Team Bios
Executive Administrator
A native Austinite, Tiffany graduated from Anderson High School and went on to study Interior Design and Architecture. She has worked as kidsActing's office manager since 2005 and managed our moves from our long-time location on Burnet, through a couple of temporary homes, until we found Center Stage Theatre.
Tiffany is known as kidsActing's central nervous system, because she calmly keeps the administration running smoothly, corralling various artistic departments and personalities. She is the ultimate "cat herder." She has a gift of organization and attention to detail, and keeps candies on her desk!
Artistic Director
Dede established kidsActing in 1980, when she discovered her passion was working with children. Dede received her BSE in theatre education from the University of Kansas, ran a newspaper in Tahiti, worked in theatre in NYC, and got her master's degree in film from UT.
​She's worked with the Coen brothers on movie, television and commercial projects, and was awarded a gubernatorial appointment to the Texas Film Commission board. Dede has written, directed, and produced eight original musicals: The Velveteen Rabbit, Cyberella, Waking Sleeping Beauty, Monsters!, The Emperor’s New Shows, Goldie, Alyce in Wonderland, TX and Bugs, each with original songs created for the productions by many great Texas songwriters, including Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Marcia Ball, Ray Benson, Robert "Beto" Skiles, and all of The Flatlanders: Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, and Joe Ely.​
She has produced and directed over 100 productions, receiving numerous nominations and awards for her work. She was voted Best Stage Director by the Austin Chronicle.
Production Manager/Enrollment Director
Jazmine found her love of theatre at the age of 4 while participating in acting classes and productions in Los Angeles. When she moved to Austin she became a kidsActing student, participating in seven shows including two of our original productions, Bugs and Goldie, a Fish Story.
Jazmine began working in kidsActing in 2003 as Enrollment Director and added the role of Production Manager to her responsibilities in 2012. She is also an established stage manager with various companies in Austin including Dirigo Group, Glass Half Full, and is a Company Stage Manager for the Rude Mechs. Children's theatre is her first love and she is excited to bring her experience and knowledge to kidsActing and teach students about the technical aspects of theatre.
Education Director/Director/Teaching Artist
Courtney Jacobs has been with kidsActing since 2012. Before moving to Austin, Courtney owned her own musical theatre company for young children in Scottsdale, Arizona, in addition to being a Montessori preschool teacher for 4 years.
​A vocal performance major with a dance/choreography minor at Arizona State University, she has worked with kids in the theatre community for over 15 years. Some of her credits include working at Disney World as a dancer/character performer, as well as playing major roles in musicals throughout the southwest. She is so excited for you to join us at kidsActing!
Resident Video Designer/Playwright
Lowell Bartholomee is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts where he studied film. He has been a video designer for theater since 2002 and has provided designs for the Rude Mechs, the Dirigo group, Red Then Productions, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, Breaking String, Austin Playhouse, and several other companies.
His designs have been awarded the Austin Theater Critics Table and B. Iden Payne Award. In 2008, he co-wrote and produced the feature film Holy Hell, which premiered at the Austin Film Festival and is the first feature to be distributed via iPad. He is also an award-winning actor, director, and producer.
Costume Shop Manager / Costume Designer
Chasity has always had a love for fashion, theatre, and pugs. She was involved in theatre throughout high school, where she starred in Grease as Sandy. After graduating, she majored in fashion design at the University of the Incarnate Word.
She designed her own brand and then went on to show collections throughout Texas, New Orleans, New York, and London. Her work has been featured in numerous fashion magazines.
Although she had a passion for fashion, she felt like something was missing. She decided to merge her love for theatre and fashion and do something she has always enjoyed: costumes! Upon joining kidsActing, she finally feels like she’s doing what she’s meant to do.
When Chasity is not working, she is spoiling her baby boy, Dak, and her two pugs, Wensdae and Barnabas.
