Adian Upton is an emerging collaborative artist with a focus in improvisational theater. As a senior in his last semester, working towards his Bachelors in Theater Arts at the Johnny Carson School of Theater and Film at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Adian is in the midst of his capstone, creating his own curriculum for teaching improv theater in secondary education.

Email: adian.upton@gmail.com

Jeannette Galup is a Miami native with proud Cuban roots and a passion for theatre education. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from Florida International University and is a former high school drama teacher and Florida Thespian Troupe sponsor for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. For over a decade, she led a successful children’s theatre program, nurturing young performers and fostering a love for the stage.

Now based in Omaha, Nebraska, Jeannette continues to share her love of theatre as the acting teacher at BIG Studio in Elkhorn. She recently directed Newsies Jr. in the spring and Finding Nemo Kids for the studio’s summer camp program—both joyful, high-energy productions that showcased the talent and heart of her young casts.

Jeannette is proud to bring her cultural background and diverse experiences to the Midwest, inspiring the next generation of performers with creativity, discipline, and joy.

Email: Jeannette@biginc.org

Julie Stanfill began dancing when she was three years old and was a competitive dancer throughout her teenage years. She was cast in her first theatrical production in college and has been working as a professional dancer and choreographer for over 25 years. 

She most recently toured with Silhouettes International Golden Buzzer Act from America’s Got Talent performing multiple shows including “Love Happens.” Julie has also performed in local productions most recently Opera Omaha's "Barber of Seville". Her most recent choreography work includes Chanticleer Community Theater's "Meet Me in St Louis", Bellevue Little Theater's "Miracle on 34th Street the Musical", “Alice in Wonderland Jr” at SNJ Studios, "Annie Jr" at BIG Studio Omaha, “Theory of Relativity” at Millard South High School and “Once Upon A Mattress” at Omaha Central High School.

Julie has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University. She has been married for 19 years to husband Thad and has four beautiful children

Email: Julie.Stanfill@gmail.com

Kyle Thomas is a Nebraska-based director, music director, choreographer, and composer. A Kansas City native, Kyle’s work has been seen with companies such as Musical Theatre of Kansas City (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Band Geeks), Theatre in the Park (West Side Story, Oliver, Gypsy), and Starlight Theatre (Annie, Footloose). After receiving his B.F.A. in Theatre Direction from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Kyle worked in the Twin Cities with companies such as Tyrol Hills Music (Deal: the Musical, world premiere), Artistry MN (42nd Street), Chaska Family Theatre (Annie, A Year with Frog and Toad), Young Artists Initiative (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe), and Freshwater Theatre (Homewrecker). Locally, his work has also been seen at UNO, Omaha Community Playhouse, The Rose, Theatre West, Midland University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and the Fremont Opera House. He also serves as a co-director/choreographer for the Nebraska All State Musical and as the Director of Marketing and Communications for Opera Omaha.

Email: kylerossthomas@gmail.com

Becca Jackson Cusick is a visionary artist, educator, and nonprofit leader based in Omaha, NE. As the Executive Director of Boldly Inspiring Greatness, Inc. and founder of BIG Studio, she cultivates courage, confidence, and creativity through the performing arts. Becca’s work centers radical inclusion, especially for neurodivergent youth, and she is fiercely committed to creating spaces where everyone feels seen and empowered. With a background that spans theatre, vocal coaching, and nonprofit leadership, she brings both heart and high standards to her work on and off the stage. She is a mother to three extraordinary teenagers and is fueled by consistent caffeine, unapologetic authenticity, and her deeply held belief in the power of community and connection. Becca is building a life powered by purpose, partnership, and the belief that art should be for everyone—alongside her brilliant, book-loving partner Larry, who keeps her grounded, laughing, and occasionally off her soapbox. Becca is thrilled to be part of the Nebraska Thespian Festival and to share space with the next generation of theatre-makers.

Email: becca@biginc.org

I have been a dance and theatre educator for the past ten years, and began dancing at the age of three. I grew up dancing competitively and later went on to participate in theatre during high school and college. For the past several years I have worked as a choreographer and have choreographed several children's and teen musical productions, as well  as served as an adjudicator and guest teaching artist for Washington and Oregon Thespians.

