Arts & Learning
Thursday, July 02, 2009  
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Meet the Staff

Arts & Learning Staff

Executive Director - Debora Wondercheck 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. Debora has instructed as a strings specialist for ten years in the Irvine Unified School District where she was a Master teacher of string pedagogy. 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. Debora has also served as conductor of the Irvine All- District Elementary Honor Orchestra, and Chamber strings for five seasons. Debora is a freelance cellist and is a respected private cello instructor in Orange County. 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 Administrator and Educator.
 
 
Operations Manager - 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.
 
 
Theatre Director - 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!
 
 
Theatre Director - Karen O'Hanlon
Ms. O'Hanlon is delighted to be a part of the Arts & Learning team! Karen received her B.A. in Theatre from East Stroudsburg University. She recently moved here from Philadelphia where she has worked as a teaching artist, actress and director for the past 10 years. Most recently she has taught and directed at the McCarter Theatre at Princeton University, where she was in the Education department for four years.
 
 
 Vocal Instructor - 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.
 
 
 
Theatre 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.
 
 
Vocal Instructor - 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.
  Karen O'Hanlon
 
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.
Karen O'Hanlon
 
Marcus Alan Wynn Picture Coming
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 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 be joining Arts & Learning Conservatory. Currently working on her MFA at the University of California, Irvine. 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 be working 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.
 
 
   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.
 
 
   
 
 
   
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