INSTRUCTORS
Theatre 31 is fortunate to enjoy professional relationships with many accomplished artist/educators with experience ranging from Broadway to Cirque du Soleil. They are passionate about the arts and about sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience with our students.
Graduate, East 15 Acting School
Anniwaa is a Ghanaian-British actress. As a child, she was scouted by ballet dancer Rhian Robins, who believed her dance skills were of an exceptionally high standard and encouraged her into the Royal Academy of Dance. For 16 years Ballet and Contemporary dance was Anniwaa’s obsession. Anniwaa also attended the prestigious British method based acting school – East 15. Shortly after graduating from East 15, Anniwaa was awarded the Alan Bates Outstanding Newcomer award. She has continued on to work on the British stage and national TV, as well as US television. It is her goal as an instructor to enrich young people’s perception of the performing arts. She works/volunteers with Los Angeles Drama Club, Inner City Shakespeare, East LA Theatre, and the Centre Theatre Group.
Chicago-Native, Beverly Bautista, found her love for dance while performing at Filipino folk dances during her early teens. After studying dance at Ball State, she focused on hip hop, performing with dance companies in the Chicagoland area as well as Monsters of Hip-Hop: Los Angeles.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Beverly has worked with many renowned choreographers including Chucky Klapow (Disney’s: HSM), Christopher Scott & Galen Hooks (LXD), Anthony Thomas (Nation), Rosero McCoy (Disney’s: Shake It Up), and Gil Duldulao (Janet Jackson), Michael Rooney (500 Days of Summer), and recently Kennis Marquis & Free Boogie (iHeart Radio).
She has traveled internationally with multi-platinum rapper, Nicki Minaj, shooting a national commercial with Pepsi as well as live performances in Japan, China, & Jamaica. Beverly also performed in Minaj’s music video, “Super Bass,” the Billboard Music Awards, and at Times Square for Nokia’s Lumia 900 Launch Event.
In addition to working with Theatre 31, Beverly is the Dance Instructor for the VAPA program at Pacifica Christian High School. She believes in investing in the next generation and hopes to challenge students with classes rooted in foundational technique. She is honored and grateful to God for the opportunity to share her passion of dance around the world.
California School of Professional Fabric Design, Berkeley, CA
Farley Crawford Bliss is a multifarious visual artist who has had the pleasure of collaborating with Theatre 31 as a set designer, painter and instructor since 2013.
She is simultaneously a freelance illustrator, muralist, production designer and gardener in Los Angeles. Farley grew up in the Northeast before making her way to California to study at UC Santa Cruz. Over the years, in addition to extensive traveling and living abroad, she has led after-school and summer-camp art workshops for young people in California, Oregon, Massachusetts and New York. It is with great joy that she guides Theatre 31’s young tech teams, bringing their creativity to the sets for the audiences to delight in.
Musicians Institute
Miles has worked extensively with the Off-Broadway show STOMP, performing in the New York, U.S. and international touring companies.
A session and touring musician, his work encompasses drumming in the studio, in music videos, and on stage with Eminem, Ringo Starr, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Art Garfunkel, Darwin Deez, Bronagh Gallagher, other international acts and local bands.
Miles also directs for camera. His “DNA,” was nominated for a UK Music Video Award; short film, “Drum-Off,” was featured at LACMA and on The Huffington Post; “I Forgot My Phone” went viral, and has been viewed over 49 million times. The series “2 Black Dudes” for which he was Director of Photography, was bought by 20th Century Fox.
His most fulfilling work has been in arts education as a teacher and choreographer: in Los Angeles for THEATRE 31 at John Adams and Lincoln Middle Schools; for CITYStage; and in Salvador, Brazil with the non-profit Quabales.
It has been his honor to work with the incredible, insightful, and dedicated team at Theatre 31.
BA, Media and Psychology, Mount Saint Marys University
Hydeia is a professional Ballroom & Latin dance instructor and owner of Dansé Ballroom, a mobile dance business. She has over 20 years of dance and musical theatre training and experience, and specializes in numerous genres of dance. Hydeia is from North Carolina where she studied and competed in dance since the age of three. Becoming an instructor at 16 years old changed her life and has allowed Hydeia to travel, perform, and express her passion and love for movement throughout the U.S. She has won numerous competitions both as an amateur and a professional. Her strong belief that anyone is capable of dancing has led to her creation of The Blind Dance Company. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization empowers the lives of the visually impaired and creates employment opportunities in the blind community. This has drawn media attention including national CBS news, NBC California Live, and more, all helping to spread the cause. Hydeia aims to change the way society views the disabled, one group and one art form at a time, leading to greater equality within the entertainment industry.
