teaching artists

Our professional Teaching Artists are just that—artists who teach. We look for educators and actors who love to work with children, hold college or conservatory degrees in Theatre or Education and have experience in the classroom. NCTC offers ongoing teacher development workshops to make sure our Teaching Artists have the skills they need to bring out the very best in their students.

We focus on the process of theatre training rather than the product. And although we work hard to create a cohesive performance piece by the end of class, the journey and skills learned on the way are really what matters most. Our concentration is on the “whole kid” and helping them develop life skills that guide them in and out of the theatre world. Ensemble-based work is at the heart of our training at NCTC.

Interested in joining our teaching team?

Please submit a cover letter stating your teaching philosophy and a resume reflecting experience working with youth and/or a professional theatre resume & headshot to Stephanie Temple, Conservatory Director, at stephanie@nctcsf.org.

Stephanie Temple (Conservatory Director)

Stephanie Temple, a Central California native, has been at NCTC since 2002, working as an teacher, director and Children’s Playwright-in-Residence. Ms. Temple specializes in curriculum development and creating devised works, and she enjoys mentoring both students and teaching artists. With a Master's in Drama from SFSU and a B.A. from the University of Southern California’s School of Theatre, Ms. Temple is also an actor, puppeteer (most recently seen as Kate Monster in NCTC’s Avenue Q,) and a director/choreographer. Over the past twenty years, she has taught acting, improvisation, dance and musical theatre at NCTC, SFSU, CSU Stanislaus, Merced College, PCPA Theatrefest and currently runs the drama program at Live Oak School in Potrero Hill. As director of the Family Matinee program, Ms. Temple has adapted and developed original plays such as Goldi Locks and the Three Aliens, Sock Puppet Jamboree, Bollywood Sleeping Beauty, The Odyssey, and Rock ‘n Roll Cinderella.

Kathleen Lee (Conservatory Programs Manager)

Kathleen Lee (also known as “Chicken Nugget” to some of her students) hails from sunny Santa Monica, California. Kathleen holds a bachelor degree in drama and education from San Francisco State University. A techie turned teacher Kathleen has experience in stage management, technical theatre, producing, acting, creative writing, and directing. She’s lead workshops in New York City, Miami Florida, Mexico City, Stockholm Sweden and most recently Havana Cuba. Through her work teaching around the world, Kathleen has uncovered a love of travel and teaching and believes being a global citizen promotes a greater appreciation of similarities and differences cross-culturally. Kathleen holds a 200-hour certification as a yoga instructor and specializes in prenatal and kids yoga. Get ready to stretch your imagination!

Daniel Owens (Music Director of Youth and Teen Ensembles)

Daniel Owens is originally from San Diego and has worked as a performing musician and music educator in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 20 years. He received his B.A. in music from Sonoma State University and completed a California single-subject teaching credential in music through SFSU and UCLA. He has taught music to youth at various schools, including Aptos Middle School, Creative Arts Charter School, Live Oak School, and Belmont Oaks Academy. In addition, he has worked at NCTC as both a live performer in The Marvelous Wonderettes and as a music director for Really Rosie. Daniel currently directs the music and drama programs at Marin Preparatory School.

April Deutschle (Youth & Teen Musical Theatre, After-School Drama)

April Deutschle holds a BFA in Acting from the Academy of Art University. She has a passion for physical comedy and clown. Having written and performed in her own one-woman show she has a zest for creating and devising interactive work. Having been in NCTC's world premiere of Everything That's Beautiful she is excited to be back and share her knowledge and experiences with the community.

Marielle Duke (Teen Acting Ensemble)

Marielle has directed with Boomerang Theatre Company, Flux Theatre Ensemble, Manhattan Theater Source, World Theater Day, and Metropolitan Playhouse, among others. She is the Artistic Director of Adaptive Arts Theater Company, a non-profit theater company whose mission is to make theater more accessible to individuals with Invisible Disabilities. With Adaptive, she’s directed a devised adaptation of Goethe's Faust, Mensch’s All Hail Hurricane Gordo, Brecht’s Good Woman of Setzuan, Barrie’s Alice Sit by the Fire, and multiple workshops for their “Autism Initiative” program. As an educator, she has spent close to a decade working with artists from 1 to 80 years old. She has spoken across the country on ways to create accessible theater performance for populations with disabilities. BA in Theater (Directing) and Creative Writing from Drew University and Masters in Educational Theatre from City College. She recently relocated to San Fransisco to pursue her Masters in Drama Therapy at CIIS. She is thrilled to be joining the New Conservatory Theatre Center team this year!

Jenny Rosen (Resident Artist)

A company member at BATS Improv since 2003 Jenny served as Dean of the BATS School of Improv for four years. She regularly performs long and short form improvisational theater at Fort Mason Center. As a teacher and coach, Jenny has worked with students from ages 2 to 102. She has taught for StageWrite, Live Oak, Haight Ashbury Cooperative Nursery School and dozens of other schools up and down the Bay Area. She enjoys using theater games to inspire collaboration, positivity, and creativity in and out of the classroom. A specialty is the incorporation of classroom curricula into theater training! Jenny has performed in Aspen, Improv Olympic (LA), The MET theater (NYC), The Moth and at the SF Fringe Festival. She has created original musicals for 64 4th graders at the Cathedral School for Boys, and can make up full length musicals on the spot. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Jenny Rosen lives in Potrero Hill with her husband and two children, Henry and Magnolia.

