We are proud to offer a variety of workshops for teachers of all grade levels. If you are interested in leading a workshop at this year’s conference, you can apply here. Applications are due by July 1st.
Workshops for the 2026 Conference include:
Designing Fluid & Seamless Scene Shift Transitions with Movement and Technology with Joel C. Abels
Why do we let the momentum of our productions die in pitch-black silence just to move a couch? Too often, scene shifts are treated as logistical interruptions rather than vital storytelling opportunities. This interactive workshop challenges directors to ditch the traditional “blackout-and-crew-move” mentality and embrace a seamless, cinematic directing style. Through live demonstrations, visual examples and practical hands-on staging exercises, participants will learn how to use choreographed character movement, fluid set integration, and modern technology—including live soundscapes, lighting, and digital projections—to create breathtaking, fluid transitions. Whether you are staging a rapid-fire comedy or transitioning from an emotional musical number into the next scene, you will leave this session with a practical toolkit to keep your audience captivated from lights up to the curtain call.
Fear Not the Bard: Making Shakespeare Accessible for Grades K-6 with Anthony Adu
At A Noise Within, Shakespeare is where it all begins. In this playful and interactive workshop, teachers will learn exercises and scaffolding techniques for teaching Shakespeare to Grades K-6. Teachers will additionally receive scaffolded w/cuts of some of Shakespeare’s most beloved titles! Come make mischief.
Musical Improvisation with James Thomas Bailey
Take a workshop that finds the fun in improv singing! Participants will learn tools for improvising songs, including song structure, rhyming, harmony and style. In addition, participants will gain genuine confidence while discovering their own voices. Taught in a supportive atmosphere that nurtures both the beginner and more experienced singer, this workshop will open you up to something that perhaps you didn’t know you could do. Beautiful voices are not a prerequisite–in fact, if you’re afraid of musical improv, this is the class for you! And, you’ll walk away with some unique tools for your students.
Musical Theatre Audition Techniques, Performance Skills, &Triple Threat Training with Nicholas Andrew Belton
Hi, my name’s Nick. I’m a 4x Broadway veteran of the last 20 years (Wicked, Hair, The Great Comet, and Carousel) and I want to bring what I learned on Broadway, national tours, and regionally into the classroom with my workshop that I’ve delivered to middle and high school students around the country over the course of my career. “Broadway Ready” is an interactive and hands-on musical theatre workshop designed to help students develop the skills, confidence, and their own unique voice necessary to book auditions and excel in performance. Starting with the simple question of “why we sing” opens up an entire world of dialogue and discovery for students. Through song interpretation, creating the perfect “book”, mock auditions, storytelling through song, movement activities via Viewpoints and the Alexander Technique, and even maintaining a good diet and exercise routine amidst a demanding profession, students will gain practical tools used by some of the most successful musical theatre performers working professionally today.
It starts the minute you walk into the room, students will learn how to make strong first impressions, present themselves confidently in audition settings, prepare audition material effectively, connect authentically with songs and their characters, get that callback and book the darn show already! Broadway Ready encourages authenticity, creativity and self-expression while building performance skills that translate both onstage and in the real world.
The Pitch Project with Jeff Bengford
The Pitch Project is a classroom adventure that takes your students through a treasure hunt and excavation for theatrical possibilities to choose their own exciting season. The Pitch Project gives ALL the stakeholders 100% ownership of their forthcoming shows and while you, the teacher, retain veto power, the project puts the students at the wheel to drive the selection process and eventually cast their votes for the season.
Mask Work with Students with Bia Borinn
The Neutral Mask helps students move beyond facial expression and discover how posture, breath, movement, and spatial awareness communicate meaning, strengthening presence and non-verbal storytelling. It encourages observation, focus, and ensemble listening while helping students recognize and release habitual physical patterns.
Outreach, Advocacy and Recruitment for your Theatre Arts Program with Rebecca Browning
This workshop provides practical strategies for growing and sustaining a successful middle or high school theater program. Participants will learn how to create an effective advisory board, conduct engaging school visits featuring social-emotional learning (SEL)-based skits, and organize touring performances for feeder schools. The session will also explore ways to host school-day performances, incorporate fun souvenir giveaways to build excitement among younger students, and develop innovative theater camp fundraising opportunities. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with actionable tools, creative ideas, and proven strategies to engage students, strengthen relationships with feeder schools, and inspire greater participation in their theater programs.
