Arts & Learning

Untitled Document

Meet the Staff

Arts & Learning Staff

Conservatory Founder & Executive Director - Debora Wondercheck

Mrs. Wondercheck is the Executive Director of the Arts & Learning Conservatory. She is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Vanguard University, and also serves as the Director of Music at the Waldorf School of Orange County. For Arts & Learning, Debora has produced several shows. Some of her favorites include: Beauty and the Beast, the Sound of Music, Willy Wonka, Narina, Charolette's Web, The Hobbit, Cinderella, High School Musical, Spring Camp Rocks, Star Wars: Musical Edition- Empire Strikes Back, The Pink Panther, and Aladdin. She received her B.A. in Music Education from Vanguard University in 1994, and her Masters of Science in Education Administration from California State Fullerton University in 2000. While teaching in the Newport-Mesa School District, Debora was a recipient of the Teacher’s of Excellence Award. While in the Irvine District she was a Master teacher. Debora highly values children and truly loves the process involved in nurturing and developing their talents. She counts it a complete privilege to serve the children, parents and staff of Arts & Learning in the capacity of Executive Director.

After School Theater - Chance Dean received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California in Theatre Arts and Primary Education and later received a Masters in Fine Arts from Temple University in Philadelphia. His regional theatre credits include South Coast Repertory, The Arden Theatre in Philadelphia and the Oval Theatre in London. Most recently Chance has returned from performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and will return to the South Coast Repertory stage in March 2010.

After School Theater - Ms. Johnson graduated from Vanguard University summa cum laude and is currently enrolled in the Graduate Program of Education there. Music has always been a part of her life from the time she was very young. In high school Katie was heavily involved in the choir program as well as the drama program. In college, she decided to follow her love of music by earning her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She was extremely involved in the University Concert Choir during her four years at Vanguard. For two years, she was the soprano section leader and her last year, she was the student conductor. She traveled with the Concert Choir to New York twice; once to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2006 and more recently to perform at the Lincoln Center in 2009. Ms. Johnson also received an award for Outstanding Vocal Performance for her senior vocal recital last April. She has spent the past two summers as a Children’s Ministry Intern at her home church. She began, organized, and directed a summer Children’s Choir as well as other activities. The Children’s Choir has successfully put on two concerts to end the summer after only weeks of rehearsal.

After School Theater - Becky Kinder

Becky Kinder has been acting for over 20 years for the stage, TV, and film while teaching acting and directing for over 11 years; she is California certified to teach acting to all ages and owns Kinder Coaching, her own private teaching business. Her favorite roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Laura in Stop My Insanity, Sara in After One, and Gollum in The Hobbit. Becky has received her AA in theater from OCC and is working on her BA in Journalism and Theater at CSULB, writing entertainment features and reviews for The Daily 49er. Becky has worked for Fountain Valley High School and is currently the head instructor for a local state-certified acting & modeling career center. She is excited to be a part of the A&L team and work with such great students!

Theater Director - Cambria Larson

Mrs. Larson received her B.A. in Theatre from Vanguard University and is a MFA candidate at UCI. At Vanguard she was involved in numerous productions as an actor, dancer, choreographer, and stage manager. She received the "Stage Manager of the Year" award for her work on Into the Woods. She loves opportunities to dance with Rock Harbor church and choreograph Bride & Groom first dances. In addition to her role as Operations Manager, Mrs. Larson has had many other positions with A&L as choreographer for Peter Pan, High School Musical, and Aladdin and director for Cinderella, Willy Wonka, and High School Musical. She has also taught after-school theater classes throughout Orange County as a part of Arts & Learning After-School enrichment. Mrs. Larson enjoys her work with A&L and hopes the students come to appreciate the many wonderful facets of live theater.

Vocal Director - Art Ortiz

Mr. Ortiz has twenty-one years of experience traveling as a full-time Christian recording artist. He has a BA in music from Azusa Pacific University with an emphasis in Music Education and Voice. He has coordinated, choreographed, and produced 15 drama and musical productions. Performed as soloist for the Metropolitan Chorale at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa and the Concert Choir at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA. Art was the road manager and a lead vocalist for three years of the professional contemporary Christian recording group called "Truth." Art Ortiz has been seen and heard on numerous Christian television and radio programs nationally and internationally, and is an accomplished vocalist, recording artist, and songwriter with ten recordings to date in both English and Spanish.

