Workshops

We are proud to offer a variety of workshops for teachers of all grade levels.

Workshops for the 2025 Conference include:

 

  1. From Idea to Impact: How to Create What You Imagine by Elena Villa

This workshop gives theatre educators practical, step-by-step strategies to envision the department of their dreams and establish plans to make them a reality. Participants will also explore how to bring in guest artists, connect with various communities, and access grant funding to support meaningful, real-world theatre experiences.

  1. Body of Emotions by Dimple Kaur Malhotra

Life is not a linear process. It comes with all its Twists and Turns. Yet, when it comes to body & mind, we get stuck in habitual patterns & routines. This workshop is designed to break redundant habits and TRANSFORM into something new. By exploring the body, mind & soul with images, text & sound, A metamorphosis takes place. The workshop aims to create newer habit patterns by doing & exploring different strengths of the body, to bring desired happiness & growth.

  1. The ABC’s of Classroom Management by Matt Webster

Classroom management is a fundamental component of any classroom, but Theatre teachers face management challenges that are unique to the Drama classroom. That’s because the Drama classroom is more engaged, more active, and more chaotic by design. What does a drama teacher need to do to keep control of such a tumultuous environment?  This workshop will examine the building blocks of classroom management in the Drama classroom, and give teachers tools they can use to build a foundation of consistency when it comes to classroom management.

  1. Activating The Imagination & Engaging Elementary Theatre Students by Martin Rodriguez & Mollie Lief                                                              

Process Drama is an efficient elementary theatre teaching method that engages all elementary grade levels (and even grades not in elementary!). In this workshop, we will walk through a process drama while providing a road map to this teaching tool for you to use in your classrooms.

  1. Using Storytelling and Literature to Teach Elementary Theater by Eric Engdahl & Lisa Edsall-Giglio    

In this workshop, participants will experience exercises for using storytelling, literature, and writing to teach theatre skills aligned with California Theatre Standards.  Primarily for upper elementary, these exercises are standalone, but can also integrate with Language Arts curriculum. They can be adapted for lower elementary or middle school as well.

  1. Playing a Role by Leticia De Anda

    This professional development workshop is designed for theatre educators working primarily with upper elementary students (grades 4–6), though the strategies and techniques presented are easily adaptable for middle school learners as well. Rather than lecture based, this hands-on workshop session will put you in the student performers place, while equipping you as an educator, with a robust toolkit to teach your students how to effectively approach and inhabit an acting role. Together, we’ll explore how to guide students through the essential actor’s process—from understanding character motivation and subtext to making specific, intentional performance choices and developing memorization techniques that go beyond rote repetition. Educators will leave the workshop with a clear, repeatable process they can implement in their own classrooms or drama clubs, using strategies that foster student confidence and creativity.
  1. An Experiential Workshop in “Playing” a Character by Gai Laing Jones

An experience for participants to create and embody a character, living in family groups and in a created town. Everyone plays. If you are looking for a model to teach your students how to create a character with objectives and traits, how to stay immersed in a character at all times, plus work with the give and take of an ensemble, this workshop is designed for you. A minimum of 15 participants are required.

  1. Middle Stage Fest Magic by Amy Caston

Inspired by the many high school Theatre festivals, Middle Stage Fest allows middle school students to meet peers from other schools, share their passion, showcase their talents, receive feedback and recognition for their work, and participate in professional workshops–on a scale suited to middle school. It is also an excellent way to build great PR for your Theatre program, involve more students (without having to cast larger productions), and to connect with your fellow middle school educators. New to Middle Stage Fest? This workshop will be the perfect opportunity to find out how your school can participate in this fantastic event with minimal stress for you, but maximum success for your students! Already an MSF fan? Please come join the conversation, sharing your insights and ideas about how to make this year’s Middle Stage Fest the best yet!

