About Us

Wedgwood Drama Studio offers after school programs in neighborhood schools, summer camps at View Ridge Park, and classes at our studio location in Wedgwood just east of the corner of 95th St and 35th Ave NE. Join us for some fun!

Christi Cruz (she/her)

Christi Cruz (she/her)

Founder/Director

Christi received her BA from the University of Washington in Drama and Spanish and has been working since 1998 as professional actor in the Seattle area performing on stage, film, videos, commercials, and in voice-overs.

As a 7 year company member of Living Voices, Christi worked as an Associate Director, Actor, and Teaching Artist, performing one person shows about history. She has also performed with eSe Teatro, SIS Productions, Theater Anonymous, 14/48, Live Girls!, Book-It, Mirror Stage, ReAct, and Represent! A Multicultural Playwrights Festival, Cafe Nordo, Seattle Public Theater and ACT. 

As an Arts Educator, she has worked with Seattle Children’s Theater, Book Pals -Performing Artist for Literacy in Schools, Franklin High School, University of Washington, Eastside Learning Community, Theater of Possibility, Laird Norton, Kids in Motion, Family Biz Kids, Wake Up Girl, and Aspiring Youth. In her work with Wedgwood Drama Studio, Christi has taught drama programs at Wedgwood Drama Studio (Dramatic play 3-5s), Wedgwood, Viewridge, Bagely, Sandpoint, John Rogers, Thornton Creek, KapKa Cooperative, Bryant, Laurelhurst and Hazel Wolf Elementary. She has worked at Wallingford Cooperative, University Ravenna Pre-3s and Woodland Park Cooperative and is the Pre-K teacher at University Cooperative School.

Christi is also a Certified Positive Discipline Parenting Educator, has worked as a Parent Education Instructor with North Seattle College, Board Member of 14/48 serving as Vice- Chair, Board Member at Living Voices,  currently sits on the Advisory Committee of Brown Soul Production, and is a proud NE mom of 3.

Christi was featured in Northeast Seattle Living Magazine. You can check out the article here. 

Jesica Avellone (she/her)

Jesica Avellone (she/her)

Actor/Teaching Artist

Jesica is a Seattle-based actor and teacher, and is delighted to join the Wedgwood Drama Studio team in addition to having taught with Intiman Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Studio East, and Stone Soup Theatre.

A New York transplant, she is a founding member of award-winning CollaborationTown, and was seen at La MaMa ETC, the Ontological-Hysteric Theater, and Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center, and in the Off-Broadway premiere of Pentecost, among others.

She plays the violin and was nominated for an Innovative Theatre Award for her compositions for CTown’s The Astronomer’s Triangle. In Seattle, she has performed with Book-It Rep, Seattle Shakespeare Company/Wooden O, Seattle Public Theater, 14/48, and Live Girls! Theater. Jesica received her BFA from Boston University.

Alyssa Keene (she/her)

Alyssa Keene (she/her)

Actor/Teaching Artist

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 (she/her)

Shaunyce Omar (she/her)

Actor/Teaching Artist

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.

Ana María Campoy (she/her)

Ana María Campoy (she/her)

Actor/Teaching Artist

Ana iis a Chicana theatre artist and advocate. Theatre work includes: Thriving Artists, Seattle Rep, PNB, Book-It, SCT, OFT, Village Theatre, ArtsImpact, OSF’s FUERTE Festival, and New Mexico Shakespeare Festival. She is the Associate Artist with Seattle Shakespeare. Outside the arts, she works with WashMasks Mutual Aid, focusing on farmworker justice and mutual aid (@washmasks)

Megan Sandico (she/her)

Megan Sandico (she/her)

Actor/Teaching Artist

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

Aquillah White (she/her)

Aquillah White (she/her)

Teaching Artist

Aquillah lives to let her creativity fly! Hailing from upstate NY, she received her B.A. in English, with a concentration in poetry, from Cornell University. Aquillah loves writing, colorful Japanese street fashions, karaoke, auteur film and dancing. She is currently a teacher’s assistant for third grade at University Cooperative School in Seattle.
Shanelle Leonard (she/her)

Shanelle Leonard (she/her)

Teaching Artist

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!

Pilar O'Connell (she/they)

Pilar O'Connell (she/they)

Teaching Artist

Pilar is has worked with kids for as long as she can remember. They spent several years teaching children’s theatre with Pandemonium Productions in New Mexico. When Pilar moved to Seattle in 2009, they began to work as a private nanny. As well as being an actor around town, Pilar has spent the last few Summers teaching with Seattle Children’s Theatre and Wedgwood Drama Studios. Pilar loves creating art and passing on their love of knowledge to their students.
Marion Jacobs (she/her)

Marion Jacobs (she/her)

Teaching Artist

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!

Haley Bates (She/They)

Haley Bates (She/They)

Actor/Teaching Artist

Haley loves all things loud, proud, and creative! They have lived in Seattle for 11 years, graduating from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in Theatre and a concentration in Original Works in 2016. Some favorite ways to spend the day are writing, reading, dancing, and roller skating. Currently, Haley is an assistant teacher working with second graders at University Cooperative School.
Sarah Russell (She/Her)

Sarah Russell (She/Her)

Actor/Teaching Artist

Sarah Russell is a Seattle based performer, teaching artist, specializing in storytelling through movement and song.She has been performing and teaching professionally for the last 10+ years. Recently, performing as Cinderella in the 5th avenue theaters production of Into the Woods. She has also taught classes with STG, Studio East, and Village Theatre. Sarah is honored to join the Wedgwood family, and share her knowledge and love of storytelling with these young artists. She believes theater should be accessible to all, and that we all are worthy to take up space and tell our story.
CJ Lorentz (he/him)

CJ Lorentz (he/him)

Actor/Teaching Artist

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 (she/her)

Ays Garcia (she/her)

Actor/Teaching Artist

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!

Dedra D. Woods

Dedra D. Woods

Actor/Teaching Artist

Dedra D. Woods is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative force of nature, passionate about bringing Black stories to life on stage. She is excited to explore the world of storytelling with the youth at Wedgewood Drama Studio. Dedra has worked as a Casting Director and theater administrator but her first love is the stage. Her work has been seen at The 5th Avenue Theater, Seattle Rep, The Feast, ACT, Seattle Public Theater, Intiman, and Pittsburgh Public Theater. She holds a BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase.
Patti Belle (she/her)

Patti Belle (she/her)

Designer

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

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