Make That Script Sing: Leveling Up Your Dialogue, Teacher Edition with Jonathan Dorf
Your students might have important stories they want to put on stage. They might even have interesting characters and high stakes in mind, but without compelling dialogue, their plays will never be as successful and as powerfully realized as they could have been. This workshop will give you a dialogue-writing master class to bring back to your classroom. Using directed exercises, you’ll learn how to write rhythm, create context and navigate exposition, use different levels of dialogue, avoid bumpy takeoffs and landings, and much more—all the things you need to help make your students’ scripts sing.
Theatre Program Masterclass: Strategy, Branding, and Leadership That Lasts with Krista Carson Elhai
Take your theatre program from surviving to thriving! This workshop will provide practical strategies for creating a clear vision and actionable goals for you. Learn how to partner effectively with school administrators for full program support, strengthen your theatre’s brand identity, and cultivate strong student leaders who can share responsibility and pride in your program’s success. We’ll also explore innovative ideas to grow and sustain vibrant theatre programs. Leave with concrete tools and inspiration to set the stage for your department’s long-term success.
Elementary Theater — What You Need to Know with Eric Engdahl
Many districts are using Proposition 28 funding for elementary theater teachers. Join four educators with experience in elementary theater as they share their knowledge. Eric Engdahl wrote the elementary theater curriculum and provided professional development for Mosaica Education schools nationwide, and Betty Hattori, Leah Wiliamson and Adrian Zamora are all currently working as elementary theater teachers in LAUSD. There will be examples of how to develop curriculum, lesson pacing, use of media, assessment (but not necessarily grading), differences in working with different ages, working collaboratively on arts integration projects with “regular” classroom teachers, managing being at different schools sites, classroom management, and staying sane while keeping track of 500 students.”
From Sonnet to Cypher: Remixing Shakespeare Through Hip-Hop with Devon Glover
Shakespeare’s language was written to be heard, performed, and experienced—not simply read and analyzed. In this highly interactive workshop, educators will discover how hip-hop can serve as a bridge between classical literature and today’s students. Through rhythm, rhyme, performance, and collaborative writing, participants will explore practical strategies for transforming Shakespeare’s words into engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Attendees will participate in hands-on activities that demonstrate how rap, spoken word, and literary devices can deepen comprehension, strengthen literacy skills, build performance confidence, and foster creative expression. The workshop includes adaptable lesson ideas for middle school, high school, and collegiate classrooms, requiring no prior musical experience. Participants will leave with ready-to-use tips, resources and activities that empower students to connect Shakespeare’s themes to their own voices while making classical texts more relevant, accessible, and joyful.
Theatre They Actually Want: Connecting with Today’s Young Performers with Levoghn Hills
Sometimes all it takes is planting the bug. This workshop is about creating the spark that gets young people excited to walk through the theatre doors and keeps them coming back. I’ll share real-world strategies that helped grow a program from 6 members to over 50 in just two productions. We’ll talk about creating opportunities for students to belong, giving them ownership in the process, staying current with what young people respond to, and building a culture that feels exciting, creative, and worth investing in.
Sensibilities: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Program Through Script Study with Kyle Holmes
Learn practical strategies for teaching scripts in ways that build empathy, spark engagement, and create a more inclusive, equitable classroom community. We will look at how we can use script study to build and practice the skills necessary for harder conversations: who should be cast in what roles? We See You White American Theatre, cancel culture and the arts, etc… Participants will receive a copy of the slides, as well as a folder of template assignments that reflect everything discussed.
AAAce Any Theatre Audition an Experiential Workshop with Gai Jones
If you want your students to address the psychology behind an audition; if you need a short-term one-off experience at the beginning of school; if you need to experience what your students go through when they audition for you…this is the workshop for you.
Lesson Planning and Curriculum for Theatre Teachers with Shaun Klaseus
In this PD we will go over everything related to curriculum mapping and lesson planning. Scope and Sequence, Rubrics, Do Now’s, Emergency Lesson Plans, and more! We will also have a chance to all share out best practices and learn together. Attendees will leave with a completed standards based, Scope and Sequence, with rubrics, for a two-semesters long theatre course.
Practical costume tips to make your show look amazing! With Shon LeBlanc
How to create looks for you shows drawing on your students’ backgrounds.
Body of Emotions- Embodied tools for Creative Practices in classrooms with Dimple Kaur Malhotra
How do we help students move beyond “acting emotions” into authentically embodying them? How can theatre educators create emotionally intelligent classrooms where expression, regulation, and creativity thrive together? Body of Emotions is an interactive, movement-based workshop designed for theatre teachers who want practical tools to deepen performance training, ensemble connection, and student self-awareness. Rooted in Dr. Dimple Kaur’s original research in Applied Natya Therapy, bridging performance traditions, psychology, and somatic learning, this session offers accessible strategies teachers can immediately bring into rehearsal rooms and classrooms. Participants will explore how emotions live in posture, gesture, breath, rhythm, and spatial relationships. Through guided activities, improvisation, and reflective exercises, educators will learn how to help students safely access emotional range, build stage presence, and shift from blocked expression into creative flow. This workshop is especially valuable for teachers working with students who experience anxiety, self-consciousness, disconnection, or difficulty expressing themselves verbally. The practices support both artistic growth and social-emotional development.
