa Thernes teaches dance at the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet where she has directed and choreographed several full-length ballet productions including Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. She also teaches at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in La Jolla and recently was a guest choreographer for the dance department at Coronado School of the Arts High School. Leasa is an alumnus of San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. Currently, a student at San Diego City College and Mesa College she is studying dance, theatre, art and film. Leasa is pursuing a degree in fine art and film.

Diana Valero-Olivier holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Dance from the United States International University of the Performing and Visual Arts, San Diego. Diana has an extensive and diverse professional background in in the many styles and venues of dance performance including Ballroom, ethnic dance, and magic! Diana created, directed, choreographed, and performed in dance shows that combined music, magic, and mime which toured the Las Vegas circuit and Mexico. She also produced her own dance company \"Dansation\" which performed for Southern California audience\'s as well as abroad in Italy and Egypt. For the last few years Diana has been teaching in the San Diego elementary schools enrichment programs for non-dancers and G.A.T.E. kids with her \"Dancing Thru The Decades\" , and bringing her DVO Dance Project company to school theatre\'s performing \"Jazzed\", jazz dance and the story behind it. Diana brings out the best in her students and is always teaching that dance is more than just steps.

Jessica Vignau Bio coming soon!

Information: 619-239-1311. Box Office: 619-239-8355.