Stevenson Symposium 2026
Entertainment
Stevenson School welcomes guest speakers who are artists, musicians, writers, actors, or really anyone who is passionate about the world of entertainment
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
8:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hosted by the 2026 Symposium Committee, under the leadership of Elisabeth Campbell and Kelsey Bessette.
Current Presenters
Sam Aguirre-Kelly
What makes for good lighting in a film? What about bad lighting? How does lighting affect our feelings of a physical space? How can lighting dictate the tone of a scene in a film?
50 random people could answer these questions, and chances are that the answers would start to sound similar enough to form a general consensus. Yet most wouldn’t even know how those answers came to them. No one needs reminding that a golden sunset over a crystalline ocean is pleasant, or that the neighbor’s flood light blasting through your bedroom window is unpleasant. Light is just something we live in and know intuitively. After all, one of our five senses is dedicated entirely to perceiving it. And although our familiarity with light is seemingly automatic as human beings, there are a select few whose fascination with lighting has driven them towards a more manual understanding. Painters, photographers, and filmmakers across generations have dedicated their lives to breaking down the technical elements of how light behaves and how it can impact an image. From their findings, they too formed a consensus and from this, a formula emerged. It is one that is so prevalent, so fundamentally appealing, and so dominant in film and television, that once you’ve seen it, you won’t unsee it.
This workshop will introduce participants to a basic understanding of the formula for effective lighting. We will learn about various qualities of light, 3-point lighting, the prominence of “upstage” lighting, and how light is “motivated” in an image. No previous experience with film or lighting is necessary.
Sam Aguirre-Kelly is an independent filmmaker based in New Orleans, Louisiana. His roots in filmmaking started with pointing a camera at his friends’ bands, a hobby that would persist into a full-time freelance profession as a director and cinematographer. Through his production company, Fast Friends, he produces a range of video content for artists, small businesses, and non-profits, with a specialization in documentary, music videos, and branded content. Sam has had the pleasure to film for companies such as Coach, Food & Wine, Thrillist, Arsenal, and Amazon. His most recent passion among the many crafts of filmmaking is the art of lighting, to which he will be laying out the fundamentals in his symposium workshop.
Lillian Barbeito
Ever wondered what it’s like to travel the world—or to create performances that inspire thousands? Join dance luminary Lillian Barbeito for an inside look at life in dance, from performing to producing and directing. Watch a live choreography demo, then jump in during a mini workshop to create your own short dances. Discover how choreography is more than steps—it’s a way to express yourself, explore the world, and truly dance through life.
Lillian Barbeito’s remarkable career in dance has taken her from the expansive skies of Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the world’s most prestigious stages. Raised in Santa Fe’s vibrant arts community, she trained with the Santa Fe Dance Foundation and performed with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Southwest Ballet, and Santa Fe Opera. Her exceptional talent earned her a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to The Juilliard School, awarded by Tomorrow’s Leaders of America for her visionary essay on the world dancing together in harmony.
Barbeito’s performance career spans Europe, New York, and Los Angeles. She co-founded BODYTRAFFIC, one of the nation’s most celebrated contemporary dance companies, and served as Co-Artistic Director and Director of Education for over 13 years, shaping the company into a globally recognized force with sold-out performances at premier venues. She also represented the United States as a Cultural Ambassador in Algeria, Israel, and Jordan.
One of only 57 teachers worldwide certified in Anouk van Dijk’s Countertechnique, Barbeito has choreographed more than 50 original works commissioned across the U.S. and Canada. A dedicated educator, she has taught at CalArts, UCLA, and Loyola Marymount University, mentoring the next generation of dance artists.
In 2021, she relocated with her family to Carmel Valley to launch the Carmel Dance Festival, a nonprofit that produces world-class dance and provides transformative dance education, including two full-scholarship programs: the Dance & Choreography Fellowship and the Terpsichore Project. She also founded Ballare Carmel, Monterey County’s first professional dance company, bringing world-class performances and visionary leadership to the region.
Last year, Barbeito was honored as the National Dance Institute’s Artist in Residence, highlighting her artistry on a national stage and reinforcing Carmel as a vibrant hub for dance. The Festival’s next production features dance icon, Natalia Osipova, a principal dancer with London’s Royal Ballet, in Force of Nature at the Sunset Center on February 27. For tickets and more information, visit CarmelDanceFestival.org or follow @CarmelDanceFestival on Instagram.
Jahnna Biddle
Our environment and world tell our stories. Using platforms such as poetry, dance, and music hip hop has given us a channel of true expression. Join dance educator, choreographer Jahnna Biddle for an experience inside the dance industry and how it has channeled the way dance influences us everyday. This workshop offers an insight into iconic choreographers, a moment to explore and learn hip hop movement, and leaves participants empowering their expression through dance.
