Mateo Quispe (he/him) is an actor, composer, poet, and musician from Auburn, Washington. He has taught kids as a private piano and voice teacher and through creative writing workshops for teens. The former Seattle Youth Poet Laureate, he is also the 2024-2026 Auburn Poet Laureate and has written for opera, theater, and film. Acting credits include: Peter Pan (Peter Pan) with Auburn Avenue, The Sound of Music (Rolf Gruber) with Red Curtain Foundation, The Genie’s Therapist (Awwal) with Annex Theater, Anne of Green Gables (Gilbert Blythe) with RCF, and Alice in Arabialand (Sandro) with Annex Theater. In 2025, he received a Poets Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets.
Nicole Tate (she/her) grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, where her passion for the performing arts grew through participating in competitive dance and theatrical productions. While attending Ball State University, she served as the vice president of her dance team, performed in shows such as “Anastasia”, and directed/choreographed/designed numerous productions for local Indiana schools. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Education in 2025, she moved to Seattle to begin her professional career! Most recently, she directed and choreographed “Frozen JR” at St. Benedict Catholic School. She also teaches contemporary, jazz, ballet, tap, and hip hop at the Academy of Music and Dance. In her teaching, she prioritizes building communities where students of all identities feel respected, supported, and safe. She is dedicated to teaching life skills through the arts, helping students thrive beyond the stage!
Greta Miller (she/her) is super excited to begin her assistant directing and stage managing residency with Dandylyon. Currently a senior at Shorecrest high school, Greta has been involved in different aspects of theater for 5 years, but has been in love with it since she was young. She believes that theater can tell stories that words can’t always describe. When not in the theater, Greta enjoys creative writing, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family. After high school, she hopes to pursue stage managing or playwriting in college. Greta is proud to work with Dandylyon and the next generation of artists.
Urusha Pandey (she/her) is a senior Interdisciplinary Theater and Film student at Goshen College with over eight years of professional acting and modeling experience across Nepal and India, where she has starred in popular series and graced the covers of top magazines. An accomplished filmmaker and stage performer, Urusha has written and directed multiple films—including Price of Solitude, 2 Faced, and Welcome Home—and has appeared in productions ranging from Romeo and Juliet to Poor Clare. Renowned for her high-endurance solo performances, she has staged powerful one-woman shows like Grounded and Kalakaar, and is currently attempting a series of stunning Guinness World Records. Urusha is thrilled to bring her passion for global storytelling and authentic theater education to the Dandylyon Drama team this summer!
Eliana Megargee (she/her) is excited to be working for Dandylyon Drama after participating in Dandylyon productions throughout elementary and middle school. A lifelong theatre lover and performer, Eliana specializes in Shakespeare as well as musical theatre. She recently returned from a semester studying at Theatre Academy London, where she had the thrilling opportunity to strengthen her theatre training in the heart of London’s West End. Eliana is entering her senior year at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, where she is completing a double major in Theatre and Music along with an English Literature minor.
Lexi Burke (she/her) is a proud alum of both Dandylyon Drama and Shorecrest High School. She has been performing on stage both theatrically and musically since the age of 5 and has had the honor of participating in dozens of productions and performances over the years. She is excited to bring her passion and experience to the next generation of young performers this summer. Beyond acting and musical theater, Lexi has extensive experience in musical performance, including writing, producing, and performing in an all-girl band. Specifically, she also has training in guitar, vocals, and cello, and is currently studying acting at Marymount Manhattan College in NYC.
Mia Habermann (she/her) has been involved with Dandylyon Drama since she can remember! She started with Dandylyon by doing shows at Brookside Elementary and is so excited to now work as a Teaching Artist this summer. Mia is currently pursuing her BFA in Acting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she continues to grow her love for acting and singing both on stage and in film. She has been seen performing at Village Theater in “Guys & Dolls”, at Studio East in “Mamma Mia!”, and at Shorecrest High School in “The Little Mermaid,” plus many other productions during her time there. Mia is so grateful to have the opportunity to teach young artists and fuel their desire to tell stories, all at the program that bloomed her love for theater!
