Beth Galanty-Blaney   President/Business Director
Beth graduated from UCLA in Social Psychology. She was a producer and production manager for commercials and music videos for over nine years working on projects from Coca Cola to Madonna. She brought her organizational, people, and creative skills from the entertainment industry to KOS. Beth, loves creating curriculum, programs, coordinating and having her hands in every aspect of KOS. She enjoys watching each child shine and find their own voice. Beth has been one of the owners and Business Director since 1994.

Cari Derbise   President/Creative Director, Instructor
Cari received her Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley. She has taught and acted for many theater companies including Actors' Gang and Theatricum Botanicum. Cari has traveled to New York, Scotland, France and India performing various theater styles from Commedia Dell'Arte to Shakespeare. She loves the creative process of script writing, directing, producing, and working with children to help them bring out their best. Cari has been one of the owners and the Creative Director of KOS since 1990.

Elaine Hall   Founder & Special Needs Coordinator
Elaine is an educator, writer, consultant, and professional acting coach for television and film. Her approach to children's arts education has been featured on CNN, HBO and Showtime, just to name a few. Elaine is the mother of a child who has autism, and used her talents and personal experiences to create our Special Needs Program. An innovative musical theater project, The Miracle Project, which includes children with special needs and typically developing peers and siblings, is the subject of a feature length documentary on autism. Elaine is currently writing and producing a children's CD celebrating diversity, positive thinking and kindness. Most recently, she was the on-set acting coach for the critically acclaimed feature film, AKEELAH AND THE BEE.

Eve Keller   Program Advisor, Enrichment and Party Coordinator
Eve has a BA of Theatre Arts and a Masters in Psychology with a child studies specialization. She has been part of the KOS family since 1995. She loves the sense of community KOS offers as well as connecting with each student's special gifts. Eve can be seen on PBS as Brenda Blue in the popular kids show, "Jay Jay the Jet Plane".

Fabulous Instructors

Kaitlyn Black   Instructor, Choreographer, Dance Instructor
Kaitlyn Black has performed in over 15 musical and theatrical productions ranging from the Carousel Dinner Theater, to the Utah Shakespearean Festival, to Off Off Broadway at the La Mama Theater. Some of her favorite roles include Val in "A Chorus Line", Roberta/Delores in "Working", Mariana in "Alls Well that Ends Well", and working as the Dance Captain for "Pipin", Anything Goes", and "Music Man." Kaitlyn began her dance training at the age of 3 at her grandmother's dance studio in Cleveland,OH, The Charlottle Braun Dance Studio. She has studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, and her forte Tap. She taught Jazz and Tap throughout college for The Dance Institute of Akron and The Cuyahoga Youth Ballet. She was recently nominated as Best Actress at the Bare Bones Film Festival for her work in the film "Little Devil." She has also appeared as a Guest Star on Cold Case (CBS) and Mixed Signals (FOX Pilot) and was a Series Regular for the Web Series "Floaters" which won a New York Emmy in 2008. Kaitlyn has been with Kids On Stage since 2009 and has loved working with all the players over the years directing, choreographing as well as teaching dance.

Sheila Carrasco   Instructor
Sheila Carrasco moved to sunny California last summer after getting her MFA from the American Repertory Theater Institute at Harvard University. A native of Chicago, a long-time New Yorker, and a temporary Bostonian and Muscovite, she is enjoying the weather here, to be sure. Sheila is happy to be here, pursuing her acting career and working with Kids On Stage!

Abigail Chelian   Instructor
Abigail earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Music (emphasis in Musical Theater) from Bryan College. She has been working for nearly five years as a professional actor with a vast range of entertainment credits. She performs weekly with a local improv troupe, and has performed stand-up in Boston, Houston, and Los Angeles. She has been with KOS since 2007 year, and is thankful for the privilege of both investing in and learning from each uniquely talented student that crosses her path.

Khalia Davis   Instructor
Khalia has just graduated from the University of Southern California with honors as a BA Theater Major. She's currently developing her own children's web-series entitled Khloe's Klubhouse to premiere at the end of the month. Plus, she has recently been excepted as a new member with the Alliance Repertory Company. Khalia loves working with children of all ages and sharing the magic of theater together.

Ryan DoRemus   Video Production Expert
Ryan has a BA from Oklahoma State University with a minor in teaching. He likes to think of himself as a "jack of all trades" with an emphasis in theater. While in Los Angeles he has worked as a Direcotr, Editor, Actor, UPM and Assistant Director and Video and Theater teacher. Ryan has been teaching kids for over 5 years and Kids On Stage has had the pleasure of him running our Video Camps and Workshops for the past 3!