Email: hannah.battiste@gmail.com

Fran Sillau (HE/HIM/HIS) Fran has worked extensively within the world of Theater For Young Audiences for over twenty years. A professional playwright, director and producer, Fran can also be found in the classroom as a theatrical  teaching artist and inclusion consultant. 

Fran Sillau is beginning his twelfth season as Executive Artistic Director of Circle Theatre, Omaha’s theater for individuals of all abilities. Under his leadership, the Circle co-commissioned My Broken Doll, a TYA play based on the life of holocaust survivor Beatrice Karp, adapted by Ernie Nolan, and Over the River, a play about friendship by Ellen Struve. Both plays recently toured the state of Nebraska. In December of 2016, Sillau directed a regional premiere of A Charlie Brown Christmas. This production incorporated American Sign Language, shadow interpreting, audio description, as well as actors with various physical and developmental disabilities. He is also currently developing new original TYA works for the Institute For Holocaust Education and the Great Plains office of the Anti-Defamation League. 

Fran spent seven years collaborating with theatrical producer Deborah Denenberg (Dodger Productions and Big League Productions) on The Doll Maker’s Gift. After tracking the book author down to her home in St. Petersburg, Russia, he co-wrote the book, and directed the world premiere at the Rose Theater in Omaha in 2019. The Omaha World Herald said “Families should flock to this one.” His latest collaboration with Ms. Denenberg, premiered in 2025, the musical adaptation of the New York Times Best-Selling book Just Ask! Jusst Ask! Premiered at the Coterie Theatre in January of 2025. 

For two seasons. Fran served as Artistic Director of Trike Theatre, the professional theatre for youth in Northwest Arkansas for three seasons. For Trike, Fran has directed The Velveteen Rabbit, Choose Love, Tortuga and the Hare, and the world premiere of Birdie and the Beanstalk. 

 Fran served as the Director of Accessibility at The Rose Theater for twenty-five years, where he led an expansion of the popular Every Single Child Program (a multi-layered program that serves an average of 35,000 students each year at more than 70 school buildings). The expansion developed production and residency programming for students in self-contained special education classrooms in the Omaha area. He also directs mainstage productions at the Rose. Some of his credits include Shrek: The Musical, Go,Dog.Go! and the Omaha premiere of Hanna’s Suitcase.

Fran is a past Aurand Harris Fellow with The Children’s Theatre Foundation of America and a winner of The Access Grant from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he is a frequent contractor.

Fran serves as the United States representative to IIAN a program of ASSITEJ. He is a proud board member for Theater for Young Audiences USA and the Children’s Theater Foundation of America. He holds an MFA specializing in directing and inclusion from Goddard College.

Email: Francis.Sillau@gmail.com

Renaissance Performing Arts Company was founded to fill the need for pre-professional, pre-collegiate and student-centered arts education in the greater Omaha area. Renaissance Performing Arts Company strives to provide quality industry-led arts education to students of all ages and levels in key theatrical disciplines, while fostering a lifelong love of the arts. The mission of Renaissance is to mentor and produce well-rounded artists who, upon completing programming, will have the necessary tools to be successful in any facet of the performing arts industry, as well as a strong sense of purpose, self, and awareness of the world around them.

Created by a team of three award-winning industry professionals: Ryan Pochop (Director of Music), Aubrey Fink (Director of Musical Theatre) and David Nuno (Director of Dance), Renaissance Performing Arts Company strives to be a leader in creating multi-disciplinary artists. Renaissance believes that a well-rounded arts education leads to creating a well-rounded person. The team at Renaissance is made up of in-demand actors, directors, music directors, choreographers, and audition coaches working with educational and professional companies around the country and internationally. By employing currently working artists, Renaissance is committed to bringing the most up-to-date insight from the front lines of the industry to their students here at home. 

Beyond the conservatory-style training, Renaissance is committed to the development of a young artist as a whole. Artists are individuals, and Renaissance believes in helping to nurture and grow the spirit of each young person who takes part in a Renaissance program. Visit renaissancepac.org for more information about the team and programming. 