Choreographer | Director | Performer
Jahnna Biddle’s prismatic art of dance offers unexpected elaborate emotional expression, color, light, and life through silence and abstract-like movement.
Artistic Vision
Jahnna is a natural of imagination and creativeness when it comes to choreography, dancing, and teaching. She has been involved in many wonderful works and has been honored with numerous awards—not only for her work in dance and choreography, but educationally as well. Her training is extensive and her mentors are incredible, having been a great influence on her career.
JBSoul Dance Company
As a lifelong ambassador for dance, Jahnna leads the JBSoul Dance Company, which provides young dancers with opportunities to be exposed to the art of dance and develop their artistic voices.
Performance Highlights
- Jahnna’s performances and works have been showcased in theaters and throughout the dance industry across the country, including:
- House of Blues “Move to Groove Ball”
- Key Club “Choreographers Carnival”
- Mandalone Projects
- Greek Theatre “Youth Celebration”
- Cast member of “Sister Ella” with Director Larry Heart & music master Michael Jackson
- Fame LA TV Series
- HBO’s The Tracey Ullman Show – “Tracy Takes On” & “State of the Union” productions
- Various music videos and TV/film projects
- Reprint of her renowned production “Reflections” at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Stevenson School
Now living in Marina, California, Jahnna is proud to be part of the Stevenson Community. She currently directs the dance program for both the Carmel and Pebble Beach campuses. While transforming the direction of dance at Stevenson, she hopes to reach out and connect with each student she teaches to help guide a new generation of young artists and help them find a passion for the performance arts. Empowering students through dance and using their creative expression is so valuable and life-changing.
Tom Cohen P’33
In this session, freelance TV, video, and film producer Tom Cohen will talk about a career in the entertainment industry. He’ll discuss how he started out as a comedic performer in New York which led to a career in TV production. He’ll answer questions about the ups and downs of a career in entertainment, how to break into this career, what tools are required to set yourself up for success, and how to pivot as the industry evolves and changes. He’ll also provide a screening of a recent documentary that he produced for the NHL Network called “NHL Trophy Case” and answer questions about it.
Tom Cohen owns a video and TV production company called Kibble Creative, known for its award-winning short-form digital content, TV series, non-profit advocacy videos, and short films. In the television industry, Tom won three Emmy Awards for his work as Executive Producer of the series Cash Cab for Discovery Channel. He also produced and directed series and specials for MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, History Channel, ABC Family, and NBC, and performed as an actor as well. He created the reality series Bandit Patrol for Nat Geo Wild and a series for MSNBC called Story of Cool in cooperation with LL Cool J.. Over the past few years, Tom created and produced a series of 6 documentary specials for NHL Network called NHL Trophy Case.
Additionally, Tom has produced more than 80 short films for organizations ranging from major corporations to high-end nonprofits. His short films have featured former presidents, celebrities, political figures, social advocates, tech CEOs, arts advocates, and others. He’s contributed films to countless organizations with some powerful and important products and missions.
Controlled Chaos
In this session, Controlled Chaos performs a set of their unforgettable improv comedy and then holds an instructional session for students to try their hand at the art of improv.
Controlled Chaos Improv is made up of talented performers from a wide variety of backgrounds, and has been performing improv comedy locally on the Monterey Peninsula since 2023. They’ve performed at many venues across the peninsula, including the Stanton Theater, California’s First Theater, Wave Street Studios, Forest Indoor Theater, and more. Using audience suggestions and spontaneous creativity, these performers develop unpredictable characters and humorous scenes on the spot.
Controlled Chaos cast includes:
- Karen Araujo
- Holly Chiswell
- Carrie Lee Collier
- Tom Cohen
- Alex Gray
- Nick Villareal
- Maria Dawson, Director
- Timbre Dawson, Tech, Social Media
Additionally, Tom has produced more than 80 short films for organizations ranging from major corporations to high-end nonprofits. His short films have featured former presidents, celebrities, political figures, social advocates, tech CEOs, arts advocates, and others. He’s contributed films to countless organizations with some powerful and important products and missions.
Elena Crevello, 01
Elena will give you an introduction to television writing, discussing what the current tv landscape looks like and how she went from studying drama at NYU to writing for shows on Netflix, NBC, Amazon and more. She’ll then give you a crash course on screenwriting with some fun entry level exercises that can help you begin to explore this form of storytelling with an emphasis on drawing from your own life for inspiration!
