Melani Lyons is the founding artistic director of Dandylyon Drama. When she’s not directing and teaching, she is writing and is the playwright of the children’s musicals “Summer School Rocks!” “Foghart’s Express” “A Mother for Neverland,” “The Amazing Ever-Changing Alice in Wonderland,” “Bad Apples”, and “Lasso the Moon.” She earned bachelor’s degrees in Music and Theatre from Seattle Pacific University. She is grateful to have assistant directed under the inspirational Professor Andrew Ryder of SPU, the incomparable Karen Lund of Taproot Theatre, and the prolific Lani Brockman at Studio East. Melani loves to sing and is active locally in The Salvation Army’s Seattle Temple Songsters as well as the Western Territorial Staff Songsters which performs around the world. Melani is one half of the musical writing team Lyons and Samuels.

Hannah became a theatre kid in high school, where she was lucky enough to work on several shows in various capacities, including having the roles of Alice in Go Ask Alice and Rebbeca Gibbs in Our Town. Theatre made Hannah love the stage, and she went on to love any stage or mic – whether leading corporate events, political rallies, or karaoke. After a few decades of corporate leadership, Hannah is eager to return to working in her non-profit roots and work in her community with Dandylyon Drama. When Hannah isn’t on stage, she’s bringing people together or spending time with her family. Hannah has worked as a Teaching Artist in our Playmakers program and as a Program Coordinator.

Logan Fenske has been an assistant teaching artist and has held various other roles with Dandylyon Drama since the summer of 2018. He has always had a strong interest in musical theater and recently taught “Logan’s Music Corner” as a way of connecting acting with music symbols. Logan is looking forward to teaching again this quarter.

Lia (she/her) is a recent graduate of Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Theatre Education. Her love for theatre was fostered through in school and after school theatre programs and feels every child should have the same opportunity. She believes that theatre is one of the best ways to teach children about justice, compassion and collaboration for going out into the world. With her free time, she loves to hang out with her friends, read, and soak up as much Seattle sun as she can get. She is so excited to start this new stage in her life with Dandylyon Drama!

Received her BFA in acting from Roosevelt University’s Theatre Conservatory in Chicago, hitched up her sparkly wagon, and headed west. After touring around the country with the Missoula Children’s Theatre, she put down roots in the beautiful PNW!  Bethany is passionate about artistic opportunities for all and creating community through the arts and theatre education. When she’s not in the classroom, Bethany is a director, producer, performer, event emcee, sketch comedian and Gregory award Nominated Playwright. When she’s not doing all that, she loves reading, playing board games, and spending time in the garden with her beehive.

Bobby (Elizabeth) Howlett (she/her) is excited to return for her second summer with Dandylyon Drama. She currently studies theater, acting, and cinema at the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts. Bobby has previously worked as an assistant teaching artist through Treasure Trunk Theater where her love for igniting creativity and imagination in children first sparked. She has also enjoyed volunteering as a teaching artist at Village Theatre and teaching private piano lessons to local students. Her first encounter with Dandylyon Drama was when she herself participated in the 3rd grade drama camp “101 Dalmatians” at Lake Forest Park Elementary. Since then, she participated in regional shows at village theater as well as local theater such as Shorecrest High School’s The Spongebob Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Be More Chill, and Pride and Prejudice. She is excited to inspire the next generation of artists.

Katie Joy Duke first found Dandylyon Drama when she took her daughter to one of our productions, and she immediately wanted to be a part of the magic! A graduate of Florida State University and Vermont Law School, Katie practice social justice law in New York and Washington States for 9 years before becoming a full-time writer, life coach for women, and mom. She is thrilled to be able to connect with kids in the community and return to her theatre roots. Katie lives north of Seattle with her husband, daughter, and scruffy dog Wilson. She accesses power with yoga, serenity through meditation, and joy through song and dance. Authenticity is her number one value and vulnerability is her superpower.