Refresh Your Technique: Unarmed Stage Combat 101 with Ken Merckx
Set yourself up for success with your next combat-filled school production! In this back-to-basics workshop, sharpen up your core stage combat technique, including punches, slaps, reactions, and falls. You’ll leave feeling re-equipped to guide your students on fight choreography this school year.
Teaching Theatre in a Career Focused Environment–CTE Theatre with Jack Mitchell
In order to build a diverse theatre workforce it is important for all students to have access to career preparation materials and perspectives. This workshop is meant to increase career opportunities for students in all communities, especially those students who may not consider themselves for your college material.
From Cardboard to Castle: Scenic Construction Techniques with Lucia Oliver
Learn how to transform simple cardboard into realistic castle scenery using plaster techniques. This hands-on workshop introduces affordable, practical methods for creating durable and visually striking scenic elements for school theatre productions.
Theatre of the Absurd for K-3. Conceived and taught by J.J. Orpilla
Dive into the weird but totally inventive forms of experimental character-building and non-linear, movement-based storytelling modelled after both the surrealist art movement and the theatre of the absurd which it gave rise to. Using imagery, visual scores, iconic artwork and scripts pulled directly from those art movements, we will actively model “a stage of possibility” with full permission to create, once we loosen habits of traditional storytelling tropes that might have been limiting how we see the world and each other in it. This workshop is also structured to transform a class into an engaged ensemble validating a wide range of learners, from kinetic to visual.
Come From Away: Exploring the ACCENTS with Adam Michael Rose
Explore approachable methods for working with the show’s diverse accents, as well as effective ways to share them with your actors. Using fun clips, playful exercises, and easy-to-teach techniques, you’ll learn how to guide your students through the distinct Newfoundland sounds, as well as all of the other worldly accents that make this Broadway hit so special. Walk away with strategies that you can immediately bring into rehearsal, as well as the confidence to help your cast sound authentic, energized, and connected to the worlds of Come From Away, and OTHER accent shows!
Tools & Techniques for The Elementary Theatre Classroom with Martin Rodriguez
With the boom of Prop 28 and the CA Theatre Credential, many districts are in need of Elementary Theatre Teachers! Whether you currently teach theatre in 6-12 (or already teaching elementary theatre), are looking for a theatre position, or have thought about teaching elementary theatre–this workshop is for YOU! Come explore the utilization of process drama, story drama, imagination exploration, guided journeys, and much more to support activating the elementary theatre classroom. Join Head Administrator of LAUSD’s Arts Education Branch, LAUSD Arts Ed Branch Theatre Specialist, Karen Robinson, and Theatre Teachers, Martin Rodriguez & Mollie Lief in this involved, hands-on, and interactive workshop aimed for K-5 theatre teachers (but useful for ALL!).
Fake It So Real: A Theatrical Puppetry Primer with Sam Rotengold
Puppetry is a vast and remarkable art form, delighting audiences with fantastic characters made from inanimate materials for hundreds of years. Also… Puppets are jerks! Always ready to make their performers look like fools by moving poorly or looking strange or just plain falling apart. It’s this tension that makes Puppetry feel like magic onstage — and also sometimes what makes it hard to know where to start. In this hands-on workshop, join writer, director, and puppet artist Sam Rotengold on a crash course through the promises and (low stakes) perils of puppetry as he shares the foundational skills needed to animate any object in front of an audience. Together, we’ll explore questions like — Why even use a puppet? How much artifice is needed to make something fake feel real? And how can Puppetry help students become better actors, writers, directors, and designers? — as we learn the fundamentals of the art form and stage short, dramatic scenes with approachable materials. This workshop is intended for all experience levels, provided you’re willing to try, fail, try again, and then hopefully fail a little better.
Defending Your Shows with Howard Sherman
Students benefit from experience with the widest array of school shows – plays and musicals, comedy and drama, classic and new – and teachers know best what their students are capable of doing successfully. But a variety of factors can make it difficult to offer that variety, including unexpected challenges to content in works widely seen in other schools nationally, sometimes yielding cancellations once a show has been announced, during rehearsals and even once performances have begun. Defending Your Shows looks at the ever-changing landscape of show selection and making the case – to parents, to administrators, to the community at large, and to students themselves – for show choices that offer the greatest opportunities and challenges to students in order to support learning and growth and to cultivate the next generation of theatre artists, fans and audiences.