  1. Know your Audio… by John Hoganson

So, you’re a theatre teacher and you know all about directing and acting and like to play games, but when it comes to knowing about which microphone you should use for what application you close your eyes, spin the wheel and hope. If this describes you, then you need to be here. You will learn about the different types of microphones, what those microphones should be used for, what they can be used for, and what they should NOT be used for. You will learn why they behave the way they behave. You will also learn how microphones behave in a space and how you can do something about it. You will also leave with a cheat sheet of microphones that you should consider putting in your mic locker (My what?). You will even learn how to make an ear worn mic rig!

  1. Exploring Playback Theater by Eric Engdahl

Playback Theater is an improvisational performance form in which actors take stories from the audience and play them back using simple dramatic forms. Playback is performed by companies around the world. The seven elements of Playback are artistry, improvisation, empathy, social good, community, embodiment, and healing. The genre helps build community among students, allows them a space to be heard and respected, and provides them with performance and improvisation skills. Playback enables performers and the audience to explore diverse thoughts and feelings about various topics. Participants in the workshop will leave with an understanding of the forms and how to use them in their classrooms.

  1. Acting & Directing with Contentless Scenes by Jeff Bengford

Good Actors and Strong Directors make bold choices. This workshop uses Contentless Scenes to explore the actor and director’s use of choices through the use of Contentless Scenes. In this workshop, the words are meaningless so it will be up to the actor and director to make choices to tell their version of the story. Here, the words don’t matter but what the actor DOES with the words brings the text to life.

  1. What’s Your Issue?! (aka Playwriting with a Purpose) by Jonathan Dorf

Today’s teens are growing up in a world constantly in crisis, and young writers want to address issues that matter, whether it’s the environment, school shootings, teen suicide, bigotry directed at the LGBTQ+ community or any number of other socio-political problems. But the road to bad plays is often paved with good intentions. In this workshop, we’ll come up with our own big ideas. Then, using exercises and tips you can bring back to your own classroom, you’ll learn how to turn those big ideas into plays that sing on stage.

  1. Reluctant Students? Open the World of Theatre Through the Lens of Design by Kirsten Giard & Julie Benitez 

Join Kirsten and Julie as we share tips and tricks to engage the Theatre student who will not perform.  We will share ideas and successes tapping into student creativity through low stakes, inexpensive Beginning Design projects.

  1. Theatre Program Masterclass: Strategy, Branding, and Leadership For Department Growth by 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 your department. 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.

  1. From Screen to Stage: Reconnecting Students to Their Bodies & Emotions by Jenae Thompson Thompson                

Today’s students are more fluent with screens than with face-to-face connection, and theatre educators are feeling the impact by way of reduced stage presence, limited body awareness, and shallow emotional engagement. This active, 90-minute workshop gives you research-based, classroom-ready tools to help students re-inhabit their bodies, deepen authentic emotion, and connect meaningfully with scene partners. You’ll learn quick “device detox” warmups, movement-based attention resets, consent-based emotion scaling, and culturally responsive ways to validate diverse forms of expression. Leave with a toolkit of adaptable exercises that work for in-person or hybrid rehearsals, boost focus and empathy, and create inclusive spaces where every student can thrive on stage.

  1. Fearless Stages: Building Confidence, Inclusion, and Transformative Theatre Programs by Kasey Viani                        

Fearless Stages is an inspiring and practical workshop for theatre educators, directors, and community program leaders committed to transforming the student experience both on and off stage. Focused on building confidence in performers who struggle with debilitating stage fright, this session equips participants with proven techniques to help students channel their nerves into powerful performances. Attendees will explore strategies for creating a truly inclusive casting process that values unique strengths, diverse abilities, and individual voices—fostering a supportive environment where every student feels seen and celebrated. The workshop also highlights the ripple effect of such practices, showing how empowered students can inspire their families, strengthen community connections, and spark measurable growth in a theater program’s reach and reputation. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, Fearless Stages offers actionable tools to create productions that are not only artistically strong but also deeply transformative for everyone involved.

