Dede Clark- Director

Dede established kidsActing in 1980, when she discovered her passion was working with children. Since that time kidsActing has grown from eight children to 12 locations. She got a BSE in theatre education from the University of Kansas, ran a newspaper in Tahiti, worked in theatre in NYC, then moved to Texas for her master's degree in film from UT. Upon completion, she worked in film with the Coen brothers, and on many other film, television and commercial projects, receiving a gubernatorial appointment to the Texas Film Commission board. She 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 Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Marcia Ball, Ray Benson, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and many other great Texas songwriters. She has produced and directed over 100 productions, receiving nominations and awards for her work. She was voted Best Stage Director by the Austin Chronicle. Most recently she has created Center Stage Texas, a theatrical venue which is encouraging children from diverse backgrounds to participate in the creative process, developing community through theatre, music and art.

Noel Alford- Musical Director

Noel received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas. He has been the musical director at kidsActing since 1990. In that capacity he has worked on over 100 musicals, and taught music and voice to thousands of young people. Barrett Davis, a former kidsActing student for eight years who is now on Broadway in Mary Poppins, credits Noel with helping him discover and develop his voice. Besides his duties as musical director, Noel has composed numerous songs for kidsActing’s original musicals including Cyberella, Waking Sleeping Beauty, Monsters!, The Emperor’s New Shows, Goldie, Alyce in Wonderland, TX and Bugs, as well as worked as the arranger on all productions. He co-wrote the scripts for Cyberella, The Emperor’s New Shows and Waking Sleeping Beauty. He has been a theatre and club performer for over forty years, including years as a performer with Esther's Follies.

Theada Bellenger- Technical Director

Theada Bellenger has been with KidsActing since 2001. She is Austin born and bred and while she has worked with various other theaters around town KidsActing is definitely her home. She has a Bachlor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Theater and Dance with an emphasis in technical theatre and set design, where she designed the Theatre for Youth production of Two Donuts. She is also a core member of November X, an Illinios based company for whom she has designed Twelfth Night, Once Upon a Mattress, Little Shop of Horrors, The Importance of Being Earnest, Hamlet, Vanities, City of Angels, A Doll’s House, and The Odd Couple. She has been designing for KidsActing since 2006 including productions of Chicago, Prince Caspian, Grease, The Silver Chair, The Sound of Music, Aladdin, Princess Bride, Cabaret, The Wizard of Oz, High School Musical, The Dark Crystal, Robin Hood, and Les Miserables. As Technical Director, Resident Designer, and Stage Manager she also teaches and organizes the amazing youth who gain experience in every technical aspect of KidsActing productions.

Jai Suire- Teacher/Director

Jai began teaching with kidsActing in 2006 in acting, comedy, musical theatre and dance. She instructs her students on how to trust one another as well as themselves and how to remain, "Out of your head." During her time as an actress and comedienne, Jai Suire starred in a number of independent films, voice overs, commercials, and live theatre productions including 3 years as a permanent cast member of Esther's Follies. She also created, directed, and starred in her own sketch and improv show, Sketch Marks, in Los Angeles. Currently she is pursuing her MA in Theatre History and Criticism.

Jason Marlett- Teacher/Director

Jason moved to Austin in 2000 from Grand Rapids, Michigan with a roommate, a U-Haul, and two cats. Since then he has bought a house and made Austin home! Jason graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor's Degree in theatre. While in Michigan he performed in shows such as A Few Good Men, Schoolhouse Rock, and Bunnicula, while also directing The Fantasticks. Since arriving in Austin Jason hasn't slowed down one bit! He has performed with the Austin Commedia Society, Second Youth Family Theatre, City Theatre, Project Interact, as well as being an original company member with Pollyana Theatre. Jason started working at kidsActing in 2002 and has found a home here as well! At kidsActing he has directed 10 main stage productions including The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Rings trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Princess Bride. With Robin Hood on the horizon, Jason is looking forward to more great times at kidsActing!

