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
Ashten is an Austin-based theater artist, director, choreographer, and educator with over 15 years of experience creating dynamic, inclusive performance opportunities for youth and adults. She is passionate about helping students find their voices through storytelling, movement, and collaboration—whether it's through musical theater, scene work, or character development.
Ashten has taught and directed in a wide variety of settings, from musical productions to Shakespeare classes, always with the goal of building confidence, creativity, and community. She also brings her love of visual storytelling to film and digital media projects, blending her talents both on stage and behind the camera.
She believes that theater has the power to connect, inspire, and transform—and is dedicated to creating spaces where every student feels seen, valued, and encouraged to shine!
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.
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
Phoebe acted in plays at kidsActing as a kid and loves teaching summer camps now! Currently Phoebe is an undergraduate student at UT Austin studying biological anthropology.
Teaching Artist/Director
Mady Morneault began their journey at kidsActing as a student at only 5 years old. Mady thrived through summer camps and later became a proud member of the elite ensemble all throughout middle and highschool . Some of Mady's favorite roles include Roxie Hart (Chicago), Eponine (Les Mis), and Little Red (Into the Woods). With kidsActing as Mady's very first job at 14 years old, they've worked as a teaching artist, director, and choreographer for 10 wonderful years. Mady graduated with a degree in Theatre and Dance from UT Austin and has additional experience in professional event production. KidsActing has always been Mady's "home away from home", discovering their passion in both teaching and performance. Mady is proud to be a part of shaping the next generation of creatives through the powerful magic of theatre! Outside of kidsActing Mady loves to cuddle with their dog, Hercules, paint, and go bouldering.
Teaching Artist
Hello! My name is Kayla and since I could remember, I always had love for the performing arts. My experience is doing theatre throughout high school and college, being a former scare actor, along with taking professional acting classes from coaches in Los Angeles! I am a current theatre and film major at Texas State University. Can’t wait to work with all of you!
Teaching Artist
Sharon Robinson (she/her) started singing on stage from a very young age. Originally from California, she now performs with various theatre companies, choirs, and bands here in Austin, TX. Favorite performance credits include: 9 to 5 (Judy Bernly), Dogfight (Marcy), Avenue Q (Kate Monster), Les Miserables (Eponine), and Spring Awakening (Ilse). She holds a BM in Vocal Performance from San Francisco State University. When she's not performing or teaching she enjoys hiking, playing games, and spending time with her husband and fur-babies at home.
Teaching Artist
Zoe Rico-Beaubien (She/Her/Hers) is a graduate of Missouri State University's Bachelor of Science in Theatre program. Originally from DFW, Zoe has spent the past few years directing, producing, teaching, and working in theatre administration for Tent Theatre, Laboratory Theatre Company, Chosen Productions, and ZACH Theatre. In her spare time, Zoe enjoys spending time with her cat Miss Thang, finding new local businesses to support, and reading scripts for future projects. She is so excited to get to know your students and see how much they can grow!
Teaching Artist
Emma Davis (she/her) is a theatre artist based in both the Greater Houston Area and Austin, Texas. She is an undergraduate student at Texas State University, intending to receive a BFA in Performance & Production with a concentration in Directing. Emma received the Robert R. Buseick Award for Directing Excellence National Finalist at the 2025 Region 6 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Teaching Artist
Charlotte is a musical theatre major at Marymount Manhattan College training in the heart of New York City. She is home for the summer where she was born and raised happily working for Kidsacting. She had worked at ZACH Theatre, the Long Center and Impact Arts during her adolescent years to now. Additionally, at Marymount Charlotte has trained in choreography and music theory, helping her lift the talent of your kids and strengthen their weaknesses. This is her first year working for Kidsacting and she couldn’t be more thrilled!
Teaching Assistant
Cash has been a big fan of Kids Acting Studio for several years. He has enjoyed participating in several productions with them, with his favorites being performing as Jafar in Aladdin and Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. Cash also participates in local community theater in and around South Austin. He will be a freshman in High School next year, and plans to continue to study acting and theater at the high school level. He looks forward to a great summer working as a Teaching Assistant!
Teaching Assistant
Second year working with kids acting, I love working with kids, theater band and choir are my passions!
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 Assistant
Sidney is a rising junior at the Ann Richards School. She grew up performing in Kids Acting shows and is now in her second year as a teaching assistant. Sidney loves working with kids and finding new ways to be creative every day through theater and art. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, softball, and babysitting. She’s excited for a fun and memorable summer with everyone!