  1. Feeding In: A Rehearsal Technique for Inclusion by Emily Stamets

What would be possible if your actors never had a script in their hands? Using “feeding in,” a simple strategy developed for Shakespeare performance, your performers can be making eye contact, manipulating props & puppets, and making large movement choices free of their script from the first day of rehearsal. Bonus: they’ll also learn their lines faster! Developed by Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts, this technique is especially powerful for ESL students, and students for whom translating written words into speech & action is especially difficult: those with reading difficulties, language processing differences, and some forms of neurodivergence. In this workshop, participants will be on their feet, using the feeding in strategy to rehearse short scenes & monologues. Time will be allowed to discuss and try out applications of the feeding in technique to solve individual challenges faced by participants.

  1. Using AI in a theatre classroom to streamline your tasks and give you more time to teach and direct by Shaun Klaseus

Whether you are looking for new ideas to teach your students how to use AI ethically or you are just looking for ways to streamline tasks, thereby freeing up time to actually teach and direct, this workshop will give you invaluable tools and techniques. Need to differentiate a lesson for a variety of special populations? Ai can do that.  Ai can help you identify the California and Common Core Standards that you are already teaching. Ai can help you create an emergency sub plan. We will go over how to use Ai to create a scope and sequence that you and your admin will LOVE. Need help to create standards-based rubrics, Ai can help! This workshop will introduce you to amazing, up to date, Ai tools for theatre and education, as well as provide time for attendees to share out how they are already using it.

  1. Lessons Earned: A Blueprint for Broadway Jukebox Musical Creation by Thomas SchultheisThis hands-on session provides a practical, repeatable model for theatre educators to lead their students through the full creative cycle of turning a song into a mini-performance. From analyzing lyrics and developing characters to staging, choreography, and a final presentation, you will experience a process that you can bring directly to your classroom. We will use popular songs from the first quarter of this century to connect and explore storytelling through a modern lens. You will leave with a blueprint for fostering collaboration and inspiring your students to build essential theatre skills concisely and engagingly.
  2. Meisner- Repetition and the Knock at the Door by Julie Wilhite

Step into the world of authentic moment to moment acting with an intensive workshop, exploring the essential exercises of the Meisner technique. This is designed to hone skills as both a director, and an actor, and sharpen your ability to listen, respond, truthfully, under imaginary circumstance, stay authentic, and connected to your scene partner and engage in an honest and emotionally committed way. Participants will take away clear understanding of emotional truth, spontaneity, deep listening, honesty, and building on an actor’s craft to engage an audience without “performing”.

  1. Classroom to Curtain: Producing Student-Directed One Acts During Class Time by Jessica Volpi

This professional development workshop is designed for theatre educators interested in producing a student-directed, licensed one-act plays during regular class time. Participants will explore a practical, flexible model that allows students to take on leadership roles as directors, actors, and designers, all within the constraints of the school day. The session will provide tools for script selection, rehearsal planning, student leadership scaffolding, assessment, and in-class performance strategies. Whether you teach in a fully equipped theatre or a traditional classroom, this workshop offers an equitable approach to theatrical production that empowers students and brings meaningful performance experiences into the curriculum.

  1. Dialects– How to Perform with a Dialect by Tuffet Schmelzle

The biggest challenge for an actor when working on a production requiring an accent (dialect) is making it sound authentic. In this workshop, the actor or director will learn proper teaching techniques to learn the technical specs of a dialect and how to apply them successfully. We review the elements of a Dialect – Sound Changes, Vocal Placement, Melody/Inflection pattern, Tempo/Pacing, Diction, Idioms/Slang and Physicality/Head & Hand Gestures. We then move onto how to incorporate those technical elements into artistic performance. How can we learn to act with our new voice? What changes in the body do we experience? What are some choices that are available to me in my dialect that I cannot make in my natural voice? Directors learn how to redirect their actors using technical and artistic feedback for optimal organic performance.