Candiece Rutherford (she/her) fell in love with theater beginning with Missoula Children’s Theatre productions throughout grade school and junior high, and that love deepened in college where she balanced exploring the stage as a performer and working behind-the-scenes. With a passion for musicals and a background in theater for social change, Candiece believes in the power of storytelling to build trust, foster community, and strengthen communication and problem-solving skills. She is dedicated to helping young people experience the magic of theater as a meaningful and creative form of learning.
Melissa Pereira (she/her) has been involved in theatre since childhood and has over 15 years of experience performing and working with children. She earned her degree in Dramatic Arts in 2015 in Brazil, and has since focused on creating engaging, creative experiences for young learners.
After moving to the U.S. in 2020, Melissa developed a passion for early childhood education and began specializing in activities for young children, including musicality for toddlers. She currently creates curriculum and teaches in children’s ministry, and has been involved as a co-director in church productions such as Christmas and Easter performances.
Melissa is currently studying Theology at KPCA and loves helping children grow in confidence, creativity, and joy through storytelling and the arts.
Katie Dreessen (she/her), as a lifelong performer and theatre artist, is thrilled to be working with Dandylyon to bring precious arts education to her local community. Born and raised in the PNW, she has seen the impact of arts education in her community and is excited to help usher in the next generation of young artists. Since graduating from Western Washington University with a BA in Theatre Performance, as well as minors in Business Administration and Arts Enterprise & Cultural Innovation, Katie has been teaching and performing all around the Puget Sound area.
Kayin Thompson (she/her) graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (The AMDA College of The Performing Arts), where she received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre. Kayin is an Actress, Singer, Dancer, Improvisor, Sketch Comedy Writer, Screenwriter and Music Maker. She’s been performing and creating since the age of two, and views her craft as a huge life source for her sanity and purpose, and there’s nowhere she’d rather be than in a room, sharing her love for the performing arts and connecting with the community through that love.
Aidyn Stevens (she/her) has been a theatre artist for many years and has a passion for creating community through story telling. She received her BA in Theatre and Music from Western Washington University. Since then her work has been focused on teaching, directing, and non-profit social service. Aidyn cares deeply about arts access through participation for those who have been historically underserved. She is very excited to be working for Dandylyon and enriching young people’s lives through theatre. She can also been seen teaching movement and theatre to Seniors with SilverKite Arts, supporting adaptive arts classes with AIM, and volunteering as a Creative Mentor for Path with Art classes.
Sophie Paynich (she/her) 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!
Melani Lyons (she/her) 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.
Logan Fenske (he/they) 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 Harper (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!
Kelsi Raich (she/her) 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!
Katie Wallace (she/her) is an actor, singer, dancer, combatant, and musician. When she is not performing, she can also be found directing, choreographing, and designing wigs, makeup, and costumes. Her work has been on stages in New York and Seattle, including: Don’t Tell Mama (NYC), SecondStory Repertory, and The Phoenix Theatre (WA). She also has a huge heart for teaching others, and loves working as a teaching artist and educator. She has worked in public schools around the Seattle-area, as well as teaching in arts programs like Dandylyon Drama (which she is so excited to be joining the ranks of!). Katie holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Central Washington University. She is grateful to her parents, sister, and fiance Josiah for loving and supporting her always.
Katie Joy Duke (she/her) 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.
Kasey Cheslow (she/her) is excited to return to her roots of theater education by joining Dandylyon Drama! She spent many years performing all over the Northwest in many fringe theater shows as well as main stage musicals and then began to focus more on theater education. Kasey has experience as a teaching artist working with kids from five to eighteen. She currently teaches hip hop at Productions Dance Performing Arts in North Seattle. Locally, she has choreographed for Mercer Island High School’s Theater department, West Seattle’s 12th Night Productions, and directed for Center Stage Young Actors workshop and multiple Spokane Christian Youth Theater shows. Kasey believes giving children and adults a creative outlet that is inclusive is vital to our community, maybe now more than ever.
