Director of Education

Fall 2024 Instructor: The Distracted Scholar’s Guide to Literature & Drama

Past Academy Classes: No Strings Attached, Alice in Wonderland, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (Spring 2024), {Slightly} Fractured Shakespeare Play Lab, 7 Worst Jobs of the Middle Ages Play Lab, All I Really Need to Know I Learned by Being in a Bad Play Play Lab, Scenes for Teens: Directing 101, The Enchanted Bookshop Play Lab (Spring 2023), A Wrinkle in Time Play Lab, Puss in Boots Play Lab, Captain Dangerous Play Lab (Fall 2022), The Entire American Revolution (in 40 minutes or less) (Spring 2022), 7 Worst Jobs of the Middle Ages Play Lab (Fall 2021), Fantastic Mr. Fox Play Lab (co-teacher with Emily Godwin) (Fall 2020), Alice in Wonderland Play Lab (Fall 2020),Oceans of Fun Musical, The Catnapper Mystery and Other Tales, Law & Order: Fairytale Unit, Arrow Christian Academy Theatre Instructor (Spring 2020), Macbeth Play Lab (Fall 2019), Beauty and the Beast Play Lab (Fall 2018), Scenes for Teens: Acting and Directing (Spring 2018), Monkey, Monkey: The Magical Adventures of the Handsome Monkey King Play Lab (Spring 2017), Characters and Scenes for Young Actors-two sections (Spring 2017)

About Sorrel: Sorrel has been performing in theatre and music since she was a child and has been a director and teacher in theatre, private voice, and choirs for most of her adult life. Sorrel began performing and volunteering at The ACT in 2012 in the role of Mrs. Fezziwig and as the music director for A Christmas Carol. Since then, she has directed, music directed, and stage managed many mainstage productions at The ACT, and became the Director of Education in 2016.

A graduate of the University of North Texas in 2012 with degrees in political science and social science, she served as the interim choir director at Coppell Middle School East in the Fall of 2019, followed by working as the CMSE voice teacher. Sorrel returned to the University of North Texas in Fall 2020 for a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance. She is currently working on her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance, serves as a TA and Resident Stage Manager for UNT Opera, and is close to finishing a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Education and Performance Studies. Sorrel believes passionately in the power of the performing arts to transform people’s lives and bring them into a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. She looks forward to meeting your children in classes!

Past Academy Classes: Scene Studio: Musical Theatre Skills Intensive (Spring 2023), Acting for Musical Theatre (Fall 2017), Auditions Workshop for Teens (Fall 2016)

About Alex: Alex came to The ACT for the first time in Fall 2015, as the director for Into the Woods Jr., and has gone on to direct many more mainstage shows (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr., Mary Poppins Jr., The Phantom Tollbooth Jr., Flat Stanley Jr., and Once On This Island Jr.) Alex holds a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in Musical Theater from the prestigious Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. He has trained with some of the country's top voice and theatre professionals and has worked with performers in national tours, concerts, Summerstock, and regional theaters across the country.

Fall 2024 Instructor: Thwacked! A Fractured Tale of Frogs, Folks, and Falling Skies

About Amy: Amy has been teaching music to children of all ages for 15 years as an elementary music teacher and middle school choir director for Lewisville ISD. She holds a Bachelors in Music Education with an emphasis in Vocal/Keyboard from Baylor University. Her passion for musical theatre and vocal jazz grew as a musical theatre performer and proud member of Baylor ShowTime! Now she serves on the music team at Aldersgate UMC and as a private voice and piano teacher. Amy is thrilled to be teaching at ACT

Past Academy Classes: Mystery on 13th Street Play Lab (Spring 2024), 7 Worst Jobs of the Middle Ages Play Lab (Fall 2023)

About Erin: Erin Bixler is a senior at the University of North Texas. She is pursuing a BA in Theatre while also obtaining her teaching certification in Theatre Arts. After she graduates, she hopes to get a job at a middle school or high school as a theatre director.

Erin has been involved in theatre since elementary school, and loves every aspect of it. She started her theatre journey with performing, but now finds immense joy in teaching and costuming! Erin is so excited to be a part of the ACT family and to share her love of theatre with students this semester!

Fall 2024 Instructor: The Distracted Scholar’s Guide to Literature and Drama - Assistant Director

About Daniel: Daniel Easter recently graduated from Shorter University with a BFA in musical theatre and a minor in dance. As a Georgia boy who recently moved to Texas, he is greatly looking forward to getting to know everyone at the ACT and working and inspiring the kids who walk through the door every day! Daniel has many performance credits for both musical and non-musical. He has a passion for teaching and knows just how important a director or teacher is in the eyes of a student. He is looking forward to building relationships and furthering the wonderful family here at the ACT.

Fall 2024 Instructor: Mr. Rhythm’s Circus

About Claire: Claire Gscheidle is a 17-year-old homeschooled senior who has participated in various activities at The Actors Conservatory Theatre since 2017. Before joining The ACT Claire participated in her fair share of activities including, but not limited to: modeling, dance, cheerleading, choir, school theater, volleyball, basketball, and swim team. She has assisted in seven ACT Academy classes and has participated in around 30 classes herself. She has been a cast member in over thirty mainstage and camp shows at The ACT, as well as the teen administrative assistant for four camps and a counselor for five. Claire is going on her seventh year of volunteering in her church's kids ministry. She is so excited to meet all the new kiddos as well as reuniting with kids from previous classes!