  1. Digital Dioramas: Transforming Classroom Theatre Performance Through the Magic of Virtual Production
    by Susie Tanner & Conrad Curtis

TheatreWorkers Project Founder/Director Susan “Susie” Franklin Tanner will partner with Conrad Curtis, the Founder and CEO of Virtual Production Partners, to provide participants with a toolkit of industry-leading filmmaking techniques that will expand the ability of teachers and students to explore and present historical academic subject matter in an innovative artistic format that blends traditional theatre performance techniques with Hollywood quality Virtual Production. During this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to create a Living Diorama ©, an inclusive process that combines academic research with a theatrical museum-style presentation heightened by the addition of a digital backdrop created in real-time with Generative AI, made accessible by Lightcraft Jetset, an iOS-based Virtual Production App. The addition of the digital component will honor young people’s understanding of technology and encourage academic and arts educators to embrace the potential of affordable and available tools that are propelling the performing arts into a new era of strength through equitable innovation.

24. Blocking, Staging, and Design: Rethinking Stage Space with Free Tools (and a Peek at XR—Extended Reality)
by Mike Bradecich

How do we help students understand stage space when all we have is a diagram on paper or a crowded classroom? This session explores free and accessible DIY tools from printable stage maps to digital drag-and-drop blocking activities that bring staging and spatial storytelling to life. We’ll also take a peek at how emerging XR (VR/AR) tools might one day expand these same lessons, offering students the chance to experiment with staging, design, and perspective in a fully immersive “sandbox.” Participants will leave with ready-to-use activities they can implement immediately, plus a glimpse of where this work could go in the future.

WORKSHOP PRESENTER BIOS

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.

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 accomplishment is Dad & Husband. A few of his published plays are: SPACE PIRATES; 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.

Julie Benitez has taught Theatre in the Grossmont Union High School district for 29 years. Ms. Benitez received her undergraduate degree in Theatre and Education from Iowa State University and her Master of Fine Arts from Arizona State’s prestigious Theatre for Youth and Community program. She is a co-founder of Teach Tech Theatre and has taught numerous workshops and conferences over the last 17 years to theatre teachers about how to teach safety, the basics of technical theatre, and how to make theatre sets stand out. Ms. Benitez has been a Teaching Artist at La Jolla Playhouse since 2015, and currently teaches the Summer Technical Theatre Teacher Intensive.

Mike Bradecich is a performing arts educator, curriculum designer, and motion designer exploring the intersection of immersive technology and performing arts education. With over 20 years of experience teaching acting, directing, and playwriting at the high school level, Mike specializes in building hands-on, emotionally resonant lessons that stick with students long after class ends. As a freelance motion designer, Mike brings expertise in animation and visual storytelling tools like Blender and After Effects, using them to prototype classroom-ready XR tools that expand access to staging, design, and physical storytelling for students of all levels. His current focus is on developing educational applications for XR that support core theater practices like blocking, character creation, and design.

Krista Carson Elhai taught theatre for 38 years, at both Hemet and Claremont High Schools, where she directed over 300 productions in a department of over 500 students. Her productions have performed MainStage at both the CA State Thespian Festival (13 times) and the International Thespian Festival (3 times).  Serving on the CA State Thespian Board since 1993, Krista was the Educational Theatre Association’s CA State Chapter Director for eleven years before she was elected to the EdTA Governing board. She is the immediate Past-President of the national board. She also serves as the CA Educational Theatre Association’s Past President and as a Trustee for the Educational Theatre Foundation. Ms Elhai is co-director of Theatre Teacher Bootcamp, an intensive workshop for theatre teachers. She is currently serving on The College Board’s Pre-AP Advisory Panel where she works on designing theatre curriculum, is field supervisor for Theatre Pre-Service teachers at CSU East Bay, and frequent workshop presenter at theatre conferences around the country. Krista has received the California Theatre Teacher of the Year, EdTA’s Volunteer of the Year Award and President’s Award and has been inducted in both the California State Thespian and Educational Theatre National Hall of Fame.