Random Acts of Engagement: Low-Prep, High-Impact Theatre Activities with Emily Stamets
Want to ignite student creativity without exhausting your own? This interactive workshop shares low-prep, high-engagement activities that use randomization (via card decks, dice rolls, and crowd-sourcing) to boost imagination, creative risk-taking, and peer-to-peer learning in the theatre classroom. Try adaptable games in devising, story theatre, costumes, and more—great for reluctant learners, warmups, or when your brain just needs a break. Walk away with a week+ of curriculum!
From Screen to Stage: Science-Backed Tools to Reconnect Students to Their Bodies & Emotions with Jenae Thompson
Today’s students are more fluent with screens than with each other, resulting in reduced stage presence, shallow emotional engagement, and limited body awareness. This interactive workshop explores the psychological and neurological connection to how children utilize screen time, offering educators a science-backed blueprint to transition the student psyche from screen mode to stage mode without losing the fun or the magic. Attendees will discover how to safely navigate the dopamine loops of modern digital culture while expanding their view of theatre education to include legitimate, modern theatrical careers being built on platforms like TikTok every day. By analyzing the intersection of consumer technology, neuroscience, and physical presence, this session equips educators to turn the reality of screen habits into a powerful tool for modern actor training.
I Have to Put on a Musical for My School by Myself – HELP! With Playhouse Players (ages 7-17) Director Taylor Wallis
Putting on a junior musical can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re doing it with limited time, resources, or support. This workshop is designed specifically for theatre teachers who wear all the hats. We’ll break down the entire production process, from organizing rehearsals and teaching music to creating effective blocking, managing costumes, and bringing the story to life on stage.
You’ll leave with practical strategies, time-saving tips, and ready-to-use tools that will help you confidently plan, direct, and produce a successful junior musical. Whether it’s your first production or you’re looking for ways to make the process smoother, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to turn your students’ performance into a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Teaching How to Read and Act Shakespeare with Emoria Weidner
A guide on how to make Shakespeare’s work much more accessible for students by breaking down what actually matters to a reader, as opposed to trying to comprehend every single reference and obscure word. Get your students excited to read the next scene, not overwhelmed by antiquated language and unfamiliar syntax.
Workshop Presenter Bios
Joel C. Abels (Arts Education Content Specialist-FCSS) Mr. Abels has been an educator for the past 30 years, having taught everything from Kindergarten to High School Drama. In addition to his years in the classroom, Joel is both an accomplished performer (proud member of AEA) and director, having more than 150 productions to his credit. He was the Founding Artistic Director of Children’s Musical Theatreworks, a youth theatre company in California’s Central Valley and most recently the Producing Artistic Director of StageWorks Fresno, a semiprofessional theatre company located in Fresno, CA. He is extremely honored to have joined the incredible Arts Education Team at the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, enabling him the great fortune to work with his incredibly innovative, collaborative and passionate arts education colleagues. #HenryStrong.
Anthony Adu is an ‘A Noise Within’ Teaching Artist and actor based in Los Angeles. Adu currently instructs Scene Study at A Noise Within’s Summer With Shakespeare Theatre Camp and Youth Classes programming, having most recently directed productions of Romeo and Juliet as well as Love’s Labour’s Lost to students ages 6 – 13. As an actor, A Noise Within Credits include: Broadcaster/Ensemble, The Skin of Our Teeth; Ghost of Christmas Present / Ensemble, A Christmas Carol; Joey Percival U/S, Misalliance. Other Theatres: Backstroke Boys, Faultline Theatre (Off-Broadway); The Cherry Orchard, South Pasadena Theatre Workshop; Voices from a Pandemic, Notch Theatre Company; Pick Me Last, La Jolla Playhouse; Love’s Labour’s Lost, Cyrano de Bergerac, Colorado Shakespeare Festival; DragON, The Christians, Denver Center; Uncle Vanya, Heap, Everybody Black, The Jefferson Middle School Monthly, UCSD; new play developments with The O’Neill Theatre Conference, South Coast Repertory, and IAMA Theatre Company. Education/Training: MFA in Acting from UC San Diego; Chautauqua Theatre Summer Conservatory.