Elena Crevello is a television writer and producer with over 15 years of experience in comedy. Her most recent credits include writing on Seth MacFarlane’s Ted for Peacock, NBC’s workplace comedy American Auto, Netflix’s Grace & Frankie, and Vida on Starz. She currently has two series in development at Amazon, and has developed shows for many different networks, including NBC, ABC, and Warner Brothers. She graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a B.F.A in Drama and a B.A. in English Lit and launched her TV career in 2012 when she made a YouTube sketch called “S**t People Say in LA” that went viral and landed her a development deal at ABC Studios. She is a graduate of The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB) where she honed her improv and sketch writing skills over the years.
Kate DePietro
Step into the world of flow arts in this beginner-friendly workshop designed to get you moving and expressing yourself through prop-based movement. You’ll get to try poi, fans, and hula hoops while exploring how flow can help you move, create, focus, and maybe even perform. You’ll also get to take home a prop (first come, first serve)!
Throughout the workshop, you will learn foundational concepts such as timing, direction, and movement planes. We will also take time to honor the cultural roots of poi as an art form that originated with the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Poi has long served as a practice of storytelling, strength-building, and cultural identity. While our focus is on modern performance-based flow arts, we approach this movement with deep respect for its Indigenous origins.
No prior experience is needed. All levels are welcome. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to move, explore, and express yourself!
Kate DePietro, 32, is a fire/flow artist and fusion bellydancer based on the Central Coast. She discovered flow arts and fire dancing at 18 and has been practicing and performing ever since. A lover of all things circus, she studied theater at the university level and is passionate about the transformative power of storytelling. When she’s not teaching Spanish, Kate can be found in the dance studio drilling technique, developing new work, or rehearsing for her next performance. She has performed internationally with a small, eclectic circus troupe in Seville, Spain, and locally with Monterey-area groups such as Central Coast Circus, Big SuRCuS, and Azulene. Recently, she has stepped into the world of production and marketing, finding joy in creating events that bring people together to dance, connect, and celebrate the arts. At the heart of Kate’s work is a love for authentic expression and a deep appreciation for the weird, the grotesque, and the beautifully strange. She hopes that by showing up fully in her own strangeness, others feel invited to do the same.
Marlon Espino
Step inside the world of film scoring and discover how music brings stories to life.
Join Marlon E. Espino film composer and music producer as he reveals the creative process behind composing and producing music for film and visual media. From the first spark of an idea to the final mix, participants will explore how composers translate emotion, narrative, and visual storytelling into powerful musical experiences.
Marlon Espino is a multifaceted storyteller whose music is as diverse as his distinctive voice. Known for his cinematic artistry, Marlon’s compositions seamlessly traverse a variety of film genres. Early in his career, he collaborated with three-time GRAMMY-winning composer Mark Mancina, contributing to celebrated scores for Disney’s Moana, Planes, and Planes: Fire & Rescue, later returning to lend his talents to Disney’s Mufasa and Moana 2. Marlon also partnered with Mancina on Clint Eastwood-directed films Cry Macho and Juror #2.
Born in West Texas, Marlon was surrounded by music from an early age. Inspired by his grandmother, who taught him piano, and his father, a saxophone and keyboard player in the group Chicano Brotherhood, Marlon’s love for music grew naturally. He went on to study music and composition at Texas Tech University, solidifying his passion for storytelling through sound.
Marlon’s scoring credits include Inheritance starring Lily Collins, Simon Pegg, and Connie Nielsen; Every Breath You Take with Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan; and Cellar Door for Lionsgate Pictures. His distinctive style continues to captivate audiences across diverse projects
Faculty Band
Come and hear the likes of Dr. Manspeaker, Mr. Lips, and Mr. Bessette play through a few tunes and talk a little bit about choosing to find joy in performing music for others on top of busy full-time jobs.
Peter Lips, Willow Manspeaker, and Andy Bessette are lifetime educators who have a passion for music. Despite full-time jobs and busy lives teaching and working in dorms, they carve out time to make music simply for the joy of it.
Bob Franco
I will talk about the main areas of film and TV production and how a young person can fit into a specific segment. This will cover Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, and Administration.
Bob started out in media doing radio interviews during the Crosby ProAm golf tournament before it was the AT&T. He interviewed Jack Nicholaus, Bob Newhart, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and former president Gerald Ford among others.
Since then Bob has produced business and entertainment projects for more than thirty years. His local and national camera and editing work has played on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and cable networks such as the Speed Channel, National Geographic, The Travel Channel, TV Land, and the Learning Channel. Over eighty prime time CBS Candid Camera shows were edited and finished by Bob Franco including four one hour specials. The original Airborne and Pine Brothers ads with TV and movie stars were shot and edited by Bob. Apple Computer used some of Bob’s broadcast quality videos as examples of high end video converted for the web and was the only small company featured on their MPEG4 roll out campaign.
