Michele Sheehy Bowren
Artistic Director, Executive Director, Co-Founder
Michele co-founded Creative Kids Playhouse in 2011. There, she is passionate about delivering excellent theatre education in a supportive and inspiring environment. “I have tried to stay true to CKP’s founding mission of allowing children the opportunity to be creative, experience the exhilaration of performance, and grow from the many benefits of participating in a performance acting troupe.”
Michele has worked in musical theatre for over 30 years.…
Rachael Gafner
Business Director
Rachael is a Renaissance Woman immersed in the business of CKP from directing productions, to stage managing, set-design and “the everything else person.” Lucky for CKP she is skilled in so very many aspects of running a theatre. “Theatre for me is a journey I get to share with my students and fellow crew.…
Jennifer Beaver Estrada
Creative Team, Tom Thumb Players Programing Director
A native and current resident of Lake Forest, California, Jennifer comes to us with an expertise in vocals, with a Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State in music, and over twenty years of experience performing in community theatres and choirs throughout Southern California. Jennifer’s earliest childhood memories involve singing and performing for any willing audience. Jennifer has extensive experience in performing, and working with young children, and is the creative force and instructional talent behind our Tom Thumb Players Productions.…
Maureen Russell
Senior Member, Creative Team
Maureen co-founded our own Excalibur Players in 2014 after joining CKP in 2012. She takes great pride in directing and choreographing the troupes’ shows year after year. Maureen has a very passionate and energetic style of teaching, and knows that many of her students learn in different ways. She takes a very individualized approach with each young actor.…
Angela Capps
Creative Team
Angela recently co-founded the improv. group, The Fantastic Cheese Club; a natural for an artist and teacher deeply rooted in theatre. Often connecting with her students and actors through comedy, Angela thinks of teaching theatre in terms of collaborating on a project with the actors to create everyones best work. “When your laughing, it’s easier to connect with other actors and your own instincts.…
Joey Busch
Creative Team
Joey has a huge love for teaching and all his students. His passion for teaching grew from the experiences his own theatre educators gave to him. They instilled in him a life long appreciation for the arts that, today, he strives to pass on to his students. “Honestly, I love all the things my students end up teaching me.” He is always looking forward to the next Improv.…
Deva Marie Gregory
Creative Team
Deva Marie appreciates young actors’ creative spirits and the courage it takes to be on stage. She takes a whole hearted approach in her teaching style, taking time to get to know her actors and how to make them shine and connect with their audience. “Theatre is transformative. I help actors discover that magic spark between themselves and their audience, to tell a story that reaches hearts and minds.”
Deva Marie has an accomplished professional career with 15 years experience in stage screen and voiceover.…
Lisa Baker
Creative Team
For the past 13 years, Lisa has been using and expanding her education, teaching Music and Theatre to children in the private school system. “Children have the ability to see and create from an unencumbered perspective. When they are excited about a theatre project, on or off stage, their energy is contagious.…
Hannah Cole
Creative Team
Hannah is a student teacher working at CKP over the summer of 2020. She graduated high school one short year ago with the rank of Honor Thespian, having completed over 600 hours of Theatre. For the past few years she transitioned from student to teacher in the acting, dance, and choreography disciplines. “I work to connect my students to the collaboration of each production and I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to pass on my passion for theatre and dance.”
Hannah is very familiar with the CKP process having performed in both the Mainstage and Excalibur Troupes.…
Melissa Green
Creative Team
Melissa is a working actor, playwright and teacher. She specializes in classical theatre and is looking to expand roles for women on and back stage. As an instructor, Melissa encourages making big choices. “I’m a firm believer in the rehearsal process as a place to try new things and ‘swing for the fences’; dare to be silly!”
In 2019 Melissa joined CKP and we are excited to have her!…
Lindsey Lau
Summer Creative Team
When teaching, Lindsey likes to prioritize comfort, learning and fun! She wants to share her passion for theatre with other actors and be a part of their learning and discovery process. “Watching young actors smiles while they learn new skills and expand their creativity makes teaching exciting. CKP’s environment, combined with my love for theatre, and kids, makes it one of my favorite places to be.”
Lindsey is a CKP student veteran having been involved and acting with our troops for the past four years.…
Emma Van Heeringen
Summer Creative Team
Emma focuses on positivity, creativity, and an eagerness to learn in her teaching. She loves working with actors to see how much progress and confidence they gain in such a supportive atmosphere. “It is inspiring to get to pass on my love for theatre to actors who enthusiastically take on new roles and learn about different aspects of theatre”.…