James Thomas Bailey is the founder and Artistic Director of CSz Los Angeles, producer of ComedySportz, the longest-running stage show in the history of Los Angeles. He is also a master teacher and certified corporate trainer, specializing in Applied Improvisation. His clients include such powerhouses as Walt Disney, Google, ABC, Nestle, SONY Pictures, Yahoo, Hulu and Coca-Cola, among others. He is a Cultural Specialist for the U.S. State Department, and has taught at the Fulbright Center in Cyprus for the American embassy, using his techniques to foster cooperation and collaboration. Mr. Bailey runs the largest teen improvisation program in the United States, where many thousands of students have received his life-skill training. He has served as President of the California Educational Theatre Association, and is inducted into the national Educational Theatre Hall of Fame. He is the author of Teaching Improvisation: A Practical Guide for Theatre Educators. Mr. Bailey is also proud to serve as Director of Theatre and VAPA Chair for Justin-Siena High School in Napa.
Nicholas Andrew Belton Nick has appeared on Broadway in the revival of Hair, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Wicked, and Carousel. He also appeared in the Chicago company of Wicked and the Broadway national tours of Evita and Hair. Off-Broadway he appeared at the Duke Theater and Playwrights Horizons. Regionally Nick has worked at the Goodman Theater, Chicago Shakespeare, Idaho Shakespeare, Court Theater, American Repertory Theater at Harvard, PCLO, Long Wharf Theater, Ford’s Theater, and as a soloist for the Tokyo Philharmonic and the Cincinnati Pops. Nick holds a BFA in musical theatre from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and has taught masterclasses around the country in Audition Techniques and Musical Theatre Acting to middle school and high school Students.
Jeff Bengford has a Masters in Directing (UC Davis) and Bachelors in Theatre (Santa Clara University). He has been teaching Theatre at Westmont High School for over 30 years, directs their productions and serves on the CA State Thespian Board. Mr. B has also directed professionally for TheatreWorks, San Jose City Lights, Shady Shakespeare & West Valley College. But his proudest accomplishments are Dad & Husband. A few of his published plays are: SPACE PIRATES; VIDEO MANIA, DRACULA, and an adaptation of a Georges Feydeau farce called HOTEL A-GO-GO. Mr. B believes that theatre develops rich, engaging personalities, changes student’s lives, and inspires audiences.
Bia Borinn is a Brazilian-American actress, educator, producer, and voice artist based in Los Angeles. With over 20 years of experience in theatre, film, television, and arts education, she brings a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural approach to storytelling and learning. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre from the University of São Paulo and a specialization in Portuguese as a Heritage Language from Plurall by BEM in New York. As the co-founder of Brazilian Play and Learn, Bia developed innovative programs that combine language acquisition and Brazilian culture for children and families in LA. Bia is a Teaching Artist with the Pasadena Playhouse and the LAUSD Conservatory of Fine Arts, where she teaches theatre, improvisation, and mask performance. She is currently training with The Actors’ Gang, continuing her professional development in ensemble-based physical theatre. Her artistic training includes commedia dell’arte with Esio Magalhães in Brazil, Clown Mask with Sue Morisson and Dagoberto Feliz, as well as an internship on Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s *Neighborhood Watch* at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in England. She has also studied with Harold Guskin, Milton Justice, Clark Middleton, UCLA Extension, and The BGB Studio. A SAG-AFTRA member, Bia has appeared in productions including *The Gringo Hunters* (Netflix), *All’s Fair* (Hulu), *I Love LA* (HBO), *Música* (Amazon MGM Studios), and many other films and theatre productions in the United States and Brazil. She is currently producing and starring in *Carmen Miranda: The Queen of Samba*, a musical celebrating the life and legacy of Carmen Miranda. Fluent in Portuguese and English, and conversational in Spanish, Bia is passionate about using the performing arts to foster creativity, cultural connection, and meaningful learning experiences for students of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
Rebecca “Becky” Browning has been an educator since 2012. Throughout her career, she has worked with students in grades K-12, spending most of her time teaching middle school theatre in Northern California. There, she grew a single drama class into a thriving musical theatre program that engaged nearly one-third of the school’s student population. Rebecca currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley, California. She is also an active member of the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) Board and serves as a University Supervisor for teacher candidates. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in English and Social Sciences. Drawing from her experience in education, professional theatre, film, and voice-over work, Rebecca is passionate about creating opportunities for students to connect with and become lifelong supporters of the arts.
