lompoc high

Theatre Arts 

Staff

Sarah A. m. Barthel

Director

Sarah A. M. Barthel (she/her) has been teaching at Lompoc High since 2000 and at the helm of the theatre program since 2002. Barthel graduated summa cum laude from Bethany College (WV) with a double major in Mathematics and Theatre. Barthel also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Chapman University.  She is delighted to be teaching both math and theatre, as well as choir. From 2011 to 2019, Barthel spent several weeks each summer working at PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) on the staff of the Young People’s Project. She has also served as a church musician for many years and currently works as a substitute accompanist for Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Orcutt.  Barthel is incredibly thankful for her support network which includes tremendously talented and generous volunteer musicians, builders, painters, cooks, seamstresses, and more. She is grateful to have such wonderful colleagues in Bree Jansen and Sarah Santiago, the assistant drama coaches.

Bree Jansen

Assistant Director

Bree Jansen (she/her) is a graduate of Lompoc High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Education degree from UC Santa Barbara. She has been teaching at LHS since 2002. She currently teaches dance at LHS and LVMS and and is the advisor of the Sapphire Dance team. Jansen has been involved with LHS Theatre Arts since 2004 when she made her musical theatre debut as the giant in Into the Woods. She has choreographed almost every musical from Oklahoma! in 2005 to Little Women in 2023. She has become increasingly involved in the theatre program as a graphic designer, photographer, assistant director and even co-director of Seussical. She is grateful for the chance to work with the theatre program and learn more and more about musical theatre and cherishes the adventures and she, Mrs. Barthel, and Mrs. Santiago have had over the years.

Sarah Santiago

Assistant Director

Sarah Santiago grew up in Lompoc and graduated from LHS in 2005 with the hopes of becoming a math teacher. As an LHS student, Ms. Santiago participated in several musicals as a pit orchestra musician. She went on to earn a BS in Mathematics from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She has accumulated nine years of experience in education teaching secondary math at high schools in Santa Maria, Germany, and Las Vegas before returning home to the Lompoc Valley. Ms. Santiago is excited to be the assistant Drama Coach and wants to thank Mrs. Barthel (her former math teacher) and Mrs. Jansen for extending this great opportunity to serve her local community and become more involved with the LHS Performing Arts programs she grew up loving so much.