Graduate, The Second City Conservatory
Katey is thrilled to be a part of the Theatre 31 family for so many years and has loved working alongside Chad at Lincoln Middle School, John Adams Middle School, and many elementary schools & Summer Camps since 2006! She is deeply honored to be on the improv faculty at both AMDA College & Conservatory of the Performing Arts & The Lee Strasberg Institute. She also lends her talents to the Eamon Cannon Comedy Project at Inner City Arts, and runs the improv portion of Comedy Playground at The World Famous Hollywood Improv, in addition being the Director of Theatre for LA CITYstage.
Jackie was born and raised in Simi Valley and since she obtained her degree, has been working in the LA area as a professional theatre artist both on and off-stage. She teaches private singing lessons, and has taught students throughout LA and Ventura County about Shakespeare and musical theatre. When she’s not performing on-stage or teaching, Jackie enjoys playing soccer, piano, and her ukulele; otherwise you can find her surfing, snowboarding, camping, cooking, and hiking. Email for info on private voice lessons.
Lexi has worked as a dancer/ aerialist/ actor, with; Cirque Du Soleil, AntiGravity, Diavolo, LA Circus, Eye of Newt Circus, Dream World Cirque, Wonder World, Cirque Berzerk & the Theatricum Botanicum, on stage, screen & television. Lexi has performed throughout the world; Japan, China, Brazil, Italy, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada & all over the US. Ms. Pearl is inspired as an artist by being able to “create a tangible experience out of the invisible”
Erica made her Broadway debut playing “Lorraine” in the Original Broadway Cast of the 2006 Tony award winning musical, Jersey Boys, and recently reprised her role in the film version directed by Clint Eastwood. In Television and Film, she has starred on “Hart of Dixie”, “The Closer”, “Lie to Me”, “Medium”, “Numb3rs”, “NCIS”, “Friends with Benefits”, and more. She can also be seen in many national TV commercials. In addition to performing, she enjoys teaching private voice lessons and coaching acting. Her students range from elementary school age beginners, to teenage singers on American Idol, to middle aged adults.
An actress, dancer, and choreographer, Danielle was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where she performed in numerous productions at The MUNY and was also a competitive dancer in regional and national competitions.
She has worked on the stage in Los Angeles at Cabrillo Music Theatre, Chance Theatre, and at Universal Studios Hollywood. She also works in television and commercials and currently has indie films screening across the country.
In addition to teaching and choreographing, she volunteers her time as a mentor for two amazing non-profit organizations – Young Storytellers and Red Eye Inc. She is available for private/group lessons.
Caitlin is an actor, singer, and teaching artist and is thrilled to be a part of the Theatre 31 team. Caitlin has had the privilege to work with students of many ages in many disciplines over the years. Caitlin is currently a company member at Theatricum Botanicum where she performs and teaches classical theatre, most recently playing Helena in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Other regional credits include: Carla in Nine (Arizona Repertory Theatre) and The Nurse in The Sunshine Boys (Arizona Theatre Company). More at www.caitlinstegemoller.com.
BA, Media & Communications, Muhlenberg College
Samantha is an NJ/NYC transplant who found her way to sunny Los Angeles. She is an actress, voice actor and teacher best known for co-hosting Nickelodeon’s TOP ELF alongside the one and only Santa Claus. She’s also had the pleasure to work on shows seen on MTV, A&E, Discovery and Lifetime as well as commercials. As a voice actor she can be heard on commercials, podcasts and narrating popular children’s audiobooks such as Pearl the Magical Unicorn and Rivals! Frenemies who changed the world. Samantha loves live theatre and has performed throughout America in regional productions, off-broadway and in schools with Story Pirates!
Samantha has taught theatre and creative writing in New York, New Jersey and California for the past 8 years. Currently she teaches with Story Pirates, Mainstages, JCC Westside and with the amazing Theatre 31! Samantha brings patience, energy, and pure joy into every classroom and theatre. She can’t wait to work with more amazing young performers!
Sammy was born in NYC, and started training competitively at the age of 10 at Jazz Unlimited in Marlton, NJ. At 15, she danced at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in NYC, and won “Critic’s Choice” at New York City Dance Alliance many years in a row. Sammy was chosen to attend the Governor’s School of the Arts at 17. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Towson University in Maryland, and danced on the #1 collegiate dance team in the country. She also ran the Towson University Youth Dance Team, The Tigers 2.
After college she traveled to Beijing, China and danced with Team USA in the Olympic Village. She was a principal dancer in the movies Step Up and Step Up 2: The Streets. She has been seen acting and dancing in dozens of national commercials, many soap operas and has had roles on TV shows such as Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds and Anger Management.
Sammy started her event, DANCE 4a CAUSE, 9 years ago. She has raised over $100,000 for many charities by combining the art of dance and her love of giving back.
Sammy lives bi-coastally and is the Creative Dance Program Director at Jazz Unlimited in NJ. She believes that the love of dance starts right away, and wants to make sure children feel encouraged from the start. She loves being an instructor for Theatre 31, and thinks the positive environment is exactly what kids need to flourish in the arts.