Jenny Foust - Teacher/Director/House Manager of Center Stage Texas

Jenny studied at the University of Texas at Austin, with a focus on directing and playwriting. She has over 20 years training (part from kidsActing when she was a kid!) and 12 years dance training. She started in the Austin theatre scene at EASY Theatre, where she acted in plays and learned technical theatre. Jenny has worked at The Long Center, ONSTAGE Theatre Company, City Theatre, HBMG Foundation, and Second Youth Family Theatre as a stage manager, light/sound board operator and stagehand. She has acted in numerous plays, but says her greatest passion (besides her husband and two young daughters) is in directing. Jenny has directed and assistant directed many shows including White People, Overwhelming Underdogs, and Icarus: On Ice. She enjoys writing and loves to produce new works with her own theatre company, This & That Theatre.

Joshua Denning - Teacher/Director

JOSHUA DENNING is excited to be a teacher at KidsActing. He hasn’t stopped performing since he was ten years old, so is able to understand the thrill of performing as a child and can convey that positive energy to his students. His professional credits include: Fall 2010 he opens at ZACH as Angel in RENT. He toured internationally in The Lion King as Simba, performed in Best of Musical (Principle Soloist) in Vienna, Austria and played Brit in the QUEEN musical We Will Rock You in Zurich, Switzerland. His Regional Theatre credits include In The Blood (Reverend D) Altered Stages, RENT (Benny) The Weston Playhouse, Miss Saigon Theater Under The Stars, West Side Story, A Little Night Music The Human Race Theater Company, Hot Summer Nights, Stage One, The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, and Seaside Music Theater. FILM: Abrupt Decision (Aaron), Project Zed (Jean Bernard. Josh holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Wright State University.

Kirk German - Teacher/Director

Kirk German started at kidsActing class exactly 20 years ago, performing in (and co-writing) dozens of shows over 5 years, including originating roles in Monsters! & Bugs. Since then, he worked variously as an aide & scriptwriter before teaching & directing musicals like West Side Story & You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. After earning a BA (theatre) from Middlebury College, Kirk returned to Austin in ’02 to work for a wide array of local companies, including Austin Playhouse, ALO, Tex-Arts, Second Youth, and Zilker (currently playing Rooster in Annie on the Hillside!); during that time, he has earned 4 Payne nominations. In ‘08, he helped form DA! Theatre Collective, which in under 3 years has produced 7 critically acclaimed original productions and received several awards, including an Austin Chronicle Critics' Choice Award for "Best Non-Profit Upstart"; his original children's show, Heron & Crane, went to NYC in August 2010! (http://www.datheatrecollective.org/kirk.aspx)

Nina Sloan- Teacher/Director

Nina received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999. Nina Sloan has been a professional choreographer for six years and has taught fine arts in public schools for nine years. A part-time teacher with kidsActing for five years, because of her love of the kidsActing students and musicals, she has come on board full-time with kidsActing. She has participated in many different performing groups including the Longhorn Singers, River City Pops, The Austin Summer Musical for Children, and Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums. She traveled to Scotland this summer and helped Silver Thistle win 7th in the World Championships. Nina has performed as an actor/singer/dancer in many musical productions in the Austin area including Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Monsters. She has choreographed and/or directed numerous productions including Grease, Cabaret, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, The Wizard of Oz, High School Musical and Westside Story. Along with singing, dancing, acting, directing and drumming, she is also a painter and scenic artist.

Philip Olson - Teacher/Director

Philip has been teaching, directing, and having fun with KidsActing since 2008. His two passions are the stage and children. He has been involved with various children's theater groups in Austin, including Zach Scott, One Day Academy, Just Imagine, and Center Stage Texas. He received his BA in Theater from UT Austin in 2007. Philip enjoys working in all elements of production, but he particularly enjoys working on Shakespeare, Meisner technique, stage movement, voice for stage, and character development. With KidsActing he directs musicals, straight plays, and acting workshops. As an artist, Philip stays sharp and relevant by continuously working as a performer professionally and within the Austin community. Recently he could be seen in Bubba & Judy's Wedding (an interactive dinner improv-theater show), Bounce Past (A feature-length sports-themed comedy), and Packing Memories (Fronterafest Short Fringe). He keeps an up to date listing of shows and productions on his website http://philipolson.weebly.com/