Teacher Artist/Accompanist/Vocal Coach
David has played with the national touring companies of The Who's Tommy, Once on This Island, and many others. He began his professional career as music director in summer stock at the age of 16. Since then he has been involved with hundreds of musicals. Among his favorites are Most Happy Fella, Guys & Dolls, and Victor/Victoria.
Accompanist
Mike Brown hails originally from Houston. He has accompanied church choirs, solo instrumentalists and vocalists for many years, and played piano and bass in classical, jazz, rock, bluegrass, and theater groups, or any genre of ensemble that would let him in. He holds a Master's in Collaborative piano
from the University of Miami, and has been providing music with kidsActing classes and shows since 2015.
Accompanist
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1953, Major Kim Edward Feinauer graduated from Reading Senior High School in 1971. He then studied music and philosophy at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude in 1975. He went on to graduate study in philosophy at the University of Virginia where he acquired 63 credits in graduate study and was a member of the Society of Fellows. While studying at UVA, he was hired by The Salvation Army as its church pianist.
​Major Feinauer plays piano, organ, clarinet, and a variety of flutes and brass instruments. He has been the piano accompanist for many Salvation Army Songster brigades including that of The Salvation Army’s Evangeline Booth College. He has played French horn with several community concert bands and symphony orchestras, and from 2014-2019 was the solo Eb alto horn player with The Salvation Army’s National Capital Band.
Accompanist
Johanna Stull is a music director, vocal coach, and pianist that specializes in developing high-quality, collaborative performing experiences. Most recently, Johanna was the music director for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Take3 Productions) and Bring It On (Kennesaw State University). She has worked with over 20 high school, collegiate, and non-profit music education programs, including Visiting Professor of Musical Theater at Kennesaw State University. Johanna holds a Master of Music from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Music from Missouri Baptist University. When she's not at the keyboard, Johanna finds happiness in traveling, reading, and discovering new coffee shops.
Director/Teaching Artist
Noah's love for theatre started here at kidsActing, at nine years old. Since then, he's been in countless productions, kA and otherwise, and has loved every single one. His recent performance credits include Newsies, Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages (Georgetown Palace), Much Ado About Nothing (Cold Frame Collective) and Beauty and the Beast (Magnolia Musical Theatre). He received his BFA in Theatre: Performance and Production with a Music minor from Texas State University. Noah often wears many hats at kidsActing, including, but not limited to, Director/Teacher, Stage Manager, and Light and Sound board op, just to name a few. When not at kidsActing, Noah loves to cook, play video games, and make music. He can't wait to see what kinds of characters these kids create!
Teaching Artist
Kel Sanders has held many positions at kidsActing including, but not limited to, teacher, box office manager, stage manager, light/sound board op, the list goes on. He is a graduate of St. Edward's University (class of 2011), where he majored in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Performance and minored in English Writing and Rhetoric. He is also an actor, appearing in such shows as Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Schadenfreude (Cold Frame Collective), Antigone (Oh Dragon Theatre), All My Sons (Palindrome Theatre), and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Mary Moody Northen Theatre) He has previously been a member of Palindrome Theatre and St. Edward's Transit Theatre Troupe. He loves comic books, Nintendo games, and his dog Grayson
Director/Teaching Artist/Lead Blocking Director
Mary has been a theatre kid ever since she saw CATS at 5 years old. She started taking theatre classes when she was 11, and continued throughout high school, where she was the president of her ITS chapter. She majored in Generalist Theatre at Tarleton State University and loves every aspect of theatre! She is an alum of the honorary theatre fraternity, Alpha Psi Omega. Some of her favorite roles have been Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Earthworm (James and the Giant Peach), and Charlotte Hay (Moon Over Buffalo). When Mary is not at kidsActing, she likes to bake, read, cuddle with her three cats, and perform one-woman musicals in her car. She is also a company member of Cold Frame Collective, a local community theatre group.