Email: aubrey@renaissancepac.org

Over the last thirty years, Kevin has worked extensively in the area as an actor, director, and fight choreographer. He has performed in almost all local theatres including the Blue Barn Theatre, Omaha Community Playhouse, Circle Theatre, Shakespeare on the Green, and The Rose. He has directed fights for Opera Omaha, The Rose, The OCP, UNO, and numerous high schools. A master artist with the Nebraska Arts Council’s Artists-In-Schools Program, Kevin is a retired Omaha Public Schools Educator and an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Email: kbarratt@cox.net

Steve Hydeen is the current Education Director at the 402 Arts Collective. He is also an active acting instructor, who passionately incorporates improvisational training into traditional actor training to guide actors to new and profound discoveries that bring dimension and well-rounded understanding of the art-form. 

Email: Steve@402artscollective.org

Lara Marsh is an Omaha/Metro area Director and Theatre Practitioner with her Master of Arts in Theatre Direction from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She has directed for multiple theatres in the area. Favorite credits include "The Clearing", "Brilliant Traces", "Operation Crucible", "Mary Stuart", and "Lost Boy Found at Whole Foods".

In her continued education, she completed a graduate assistantship in stage management. Lara has stage-managed plays, musicals, festivals, and events. Some of her favorite stage management credits include: "Richard III", "Othello", "Mister Roberts", and "The Sound of Music". Over the years, Lara coordinated the national tours of "A Christmas Carol" for the Nebraska Theatre Caravan, while also coordinating the apprenticeship program for the Omaha Community Playhouse. As Director of Production, Lara has worked at Opera Omaha and the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival.

Lara is also the Artistic Director of the Omaha Fringe Festival. For the festival, she has directed "On the Line" and "The Real Professor". Bringing theatre to life, ensuring voices and stories are heard, are what make the world go round. We must never forget the very essence of theatrical art – humanity and storytelling.

Email: 0608lmarsh@gmail.com

Scott Working is Theatre Coordinator and instructor of Theatre, English, Creative Writing, and ESL for Metropolitan Community College. He's written for, directed, and performed on Omaha stages since the late 1980's. In 1993, he founded The Shelterbelt Theatre with the production of his play V of Geese. While the Great Plains Theatre Conference was partnered with MCC, Scott served as Associate Artistic Director for a time where he participated in the development of dozens of new plays. Over the past few years, he's focused on dramatizing works of the literary canon for dramatic productions as part of the Joslyn Castle Art & Literary Festival. He's produced and directed plays adapted from the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Earnest Hemmingway, Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Virginia Woolfe, Willa Cather, Gertrude Stein, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Mary Shelley. As a performer, he was recently part of the Blue Barn Theatre's ensemble of Appropriate, and he frequently works with the Brigit St. Brigit theatre company. Past Brigit shows include Molly Sweeny, A Doll's House, The Seafarer, Tartuffe, Enemy of the People, Sive, Incident at Vichy, Uncle Vanya, God on Trial, The Field, and Betrayal.

Email: saworking@mccneb.edu

Kendra Kahl is an Assistant Professor at the University of Northern Iowa, where she coordinates the Theatre for Youth & Communities emphasis. She has previously taught, directed, and/or performed with Childsplay Theatre Company, The Rose Theater, and Lexington Children's Theatre, among others. Her creative practice centers around devising new work for young audiences including Theatre for the Very Young, integrated arts residencies, social justice initiatives, and applied theatre workshops in work and education settings.

Email: Kendra.kahl@uni.edu

Rusty Ruth is a communication arts professor at Wayne State College. He grew up in Deadwood, S.D., where he was active in oral interpretation and theatre. He graduated from the University of South Dakota where he earned his BFA in theatre as a theatre generalist in 2006. Rusty has worked professionally as an actor, stage manager, and assistant director for The Black Hills Playhouse, Dakota Players, and Highland Summer Theatre.

Upon completing his MFA in directing from Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn., Ruth was the director of theatre at Mount Marty College and Lincoln Trail College, and the Executive Artistic Director for the Spencer Community Theatre in Spencer, Iowa. Ruth enjoys teaching acting, directing, dramatic literature, and stage dialect courses.

Some of his favorite plays he’s been involved as an actor and director include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, God of Carnage, November, Betrayal, Bus Stop, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Of Mice and Men.

When Ruth is not teaching or being involved in theatre, he enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and their two daughters, Willa and Noelle.