Jonathan Dorf has authored more than 60 plays with over 3000 productions worldwide, including 4 A.M., DECLARATION, AFTER MATH, DEAR CHUCK, ME, MY SELFIE & I and WE COULD BE HEROES. He co-founded publisher YouthPLAYS and is chair emeritus of the Alliance of LA Playwrights. He taught in the Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University, served as US Cultural Envoy to Barbados, created Playwriting101.com and authored the book YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS 101. He’s been a teaching artist at ITF, the EdTA National Conference, and at festivals and schools from Alabama to Singapore. He serves as a script consultant for writers worldwide. BA in Dramatic Writing and Literature, Harvard University; MFA in Playwriting, UCLA. https://jonathandorf.com
Krista Carson Elhai is a theatre educator with over 41 years of experience and more than 300 productions to her credit. She currently serves as past president of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) national board, mentors performing arts teachers through the Foothill Consortium in Southern California, and supervises teachers in the Theatre Credential Program at CSU East Bay. As chair of the Claremont High School Theatre program, she led a department of over 500 students, producing 7–10 shows annually across 11 theatre sections. Her productions were selected for mainstage performance at the California State Thespian Festival 13 times and the International Thespian Festival three times. A member of the California State Thespian board since 1993, Krista served three terms as State Director, overseeing more than 500 troupes. She completed two terms on EdTA’s Governing Board before serving as President and continues her leadership as past president of the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) and as a trustee of the Educational Theatre Foundation. Krista presents nationwide on theatre advocacy, strategic planning, season development, administrative collaboration, and fundraising. She also contributed to national curriculum design as a member of The College Board’s Pre-AP Arts Committee. Her honors include the CETA Theatre Teacher of the Year, the CETA Medallion for lifetime achievement, EdTA National Volunteer of the Year, and induction into both the EdTA National Hall of Fame and the California State Thespian Hall of Fame. She is also a two-time finalist for the LA Music Center Bravo Award and a recipient of its Chase Fellowship, as well as Claremont USD Teacher of the Year. In 2022, she received EdTA’s President’s Award for exceptional service. Krista remains active in her local community, supporting school board and city council campaigns, and is currently a candidate for the Claremont USD School Board, District 1.
Dr. Eric Engdahl is former Chair of Teacher Education at CSUEB where he founded the first dance and theater credentials in the state, where he still teaches theater and visual arts methods. He serves on the CETA Board and served on the CA Theater Standards committee, Co-Chaired the CA Arts Framework Committee, and developed Theater CSET questions for the CTC and Pearson Education. Betty Hattori, Leah Williamson, and Adrian Zamora are alumni of the credential program at CSUEB and are elementary theater teachers in LAUSD.
Devon Glover is a Brooklyn-based performer, teaching artist, rapper, poet, director, sound designer, and text coach, best known internationally as The Sonnet Man. As Global Brand Ambassador for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Devon has built a unique career bridging the worlds of Shakespeare and Hip Hop, performing and leading educational workshops across the globe. Through his acclaimed adaptations of Shakespeare’s sonnets, he has engaged audiences on four continents and inspired thousands of students, educators, and arts organizations to experience classical literature through the lens of contemporary culture. With more than two decades of experience as an artist and educator, Devon has worked with organizations including the Educational Theatre Association, Southern Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Behind Bars, and Flocabulary. A sought-after speaker, performer, and workshop leader, he combines a deep love of language with the energy of Hip Hop to make poetry, storytelling, and self-expression accessible to diverse audiences worldwide. His work demonstrates the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s themes while encouraging people of all ages to find their own voice and share their stories. He was also recently awarded a coveted artist residency in Paris at Shakespeare & Company, the world’s most beloved independent bookstore. Website: https://sonnetman.com/about
Levoghn “Levi” Hills is a director, choreographer, costume designer, and arts educator based in California’s Central Valley. He currently serves in artistic leadership roles with multiple theatre and educational organizations, specializing in youth engagement, community-centered storytelling, and innovative theatrical experiences. Levi is known for creating innovative, immersive theatrical experiences that invite audiences into the story rather than simply observing it. He has directed, designed, and choreographed productions across community, educational, and professional settings, and is recognized for his ability to build thriving arts programs, foster emerging talent, and create welcoming spaces where artists of all backgrounds can grow and succeed. His work focuses on making theatre accessible, relevant, and impactful for the next generation of performers and creators.