He’s shot stars from actor Mickey Rooney to rapper Wake Flocka, Peyton Manning, Wayne Gretzky, Martha Stewart, Howie Mandel, Carol Burnett, Mario Andretti, and Clint Eastwood.
In addition Bob has directed two Indie feature films and a WWII documentary on PBS that aired nationally for three years. “We’ve produced work for clients ranging in size from one man businesses, to giant global companies such as HID, the largest access control company in the world.” Bob has also served as a post production and color correction supervisor on national commercial projects, documentaries, dramatic films, as well as editor and colorist
Currently Bob distributes the documentary Big Sur The Way It Was and is producing short documentaries about artists in Big Sur for BigSurStories.com
Joel Fricker
In this one-hour Media Day project, students will create a cinematic “Glambot-style” slow-motion clip that showcases their personal brand and on-air personality. Each student will also record a short radio-style introduction, which will be layered over their slow-motion footage to create a polished media identity piece. By the end of class, we will premiere a professional-looking class highlight reel that students can share and use as part of their media portfolio.
Hi, I’m Joel Fricker, a photographer and videographer with several years of experience working in Los Angeles on productions such as The Late Late Show with James Corden, Big Brother, The Price Is Right, and other television projects.
In 2014, I moved to Pebble Beach to be closer to my (now) wife. Today, I teach photography and lead the Radio and Media program at Stevenson high school, where I enjoy helping students develop their creative and technical skills.
Rebekah Griffin Greene ’92
Students will learn how to organize sounds onto a graphic score using art materials, and create a short soundscape using instruments, found sounds, and/or vocalizations. Students will perform their soundscapes for each other in small groups, and present their graphic scores.
Dr. Greene will share how the arts have helped her pivot and process through life’s twists and turns, while also creating open doors for new experiences and success. Students will then have the opportunity to reflect on a specific memory they’d like to process and create a memory page with visual art materials.
Musician, composer, poet, comedienne, mom and sci-fi geek, Dr. Rebekah Griffin Greene juggles many hats, sometimes successfully. Musically, Dr. Greene is an award-winning bassist, composer, pianist, cellist, poet, and singer who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in bass performance, composition, and music education from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, as well as a doctorate in bass performance from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is proud to have been raised in the Monterey Peninsula, and played in Youth Music Monterey as both a piano and bass soloist with the orchestra, as well as winning several pre-college performance competitions on piano, cello and bass. At Stevenson, she was in every music class she could possibly be in with Dr. Klevan and Biff Smith, except handbells, and was happy to play or sing for any kind of ensemble until she graduated in 1992.
After recovering from a serious wrist injury and winning the Alice Nelson Music Competition in 1995 on the bass, she orchestrated her own bass and piano piece for the San Luis Obispo Symphony, launching her career as a composer and bass soloist. Now active in New York City as a freelance jazz, solo, chamber, and orchestral musician, she has performed her own works, as well as traditional recital repertoire,in such places as Hong Kong, Quebec, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. As a bass substitute on Broadway, she played in the pits for “Phantom of the Opera” and “Oklahoma” from 2017-2022, and most recently in October of 2025 for “This Is Not A Drill”, a new show about the false missile alert in Hawaii. She has been principal and assistant principal bass of regional orchestras, and recorded for bands and indie artists in all styles.
Her composition teachers include Morten Lauridsen and Frank Ticheli, and she has a large body of compositions that have been assigned/commissioned, but also some that she wrote out of pure artistic joy. “Winter Calling”, 1997, for SATB choir, was written while in Morten Lauridsen’s vocal writing class at USC, but was also based on a poem with the same title that she wrote when she was a student at Stevenson. “Short Mass for String Trio”, written in 2002 for her bass Masters recital, has been played by musicians in the US and many different countries, including Japan, Serbia, Germany, Austria, and Brazil. “Portrait of Harriet”, written in 2022, was commissioned by the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama, and was an amazing orchestral collaboration with Poet Laureate Ashley M. Jones.
As an educator, she has taught general and instrumental music in public and private schools, private bass and piano for all ages, been summer faculty at the Walden School for creative young composers, coached high school bass sections, and been the head of theory and composition pre-college programs. Currently, she is the Head of Theory at Silvermusic, as well as being double bass faculty at the Lucy Moses School, and the Bloomingdale School of Music. Together with her husband, she is a NY Philharmonic Teaching Artist, working with young people from all backgrounds and abilities as she teaches for Phil Schools, the Very Young Composers, and Lincoln Center Pipeline. She lives in Queens, New York City, with her musician husband, her two musical children, and many instruments. Please visit YouTube to see some of Rebekah’s compositions and performances.