Director/Teaching Artist
Kenzie first stepped on stage at the age of 12, and hasn't left since. She completed her BA in theater at Keene State College. While acting was her specialization, she also studied comedy improv, technical theater, costume design, and set design. After graduating, she moved to Sydney, Australia where she continued to study theater and film at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. While in Sydney, she was also trained in the Meisner Technique. Afterward, she moved to New York City where she acted both on stage and screen. She continued her studies with several local New York acting coaches. In March of 2021, she relocated to Austin to continue acting. When not acting or teaching, she loves hiking, kayaking, and playing with her dog, Bondi.
Director/Teaching Artist
Cassie Padgett is a kidsActing veteran and has been directing children’s musical theatre productions for over 13 years. Her passion for teaching and love of children has called her back to fill in that missing piece in her heart. Cassie is the founder and CEO of her own business and graduated from Texas State University with a B.A., Iowa State University with an M.A., and an M.A. in Digital Marketing from Arizona State University. She is thoroughly excited to be able to continue doing what she loves.
Teaching Artist
Anthony Neuendorff has been involved in theatre for most of his life. As a former student here himself, Anthony found his love for theatre on the kidsActing stage and has been involved with the company since 2012. Wearing many different hats throughout the years, Anthony has found himself mainly stage managing and directing the many different productions put on during the school year, as well as teaching summer and break camps. When he is not teaching, Anthony is active in the Austin community theater scene, getting to take to the stage himself on occasion, or he is at home hanging out with his two adorable fur babies, Peach and Hermione. Anthony hopes to bring a compassionate, engaging, and approachable energy to the classroom and onto the stage to bring out the best in each and every student.
Teaching Artist
Susannah Crowell, kidsActing student for many years, is an actress, singer, dancer, comedian, and voiceover artist based in New York City! She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance from the University of Texas at Austin. Performance credits include the virtual world premiere of Human Resources the Musical, Annie (TexArts), Jungle Book (ZACH Theatre), Amazon Prime’s Good Omens activation (SXSW), Hulu’s A Handmaid’s Tale activations (SXSW, NYC), Cosplay Cabaret (GeekLifeRules), The Drowsy Chaperone (Texas Performing Arts), Build Your Own Bollywood (Agni Arts), The Who’s Tommy (City Theatre Austin), Oedipus the Tyrant (Fox Den Theatre), and the Under the Shroud podcast.
Teaching Artist
Chris Ehresman has worked as a director, choreographer, and musician for kidsActing for 7 years, most recently choreographing and drumming for the Elite Ensemble's Fiddler on the Roof and directing the virtual productions of Clue! He directs and choreographs the CSTEE Show Choir.
Teaching Artist
Stella Bolin attends Pace university in New York City and majors in film. She is so excited to join the Kidsacting family again after being involved in many Kidsacting musicals when she was younger. In her time between Kidsacting and college she has acted in shows such as The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Holy Ghost People, and Elvis People. She has also done hair and makeup for for shows such as Pippin, Seasons Greetings, and films at her college.
Teaching Artist
Sydney Solberg is so excited to have a wonderful summer working with amazing students at kidsActing! Sydney has been involved with kidsActing for over ten years. In that time, she has acted in multiple shows, done tech theatre, and of course, taught! Some of her favorite roles include Cosette in Les Miserablés and Carol in Black Comedy. She attends the University of North Texas and majors in theatrical performance with a minor in dance. In her free time, she loves to paint, bake, watch Disney movies, and dress her dog up in ridiculous outfits! She can’t wait for all the fun kidsActing has planned this summer!
Teaching Artist
Lucy Abramowitz is a senior Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance double major at Oklahoma City University. Having grown up in Austin, she is so thrilled to be working with kidsActing this summer where she did her first shows as a child! Her previous directing credits include The Little Mermaid Jr. and Grease! Jr. Most recent acting credits include Hansel and Gretel the Opera (Hansel), Bright Star (select dancer), The Magic Flute (Dritte Dame), Bring It On! (Jackson Crew) and The Threepenny Opera (Betty). Lucy is so excited to help these kids find their confidence in the spotlight and have a great summer!