Delvin (DJ) James is a recent Seattle transplant and San Antonio native. He has had the opportunity to refine his performing craft and study via a successful career performing, touring, and teaching over the past decade. He is an award winning performer in theater for young audiences and also former Glee Club Director at a private music school for excellent youth. With a love of art and interest in the many avenues of its expressions, DJ “wears many hats” and holds close to his heart the opportunities he has also been able to be behind the table as well (stage management, choreography, sound design). ‘Everyone wants to be understood, and sometimes, when words fail, art is there to speak for us’.

Alyssa Jiwani is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of Drama. She has taught theatre for Disney Music in Schools, Drama Kids International, Seattle Theatre Group, and more. Arts education has changed her life! Alyssa wants to inspire and empower kids to use their voices, and be unabashedly themselves. Alyssa has also been creating a theatre curriculum for Ismaili Muslims worldwide, and working through the Aga Khan Foundation to deliver content to students ages 6-19, as well as training other facilitators to carry out the curriculum as well. Alyssa is looking forward to working with more youth through Dandylyon Drama.

Lauren Eva Lane (she/her) is a multifaceted theater artist and teacher, originally hailing from the great state of Montana. With over 23 years of theatre experience and training, she is so excited and grateful to join the Dandylyon Drama team! She is passionate about enriching the lives of her community by creating safe and creative spaces for artists to make personal discoveries, and to tell their stories with confidence and authenticity.

Kalea is a recent graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in Drama: Performance and Education, Communities, and Organizations. Growing up on both Bainbridge Island, Washington and Austin, Texas, she was surrounded by so many wonderful teaching artists and theatre programs that have shaped her artistic outlook today. She believes that theatre and art is integral to our lives (especially for young people!) and is so excited to continue to learn and explore with her students as she navigates this new chapter in her life. Outside of the classroom, she loves to spend time with friends and their dogs, working out, and learning as many crafty skills as she can. She hopes to create the same magic in the classroom as so many teaching artists have done for her in the past and is elated to start teaching with Dandylyon this year!

Sophie Paynich enjoys being a Teaching Apprentice and working with other people. She is a great singer and loves to go to the mall during her free time with her dolls. She would like to thank her doll Nora for being a great comfort tool. And her friends Lillie Cassleman and Nora Adams for coming to her winter play Scrooge’s Christmas last year!

Kelsi started her love affair with theatre from a young age. Throughout her youth she performed at Seattle Children’s Theatre even starring as Char in the original production of Ophelia’s Revenge. She went on to perform at The Fringe Festival in Scotland as Becky Thatcher in Tom Sawyer. After High school, Kelsi went to college in Ashland, Oregon home of the Tony Award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She worked with many of OSF’s directors during her 4 years in Ashland most notably in the role of Olivia in Twelfth Night. After earning her BFA in theatre she moved to New York but missed the West Coast too much! She moved back to Seattle where she met her husband and started a family. She has two adorable boys and a golden retriever that keep her very busy!

Glory fell in love with theatre at a young age. She had the opportunity to be in several roles including, Ida in Honk, Gertrude in Seussical, Belle in Beauty and the Beast and more. She loves helping students to grow and achieve their goals to be the best they can be. She is currently in her last year of getting her Bachelor’s degrees in both Vocal Performance and Music Education with an emphasis in General Music and Choral. She is currently studying voice under Broadway Artist Desi Oakley. Glory is active locally in The Salvation Army’s Seattle Temple Songsters as well as the Western Territorial Staff Songsters and Territorial Youth Chorus.

Ian Arthur Williams is a singer/songwriter, composer, and music director residing in Seattle, WA. His theatre work has been performed at NYC’s Public Theatre, San Diego’s Old Globe, and Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre. He is the recipient of the 2008 Richard Rodgers Award (Kingdom, words by Aaron Jafferis) and 2007 NAMT selection (Kingdom). Ian is the co-songwriter, lyricist, and guitarist/vocalist with neoclassical-folk duo Glass Heart String Choir, and has toured the USA, Canada, and New Zealand.