Bob Hillman
Endorphin Productions & BigSurStories.com
Question: How many songwriters want to write more songs than they currently write? Answer: 100%. This is true whether you’ve written zero songs or hundreds. In this workshop, we’ll get into how it can be done, with equal emphasis on the practical (how to get started and make progress) and the philosophical (how to surmount imposing obstacles and plumb greater depths). In addition to discussion, there will be opportunities to experiment with simple techniques – or, rather, ways of thinking – that work for me. Spoiler alert: it takes commitment, but not necessarily more time. With that in mind, I hope to empower students to take control of their songwriting destinies.
Bob Hillman is a singer/songwriter who released his first album in the late 20th century and has been writing, recording, and performing ever since. His latest project, King of the Bees, has a rock/power pop feel but his four previous recordings are all very different-sounding. What connects them is the songs, which are generally melodic with thoughtful and sometimes surprising lyrical content and structure.
There was a short period in the early 00s when music was Bob’s “career” and he has worked with prominent musicians like Pete Thomas, Jay Bellerose, Greg Leisz, and Gerry Leonard and played prestigious venues like the Fillmore in San Francisco, Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, and the Newport Folk Festival. Mostly, however, it’s been about the writing process and art for art’s sake.
In fact, when not totally absorbed in coaching high school volleyball in San Francisco, he writes a song every week and presents it for feedback to a group of friends in an informal workshop setting. Thanks to this mechanism, there are always more songs, at least, and they tend to get better over time.
Rebecca Kennedy de Lorenzini
This workshop will begin with an historical overview of the African Diaspora in the Americas and the major cultural influences on societies in the hemisphere that resulted from the movement of people, ideas, and cultural exchange. Moving from the deeper past to the national period and up to our current moment, we will trace the development of several musical styles including merengue, samba, salsa, bachata, and reggaeton. Major contributing artists for each musical genre will be highlighted and briefly discussed. The second part of the workshop will consist of a brief instrumental overview, learning the various dances, and practicing our moves on the dance floor!
Rebecca Kennedy de Lorenzini is a cultural historian of the Americas who specializes in the African Diaspora. She joined the faculty at Stevenson School in 2023 and currently serves as the History Department Chair and as a college counselor. She taught history, literature, and interdisciplinary humanities courses at Cal Poly Pomona, Harvard University, and the University of Colorado, Boulder. Prior to teaching in higher education, Dr. de Lorenzini taught Middle School Spanish at the Episcopal Academy outside of Philadelphia, PA. She holds a PhD in History (University of Colorado, Boulder), an MA in Latin American Studies (University of Texas, Austin) and completed her undergraduate studies in Modern History at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. She currently lives on campus with her husband, Stefano, and their two daughters, Mia ’37, and Sofia.
Barak Laub
This presentation uses the documentary Volunteers Needed to explore how media and behavioral economics influence decision-making and inspire social action. The award-winning documentary Volunteers Needed has been shown on four continents in multiple countries and inspired legislative action in several cities in California as well as a bill in U.S. Congress HR.4732. Students will examine how storytelling can motivate change and will discuss externalities, unintended consequences, and how a small group of individuals can create meaningful change.
Barak first went to India and Nepal in 2008, he spent just over 10 months in South East Asia before moving to Germany to study Political Science and Linguistics at Goethe Universität. He later attended Columbia University in New York. After graduating, he returned to South Asia to film Volunteers Needed. When not working or advocating for children’s rights Barak enjoys trailrunning, mountain biking, volunteering with Monterey County Search and Rescue and spending time with his wife, daughter and dog.
Daniela Leal
Students will work in small, collaborative groups to shoot one complete roll of black and white Super 8 film using a prompt. They will learn to load the film and the basics of the camera, as well as showcase a reel on an original super 8 projector. Completed works will be emailed to students post-workshop.
Dani Leal is a Latinx photographer and artist based in New Orleans, Louisiana and Miami, Florida, where she was born and raised. Her work explores identity, memory and place, with particular interest in the tense space between perceived and owned identity. She has exhibited work at the Contemporary Art Center of New Orleans, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and at Southeastern Louisiana University. She has completed residencies with the Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans, Mentoring Arts for Women Artists in Winnipeg, Canada, and at Casa Do Xisto’s Cinematic Arts Residency in Portugal. Leal was co-President of The Front Collective, an artist-run space and community from 2024-2025.
Jacques P. Lord, ’75
In this presentation, attendees will learn about Jacques Lord’s journey into magic, beginning with getting started Sleight-of-Hand at Stevenson. The presentation will tackle the question of what makes magic a performing art when done correctly and explore what is a “trick” vs. what is “theatrical entertainment.” Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and debate the question whether magic can be at the same level as theater, opera, dance, or music.