Teaching Artist
Ayla has been performing in her school's drama club the last 6 years, and she's excited to be joining kidsActing for the first time this summer. She has music directed for 3 years and just closed a production of High School Musical, for which she served as director. Ayla loves teaching and will be studying music at UNT this fall.
Teaching Artist
Ellie Cain is heading into her second year pursuing a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from Baylor University this Fall. Originally from Wisconsin, Ellie has been dancing since shortly after she could walk. She’s trained in styles ranging from ballet, jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, drill-team, and lyrical/modern. She started taking theater performance classes after moving to Pflugerville in 2016. In high school, she fell in love with designing for the stage. Her favorite acting credits include Ms. Bluman in Freaky Friday, and Dance Ensemble in the Little Mermaid. Her favorite design credits include Heller award-winning Publicity for Freaky Friday, and Design Lead for the debut production of this is what i chose no i’m not sorry and yes, if you’d ask i’d do it again. Ellie is passionate about servant leadership, creating a constructive learning environment, inclusivity, and the oxford comma. She strongly believes that everybody has a place in theatre!
Teaching Artist
Sophie Gallia is a senior at AESA Prep Academy, and has been with kidsActing for 6 years. She loves theatre and acting! When Sophie is not on stage, she enjoys baking, video games, and makeup. She is very excited to become a part of the community that is the kidsActing staff!
Teaching Artist
Emi Fifer has been a student and teacher’s aide at KidsActing for many years, and they can’t wait to begin teaching kids to love theatre as much as they do. They believe theatre is a safe space for everyone, and that inside every child is a star just waiting to break out! In their spare time, they enjoy exploring abandoned buildings, playing video games with their mom, and informing their cats that plastic has no nutritional value.
Teaching Artist
Ella Greene is an Anderson High School graduate and now attends UCLA next year for theatre! She has been in KidsActing shows since 6th grade, including elite ensemble productions Beauty and the Beast, and Into the Woods.
Teaching Artist
Ella is so excited to be teaching at kidsActing this summer! She was in the Elite Ensemble for 7 years and kidsActing is what sparked her love for theatre. She currently attends her dream school, Texas State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and a minor in dance. Along with theatre, she also teaches dance at a local dance studio and you can find her choreographing in her free time. She is so excited to work with your kids this summer and hopes that the same passion for theatre that was ignited in her is found in them.
Teaching Artist
Maryanna Tollemache is an upcoming sophomore BFA Musical Theater & Directing Concentration student at Marymount Manhattan College within New York City. She is no stranger to the Austin theater scene! Some of her past roles include "Sister Mary Robert" (Sister Act; Summer Stock Austin) and "Natalie (English)" (Next To Normal; Ground Floor Theater & Deaf Austin Theater), even getting herself the award of Outstanding Young Performer (Live) during the 2020 B. Iden Payne Awards. They are also a kidsActing alum! Some of their favorite roles at kidsActing have been "Fantine" in Les Miserables, "Wednesday" in The Addams Family, and "Velma" in Chicago. Maryanna fully believes in kidsActing's motto, "where each child is a star", and fully implements that into her teachings. When not working in theater, Maryanna can be found immersed in their film directing, playing with her cat Zuzu, or in some form of sketch comedy or improv.
Teaching Artist
Jewels is a graduate of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She majored in Theatre with a focus in tech/design with teacher certification, and a minor in dance. While at TAMUCC, she has choreographed, worked as a Production/Stage Manager and Master Electrician. This is her fourth year working with KidsActing! She loves the outdoors and choreographing.
Teaching Assistant
McKenna Cantrell, an incoming Junior at Round Rock High School has been a kidsActing student since 2014, and is currently apart of the Center Stage Elite Ensemble. They absolutely love it here at kA, and are so excited to be apart of the staff!
Teaching Assistant
Elora has been with kids Acting since she was in the fourth grade. She only just started working with them and hopes to do it more!
Teaching Assistant
Lily has been involved in acting since she was very young. she has been in multiple middle school and high school productions including Matilda, The Little Mermaid, Frozen, and Newsies!!!