Fall 2024 Instructor: Once Upon a Dream: A Cinderella Story

Past Academy Classes: Ants in My Pants, The Best Little Theatre in Town (Fall 2023), Thwacked! A Fractured Tale, Pajama Party! (Spring 2023), Panda and the Moon, Broadway Bound: Musical Theatre Songs & Scenes, Disney Magic: Musical Theatre Songs & Scenes (Fall 2022), Songs & Scenes for Musical Theatre Homeschool, Songs & Scenes for Musical Theatre After School (Spring 2022), Songs & Scenes for Musical Theatre Homeschool, Songs & Scenes for Musical Theatre After School (Fall 2021), The Little Engine That Could- Early Learners Musical, Trolls: Songs & Scenes for Musical Theatre, The Three Billy Goats Gruff- Early Learners Musical (Spring 2020), Pajama Party - Early Learners Musical, Songs & Scenes for Musical Theatre (Fall 2019), Mr. Rhythm’s Circus Musical Play, Welcome to the Jungle! Musical Play, Musical Theatre Dance & Voice (Monday Homeschool), First Steps in Drama: The Little Red Hen Musical Class, Musical Theatre Dance & Voice-Monday Homeschool (Fall 2018), Treasure Trunk Theatre, Musical Theatre Explorations (Monday Homeschool), Group Voice 10+-Saturdays (Spring 2018), Homeschool Fairytale Characters and Scenes for Young Actors (Fall 2017), Homeschool The Adventures of Peter Rabbit - Musical Play Lab (Fall 2017)

About Lara: Lara holds a Masters of Music degree from Texas State University, specializing in vocal performance and education. Although her musical journey began in the world of opera, the adventure has lead to teaching college voice and nurturing a private voice studio. As the vocal director for Valley Creek Church-Denton campus, she also uses her gift to grow the next generation of worship leaders!

Fall 2024 Instructor: Superheroes, Unite! Play Lab, The Cheese Stands Alone

Past Academy Classes: Squirm! (Spring 2024), Acting & Scenes for Young Actors (Spring 2023), Arf! A Canine Musical (Fall 2022), Never Eat A Talking Lobster Play Lab (Spring 2022)

About Sara: Sara has served as the Theater Director at E.D. Walker Elementary School in Dallas, Texas and at DeLay MS in Lewisville, Texas. A patron of the ACT since 2007, she has set designed and worked on tech teams for mainstage shows since 2019. She has a BA in Secondary Education and a MBA in Bilingual Education. She is passionate about providing a way for children from all backgrounds to experience the magic of the theater.

Sara has been involved in the performing arts since she was a child. She sang her first solo at the age of 5 and directed her first show in the 8th grade. She has traveled across the United States and overseas with different performing groups, singing and acting in various venues. She is excited to begin a new chapter of teaching theater and is thrilled to call the ACT home!

Fall 2024 Instructor: Beginning Dance for Musical Theatre, Thwacked! Choreographer

About Erin: Erin grew up doing theatre here at the ACT and is so excited to be giving back to the place that helped her grow. She has been dancing since she was 5 years old and is now a Dance Education Major at Texas Woman's University. Erin has trained in many musical theatre dance intensives with professionals around the world and is so thankful to be able to share the knowledge she has gained. She has choreographed Willy Wonka JR, The Little Mermaid JR, and Matilda JR at The ACT and is looking forward to teaching this semester!

MAINSTAGE MAKE-UP DESIGNER/CO-COORDINATOR

Fall 2023 Instructor: Tap & Jazz Homeschool, Tap & Jazz After School, Advanced Tap & Jazz, Triple Threat, Just Tap

About Eliana: Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Eliana began her dance training at the age of 3, graduated from the Commercial Dance Department at the Orange County HS of the Arts (OCHSA), and was a 4 year member of the National Champion Long Beach State Dance Team. While earning her degrees in Film and Spanish at CSULB, she returned to OCHSA as a dance instructor, which also allowed her to be mentored by top choreographers in Los Angeles. She was also a dancer for a modern/contemporary company called The Brockus Project, taught summer Dance Team camps for US Spirit Leaders, and became a Los Angeles Rams Cheerleader. She seized the opportunity to relocate to St. Louis with the Rams to develop a new cheerleading program, providing their choreography, scheduling public appearances, styling swimsuit calendar photo shoots, and coordinating GameDay entertainment. She also co-founded the Jr. Rams Cheerleader program.

Eliana stepped away from dance and the entertainment industry to raise her children, but discovered The ACT in Fall 2017 while looking for an activity for her daughter. It didn't take long to reignite her love for the arts and she is excited to be back and actively engaged in choreography for several of our mainstage shows! Eliana feels passionately about pushing her performers to build their dance vocabulary, challenges them with stylized choreography, and is a stickler for solid technique. She looks forward to building foundational dance skills in ACT Academy dancers that will build their confidence and aid them in their musical theater pursuits.

