“To inspire people, don’t show them your superpowers. Show them theirs.” - Alexander Den Heijer

I have never believed in “just,” as in “just children’s theatre” or “just cruise ship shows” or “just theme park entertainment” or “just community theatre.” I simply believe in theatre, in the power of committed storytelling, regardless of whether a story is told through dialogue, music, or movement, no matter what the venue is or who the performers are. I also firmly believe that there is great joy to be found in being part of the creation of something that you know is excellent, and in showcasing something that is undoubtedly a reflection of your very best efforts.

My grandfather was a renowned and passionate conductor and composer. He not only worked with celebrated musicians like Marni Nixon, but also thousands of children all over Los Angeles County. I may be biased, but there are many who will attest that he consistently brought out excellence in performers of all skill levels, regardless of where he was working, or with whom he was making music. He used to say that people will always respond to “quality” even if they don’t understand exactly why they’re responding to it. Throughout my many years of working in theatre, I have always found this to be true. Performers and audiences alike not only respond to, but ignite when given the opportunity to immerse themselves in honest, specific, and heartfelt storytelling, even if they cannot articulate exactly why.

I first came to JStage in 2018, when I was hired to co-direct their fall production of Disney’s Peter Pan Jr. JStage was already a thriving children’s theatre program, with a tight knit and enthusiastic group of young performers. Over the course of our next two shows together, The Music Man Jr and Annie Jr, I slowly began to hit my stride as a leader of that community, and I officially stepped into the role of Director/Choreographer with an Assistant Director by my side. I couldn’t have asked for a better program head than Nicole Rosenson, who always knew just the right way to provide support, while still allowing me to take the artistic lead.

As I began to exercise more agency in my new role, I found myself discovering yet again just how much people respond to the call to participate in excellence, once they feel empowered by the possibility of their own capabilities. I would always tell the kids that I never minded if they made mistakes, just as long as they were always trying their best. I wanted them to try new things, and whenever they made mistakes, I wanted them to make “big ones” that they could learn from! When I firmly believed that they could do something, they did, too. I enthusiastically celebrated all of their efforts.

It didn’t matter if they still stumbled over a dance step, or sang a wrong note, or forgot a line. What mattered was that they had felt the supreme satisfaction of putting forth the effort to improve, and showing off a result that they were proud of, beyond any limitations of what they had previously believed was possible. They found great joy in working hard and doing well, and enthusiastically encouraged their peers to do the same. I watched them continue to redouble their efforts with each personal success, as they excitedly became all the more eager to continue to learn and grow. Many of our veteran JStage kids have long loved to repeat what I’ve said to them for years about how we don’t do kids’ theatre at JStage; we do theatre with kids. I always say it with a wink, during moments focused on encouragement, but our hard-working and passionate JStage kids take my belief in them to heart, and continue to prove the truth in those words time and time again.

In March of 2020, we were in the middle of our rehearsal process for Seussical Jr. Our kids were crushed when our production was shut down. When it became clear that we would not be able to perform live, some of them were understandably too upset to continue, and had to step away from JStage for a while. But several kids still wanted an opportunity to showcase their performances. Those kids and I worked together to remotely create a collaborative movie featuring musical numbers and scenes from the show. They received direction from me on Zoom or via email, and sent me individual videos filmed in their homes, which I edited together. We were able to return to in-person programming in the fall of 2020. Their Broadway Revue was performed outdoors in small groups, safely distanced, in masks, professionally filmed with no live audience present, and most kids were freezing in their sleeveless costumes. And yet, even in the most unfavorable of circumstances, their enthusiasm for theatre remained unmatched. Over the next year, we were able to safely move our shows back into the theater, and we slowly began to regain wider community interest in the program.

My dear friend Klarissa Mesee was brought on as my Assistant Director for our spring 2022 production of Mary Poppins Jr. She and I had met while performing together in an original musical at South Coast Repertory several years prior. Klarissa is a gifted artist with excellent directorial sensibilities, and she and I are like-minded in our passion for truthful acting and high theatrical standards. Mary Poppins Jr was a huge hit. The kids loved Klarissa, and she proved to be an impeccable fit at JStage. Together, we decided to take on a new adventure, and launch a community theatre program.