Jacques has a BSc in geophysics from Brown U. and an MA in Geology from Rice U. He is a Certified Engineering Geologist with California EPA’s Office of Enforcement working as a fraud investigator*. Before joining CA EPA, he worked 40 years doing things like planetary geology, oil exploration in Saudi-the UAE-Australia-Gulf of Mexico, major infrastructure construction, Health & Safety at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, assessed and remediated SUPERFUND sites in CA-FL-NY-NJ-TN-GA-AL, worked on the cleanup of the Manhattan Engineers District Program (the A Bomb in WWII), and managed decades of environmental compliance consulting, mostly in SoCal.
He has gigged infrequently as a magician since 2004 when he joined the Magic Castle. He was introduced to Magic by Stevenson teacher, Biff Smith.
Kevin Matsumoto, ’16
Whether it’s a comedic toe-stomp, a slap from a spurned lover, or a brawl between rival warriors, almost all media today involves some sort of fictionalized combat. This hands-on workshop will focus on the basic techniques and concepts of unarmed Stage Combat.
Disclaimer – This is a physically involved workshop and you should wear close-toed shoes, clothes that you are able to move well and comfortably in.
Kevin is a Voice Actor, Singer and Stunt performer currently living in Los Angeles. He specializes in Dubbing Foreign shows and has credits on Netflix, HBO, and Amazon ranging from Squid Game to Culinary Class Wars. He also performs in a year round stunt show as well as working as a Fight Choreographer and Armorer for various Equity theatre companies in the greater LA area as well as across the country; and, if you happen to be in Disneyland over the Holidays, there’s a good chance you’ll hear him singing there.
Callie McKenzie – Carmel Delights
This will be a fun, high-energy, and accessible class, we will explore the art of using a feather boa as an extension of your body. We will break down essential techniques to ensure your feathers look fabulous, not chaotic.
What You Will Learn:
- The Basics: Proper ways to hold, carry, and wear your boa for maximum dramatic effect.
- Technique & Movement: Smooth, showgirl-style walks, body undulations, and shoulder shimmies that make the feathers fly.
- Signature Moves: How to drape, twirl, and utilize the boa for a dramatic “TA-DA!” moment.
- Choreography: Combine these moves into a simple, and show-stopping, short routine to take home.
Details:
- No Experience Required: Beginner-friendly!
- What to Bring: A long feather boa (8-ply or higher recommended for maximum fluff), and wear comfortable clothing to move in.
- Alternatives: If you don’t have a boa, a long scarf or featherless prop can be used to learn the choreography.
Callie McKenzie, the Founder and Artistic Director of the Carmel Delights Dance Company and Co-Director of Central Coast Circus has been dancing and performing in various forms for over 3 decades. Having performed with various companies such as the Turner Ballet Company, Mendocino College Repertory DC, Mendocino Dance Project, Flynn Creek Circus, and Polaris Dance Company, Callie eventually created her own companies to allow for creative freedom and expression. Callie founded the Carmel Delights Dance Company in 2014 in order to create a platform to express creativity and female empowerment through contemporary, jazz, cabaret, cirque, and other forms of dance.The Carmel Delights Dance Company in a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Over the last decade, Callie and the Carmel Delights have performed throughout the United States, UK, Spain, and the Netherlands. The boa piece she will be presenting in the workshop has traveled the world.
Andrew Nielsen (MC Lars), 01
Blending live performance with storytelling, MC Lars proves that “school subjects” and “real life” are the same thing. A Stevenson and Stanford grad, he connects Shakespeare, Poe, and Moby-Dick with hip-hop technique, creator tech, and independent business, showing how to remix what you learn into art, identity, and a future you actually control.
Andrew “MC Lars” Nielsen is a Stanford-educated rapper, educator, and creator of “Lit-Hop,” blending classic literature with hip-hop. He’s the founder of Horris Records and Lit-Hop Academy, and has given TEDx talks on literacy and rap. He also works in tech as a creative strategist, helping translate complex ideas into culture and community.
New Canon Theater Co.
What does it take to be an actor today—in a world of AI, digital media, and constant change? Can technology replace human performers—or is live presence something no machine can touch?
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore the power of presence through movement, improvisation, and collaborative playmaking. Jump into a status exercise to feel the impact of body language, join a “Four Corners” discussion on what theatre means today, and create a 1-Minute Modern Play using stillness, technology, and audience connection. The session also invites you to consider a big question of our time: can technology replace actors—or is live human presence irreplaceable?