Debbie Gaughan   Instructor
Debbie has a Masters in Children's Theater. She is a professional writer,teacher and actress. She has worked in both public and private schools throughout Texas, Colorado and California as an artist-in-residence writing and directing curriculum based plays. She has also written and produced a children's animated video. Debbie joyously joined KOS in 1998.

Tyler Graves   Vocal Instructor
Tyler has been teaching professional voice since 1995 and has experience with working with children of all ages and styles. She has worked professionally as a member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen, as a studio singer where her voice can be heard on major motion pictures and trailers including Lady in the Water, Click and The Notorious Bettie Page. When she is not working with Kids On Stage, Tyler teaches voice and piano privately and regularly performs with her rock group "Deep 6 Holiday" and her jazz trio "The Redwood Trio as well she is part of a vocal jazz sextet, "Swing Shift".

Joseph Itaya   Instructor, Musical Director, Filmmaker
Joseph Itaya is a director/producer/writer based in Los Angeles. Joseph's company TEMPERED ENTERTAINMENT LLC produced and released the children's classical music project Ben's Birthday Present. This project is currently in international distribution with Barnes&Noble, iTunes, and Best Buy. Joseph's company also produces commercials, feature films, and new media projects. Joseph has written, directed, produced, and composed for more than 20 short and feature films, which have screened at film festivals up and down the West Coast. Joseph holds an M.F.A in Film Production from the University of Southern California. Joseph has been teaching with Kids On Stage since 2003.
www.temperedentertainment.com

Anya Ivanova   Musical Director, Pianist
Classically trained pianist, Anya Ivanova is a new addition to Kids on Stage. Originally from a former Soviet Union, Anya has been teaching piano for the past 10 years as well as performing with chamber musicians and singers. Working with Kids on Stage has been a great experience for Anya. She loves to work with kids and discover new songs and music!

Amy Lucas   Instructor, Choreographer
Amy is a graduate of the UCLA Schools of Theatre, Film and Television. She is a professional actress and has numerous credits in plays, television and film. She has taught children the art of drama and dance since 1999.

Nick Martin   Musical Director, Accompaniest, Instructor
Nick Martin is an accomplished pianist, filmmaker, and composer whose credits include everything from shooting HBO documentaries to directing Las Vegas musicals. He has a film degree from the University of Southern California, and has taught at the prestigious Dallas Children's Theater in Texas. In his spare time, Nick enjoys reading Shakespeare aloud and playing Scrabble.

Megan McClannan-Reardon   Consultant, Video Program Director, Instructor, Vocal Coach
Megan has a BFA in Music, Dance and Theater from Brigham Young University. She has spent 9 years as a professional actress and singer. Her numerous productions include Belle in Beauty and the Beast and back up singing for Jessica Simpson. Her professional teaching and voice coaching span over five years and includes working with Montebello High and Pinewood School for the Performing Arts. Megan also spent three years as a casting director for THE LION KING.

Steve Neumann   Program Director, Instructor
Steve has his B.A. in Theatre from Michigan State University. He has been working since 2001 as a professional actor with credits in film, stage and television. Some favorites include Boston Public, American Dreams, Catch Me If You Can, Rumor Has It, and so far in 3 Pirate movies. On top of drama, Steve is an improvist and performs with two groups regularly. He has also been professionally teaching for over six years including public and private schools and a performing arts programs as well has done children's casting for Disney. He came aboard KOS as their Program Director in 2006!

Josh Stamell   Instructor
Josh has a wide variety of experience in theater and education and currently works as an actor as well as a private tutor and script coverage writer. He received his MFA from the American Repertory Theater Institute at Harvard and his BA from Williams College. Josh lives near the beach and loves to surf, read, and hang out with his cat Geneva! Josh always looks forward to working with Kids on Stage and helping with such amazing classes, camps and shows.

Barbara Suiter   Instructor
Barbara recieved her BA in theatre from the University of Washington. She has continued to pursue a career in acting and has performed at numerous regional theatres including The Utah Shakespearean Festival and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. This summer she will appear in Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing with The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Having grown up in the theatre, Barbara loves working with Kids On Stage and watching her students grow and shine on stage.

Michael Wells   Musical Director
Michael Wells is a very talented composer, musical director and sound designer who works with theater companies from New York to Los Angeles and in between. He holds a bachelor's degree from Boston University. Michael loves working with kids which is why Kids On Stage loves having him on their team!

Denise Wertheim   Administrator, Instructor
Denise received a BA in Theatre Arts from Ithaca College. This "Jill of all trades", has been with KOS since 1992. She has also been the Program Director for our Westside Jewish Theatre Project for the past nine years.

Mission Statement
Kids On Stage, Inc is a theatre and video arts program which develops creativity, self-expression and social consciousness through artistic mediums. We inspire players to discover their own unique voice while building valuable skills that extend to all facets of life. Self-discipline and joy are encouraged!

Website by SunRain Productions, October 2006.