Faculty

Jennifer Read, Department Chair

Professor of Theatre

Jenn is Chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance, in addition to being part of the design faculty.  She received her MFA in Theatre, with an emphasis on Lighting Design from Florida State University and her B.A. in Dramatic Arts from UC Santa Barbara.  Jennifer has designed lights, costumes and sets for many theatrical productions, including Hay Fever, Eurydice, Once Upon a Mattress, The Illusion, Antigone, Crazy for You, The Robber Bridegroom, to name but a few.

Liz Casebolt

Professor of Dance

Liz has a BFA in Dance from New York University, and a MFA in Dance/Experimental Choreography from UC Riverside. Throughout her career Liz has had the good fortune to work and study with a number of acclaimed dance scholars and choreographers, including Doug Varone, Joe Goode, Keith Johnson, Susan Rose, Linda Tomko, Cliff Keuter, Ellen Bromberg, Wendy Rogers and Ann Carlson. Liz has performed with Partridge/Benford/Dance/Music and Claire Henry and Dancers, and with Center Dance Ensemble, where she performed lead roles in Hamlet, La Llorona, A Streetcar Named Desire, and The Snow Queen. In Los Angeles, Liz has performed with Susan Rose and Dancers and Hassan Christopher’s The Company of Strangers. 

Matthew McCray
Professor of Theatre

Matt has directed productions, workshops, and concerts at Center Theatre Group, LA Philharmonic, South Coast Repertory, Deaf West, Theatre @ Boston Court, REDCAT, Chance Theater, among others, and has produced 60+ productions in Los Angeles as the Founding Artistic Director of the award-winning Son of Semele Ensemble. KCRW has said, “[McCray] distinguishes himself as one of the most plugged-in theatre makers in LA.” Notable credits: Our Class (LA Drama Critics Circle Award, SAGE Award, Ovation Award nom, LA Weekly nom), Next To Normal (Scenie Award, OCTG Award Nom), The Other Place (listed as top OC production of 2019). Matthew has performed on the stages of REDCAT, Disney, REPRISE!, Theatre @ Boston Court, Musical Theatre West, and Shakespeare Orange County, as well as on the TV shows Parenthood, New Girl, Will & Grace, Boston Legal, and the feature film The Commission (starring Martin Sheen, Edward Asner and Martin Landau). IG- @mccray.matthew | www.matthewmccray.com 

Isis Avalos

Dance Instructor

Kenji Igus

Dance Instructor

Samantha Jo Jaffray

Costume Designer

Sami Jo has worked at LAVC since 2018 as their Costume Maker. Samantha has designed costumes for many LAVC productions, both as a student and as staff. She is extremely happy and grateful to be a part of such a great team and to work with such talented students.

Kiha Lee

Dance Instructor

Carla Lubow

Dance Instructor

Mark Svastics
Performing Arts Technician

Mark is the Performing Arts Technician and Adjunct Instructor at LAVC. His designs at Valley have included Scenery and Lighting for Liliom and Blue Bird, and lighting for Twelfth Night.

Maya Zellman

Dance Instructor