Teaching Assistant
Hello, I’m Emily! I’m 16 years old and a rising junior at James Bowie High School. I’ve been acting with KidsActing for around 5 years and I am so excited to be working alongside them for my second summer.
Teaching Assistant
After being in 8 full-scale productions and various camps with kidsActing since they were 7 years old, Saturn is thrilled to get to share their passion of theatre with other kidsActing students this summer. Other than theatre, Saturn enjoys spending time with their dog and kittens.
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
Hannah Smith recently graduated from Millikin University with a BFA in Musical Theatre with a Minor in Dance. She is originally from Apex, North Carolina, but now calls Austin her home. She is excited to be joining the KidsActing family again this summer, having previously been a part of the team last summer. Hannah has performed in shows such as Elf the Musical, The Lightning Thief, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. When not performing or teaching, Hannah loves to bake, play board games, and hang out with her tuxedo cat named Shadow!
Teaching Artist
Hi! My name is Vivian Stewart, and I’m a sophomore at Northeastern University studying Business. I grew up as a student at Kids Acting and spent four summers working as a teacher’s aide. I’m thrilled to be returning this summer in a new role as a Team Teacher, and I’m excited to help create the same positive and creative experience that I enjoyed as a student. I can’t wait to share my love of theater and help each student shine on and off the stage!
Teaching Artist
Ava is a sophomore Theatre and Dance BA with an emphasis in Directing and Playwriting at UT Austin. This is her first summer working as a teacher with Kids Acting, although she has done many shows and camps in her time. She is excited to expand her directing experience and meet all the talented Kids Acting kids!
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 Assistant
Veronica is excited to join Kids Acting as a teaching assistant. From her debut role in preschool as a Stalk of Corn to more recent roles like Ursula in the Little Mermaid, The Trunchbull in Matilda, and Jack Kelly in Newsies, musical theatre has always been a central part of Veronica’s life. She has been in 17 plays and musicals and will be attending 9th grade at McCallum Fine Arts Academy as a Performance Theatre major in the Fall. Some of her favorite musicals include Falsettos, Cabaret, and Les Misérables.
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 Artist
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 Artist
Hi my names Amanda, during the school year you can find me teaching middle or Highschool kids. Besides teaching I come with active experience in the Theater and dance world since I was a kid. When I’m not teaching you can find me playing video games, watching anime or curled up somewhere reading. I’m so excited to be apart of your kids summer!
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
My name is Sophia Pariseau, I went to KidsActing since I was 4 and I enjoyed them so much. Going to these camps made me appreciate theatre and my love to preform. These camps helped me be more social and more comfortable being myself. This love for preforming led me to learn violin, and now I play in my schools top orchestra. I’m continuing to pursue my acting at Bowie in the fall as well.
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
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
Shelby has been with KidsActing for as long as she can remember, and is super excited for her first summer being on the staff! She loved playing Ms. Norbury in the Elite production of Mean Girls. When she's not on stage you can find her crafting with her cat.
Teaching Artist
Gentry Wessman is a rising operatic
mezzo-soprano based in Central Texas. Her professional credits include Madame Butterfly, Verdi’s Requiem, Carmen, Le pêcheurs de perles, and Sweeney Todd with the Austin Opera chorus, as well as Madame Butterfly with the Opera San Antonio chorus. Her collegiate credits include “Baba” in The Medium, “Frederic” in The Pirates of Penzance, and “Signora Naccarelli” in The Light in the Piazza. Gentry made her Italian debut as “Signora Infermiera” in Suor Angelica in 2022 with La Musica Lirica, and performed as “Dame Quickly” in Falstaff with the same company in the summer of 2023. Gentry recently completed her Bachelors of Vocal Performance from Texas State University in December and will begin her Masters of Opera Performance at Arizona State University this fall. Opera aside, Gentry loves to perform in musicals, plays, and even put on stand up routines… alone in her room. When she’s not singing, acting, or teaching, Gentry loves to watch TV and swim in the San Marcos river.
Teaching Assistant
I have always, since I was little, been in some way responsible for doing something. Whether it be walking our dogs, feeding our chickens, or giving water to our birds. I have done these tasks since a young age, and they have helped me. My peers would describe me as a reliable, trustworthy, empathetic, responsible, and arguably, yet importantly, very funny individual.
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 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.