Ken Holmes is an educator, playwright, and Director of the California County Superintendents’ Statewide Arts Initiative, where he leads efforts to expand equitable access to arts education across California’s 58 counties. His work centers on Proposition 28 implementation, county office network development, and strategic planning for arts education at the intersection of state policy and local practice. A former high school theatre teacher, Kyle is the co-founder of Uproar Theatrics, a licensing company dedicated to expanding access to new plays and musicals. His musical Ranked has been performed by over 100 schools and universities worldwide and is the subject of the HBO documentary My So-Called High School Rank. Kyle speaks, guest teaches, and consults nationally with partners including the Kennedy Center, Disney Live Entertainment, SXSW EDU, and the Educational Theatre Association. His work is rooted in creating spaces where young people can explore creativity, connection, and identity through the arts. @kylepholmes | kpholmes.com & @CACountyArts | CACountyArts.org
Gai Laing Jones is the first woman to complete a MA in Theatre at CSU Fullerton. She taught Theatre at El Dorado High School for thirty-four years. Upon her retirement, the Black Box Theater was named The Gai Jones Theater. She serves on the Ojai Art Center Theatre Board as Chair of the Youth Theatre Branch; she is proud to have served on the EdTA Board of Directors as President, and is a recipient of the EdTA President’s Award. She is on the ETF Board and offers a scholarship for preservice college/university Theatre Educators. She writes Theatre education books-RAISING THE CURTAIN, directs, is a guest artist and inspirational speaker at various conferences, and is a SAG-AFTRA member and performs with the SAG-AFTRA LA Radio Players. Ms. Jones has taught elementary, middle, high school, and college level educational Theatre, along with Professional Developments for Theatre Educators and senior actors. She directs Theatre for Youth and Intergenerational productions. She currently is a Field Supervisor for CSU East Bay pre-service Theatre educators.
Shaun Klaseus is a theatre educator and director with more than 20 years of experience teaching in public schools. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Directing and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Assessment. His leadership experience includes serving as an Art Department Chair and New Teacher Training Mentor, supporting educators as they begin their careers and continue to grow throughout them. Shaun is passionate about creating student-centered theatre programs, strengthening arts instruction, and helping teachers inspire the next generation of artists.
Shon LeBlanc Costume designer in the business for 41 yrs, Shon is also a Member of the Costume Designer Guild. Multi-award winner for costumes in theatre with over 500 shows. Owner of Valentino’s Costume Group, Inc.
Dimple Kaur is a Registered Somatic Movement Educator, dance theatre educator, performer, and researcher with over 28 years of experience using movement, storytelling, and embodied practice for learning and well-being. She is the creator of Applied Natya Therapy and has presented workshops that integrate dance theatre, emotional intelligence, and culturally responsive teaching for diverse communities.
Ken Merckx has choreographed fights and taught actors combat for film and television, theatres, and universities all across the country. He is presently a faculty member at AMDA, UC Santa Barbara, and Cal State Fullerton and instructs Stage Combat at A Noise Within’s Summer with Shakespeare Theatre Camp. Ken is the resident fight choreographer at A Noise Within (Pasadena), the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, and Great Lakes Theater Festival (Cleveland). Mr. Merckx received his MFA, in Acting from University of Illinois and his BA in theatre studies, from the University of Washington. ANW Resident Artist.
Jack Mitchell founded AME Consulting, LLC in 2020 after 13 years at the California Department of Education as the Secondary Arts and CTE Arts, Media, and Entertainment industry sector lead. Jack has been involved in Arts, Media and Entertainment, and Education for the past 35 years. After earning a B.A. from the University of Washington in 1972, Jack continued his theatre studies at California Institute of the Arts earning an MFA in Theatre in 1974. Jack worked in the television industry as an actor for the next 8 years before beginning his teaching career in LAUSD in 1985. In 2007, after 22 years as a classroom teacher, Jack moved to the California Department of Education to serve as the Arts, Media, and Entertainment industry sector lead. At CDE he oversaw the 2013 Career Tech Standards revision for Arts, Media and Entertainment, served on the Theatre Writing Team for the National Core Arts Standards and founded the California Arts, Media, and Education teacher organization CA-AME-EO.
Lúcia Oliver Originally from Portugal, Lúcia is an actress, producer, director, and theatre educator with three degrees in theatre: a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Theatre, a Master’s degree in Theatre Pedagogy, and a Career Technical Education (CTE) credential in Arts, Media, and Entertainment. A CETA board member serving as Scholarship Chair and leading social media initiatives, Lúcia is passionate about all aspects of theatre, including production, technical theatre, directing, and hands-on learning. She enjoys sharing practical techniques that inspire creativity while equipping students and educators with real-world, career-ready skills.
J.J. Orpilla –is a veteran multi-cultural teaching artist and arts curriculum specialist in social emotional learning through the ensemble-building tools of dance, theatre and stagecraft, with a personally dedicated emphasis on language arts and literacy for all.