Email: ruruth1@wsc.edu

Erin Reed Carter (she/her) is Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance specializing in costume design and technology. She received her MFA in Costume Design from the University of Tennessee, and her BFA in Costume Design and Costume Technology from the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University. Her theatrical and themed entertainment work has been seen in venues across the country, including the Clarence Brown Theatre (Knoxville, TN), Santa Cruz Shakespeare (Santa Cruz, CA), Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival (Cincinnati, OH), Texas Shakespeare Festival (Kilgore, TX), Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO) and Triad Stage (Greensboro, NC).

Email: ecarter7@uwyo.edu

Alexa Hatcher is the Costume Shop Manager at Nebraska Wesleyan University and teaches Costume Construction.  She previously worked as the Costume Shop Manager and & Season Costume Designer for Concordia University.  She has also been a guest artist costume designer, works freelance helping with cosplayers, and sneaks in time for alterations involving bridal, prom, and repairs.  Alexa enjoys attending the Renaissance Faire, and building costumes for herself, friends and family.

Email: ahatche2@nebrwesleyan.edu

Jennifer Logan is a Lighting Sales Specialist at Heartland Scenic Studio where she works with Theaters to provide them with a working Theatrical Lighting System. She studied Technical Theatre with a focus on Lighting at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Past work includes Co-Lighting Design for Blood at the Root, Master Carpenter for Tuck Everlasting, and Master Electrician for Dogfight. 

Email: jlogan@heartlandscenic.com

Rachel Smart is the Teen Theater Coordinator for the Rose Theater as well as a resident teaching artist and actor on staff. At the Rose, Rachel works with teens to help them learn how to use theater as a platform to amplify their own voices and speak about what they are passionate about. Rachel is also an avid Shakespeare nerd and performs not just for the Rose's educational Shakespeare tour but is also a co-conspirator for Old School Shakespeare Omaha, which performs accessible Shakespeare in public venues. Additionally, Rachel is a playwright and dramaturg, most recently working as a reader for the new works festival at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Rachel also runs the theatrical design programming at the Rose and is passionate about historical costuming and sound design.  In her free time Rachel loves to climb rock walls and read 1000 page novels.

Email: rachels@rosetheater.org

Steve Barth has performed and directed with theaters across the country including Nebraska Repertory Theater, Minnesota Repertory Theater, Maples Repertory Theatre, and Illinois Music Theater. After receiving his BA and MFA in Acting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he resided in New York City for eight years acting, directing and producing. Steve now proudly serves as the Artistic Director of Crane River Theater in Nebraska, a professional production company he founded in 2009. He is currently the President for Nebraskans for the Arts and a recipient of the Nebraska Arts Council Governor’s Arts Award for Emerging Leadership.

Email: stevebarth@cranerivertheater.org

Taylor Wyatt is the Senior Manager of Education at O-pa where she manages and coordinates the day-to-day logistics of all O-pa’s Education programs including the Nebraska Theater Academy, Disney Musicals in Schools, Musical Explorers, Omaha Wolf Trap, Student Matinee Series and Jazz Academy as well as offers support to master classes in jazz and dance. She also oversees O-pa’s group of teaching artists for the Jazz Academy, Omaha Wolf Trap and Disney Musicals in Schools programs. Ms. Wyatt holds a B.A. in Vocal Performance and Music Entrepreneurship from the University of Nebraska in Omaha.

Email: twyatt@o-pa.org

Brittany Mendoza-Pena grew up performing in Spokane, WA and her love for performing arts education remains a pillar of her work & mission. She is based in Denver, CO and works within the Rocky Mountain, MidWest and Southern California markets. She continues to foster community both as a professional actor & performing arts educator.   Brittany has worked alongside studios such as Mountain Performing Arts (CO) & Performing Arts Academy (CO) to provide comprehensive & professional children’s programming. Additionally, Brittany has extensive experience as a performer on multiple theater for young audiences (TYA) contracts. She has performed for regional companies, including Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, Lone Tree Arts Center, and the Boulder Ensemble Theater Company.  When she is not involved with a theatrical production, Brittany spends her time supporting her local film community, both as on-camera talent & production crew.   Training: BFA in Musical Theater (Conc. Choreography). Representation: Big Fish Talent (CO) | Wehmann (MN). 

Email: brittkmp@gmail.com

Email: jmorganbeuchat@gmail.com