San Diego Junior Theatre: Education: Teaching Artists

San Diego Junior Theatre
Teaching Artists

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.

Cynthia Bloodgood is our new Technical Director. Cynthia enjoys building and designing a multitude of things, including scenery, quilts, and other creative objects. She studied languages and theater, and graduated with a BA in Technical Theater and Design from Brigham Young University. There she directed her theatrical pride and joy: an original script of C.S. Lewis' "The Magician's Nephew" in American Sign Language and spoken English. Her actual pride and joy is a little boy who likes to take her wrenches when she is doing lighting. Cynthia is learning how to juggle.

Dave Carson Mr. Dave Carson was born and raised in beautiful S.D. and was introduced to the world of show business while working at Junior Theater, The J Company, Moonlight Amphitheater, Starlight Theater and other local groups. Dave has studied Shakespeare extensively with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and currently works as a teaching artist at The Old Globe in San Diego. He has studied voice, dance and acting in New Orleans, L.A., New York and London and is extremely excited to be sharing his knowledge and experience with the next generation of Junior Theater performers.

Becky Cherlin Baird is a native San Diegan who is the founding Artistic Director of The J*Company, an award winning children’s theatre company, at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in La Jolla, California. Becky is a graduate of the University of Arizona, Theatre Arts Program. She traveled the country with the Broadway National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the casting and choir director for the Dreamcoat Choirs. She is an alumni of Junior Theatre, 1979-1989, receiving the Bank of America scholarship in 1989. Becky has directed and choreographed several original musicals for youth written by award winning playwrights from across the country including; Number the Stars (based on the book by Lois Lowry), Hello, Tomorrow and Benjamin and Judah. In her spare time, Becky records voice-overs, jingles, performs on stage and freelance directs and choreographs. Becky is known as the \'Pied Piper\' of Children’s Theatre.

Desha Crownover is the Artistic Director at San Diego Junior Theatre where she has served as general manager, director, musical director, and teaching artist for the past ten years, co-founding SDJT’s Conservatory Program for aspiring high school artists . Desha has had the opportunity to direct, teach, and perform in San Diego for the past fifteen years where her directing work has been commended by such theatre notables as Edward Albee, Ming Cho Lee, and Timothy Near. She holds a Master’s degree in Theatre from SDSU and a B.A. in Theatre with an emphasis in Performing from UCSD. She has served on the teaching faculty of SDSU, Cuyamaca College, and Santa Fe Christian Schools. Some of Desha’s favorite directing credits for JT include The Miracle Worker, Twelfth Night, Our Town, and Blood Wedding. Her work as a playwright has been produced at UCSD, SDSU, and Santa Fe Christian Schools, as well.

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.

Bryn Fillers A graduate in Theatre Arts from Reed College, Bryn is a playwright, director, & actor who has been a member of an improv troupe both in Portland and San Diego. Bryn is currently featured in the short film, "Flamingo Tango," directed by JT’s Leasa Thernes for Persnickety Pictures which was screened at the San Diego Women’s Film Festival. She has written & directed for the Firehouse Theatre in Portland, Theatre Rhino in San Francisco, & the California Center For the Arts in Escondido as well as schools across Los Angeles & San Diego including Warren-Walker, Roosevelt Middle School, & The Gillspie School. Bryn also writes & directs for classes at JT, & she has directed for the mainstage through their Page to Stage program. Bryn has taught playwriting through Playwrights Project & J*Company. Her students have won awards, & she has directed 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.

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.

Joanna Lydersen Joanna grew up here in San Diego and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Dance from UCSD. She is currently dancing and teaching for an outreach program at Eveoke Dance Theatre and is the Dance Director and Choreographer for Park Dale Players Theatre Company in North County. She has also taught dance for the Encinitas Union School District and Class A.C.T. She is so excited to be joining San Diego Junior Theatre and hopes to pass on her love of dance and theatre to the kids!!!

Patrick Marion first joined SDJT for their production of Into The Woods. Since then, he has been chosen as musical director for Joseph And The Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Richard Scarry's Busytown, and Dear Edwina. He is an associate artist for Lamb's Players Theatre, and has also performed shows with North Coast Repertory Theatre and JCC's J-Company. Patrick has taught private and group music classes around San Diego County for the last seven years, and is thrilled to be joining the teaching staff at Junior Theatre!

David McBean is a local actor turned teacher. San Diego theatrical audiences may remember him from such shows as "Fully Committed" where he played 40 characters and earned a San Diego Craig Noel Theater Critics Circle Award and a Pattie Award. He attended the San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts, has a B.A. in Theater Arts from the University of San Diego, and has been the Director of Music Ministries for many years at the Mission Hills United Methodist Church. He brings a lot of hands on experience as a singer, having won the National Association for Teachers of Singing competitions for Classical Music and for Musical Theater.

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.

Marina Morrow is happy to return to San Diego where she is an alumna of the acting and movement programs at SDSCPA, Scripps Ranch High School and San Diego Junior Theatre. Marina started facilitating theatre outreach classes as an undergraduate at Sarah Lawrence College. Since then, she has taught theatre in San Diego, New York City and western Massachusetts. Marina is classicly trained in acting, voice and movement and holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of California, Irvine. She practices yoga and enjoys helping children explore their passion for theatre.

Will Neblett has been Junior Theatre\'s Executive Director for the past seven years. In this capacity he has helped strengthen the organization, both financially and artistically. Previously, Will has successfully led Carlsbad Youth Theatre, both as a director and president of the board of trustees. Will has directed and musically directed many productions including And the World Goes ’Round (with Torrie Dunlap), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie, Annie Warbucks, Great Expectations, James and the Giant Peach, Oliver, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, The Witches, The Secret Garden (with Michael Anthony) and Nancy Drew, Girl Detective. Will has also sound designed many productions. Will\'s acting career includes many roles in collegiate and community productions; Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (4 times), Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Barnaby in Babes in Toyland and John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Shalico Sain Leaverton Shalico holds a BA in English from Michigan State University and a teaching credential and MA in Theatre from San Diego State University. Shalico has been involved in the performing arts as a singer, actor, and director for the past 30 years and has been a Theater Arts Educator for over 12 years. While at SDSU, she worked as a Teaching Associate and was involved in many directing projects and productions. Shalico also worked as a teaching artist for both the Globe Theater and La Jolla Playhouse. Most recently, she ran the Drama Department at Aliso Niguel High School in Orange County. Shalico is excited to join the team at San Diego Junior Theatre.

Alyssa Schechter

Angie Serrano has taught music classes at Junior Theatre for several years. She holds a B.A. from CSU San Marcos. Angie enjoys working and singing with kids of all ages, and has many years experience directing children and youth choirs. For over 10 years, she combined her love for children and performing by hosting a weekly Kid’s Club program. Angie continues to sing professionally in a women’s trio and performs with her husband, John, who is also a musician.

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.

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