Try a cold reading, give feedback, and reflect on what theatre needs most. And yes—donuts are included, because some of the best ideas happen with a little sugar and a lot of curiosity.
Justine Stock (she/her/ella) is a Miami-born artist with Latin roots, currently living and creating between Monterey, CA & Mexico City. She is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of New Canon Theatre Co. dedicated to producing thought provoking, urgent work that speaks directly to our time—made in collaboration with bold, brilliant artists across theatre and independent film. She is also the proud mom of Julienne Geisler, Grade 11.
An actress, producer, adventurer, mother, and devoted arts advocate, Justine has been performing since the age of eight. She trained at Miami’s New World School of the Arts before leaping to New York City to attend the SUNY Purchase College Theatre Conservatory, where she graduated cum laude. Her artistic journey has since carried her across regional stages, international festivals, and into independent cinema.
Recent theatre credits for producing & acting include Life Sucks, Pickles, Othello & An Iliad, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (Producer) and Finding Chase (New Canon Theatre Co. Lab); Rockaby (W) (J. Stock Productions & Kangalee Arts Ensemble at the Carl Cherry Center and Henry Miller Library); Henry V, The Taming of the Shrew; and On the Road (Iris Henniman) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, among others.
She produces all New Canon Theatre Co. productions.
In film, Justine starred in the feature Brooklyn Bound, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, alongside David Zayas (Dexter, Bloodline) and Dean Winters (30 Rock, Oz). Her most recent producing credit, White Face, premiered at the Ashland Film Festival and has gone on to win multiple awards nationwide.
Through her work, Justine is committed to championing stories that foster connection, challenge division, and place humanity back at the center of the cultural conversation.
J. Matthew (he/him/his) has worked extensively in theatre and film as an actor, director, producer, and theatre educator for over twenty years. He studied directing at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre where he also attended workshops with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and received his M.F.A. in Acting from the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
As Artistic Director of New Canon, J. Matthew guides the artistic vision of the company, as well as producing, casting, and managing New Canon’s productions.
His work as an actor and director has been seen at regional theatres across the United States, and his film and television work as an actor and producer has spanned the globe.
In the Monterey area, he has worked for Pacific Repertory Theatre, The Western Stage, and the former MPC Theatre Company.
As an educator, J. Matthew has been a guest artist at several college and university theatre programs, most recently completing a term as a full-time visiting lecturer at The University of Texas at Austin, where he taught acting and Shakespeare in the Department of Theatre and Dance’s B.F.A. actor training program. Currently, he serves as the Chair of Theatre at the New Mexico School for the Arts – Art Institute.
He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, Actor’s Equity Association, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of Live Arts Santa Fe (New Mexico).
J. Matthew holds a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in the arts, and founded New Canon Theatre to be an engine of social/artistic good in the American Theatre. He believes in New Canon’s mission as a community-oriented professional theatre, dedicated to re-conceiving traditional notions of theatrical performance and education.
When he’s not working, he is an avid painter, as well as a hiker, backpacker, and rock climber. He splits his time between Monterey, CA and Santa Fe, NM with his family. You can learn more about Justin and his work at www.justingordon.info.
Noah Lucé (he/they) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist, director, and intimacy professional whose work focuses on consent-based practices for stage.
He currently works as an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Director of the Arts Center at Lake Superior State University and is a Lecturer in Drama at University of California, Santa Cruz.
They are a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and have directed, acted, and served as an intimacy choreographer across the West Coast and internationally. Directing and intimacy credits include Life Sucks, Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre Production of the Year in Monterey County), Macbeth, Eurydice, and The Jungle Book; Rudyard Revised. At LSSU he has directed Dog Sees God, Witch, and the upcoming production of The Stonewater Rapture.
Noah is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and has performed with companies including Jewel Theatre Company, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Theatre Rhinoceros, New Canon Theatre Company, EnActe Arts, and Rage Productions (India).
Noah also serves as Assistant Faculty with Theatrical Intimacy Education and is the Associate Artistic Director at New Canon Theatre Co.
To learn more, visit www.noahluce.com.
Lauren (Razz) Palumbi ’06
Experience the techniques that go into creating a DJ’s most impactful tool: the mashup! We will look at all the elements that go into selecting the perfect songs for a DJ set. Students will also learn the basic layout of DJ equipment and how these tools create a versatile field for experimentation and self expression. Part technical demo, part creative improvisation, the Art of the Mashup will introduce the world behind the DJ decks.
Razzvio is an electric violinist, vocalist, and producer whose work merges disciplined musicianship with cutting-edge digital performance. Utilizing live looping, DJing, and advanced FX processing, she fuses powerhouse vocals with contemporary violin techniques to create music that carries the intricacy of a string ensemble and the pounding visceral energy of an EDM festival.