Teaching Assistant
Hello my name is Katie and I’ve been so lucky to be a part of the kidsActing theater company. I recently finished my run of Cabaret in California and plan on finishing my year as a Senior! I love working in the theater but mostly encouraging those to go after their dreams in theater! I’m so happy to be back and excited to get to work so many talented people!
Teaching Assistant
After 6 years of competitive gymnastics, Emmaline is exited to have found theatre with kidsActing in the elite ensemble and has been in Addams Family the Musical. She is now super exited to share her love of theatre over the summer by aiding camps. In her free time she plays piano and ukulele, snuggles her cats, and reads graphic novels.
Teaching Assistant
Eleanor Gray is entering 9th grade and has been doing productions with kidsActing for 10 years. She absolutely loves working with students and being able to share her passion for theatre. Her other interests include reading, makeup, and of course singing. Some of her recent accomplishments include making All-Star Cast in AISD's middle school One Act Play competition and performing as Jasmine in KA's Advanced production of Aladdin. She's looking forward to spending almost her entire summer aiding or performing with kidsActing.
Teaching Assistant
This is Cameron's first year working at kidsActing and is very excited to be working as a Teaching Assistant! In her youth, she attended many kidsActing camps and is eager to return. She's currently a BFA acting major at DePaul University in Chicago with a minor in exceptionality and learning. Before college, Cameron was a part of Zach Theatre's Acting Conservatory/PPC's Acting Track for 3 years. She looks forward to sharing her passion for theatre with children and meeting new people this summer at kidsActing!
Teaching Assistant
Hello, I’m Emily! I’m 15 years old and a rising sophomore at James Bowie High School. I’ve been acting with KidsActing for around 4 years and I am so excited to be working alongside them now.
Teaching Assistant
Helena is a 16 year old student at McCallum Highschool. This is her second summer working with kidsActing and she's very excited to be returning. Aside from aiding over the summer, she also is a member of the kidsActing Elite Ensemble, participates in choir, and loves to bake.
Teaching Assistant
Ashley Marcus started her acting career at age 6 as Gretl in The Sound of Music at the Mayo Performing Arts School in New Jersey. Since then, she has performed in lead and supporting roles in many plays including Anne in Anne of Green Gables, Amy in Little Woman, The Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist and Molly in Annie. She has also performed in a few short films, as an extra on HBO Love & Death and a photo double on Fear The Walking Dead. She has studied in pre-professional programs for musical theatre, dramatic and film acting at Austin Educational Theatre and Carol Hickey Acting Studio. Ashley is very excited to work with kidsActing summer camps.
Teaching Assistant
Joshua Mason is 17 Years old and has been performing at KidsActing for 9 years. He will be a Senior at Hutto High School in the fall. When he isn't performing on the stage, he enjoys designing video games, hanging out with friends, and participating in his JROTC's Drill Team.
Teaching Assistant
I'm Kenzie and I can't wait for a summer of fun at kidsActing! I have been performing since I was 5 and grew up doing kidActing camps myself. I have taught and directed plays as well. See you soon!
Teaching Assistant
Audrey loves singing, dancing, acting, and dinosaurs! She's been a part of 5 KidsActing productions and is so excited to spend the summer working at KA!
Teaching Assistant
I’m Laura Narvaez, a rising sophomore at Westlake high school, and this is my second summer working as an aide for kidsActing. I really enjoy being in productions and am excited about spreading the magic of theatre with younger children.
Teaching Assistant
Ellie Nowlin started musical theatre when they were in 5th grade and has been in shows ever since. She’s been in many kidsActing shows, and is very honored to be returning as a teaching assistant this summer. Some of her favorite roles have included Gabriella in kA’s High School Musical, Phineous Trout in kA’s Willy Wonka, and Night Watchman in Starlight Theatre Company’s Corduroy. They are currently attending Bowie High School and active in its theatre company, and this summer will be performing in Summer Theatre Series’ Mary Poppins. She can’t wait to help young performers find the spotlight this summer!