Theater/Vocal Director - Julianne Reitler
Juli received her B.A. in music education from Point Loma Nazarene University, though her passion for music and teaching began in her childhood. She has taught middle school choir and orchestra, and currently teaches theater, private voice, piano and guitar. Her favorite task thus far has been instructing as a theatre teaching artist for the Arts & Learning Conservatory’s drama programs. Juli hopes that her students will 'catch the bug' and become life-long theater lovers.

Theater Director - Amy Louise Sebelius

Amy Louise comes to A&L with a myriad of experience in theater. She has her MFA in Acting and is a member of SAG,AFTRA, and Actor's Equity Association. Currently teaching acting classes at the Orange County High School of the Performing Arts, Santa Ana College, and South Coast Repertory, Amy Louise is also a company member of the Garage Theater and has performed in many great stage productions. She has a strong background in improvisation, Shakespeare, dance, and stage combat. We are excited to have Amy Louise on the A&L team teaching the Acting Master Class and after school theater classes bringing her knowledge and passion to our students.

After School Theater - Kathy Steinhaus

Mrs. Steinhaus has been involved in theater for many years and, according to family members, was quite the diva at age 3. She would act as script writer, director and actress in many a fairy tale, giving herself the lead roles and relegating the supporting roles to her very patient mother. Thankfully, she moved on from there and eventually earned a B.A. in Drama from UC Irvine. She has studied at the Drama Studio in London and studied and performed at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. She was a company member with Alternative Repertory Theatre in Santa Ana, performing in many plays through out her ten year association with the group. Mrs. Steinhaus has been a member of the children’s theater group, The Imagination Machine, and she currently works with Havenlight Productions, a touring educational troupe that performs shows about the Gold Rush and the Civil War at local elementary schools. For the last 20 years she has been a regular performer in the annual Christmas shows at the Bird Cage Theater at Knott’s Berry Farm. She is employed by Seabreeze Church in Huntington Beach where she oversees the 2nd-5th grade classes and directs and occasionally writes the annual Seabreeze Kids Christmas musical. Mrs. Steinhaus lives with her husband and three wonderful children in Huntington Beach.

Choreographer - Sarah Holifield

is working on her Bachelor’s degree in dance at Cal State Fullerton with a minor in child development. She is excited to be choreographing for the Star Wars production at Arts and Learning Conservatory. She recently just finished teaching kids dance at a music and arts summer camp in Long Beach and has a few years experience working with kids and teaching dance. Dancing and choreographing is a passion of hers and she hopes to instill that same passion in the kids that she teaches.

Vocal Director - Linda Wells Sholik

Linda has been a piano and voice teacher for over 25 years and has an MA in Music from the University of California at Riverside, and a BA in Music from UCLA. She sings with Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony. She has improvised with Bobby McFerrin and Pacific Chorale, and sung with Placido Domingo and Pacific Chorale at the opening of the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. She has sung with John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl, and has sung on several CD's with Pacific Chorale. She is skilled at improvisation, and is a published composer with Fred Bock Music Company. Ms. Sholik currently teaches Music Theory and Ear training at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa and has taught music at elementary and junior high schools for eight years. She directed the Pageant of the Masters youth chorus in the summers of 1996-1999, and has directed 45 children's musicals. Linda looks forward to working with the talented children of Arts & Learning.

Vocal Director & Choreographer, Exploratory Arts - Jennelle Wax
Jennelle Wax is a professional actress, dancer, and singer working in Los Angeles and Orange County. Jennelle appears regularly in commercials, television, film, and theatrical productions. In addition, Jennelle's Ballroom Dancing company fronts popular swing and cover bands. She enjoys teaching and sharing the performing arts with children and adults. Some favorite credits include: Ethel Peas in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Vibrata in “A Funny Thing...Forum,” Dance instructor on “Saturday Night Fever 25th Anniversary DVD,” and winner of MTV’s “Triple Threat” contest.