Razzvio is an accomplished acrobat, aerialist, and fire performer, guided by the belief that immersive spectacle and interdisciplinary artistry are essential to deep audience connection. She has performed on stages at Lighting in a Bottle, Meow Wolf, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Peninsula Pyros
A special collaboration featuring local performers from a wide range of professional groups and artistic backgrounds, curated exclusively for the Stevenson student body. Directed by our very own MD Spanish teacher, Kate DePietro.
- Kate DePietro (Stevenson School MD Spanish Teacher) When she’s not teaching Spanish, Kate can be found in the dance studio drilling technique, developing new work, or rehearsing for her next performance.
- Jessica Cooper (Director of `Azulene Dance Company)
- Taylor Clemson
- Maddie Boettcher
Paul Ventura
What would you give to have your questions answered about Hollywood and the chance of pursuing a career in today’s Entertainment Industry by someone who has both inside knowledge and outside-the-box strategy for you?
As an Actor, Writer, Director, and Casting Director in Film, Television, and thousands of commercials for decades in Hollywood, Paul Ventura has seen it all and has stories to tell; along with strategies to save time, meet important mentors, make better choices, and go beyond just getting jobs and start building a career!
Paul Ventura has been an actor, director, writer, and a Casting Director in Hollywood and has worked with some of the biggest directors in movies, TV, and commercials. He’s also discovered many actors before they were stars (Billy Bob Thornton; Adam Sandler; Brad Pitt; Nicole Kidman; Leonardo DiCaprio; David Spade; Paul Rudd; Cameron Diaz, Kathy Bates and many others.
“Casting is the hub of the wheel where I got to work with Actors, Directors, Agents, Managers, Producers, Studio heads, and Network executives, each with different needs and perspectives…My ultimate challenge was to make them all happy!”
Paul looks forward to answering any and all questions about career choices and functions in the Entertainment Business! He’s seen it all and has the stories to prove it! His is a unique and refreshing overview!!
Anna Richardson White
Join filmmaker and entrepreneur, Anna Richardson White, for a screening of her documentary short Appalheads, which explores her family’s legacy of filmmaking in the Appalachian Mountains where she was born and raised. Following the film, Anna will present on how her personal story has come to define her work and encourage the students in the audience to think more deeply about sharing their own individual experiences through various forms of media. The session concludes with an interactive “Personal Narrative Workshop,” where students will identify and frame their own unique stories for the screen (fiction or documentary), podcasts, written memoirs and more. In this session, students will leave understanding themselves and their own story a bit more and hopefully feel inspired to share that story with the world.
Born and raised in eastern Kentucky, Anna Richardson White has spent the past twenty years working in communications and content at companies including Disney, YouTube, Google[x], Facebook, Instagram and Michaels. In 2022, Anna founded Kentcali, a media production and communications consultancy, where she helps startups craft and share their own stories and develops her own creative projects. She advises several AI-fueled startups, mostly in the wellness space. Her first documentary Appalheads, about her family’s 57 year legacy making art and media in Appalachia, has shown at more than 20 festivals and will be released online this year. She also hosts a podcast called Homeplace featuring interviews about where we’re from, where we go and what these places say about us – available anywhere you get your pods. Anna lives in Carmel Valley, California, with her husband, two children, and two dogs and more than 50 vintage quilts that she sells through her retail line, Appalachian Culture Club.
Nik Wolf
In this storytelling workshop, you will learn to connect with what truly excites you, shape that passion into story, and practice techniques that elevate your storytelling craft.
Nik Xandir Wolf is a viral social media sensation with hundreds of millions of views on Instagram and YouTube. He is an award-winning writer, lyricist, filmmaker, and poet. He has been published in magazines both online and in print. He has published a novel, a book of poetry, and four surf themed anthologies through Kelp Press. His bestselling anthologies have received critical praise, as well as selections in Best American Mystery and Crime. He is at work on a studio album, a new novel, and a book of connected short stories.
He lives in Carmel, Ca where he surfs and teaches his two sons Jiu Jitsu. Nik is passionate about social justice and environmental conservation and has volunteered with Save Our Shores, CASA Monterey, and the Surfrider Foundation. You can find him on Instagram @nikxandirwolf.
Michael Wong
Get ready for an amazing line dancing event. Join us for a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, perfect for dancers of all levels. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. We can’t wait to see you on the dance floor!
Michael Wong of Kick It Up is a passionate and experienced line dance instructor with a diverse background in teaching and performing. He brings years of expertise to his classes, creating a fun and engaging learning environment for dancers of all levels.