Past Academy Classes: Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Spring 2023), Treasure Trunk Theatre (Spring 2018) - Class Assistant, Storybook Drama Adventures (Spring 2018) - Class Assistant

About Kate: Kate has been performing in theater since she was 4 years old and joined the ACT family in 2007. She fell in love immediately and was able to participate in nearly 50 productions with The ACT over the years. As soon as she graduated, she was eager to stay involved and began stage managing. Kate is a UNT graduate with a bachelors degree in special education, and is so excited to enter her own elementary classroom in the Fall of 2023. She is very thankful for the continued opportunities to stay involved with The ACT, and is looking forward to teaching your kiddos and seeing them grow!

General Production Manager and Resident Stage Manager

Past Academy Classes: Call It! Stage Management Basics (Spring 2023), Call It! Stage Management for Teens (Fall 2020), Call It! Stage Management for Teens (Spring 2019), Auditions and Movement for Young Actors, Call It! Stage Management for Teens (Spring 2018), Call It! Stage Management for Teens (Fall 2017)

About Angela: Angela is the General Production Manager and Resident Stage Manager at The ACT and has stage managed, directed, taught, and worked tech for ACT shows and camps since 2004.  She earned a BBA from Trinity University in Illinois, studying the odd combination of Management, Accounting, and Fine Arts. She has been involved in the performing arts since she was a child, directing her first show at the age of 17! In addition to her own multiple roles on production teams, she has also trained most of the adult stage managers at the theatre. She is especially well known, however, for her work with ACT teens, instilling in many of them (as well as in adult volunteers) a true love for the art and responsibility of working in behind-the-scenes theatre positions. After countless productions at The ACT, she is excited to share her experience and knowledge at our theatre, training the the next generation of theatre arts lovers!

Technical Director & PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Past Academy Classes: Triple Threat (Spring 2024), Triple Threat (Fall 2023), Triple Threat, Cinderella Musical (Spring 2023), Triple Threat (Fall 2022), Triple Threat (Spring 2022), Triple Threat (Fall 2021), Triple Threat (Spring 2022), The Actors Conservatory Show Choir, Triple Threat I - Beginning to Intermediate Levels, Triple Threat II - Advanced Levels (Spring 2021), Regards to Broadway (Fall 2020), Triple Threat I - Beginning to Intermediate Levels (Fall 2019-current), Triple Threat II - Advanced Levels (Fall 2019-current), Advanced Musical Theatre Dance & Voice Practicum, Mixed Levels Musical Theatre Dance & Voice Practicum, Musical Theatre Dance & Voice (Monday After School), Peter Pan Play Lab (Monday After School), Broadway Bound - Advanced Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre Dance & Voice (Monday After School), The Wizard of Oz Play Lab (Monday After School), and First Steps in Drama: Mary and Her Little Lamb Musical Play Lab, The ACT Show Choir (Spring 2017-current), Advanced Musical Theatre Dance & Voice (Spring 2018), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Play Lab (Spring 2018), The American Revolution: 1763-1789 - Musical Play Lab (Spring 2018), Musical Theatre Dance & Voice (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017), Fantastic Mr. Fox Play Lab (Fall 2017)

About Shaun: Shaun first joined The Actors Conservatory Theatre 15 years ago as a child actor. He began teaching with The ACT Academy in the Fall of 2016 just after graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Classical Vocal Performance emphasis at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. While earning his degree, he taught voice, dance, acting, and piano lessons to kids and adults of all ages, and traveled across the United States and overseas performing with multiple music groups of varying styles. He has worked with many theaters around DFW, including Dallas Children’s Theater and Casa Mañana, and has several years of on-screen film experience. He is happy to call The ACT his home and to be teaching your kids at The ACT Academy for another semester.

Past Academy Classes: Nuts!, Game of Myths Play Lab (Spring 2024), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Play Lab (Spring 2023)

About Hannah: Hannah majored in Theatre Education at the University of North Texas and loves working with students on all things theater! She started theater at the age of 12 and has since performed in and stage managed over 30 productions. She has assisted several theater classes throughout DFW and she hopes to continue her career as a high school theater teacher after she graduates. You can also find Hannah at The ACT as a stage manager and camp director!

Fall 2024 Instructor: Sing a Song of Aesop

Past Academy Classes: Three!, The Little Engine That Could (Spring 2024), The Little Red Hen (Fall 2023)

About Janna: Janna was raised in Arizona where she received her BA degrees in English and German and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Arizona.  She did her library internships at BYU in Utah where she also reviewed books for the BYU Children’s Book Review. 

Janna and her husband moved to Texas in 1999 and raised their five children here. Janna has enjoyed teaching preschool, piano lessons, Cub Scouts, Brownies, and being involved with the Children’s Sunday School and Children’s Music Programs at her church.  She especially finds joy sharing her love for children’s literature. Janna is so excited to bring her love of teaching children to the ACT!

Meet Our Class Assistants