Kalea Levy (she/her) 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!
Jessica Ribera (she/her) found the gift of dance and theater family when she danced in THE NUTCRACKER at age seven in Amarillo, TX. Her youth theater community encouraged and empowered her, and taught her the joy inside hard work and selflessness. In 2000, Jessica joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional division where she performed regularly with the company in Seattle and on tour. After an injury, she worked in Pacific Northwest Ballet School administration. She holds a BA with honors in Business Administration from the University of Washington. She has taught ballet for children around Seattle, served as ballet mistress and dance captain for Sixth Day Dance in Seattle, and currently serves on the Board for Shoreline Christian School. Giving children mindful encouragement and respectful instruction are great values in her life.
Ian Arthur Williams (he/him) 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.
Hannah Blackbourn (she/her) 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 co-directed Bringing Down the House and taught in the Dandylyon Creators program. She is also Dandylyon Drama’s Managing Director.
Glory Soriano (she/her) 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, Cosette in Les Misérables, and more. She loves helping students to grow and achieve their goals to be the best they can be. She has a BM in Music Education, BM in Vocal Performance, and a BS in Elementary Education. She loves being a teaching artist and educator. She also has a passion for performing and is currently studying voice/acting under Broadway Artist Desi Oakley. Glory is active locally in The Salvation Army’s Seattle Temple Songsters and Band, as well as the Western Territorial Staff Songsters and Territorial Youth Chorus.
Emily Brotherton (she/her) found her love for singing at a young age. Growing up she took any opportunity she could to sing – from choirs to solo performance, music theater to coffee shops. A highlight in her high school years was portraying Meg in Damn Yankees. Post high school she toured the U.S., England, and Finland with a singing group, The Continental Singers. She then worked in radio for 4 years in the Seattle area. Throughout the past 20 years, she has worked as a vocalist in the PNW. In Spring of 2023, she returned to the stage with the Kitsap Forest Theater as the Baroness Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music. Fun fact: All three of her daughters were in the production as well! She is currently the Music Director at Holy Trinity Edmonds and a Vocal Coach. Her goal in teaching/coaching is to cultivate confidence. In her spare time, you can find Emily in her garden growing and arranging flowers.
Ella Lyons (she/her) has been a part of Dandylyon Drama from the very beginning, having been a part of countless school productions, after school classes, and summer camps. She loved being a part of these, and is excited to share this experience with other kids, and pass on the lessons she learned. She is currently a student at Shorecrest High School. She is very musical and plays piano, cornet and loves singing. She loves stories, especially dramatic ones, and loves everything history and archeology related.
Elke Hautala (she/her) is a lifelong performer with a passion for theater, Elke has enjoyed being on stage since she was cast as a flower fairy in Midsummer’s Nights Dream at the age of 5. Now a mom of two young boys, she’s excited to be introducing the joy of creativity and art to the next generation. She’s a documentary filmmaker, visual anthropologist and public historian who uses the arts in her professional practices. Check out www.invisible-histories.
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’.
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.
Bethany Hystad (she/her) 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.
Audrey McGee (she/her)moved to Seattle in 2024 from Colorado, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Visual and Performing Arts. Audrey was one of the founders and artistic directors of Colorado Springs Young People Theatre Troupe, which produced original, family-friendly shows from 2020-2022. She has also taught musical camps, Shakespeare, and creative writing, and she is also a professional actress and playwright. Her free time is often spent listening to Jane Austen audiobooks and making things with her hot glue gun.
Ally Johnson (she/her) is a proud alum of the company, Ally participated in productions with Dandylyon throughout elementary and middle school before returning as a choreographer in Spring 2024 to close out her senior year of high school. Now part of the Teaching Artist team, she brings both experience and enthusiasm to her work with students. Ally is currently pursuing her degree at Boise State University and has a lifelong passion for the arts and performing arts education.
Alyssa Jiwani (she/her) 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 has been a Choreographer in Residence with Dandylyon Drama on productions such as Frozen & Wonka and has led several Opening Acts and after school drama programs with Dandylyon Drama.