Teaching Assistant
Lance Prosise is a rising junior at Westlake High School where he studies theatre and choir as a tenor 1. You may have previously seen him in Pinkalicious the Musical, Guys and Dolls, or in the Westlake Improv Troupe. Some of his notable achievements are: Texas music scholar, TMEA region choir, and the highest ranking in state solo and ensemble.
Teaching Assistant
I’m Izzy and I’m 14 years old. I like reading and video games. Im a big fan of fantasy and like to draw. I’m super excited for this summer!
Teaching Assistant
Ollie is a 7th generation Austinite. She has been acting since first grade in annual school productions at the Austin Waldorf School. Her first kidsActing summer camp was Moana in 2017 where she played Moana’s mother. Since then she has participated in many kidsActing camps and productions. In 2020-2021 she was part of the Advanced production of ANNIE and 2021-2022 she played Zeke in the Advanced production of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. Some of her favorite roles have included Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit), Meena (Sing), and Glinda (Wicked). This fall she will be attending McCallum High School where she was recently accepted into their FINE ARTS ACADEMY as a Performance Theater major. She enjoys drawing in her free time.
Teaching Assistant
Sunny has been hooked on musical theater from the moment he could open his eyes. His father showed him all the classics and from that point on he enrolled in Kid’s Acting at the ripe age of 8. From there he’s been in several Kid’s Acting productions across many levels of difficulty. He not only likes being a stage performer but someday hopes to make special effects, puppets, costumes and really anything else like that. But for now he hopes to make sure these kids have the best summer acting experience possible.
Teaching Assistant
​Star Tyler is starting High School this next school year. She has been in kidsActing productions since she was six years old. She enjoys working with students and helping them grow as actors. Some of her interests are reading, singing, and of course acting! She is very much looking forward to assisting camps and preforming in kidsActing this summer.
Teaching Assistant
I've been doing theatre all my life and my first ever acting experience was actually with kidsActing. Theatre is my passion and now knowing that I'll be helping other kids grow their love for it as well, makes me so excited! I can't wait to work with the people I love!
Teaching Assistant
Evy Whitfield is happy to finally be working at kidsActing after her 9 years and 14 shows with the company. She’s very excited to get to know all the students, and to share her love of acting with anyone/everyone she’ll be working with this summer.
Teaching Assistant
Hi! My name is Brooklynn Willenberg, I’m fifteen years old and I go to Bowie high school. I love all things theater and I’ve been doing it for two years now. So far I’ve been in five shows and one musical, Matilda! I’m really excited to be working with y’all this summer!
Teaching Assistant
Diego Ayala moved from Mexico to Austin in November 2022, where he became a part of kidsActing. He joined the elite ensemble performing in the Addams Family musical. He is excited to be a part of the summer camp’s staff. In his free time, he practices 8 languages and plays video games.
Teaching Assistant
Natalie is a rising junior in high school, and is so excited to be working with kidsActing during the summer! She has been a part of kidsActing for many years and loves musical theater. She can't wait to help put together so many awesome shows this summer!
Teaching Assistant
Chloe has been in the theatre community for over 8 years and has done everything from being on stage, costuming, stage managing, directing, and more! She has been in over 20 productions and is excited to continue on that path!
Teaching Artist
Lucy Nichols is a UT BFA Acting major going into her Sophomore year. She grew up doing kidsActing every summer, and now she is pursuing a career in film. She is so excited to have a fun kidsActing summer!
Teaching Assistant
Camilla is super excited to work with kidsActing this summer! She is going into 9th grade at McCallum, and hopes to help out with theater there too!
Teaching Artist
Hi y’all I am super excited to be working with kidsActing this summer. I started acting in theatre when I was 8years old. I also lived in New York for 8 years and got a bachelors in acting for film and television. I’m just so excited to share my love of acting with y’all and hopefully have an amazing summer.