Amy Caston has a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts, with a Design & Technology emphasis. She completed a Professional Assistantship with Sacramento’s Music Circus during their 1999 season, and earned her first Teaching Credential in 2002. While she has experience in a variety of teaching environments (elementary classrooms, non-public school for students with autism, high school English, and adult education at a correctional center), Amy is most adept with 7th and 8th graders, having taught Theatre Arts at Smedberg Middle School for 22 years and counting. She first attended Middle Stage Fest–with only 2 students!–in 2004, and has seen the festival evolve in response to changing circumstances: locations, technology, a pandemic, and beyond. She happily contributes to the work of providing this opportunity to many more middle schoolers, and their teachers!

Leticia S. De Anda has a MA in Theatre from the University of Texas at El Paso. Her focus was directing and Chicano Theatre. As an undergraduate Lettie received a BA – Cum laude in Political Science with a theatre minor. Lettie works as a theatre teaching artist, directs, writes, and acts.  She has taught for The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Jr Theatre and other local theatres and schools. Some favorite roles include Berta (Johnny Tenorio), and Jane (This Patio Playhouse).

Jonathan Dorf has authored more than 60 plays with over 2500 productions worldwide, including 4 A.M., DECLARATION and ME, MY SELFIE & I. 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, authored Young Playwrights 101 and serves on the Dramatists Guild Education Committee. A member of the Teaching Artist Alliance, he has taught at schools and festivals from Florida to Singapore. BA in Dramatic Writing and Literature, Harvard University; MFA in Playwriting, UCLA. https://jonathandorf.com

Dr. Lisa Edsall Giglio (MFA, EdD) is an Integrated Education Specialist focusing on the Arts as Essential for Creating Engaging Student-Centered experiences steeped in social justice (SJ) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Her work has two major components. One is providing professional learning for Teachers, Administrators, and Teaching Artists to expand curriculum integration thinking and experiences. The second is Arts Strategic Planning with arts organizations and with school districts. Both address building bridges with people and between organizational missions pulling from Lisa’s studies and decades of work in performance making and as an educator.

Eric Engdahl is the Conductor and a company member of Bay Area Playback Theater. He founded and teaches in the Theater Credential Program at CSUEB. He is one of the authors of the CA Theater Standards and co-Chaired the VAPA Framework Committee. He is also the Founder of Creative Learning Specialists, a consultancy on Prop 28, arts education, and research about arts teacher workforce development.

Kirsten Giard taught Theatre in the Grossmont Union High School district for 34 years and is currently the VAPA TOSA for the district. She has a BA in Theatre from San Diego State and a Master’s in Theatre Design from Southern Oregon University. She is a co-founder of Teach Tech Theatre and has taught numerous workshops and conferences theatre teachers about how to teach safety, the basics of technical theatre, and creating Technical Theatre Curriculum. Ms. Giard has been a Teaching Artist at La Jolla Playhouse since 2015 and currently teaches the Summer Technical Theatre Teacher Intensive.

John Hoganson has been involved in theatre since infancy, literally playing baby Jesus in the manger. He spent years and years on the stage, but really found his home in audio technologies. From the time he turned fifteen, he has run audio for everything from a single presenter to full orchestral musicals, from mixing in hall musicians to bringing bands in remotely from another space. He’s done it all…

Gai Laing Jones – 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 Development for Theatre Educators and senior actors.  And directs Theatre for Youth and Intergenerational productions. She currently is a Field Supervisor for CSU East Bay pre-service Theatre educators.

Shaun Klaseus has a Bachelor degree in Directing Theatre and a Master in Curriculum and Assessment, a certificate in Film and Television Development from UCLA, as well as 18 years of teaching experience. At different points in his career, he has taught K – 12, Film, Fine Art, English, but always Theatre. He currently teaches both beginning and advanced theatre courses and film courses at Larchmont Charter School in Los Angeles, CA. As the Department Chair and Lead Teacher Shaun has supported other teachers in developing their practices. The greatest privilege in his life is getting to create a space where students feel seen, build community, develop confidence, and laugh, a lot.