Martin Rodriguez teaches 9th-12th grade theatre and is the Arts Coordinator at Ramon C. Cortines School of VAPA for LAUSD after teaching elementary theatre for 7 years. He is a theatre/theatre education Adjunct Professor at Pasadena City College, Cal-State Fullerton, and a Mentor Teacher/Coach for preservice theatre teachers at Cal State East Bay, UT-Austin, and LAUSD. Martin is one of LAUSD’s 2025 and LA County’s 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year. He earned his Master’s in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado and his BFA in Theatre Studies/Education from the University of Texas at Austin.
Adam Michael Rose is a Los Angeles-based dialect coach and teaching artist. Adam has worked with actors from Stranger Things, Bridgerton, House of the Dragon, You, and Riverdale. On stage, he’s coached productions throughout the country, including The Play That Goes Wrong, Newsies, The 39 Steps, and Something Rotten. Adam has been a guest artist at state festivals nationwide for over 10 years. He’s a certified teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork, a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and a member of VASTA, EdTA, CETA, AEA, and the Teaching Artist Alliance.
Sam Rotengold, Teaching Artist, Curriculum Developer, and Professional Puppeteer from Song of the North, is a puppeteer, writer, and arts educator based in Los Angeles. As a Thomas J. Watson fellow, Sam trained in traditional forms of puppetry around the world while exploring empathy and projection across the animate/ inanimate divide. His work has been supported by the Jim Henson Foundation and featured at venues including Lincoln Center, BAM, and the Musee du quai Branly, as well as in festivals on five continents. Alongside his art-making, Sam is the Lead Teaching Artist and In-School/Family Engagement Administrator at the Tony Award-winning Pasadena Playhouse, where he creates opportunities for audiences of all ages to explore the performing arts inspired by the shows featured onstage. To the role he brings fifteen years of experience teaching for organizations including The New Victory Theatre, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center, through which he continues to offer Arts Integration professional development opportunities for classroom teachers across the country. More information at: www.samrotengold.com
Howard Sherman (see bio under Featured Keynote Speaker)
Emily Stamets is a storyteller and teaching artist with over ten years in the classroom. She has directed devised works for the La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival and co-created ten original Hyper-theatre productions with Rogue Artists Ensemble. Her storytelling work centers on original fantasy with female protagonists and a modern lens. She holds master’s degrees in Theatre Design & Production (SOU) and School Leadership / School Design (Harvard).
Jenae Thompson is a performer, director, choreographer, and creative strategist with a 20-year career spanning both the stage and the digital landscape. An alumna of Azusa Pacific University, Jenae’s performance credits include the National Tour of Cinderella, alongside standout favorite roles in Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, The Drowsy Chaperone, AIDA, Dreamgirls, and Beehive. Her choreography credits feature regional productions of Matilda, A Christmas Story, and The Wedding Singer, as well as choreographing for B.E.T.’s The Family Crews. Deeply committed to the next generation of storytellers, she has served as a Teaching Artist at the annual California Thespian Festival for four consecutive years (2023–2026) leading interactive workshops, spent three seasons teaching acting and dance for the Morgan Wixson Theatre’s summer Y.E.S. program for youth, where she also sat as Director of Marketing and directed multi-act virtual theatrical productions. In 2019, Jenae founded SAYQUOI®, a boutique creative agency where she serves as a Fractional CMO building effective marketing ecosystems and creative brand direction for premium service providers and creative visionaries. Melding her artistic roots with digital business strategy, her notable entertainment and artistic client roster includes media personality Chris Witherspoon (PopViewers/MSNBC), Spectacular Smith (Pretty Ricky/The Spectacular School of Business), Netflix’s Jemar Michael (Dear White People), actress and producer Brianna McDonnell, Transition Strategist and actress Dr. Lisa Summerour (The Sixth Sense, Philadelphia, Mercury Rising, Law & Order), and Vancurt Music. Jenae bridges the gap between traditional theatrical performance and modern digital realities to help artists and educators amplify their brilliance and build legacies. Stay connected with Jenae on Instagram and TikTok (@_sayquoi), on LinkedIn, or visit her website: www.say-quoi.com.
Taylor Wallis is a teaching artist and actor from Dallas, Texas. She graduated with a degree in musical theatre from Millikin University and taught and directed in public schools for 10 years before moving to Los Angeles. Since 2010, Taylor has been teaching and performing professionally, bringing her passion for the arts to life. She currently works at Pasadena Playhouse as the lead director for the elementary and middle school productions, and develops curriculum for and leads classes for students under 5. She is passionate about theatre education and keeping the arts alive and accessible to kids of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
Emoria Weidner is a theatre actor, teaching artist, director, and producer. She has over 15 years’ experience of professionally teaching, performing, and directing classical and modern theatre. She is also a published author of trans-fiction.