About Us

Christi holds a BA in Drama and Spanish from the University of Washington and has been a working actor in the Seattle area since 1998. Her professional work spans stage, film, commercial, video, and voice-over projects.

A longtime company member of Living Voices, Christi spent seven years performing powerful solo shows about history in schools and theaters across the country, while also serving as an Associate Director and Teaching Artist. Her stage credits include work with Seattle Public Theater (Titanish), eSe Teatro, SIS Productions, Theater Anonymous, 14/48 Projects, Live Girls!, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Mirror Stage, ReAct Theatre, Represent! A Multicultural Playwrights Festival, Café Nordo, ACT Theatre, and Nebula: The Missing 6 at the Georgetown Steam Plant.

As an arts educator, Christi has taught with Seattle Children’s Theatre, Book Pals, University of Washington, Franklin High School, and several community organizations. Through Wedgwood Drama Studio, which she co-founded in 2008 with her brother Michael, she has brought creative drama programming to numerous NE Seattle schools and co-ops. She currently teaches Pre-K at University Cooperative School.

Christi is also a Certified Positive Discipline Parenting Educator and has served as a Parent Education Instructor with North Seattle College. She is the former Vice-Chair of the 14/48 Projects Board, a former Board Member at Living Voices, and currently serves on the Advisory Committee for Brown Soul Productions.

She is a proud NE Seattle mom of three and was featured in Northeast Seattle Living Magazine. Christi absolutely loves theater and working with kids—it’s truly her favorite thing in the world, and getting to spend her summers doing just that is a dream come true.

Jesica Avellone is an actor and teaching artist. She’s had the pleasure of teaching acting, playwriting, creative drama, and Shakespeare to elementary and middle school students at several Seattle schools, as well as with Wedgwood Drama Studio, Intiman Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre, and at Lakeside Middle School. She was most recently seen in Ghosts of Nebula at the Georgetown Steam Plant, Miss Holmes with Latitude Theatre and Gunked! at Annex Theatre (Gregory Award nominee for Outstanding Performance and Outstanding Ensemble). She has also performed with Taproot Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre (Gregory Award nominee for Outstanding Ensemble, American Junkie), Cafe Nordo, Seattle Shakespeare Company/Wooden O, Washington Ensemble Theatre, and The 14/48 Projects. BFA Boston University. jesicaavellone.com

Alyssa Keene is an actor, dialect coach, and teaching artist who caught the acting bug watching The Muppets and free outdoor Shakespeare as a kindergartener. She is a faculty member at Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle Film Institute, Seattle University, and producer at Jack Straw Cultural Center. She has also been a teaching artist for Seattle Public Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Freehold Theatre Lab, and Family Learning Programs in West Seattle.

Recent dialect coaching credits include Jitterbug Perfume (Cafe Nordo) A Christmas Carol (ACT), Cassius Clay (SCT) A Raisin in the Sun (Seattle Repertory Theatre), Ragtime (5th Avenue). Recent acting credits include Sweeney Todd (Reboot), Why We Have a Body (Strawshop), Mother Courage (Seattle Shakespeare Company).

Shaunyce Omar has performed on stages all around the world. She is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association. Some of her credits include: Barbecue, Crowns, Black Nativity, Hairspray, Matilda, The Wedding Band, My Heart is the Drum, The Pajama Game, Rejoice, Chicago, Hi Hat Hattie, The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Menopause The Musical – National Tour. Her TV/Film Credits include The Librarians and Last Seen In Idaho to name a few. Shaunyce’s voice can also be heard as the character Madison Grant in the State of Decay: LIFELINE video game. She is also the recipient of a Gregory, Footlight, Broadway World and The 5th Ave Theater’s Subscriber’s Choice awards. In addition to stage and screen work, Omar is a Teaching Artist and has taught in both public and private schools, arts organizations and overseas as a Master Sensei in Japan.

She holds a B.A degree in Theatre from Southern University and A&M College.

Megan is a Seattle educator, working currently in elementary and dance education. She is currently an assistant teacher at University Cooperative School, where she assists in the kindergarten class. She grew up in Mill Creek, WA and she holds a B.A degree in Educational Studies from Western Governors University.

Megan has worked in dance education for 10 years, teaching at Dance Elite, Rhythm and Soul Dance Studio, The Studios, as well as teaching various independent dance workshops for kids and adults. She has trained/taught in styles such as ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, and modern dance.

Megan’s dance education company, Puget Sound Movement, was started in 2022 and offers dance classes for kids with a social/emotional emphasis.

https://pugetsoundmovement.com

Shanelle is thrilled to be apart of Wedgwood Drama Studio’s Theater in the Park camp! She starting teaching youth at the age of 21, teaching Pre-K and preschool aged children in her home town. After she received her BFA in theater she began teaching theater and performing arts at Seattle Infant Development Center to her Pre-K students. Shortly after she went back to school to receive her masters in acting at UNC (May 2019). While at UNC she taught acting fundamentals to high school and college students, she was so inspired she created her own curriculum and after completing her masters she launched her very own classes for inner city children and young adults in her neighborhood. Her true passion is teaching and performing and a few of her favorite performances have been Beauty and the Beast (5th Ave Theatre) Playmakers Repertory (Elinor) Sense and Sensibility, (Dorine)from Tartuffe, (Averie) from Dot, and (Shanita) from Skeleton Crew. She is thrilled to be apart of such an amazing community and is looking forward to teaching!

Marion Jacobs is a Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Bahamian artist who teaches, writes, directs, and acts. She was born and raised in the village of Xwemelch’stn (Capilano Indian Reserve) located in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2013 she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a Bachelors degree in Performing Art Acting. She attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, graduating with honors in 2017.

She moved to Seattle in 2018 and that summer became a teaching artist for Red Eagle Soaring Native youth theatre. Marion has extensive experience working with youth. From 2006-2012 she was a volunteer teaching aid at Xwemelch’stn Etsimxwawtxw (Capilano Little Ones School) for kindergarten to grade 2 students.

Marion has recently been involved with productions by KCACTF Region 7, Kitchen Dog Theatre, and the Yale Indigenous Youth Arts Program. She is currently focused on producing her own work but she will always support youth in any way she can!

CJ Lorentz is an actor, singer, songwriter, and musician, and he is incredibly stoked to be working with Wedgwood Drama Studio. Native to Eastern Washington, he holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Central Washington University and is a dedicated explorer of music and writing. Recent credits include: Shrek The Musical (Donkey), 35mm: A Musical Exhibition (Voice 1), Smokey Joe‘s Cafe (Victor), Mamma Mia (Sky), and most recently seen as Jack’s understudy in the 5th Avenue’s Into the Woods.—

Ays Garcia is a proud Filipina-American performer based in Seattle. She is also a current student at University of Washington Seattle! Go Dawgs! Ays is so excited to be working with Wedgwood Drama Studio and join this incredible group! She has worked with the 5th Avenue Theatre (Educational Touring Company), Village Theatre (Cinderella and Mamma Mia), and Taproot (Christmas at Pemberley). She is extremely passionate about representation of all kinds in all forms of art, but has found a deep love for theatre specifically. She is currently working towards a career in music therapy and is excited to explore the possibilities within that field. Representation and accessibility matter!

Patti Belle has been designing with Wedgwood Drama Studio since 2008. As an Art Director and Designer with over 15 years experience, she offers both print and interactive solutions, specializing in corporate identity, branding, and collateral. Patti has extensive experience in advertising, marketing, publication design, non-profit collateral, photo styling and direction. For more information contact Patti