Theatre Director - Suzanne Wesley

Suzanne Wesley received both her B.A. and her M.F.A in Acting Specialization from UCLA. Suzanne is an adjunct professor at Vanguard University teaching “How to Get the Audition.” She has also taught at two private high schools, along with working with younger students. She is a member of SAG, EQUITY, The Dramatist Guild and was a member of AFTRA. Ms. Wesley has performed in numerous professional plays, mostly in Los Angeles, New York and Connecticut. She was also a long-time member/producer/board member for Actors Alley Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles, and has many other professional affiliations. Her TV and film credits include Alice, Zygophyte, Slipping into Darkness, One Step Beyond, Finale, and most recently, Lines, a film short. She has also spent many years writing for the stage and has spent the last five years writing two screenplays: A Thousand Lights and Donald on the Edge.

Instructional Assistant - Marcus Alan Wynn

Marcus Alan Wynn earned a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts from the University of Louisville, in Louisville, KY. Past performance credits include, Maurice Wright "The Face of Emmitt Till" Donald "You Can't Take It With You" Joseph "Black Nativity" and a dancer in "Chicago" and "Guys and Dolls." Since moving to California he as worked with Amenicipation Theatre Company "James and Joseph" (recipient of an arts and humanities award) as well as Momentum Theatre Group for their LA premiere of "Six Years." Over the summer he works at Idyllwild Summer Arts Program as the Dean of the Children's Center developing young artist. He would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support as he pursues his dream.

Guest Instructors

Dan Blackley

Dan Blackley is excited to work with the Arts and Learning Conservatory. He has directed shows all over Orange and LA Counties. Some of his favorites include Ten Little Indians, Nunsense, Grease, The Nerd and Frankenstein. He is the Drama Teacher for El Toro High School in Lake Forest where he has taught for the last seven years. He has performed at the Playboy Jazz Festival, with Jack Sheldon and for the Government of Taiwan as a Jazz Vocalist. He also has written a monologue for a book and has written a few plays, one of which, Surf's Up!, was given Honorable Mention in the Writer's Digest Writing Competition. He was also awarded the Who's Who in America for 2003. He holds a BA in Theatre Arts from CSULB and an MA in Theatre Arts from CSULA. In his spare time, he likes to read, swim and see theatre. He and his wife, Jodi, and their two cats, Smokey and Bunny, live in Chino Hills.

Diane Doyle

Diane is a seasoned entertainment artist. Diane worked with South Coast Repertory for 25 years as an actress, choreographer, associate director, writer, and director. She is the founding director emeritus of the Young Conservatory managing a faculty of twelve with an ever increasing enrollment. Diane has directed well over 50 productions, many with recognitions and awards. She has been a freelance consultant with The Walt Disney Co and also served on staff of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Diane continues to explore all avenues of entertainment and education. She teaches, coaches, writes and directs and is a welcomed addition to the staff of the Arts & Learning Conservatory.

Vocal Instructor - Caran Holland

Ms. Holland has been teaching intermediate school choir and music for 11 years in Santa Ana. During this time, Ms. Holland has single-handedly transformed the choral program at Spurgeon Intermediate school, currently boasting a thriving program with over 300 students. Her students consistently win 1st and 2nd place Awards in District and inter-district competitions, and engage in public performance receiving excellent and superior ratings at district festivals. She specializes in working with junior high school students but has worked with all ages in various church, community, private and school situations. Ms. Holland was selected Teacher of the Year by Spurgeon Intermediate faculty members in 2004. Ms. Holland also teaches voice privately, preparing students for auditions, recitals and other performance opportunities. As an accomplished pianist, vocalist and composer, she has participated in many church music programs as well. She received her BA in Liberal Arts, specializing in music, and Post Graduate Credentialing at Vanguard University.

Tim Larson

Tim Larson graduated from Vanguard University receiving his B.A. in Theatre and a Minor in Film. Tim has studied with the Groundlings School of Improvisation in Los Angeles and well as Trollwood Performing Arts School in North Dakota. Tim also wrote the acclaimed one act play titled "Well Written" which is preformed in high schools & colleges around the country. He can be seen in the full-length, hit movie parody, "The 305" that hit the shelves this summer.

Stephanie Philo

Stephanie Philo is delighted to join the Arts & Learning Conservatory. She completed her MFA at the University of California, Irvine in 2009. Stephanie is an actor, singer, and dancer who has pursued theater and filming in Southern and Northern California, New York, France, and, in August of this year, Poland. Stephanie has coached and taught classes in acting, music theatre, and movement for various levels of performers. She is thrilled to work with a company similar to her own childhood introduction to theater, which nourished the individual, encouraged growth, and celebrated the joy and discovery that performing arts can bring.