Mollie Lief is the proud drama teacher at Eliot Arts Magnet, formerly located in Altadena, CA. Following the Eaton Fire, Eliot is currently co-located with McKinley School in Pasadena. Most recently, Mollie directed Shrek JR. at the prestigious Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. In New York City, Mollie founded and led drama programs at both the Battery Park City School in Manhattan and P.S. 29 in Brooklyn. She also served as Associate Artistic Director and Youth Director at Brooklyn’s Piper Theatre Productions, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to youth and community-based theatre. In Los Angeles, she has headed the drama programs at Laurence School and Van Nuys Performing Arts Magnet High School. A Brooklyn native, Mollie holds a BA in Directing and Educational Theatre from Hampshire College and earned her Master’s in Educational Theatre from The City College of New York (CUNY). www.mollielief.com

Dimple Kaur Malhotra is an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam Scholar Artist. She has combined the ancient wisdom of Natya Shastra with Modern Psychology to create Applied Natya Therapy. This approach has been helpful for many people dealing with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual issues like depression and PTSD. She also focuses on women’s education and empowerment. Dimple is devoted to nurturing human potential, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting mental well-being through research in arts and science. She has directed numerous professional dance and theatre productions and her solo shows “Main Amrita,” “Rape Unreported,” and “Aatm Rati” are touring across India and abroad.

Martin Rodriguez currently teaches theatre and is the Arts Coordinator at Ramon C. Cortines VAPA / Grand Arts HS. He previously taught elementary theatre for LAUSD’s Creative Network. He is an Adjunct Professor at Pasadena City College and Cal-State Fullerton. Martin was also recently named one of LAUSD’s 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.

Tuffet Schmelze, the Dialect Geek, a Los Angeles based dialect coach. “There are characters and traits available to us using dialects that aren’t available to us in our normal voice.” Her teaching style is fun, upbeat and empowering, allowing students to transform their voice and utilize new dialects through songs, practice materials, sides and physical improvisation. She received her B.A. from Loyola University Chicago. She holds a Theatre Single Subject and CTE: Arts, Media & Entertainment Teaching Credentials. Dialect Clients Include: Film/TV: Apple TV, Universal Cable Productions. Stage: Center Theatre Group, La Mirada Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, Rubicon Theatre, Coachella Valley Rep, Falcon Theatre, Theatre @ Boston Court, Antaeus Theatre Company, A Noise Within, Ensemble Studio Theatre LA, Open Fist Theatre, East West Players, Circle X Theatre, Celebration Theatre, Reprise Theatre at UCLA and Son of Semele. Tuffet is the Dialects and Beginning Improv teacher at LACHSA (Los Angeles County High School of the Arts) and a proud member of Actors Equity and SAG/AFTRA. More information can be found at DialectGeek.com

Thomas Schultheis is a versatile professional with a theatre, education, and performance background. He is a Teaching Artist with Disney Imagination Campus at the Disneyland Resort in California, a Creative Team member for Musical Theatre Competitions of America, a Theatre Consultant for the National REACH Grant, President-Elect of the California Educational Theatre Association, and is creating a new original theatrical work titled EXTRACURRICULAR. He is an award-winning choreographer, creating works Off-Broadway and with High Schools & Universities around the country. Thomas received his MA in Strategic Communications from National University and his BS in Psychology from James Madison University. Additionally, Thomas has performed on Broadway in Grease! and tours of Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Chicago and South Pacific.

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).

Susan “Susie” Franklin Tanner, Founder/Director of TheatreWorkers Project, is a nationally recognized innovator in the field of documentary theatre and arts education, with 40 years of experience as a producer, director, teaching artist, actor and professional development provider. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association (AEA). Co-presenting with Conrad Curtis, Co-Founder and CEO of Virtual Production Partners, has been working at the intersection of technology and storytelling for over a decade. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA),

Jenae Thompson is a performer, choreographer, and entrepreneur with a decade plus of experience helping students and performers bring truth and connection to the stage. She has choreographed musicals for middle schoolers and adults, and for the past three years has taught acting, emoting, and theatre marketing workshops at the California Thespian Festival. Jenae is the founder of SAYQUOI®, a marketing strategy and consulting business that helps multi-hyphenate entrepreneurs, small teams, therapists, and artists develop sustainable, authentic marketing systems. She is also the co-founder of OPTYX, an influencer marketing agency connecting brands with creators to produce impactful, story-driven campaigns. Drawing on her background in performance, movement, and arts marketing, Jenae creates engaging, research-informed experiences that help theatre educators and young, aspiring theatre professionals re-energize their classrooms and inspire the next generation of performers.