In the fall of 2022, we mounted our first production with adult actors. Little Shop Of Horrors featured members of our wider JCC community, as well as many local Orange County actors who were new to us. True to form, I directed that show by emphasizing honest acting, three dimensional character development, and committed storytelling, despite the absurdity of the plot and the seemingly cartoonish nature of the characters. Klarissa and I approached our community show no differently than we would have in a professional playhouse, and our talented performers joined us in believing in the heights of their capabilities as actors. As my grandfather would have predicted, people once again responded to quality. We received many compliments from audiences on our fresh, honest, and moving approach to such a well-known show, and many of our cast members expressed how proud they were of what they had personally achieved in our production. Little Shop Of Horrors was a success, and our adult community theatre program was officially off the ground.

Haven Hanson played the starring role of Seymour Krelborn. We didn’t know it when we cast him in the role, but Haven is also a gifted and seasoned scenic and costume designer. He was only 18 years old and still attending OCSA when he auditioned, but he had already done professional design work for community and regional theaters all over Orange County. He didn’t tell us any of this when he casually asked if he could help out with our set, and then proceeded to gift us with the most elaborate and professional looking set that we had ever had at JStage. We hired him on the spot to design our spring productions. Haven continued to produce beautiful work, and I am proud to say that he is now our resident JStage Production Designer.

The addition of Haven to our team was pivotal to the success of our following shows, and the continued growth of JStage. Now our shows not only feature passionate and committed performances, but also professional sets, costumes, and wigs, immeasurably elevating our production value. Our kids have been delighted by the addition of these exciting new elements to their junior shows, feeling more inspired than ever to continue to work hard to hone their craft. Audiences loved our hilarious and well-designed community production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and once again expressed excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to experience high quality, live theatre right in their very own community.

In addition to the introduction of our community theatre program, over the past year we have also begun to offer acting classes for kids, as well as a variety of arts enrichment classes for preschoolers. It is so gratifying to be able to offer people of all ages opportunities to learn new skills of self-expression, and build self-confidence that will serve them far beyond the theatre. I am so grateful for the support for the expansion of our JStage programming that we have received from everyone in the JCC community. In June of 2023, I was honored to be officially hired into the Cultural Arts department of the JCC, as the JStage Artistic Director.

I believe that the next step towards our growth as a program is to encourage further participation in our adult productions from members of our JCC community. I want our community to understand that even though we frequently cast experienced actors from greater Orange County, we also very much want to offer performance opportunities to adults who have never been in a musical, and want to step outside of their comfort zones and try something new. We want to make space for artists of all backgrounds to share in the joyful experience of learning new skills, and being part of something that they know represents their own excellence. We have selected The Music Man as our upcoming fall 2023 show. Our hope is that more members of our JCC community will feel comfortable participating in a classic show with lots of large group musical numbers, if they would like an opportunity to perform, but don’t want to feel too featured.

We have always taken pride in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment at JStage, emphasizing kindness, encouragement, and a zero tolerance policy for bullying. Our JStage kids are each other’s biggest fans, cheering for each other during rehearsals, encouraging each other to try new things, and showering each other with unsolicited compliments about their performances. They frequently tell members of our staff that they love us, and we say it right back. More than just a place to pursue excellence in the theatre, JStage is a place where our kids feel supported, empowered, inspired, and loved. They are a family. My goal is to create a similar home for a community of adult actors who, like the kids, return to us show after show. I want JStage to be a welcoming creative space where adults can feel free to try new things, express themselves, and earn applause for work that they know represents the very best of their capabilities, knowing that they have the support of a caring community behind them.

My mission for the broader future of JStage is perhaps best articulated by one of our young actors, as written in her Shrek Jr Playbill bio:

I want to just say that the JStage community is a community that you want to be in. You learn so much and you make great friends that will last a lifetime! JStage is a home that welcomes you time and time again, even if you’ve been there for 3 years! JStage makes everyone feel comfortable, loved, and respected. JStage, thank you for everything! - Alyana, 11 years old