Lauren Kivowitz (Resident Artist)

Lauren Kivowitz is a performer, a teaching artist, and an inclusive arts consultant with a strong background in theatre, improv, and music. She has a Master’s degree in Applied Theatre from CUNY School of Professional Studies and has facilitated classes for folks of all ages and abilities, using combinations of music, role-play, improv, story-telling, and play-building. Lauren is a passionate advocate for increasing accessible and inclusive creative arts practices, and is excited to contribute to the growth of this field in the Bay Area!

Sophie Iribarren (Summer Youth Ensemble)

Sophie Iribarren is an NCTC alum who now teaches acting to the next generation of students. As a student, Ms. Iribarren participated in Teen Summerstock, High School Performance Ensemble, Musical Theatre and performed in several Family Matinee productions including, The Wizard of Oz, Anansi, the Clever Spider and the title role in Rock ‘n Roll Cinderella. She is currently a 7th grade Special Education teacher with a BA from UC Santa Cruz and a Master’s in Education from SFSU.

Alex Akin (After-School Drama)

Alex Akin, born and raised in San Francisco, graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of Michigan. She recently moved back to the Bay Area, having spent the last 5 years performing across New York City in various festivals and shows. Some of her favorite credits include Fancy Nancy (Vital Theatre Co.) and Merrily We Roll Along (Astoria Performing Arts Center). She is very excited to be a part of the NCTC's Teaching Artist team! Having been in many youth arts programs herself, she knows how wonderful and inspiring it can be and she's so thrilled to contribute and go through this creative process with her students.

Emily Dwyer (After-School Drama)

Emily Dwyer is a preschool teacher, costume designer and performing theater artist residing in San Francisco. Born and raised in the Bay Area among a community of theater artists, Emily carries a special passion for creating safe, imaginative spaces for young minds. Having played the Alien "Blorp" in NCTC's 2018 YouthAware tour "Let's Get Galactic," Emily is committed to NCTC's devotion to inspiring important conversations through the art of dramatic expression!

Emily Dwyer is a preschool teacher, costume designer and performing theater artist residing in San Francisco. Born and raised in the Bay Area among a community of theater artists, Emily carries a special passion for creating safe, imaginative spaces for young minds. Having played the Alien "Blorp" in NCTC's 2018 YouthAware tour Let's Get Galactic, Emily is committed to NCTC's devotion to inspiring important conversations through the art of dramatic expression!

Remi Majekodunmi (After-School Drama)

Remi was born and raised in England. She graduated from Drama Studio, London and has a post-graduate degree in Acting. Remi is a multidisciplinary artist and has experience in acting, directing, and playwriting. Remi's play 'Sacrificed' is a semi-autobiographical piece featured in London Fringe. Remi is excited to join the cast of characters at NCTC after-school drama explorers!

Caitlyn Tella (After-School Drama)

Caitlyn Tella has eight years of experience engaging youth and adults in theater and performance education. She has worked with the San Francisco Opera Guild, San Francisco Arts Education Project, American Conservatory Theater, and StageWrite, among other organizations to teach theater, physical acting, and to write and direct plays for youth. As an actor, she is represented by NYLO Talent Agency, and she is a theater artist whose work has been supported by Theater Bay Area CA$H Creates, San Jose Repertory Theater Emerging Artist Lab, Hemera Foundation, Elsewhere Studios Artist Residency, and others. She holds degrees in Theater from UCLA and Naropa University.

Julia Thollaug (After-School Drama)

Julia Thollaug is an actress and choreographer who has been teaching performing arts in Bay Area public schools for the past ten years. She has taught, among other subjects, elementary school Shakespeare production and high school musical theater dance for mixed-level ensembles. She is excited to join the team at NCTC!

Cynthia Roberts (After-School Drama)

Cynthia is an experienced teaching artist- she's making a return to NCTC's satellite program to continue her work in creative drama! She is the founder of Monologue Makeovers, a drama coaching company, which is committed to motivating students to express themselves, build confidence and unlock their creativity. Cynthia is an experienced teaching artist- she's making a return to NCTC's satellite program to continue her work in creative drama! She is the founder of Monologue Makeovers, a drama coaching company, which is committed to motivating students to express themselves, build confidence and unlock their creativity.

Francisco Rodriguez (After-School Drama)

Francisco Rodriguez is a theatre-maker, primarily as an actor and educator. He has worked with a number of theatre companies and schools within the bay area. Francisco is the founder of Teatro Sublingual; developed while living in Guadalajara, Mexico. His work focuses on spreading and uniting the diverse and rich art of Mexico and Latin America. FranciscoTeatro.com. As a teaching artist at NCTC Francisco is excited to serve communities in need of arts education.

Carlos Vargas (After-School Drama)

Carlos was born in the States but raised in Colombia. He received his undergraduate degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Alternative Education. A skilled educator with over ten years of experience in working with vulnerable communities in arts enrichment and integral social development through creative play. Carlos is an English tutor and also is a master storyteller- he gives bilingual San Francisco walking tours. Carlos is a jack of all trades and he's thrilled to teach drama to the next generation of storytellers in the Bay Area.

"NCTC is like a second home for all students and everyone feels welcome when they walk in the door"

– Jacob T.
"I’m always excited to come to NCTC and my confidence has grown immensely throughout the time I’ve worked here."

– McKenzie I.
"NCTC is my favorite place on earth. The people here are amazing and very supportive."

– Cliodhna W.
"Over the past 5 years I have built a community of people I really care for at NCTC. NCTC has given me so many opportunities to challenge myself and be creative."

– Una L.
"NCTC is a place where I can be confident and take risks. The community is so nice and welcoming. It is like a second home to me."

– Sydney D.
"Every time I come to NCTC, I feel like I’m at home and I can let my theatre spirit run free!"

– Anabel R.

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