Kasey Viani (Director, Playwright, Choreographer) is an award-winning director, choreographer, and playwright who has worked in the arts for over 40 years, beginning her journey as a dancer at just 2 years old. A passionate educator and visionary artist, she was honored with the 2023 CETA Award for Outstanding Theatre Education, the SDCOE Arts Empowered Award for Creative Leader, and was a 2023 Stephen Schwartz Award nominee for Musical Theater Teacher of the Year. She is also a 2023 Tony Award nominee for Excellence in Theatre Education and a former Disney performer, most notably portraying the Snow White Queen in Fantasmic!. Most recently, Kasey is the creator of Too Darn Hot, a new vibrant staged concert inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood, which was selected to premiere at The Old Globe as part of their Project 360 — a major milestone toward its Broadway trajectory. Her production is proudly supported by the Jerome Robbins Trust Foundation in New York and was attended by Academy Award Winner George Chakiris (Bernardo, West Side Story, 1961) and was quoted “…It was original and brave, and well deserved the jump up, standing ovation.  She made it all happen and the audience loved it!..”

Elena Villa (MA Directing – Roosevelt University) has been the Theatre Director at Citrus Valley High School in Redlands, CA since 2011, where she teaches 4 levels of theatre classes and leads a dynamic four-show main stage season. She collaborates on four performing arts events each season and is committed to fostering a collaborative work environment. Elena mentors new teachers, coordinates bi-annual district theatre meetings, and founded the Redlands USD middle school festival and Theatre Clinic. Recognized as a RUSD 2023/24 Outstanding Teacher of the Year, she has presented at national conferences, led district trainings and serves as a CA Department of Education SSP Grant Mentor and CTA IFT Grant Reader.

Jessica Volpi is the theatre teacher at Blair High School and the proud Director of Blair’s Ovations Theatre Company. A passionate advocate for arts education, she leads student-driven productions and teaches six levels of drama across grades 6–12. Jessica holds a BFA in Classical Theatre and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction. She recently directed the PUSD all district musical Hadestown: Teen Edition and is looking forward to Hamlet, Beetlejuice Jr. and Something Rotten this year!

Matt Webster is a Theatre Educator who has been teaching theatre students AND theatre teachers for almost 30 years.  A former tenured professor of Theatre Education, Matt holds both an MA in Theatre Education and an MFA in Theatre for Youth and was the head of the Theatre Licensure program at UNC Charlotte for many years.  As a Theatre Educator, Matt has presented workshops at dozens of conferences around the country, including the national conferences of EdTA, AATE and SETC, as well as regional conferences including the Texas Educational Theatre Association Conference, Florida Theatre Conference and the NC Theatre Arts Educators conference. Currently Matt is the Education Consultant for the Drama Teacher Academy, and an adjunct professor at Winthrop University. Matt is the author of the book Methods of Teaching Theatre – A Teacher Toolkit, as well as being an actor, director and award-winning, published playwright whose plays have been produced around the world.

Julie Willhite has been a theatre educator for 30 years in the Bay Area. She has worked with university, high school, middle school and elementary students. She has self-written and produced plays and directed over fifty productions locally and internationally. She has a BA and MA in Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz and was trained in Meisner technique in 200-2003 with Ian McRae from The Neighborhood Playhouse, NYC. She has acted regionally and professionally with Shakespeare Santa Cruz and Osu from Ghana, West Africa among other theatre companies