Staff
Florinda Bryant— Programming Specialist
Freddy Carnes—Artistic Associate
Heather Davis—Senior Grant Writer
Mikala Gibson—Artistic Associate
Amanda Hashagen—Middle and High School Program Director
Jessica Kamphaus—Development and Marketing Associate
Karen LaShelle—Executive and Artistic Director
Sarah McCafferty—Community Outreach Director
Sarah Rinner—Elementary School Program Director
Rene Ruiz—Director of Operations and Finance
Dustin Wills—Programming Specialist

Company Members
Theatre Action Project is proud of the diversity, talent, and professionalism of the more than 30 artists and educators working with us. 

Our teaching artists include Amy Downing, Anna Easterling, Dacia Bertrand, Da'Mon Stith, Dana Thompson, Diego Larrea, Elizabeth Lopez, Erika Gonzalez, Erin Meyer, Frank Rodriguez, Hannah Kenah, Iemaja Brown, Ignacio Cruz, Jessica Mallios, Joanna Mueller, Johnna Weaver, Justin Follin, Kirsche Dickson, Lillie Hollingsworth, Meg Haley, Nicole Gurgel, Peter Mendoza, Quincy Ockletree, Sachi deCou, Sarah Shotland, Senalka McDonald, and Sheila Fox.

Florinda Bryant — Programming Specialist
Florinda Bryant is an interdisplinary artist and educator. Florinda is the Artistic Director of the Austin Project Performance Company, supported by the Center for African and African Americans Studies Department at the University of Texas. Florinda has worked with Theatre Action Project for over four years, and has been working with at risk youth for over ten years. Florinda currently servers as the Theatre Action Project After- School Program Specialist. Florinda recently directed and performed in the Artspark Festival 2008,award winning play "HUSH" and starred in the world premiere of Sharon Bridgforth's new work delta dandi.

Freddy Carnes — Artistic Associate
Freddy Carnes is an actor, producer, director, writer, composer and teacher who has won awards and recognition for his work with children including special recognition from Mayor Will Wynn and a B. Iden Payne award. He has co-written and directed over 40 operas with elementary school children and has produced several CD's of his original songs. Freddy's work with TAP includes "The Hamlet Project" which introduces at-risk youth to the joys of Shakespeare.  This year he is not only helping with his third First Night Austin parade, but he will be working on a year long after-school video project at Wooldridge Elementary based on "The Odyssey" by Homer with giant puppets and masks.

Mikala Gibson —Artistic Associate
Mikala earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from The University of the Incarnate Word. After graduation, she returned to her hometown of Houston, TX where she worked as a professional actress in Houston's thriving theatre district. During this time she developed a love for Children's Theatre and studied under Westley Edmundson at InterActive Theatre. Mikala has taught theatre to children all over Texas and was recently invited to teach with a group of artists in China. Ms. Gibson is very happy to return for another exciting year with TAP!

Heather Davis — Senior Grant Writer
Heather Davis has been working with TAP as a Teaching Artist and Programming Assistant since 2005. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy and the History of Math and Science from St. John's College and a Master's Degree from Goddard College. Her studies at Goddard combined coursework on youth development, arts education, and creative writing with her experience as a Teaching Artist for TRUCE, a nationally recognized after school arts program within the Harlem Children's Zone, Inc. in New York City. She has put her commitment to after school programs and arts education to use in Austin by teaching for the Dougherty Arts Center at local Rec Centers, working with Heart House's after school program, and volunteering for Communities in Schools. Heather brings her familiarity with innovative arts programming, her extensive experience as a teacher and writer, and the knowledge she's gained as a founding member of a local nonprofit to her new position as TAP's Senior Grant Writer, where she is very happy to be supporting TAP's mission and its crucial role in the local community.

Amanda Hashagen — Middle and High School Program Director
Amanda Hashagen is an artist, educator and facilitator who has used theatre for social change for 10 years.  In 1996 she obtained BA degrees in English and Theatre, and Secondary teaching certification from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS.  In 2000, she obtained an MA in Applied Theatre from the University of Manchester, UK.  There she studied TIE, Theatre of the Oppressed, and Prison Theatre under Tony Jackson and James Thompson. In 2005 Amanda obtained an M.Phil. in Drama from the University of Manchester. From 2001 – 2005, she used 4 field visits in Uganda to research how theatre can be used to involve women in the process of addressing their own development issues.  She has facilitated over 100 theatre programs, workshops, and trainings which incorporate Theatre of the Oppressed techniques with marginalized groups in the UK, Uganda, US, and Canada.  These groups have included teen prisoners, unemployed persons, newly immigrated persons, adjudicated youth, youth raised in foster care, and development workers.  Amanda is the Middle and High School Program Director at Theatre Action Project. Amanda is also a co-director of the Changing Lives Youth Theatre Company.

Jessica Kamphaus — Development and Marketing Associate
Jessica Kamphaus started working with TAP in September 2007.  She holds a BA in Letters and History from the University of Oklahoma and is currently pursuing her MA in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education from the University of Texas Austin.  Prior to joining TAP Jessica worked in Development for ACE Programs for the Homeless/SoHo Partnership in New York City, where she helped with special events and donor relations, and also for Persuasive Strategies, a political consulting firm, in Oklahoma City.  Along with her work at TAP, Jessica also buys and sells vintage clothing and wares.

Karen LaShelle — Executive and Artistic Director
Karen LaShelle joined Theatre Action Project in 2003.  In the past 5 years, Karen has helped TAP grow from serving 800 young people to 12,000 each year.  She developed many of our current programs and projects, including TAP After School, The Heroes/Los Heroes and the current version of The Courage to Stand, amongst others.  Before joining TAP, Karen worked in the field of arts and education in both Chicago and New York where she developed her love of community-based work and youth development through the arts.  Karen holds a B.F.A. in Performance, Directing and Design from Illinois Wesleyan University and a M.A. in Community Based Arts from New York University. Karen recently served on the Advisory Committee for Greenlights for Nonprofit Success Crossroads Conference, is a member of the Create Austin cultural planning task force, volunteers for aGLIFF, and is a finalist for the 2009 Austin Under 40 Awards.

Sarah McCafferty — Community Outreach Director
Sarah McCafferty began her work with TAP in 2005 as a Social Work intern and coordinator of TAP's St. John's Saturday's- a program focused on working with Katrina displaced youth. Enjoying the uniqueness of her experience so much, Sarah accepted a full time position as the Community Outreach Director where she manages the volunteer and intern program, evaluates all of TAP's programming, focuses on raising the profile of the agency and does a host of "TAP in the community" type stuff. Sarah comes to TAP with a strong commitment to working on social justice issues and many years of experience in research, working with youth and in the anti-violence movement. Sarah holds a Master's in Social Work from UT Austin and a BS in Sociology & Women's Studies from University of Oregon.

Sarah Rinner — Elementary School Program Director
Sarah Rinner works as the Elementary School Program Director for Theatre Action Project in Austin, TX, a nonprofit educational theatre company, where she oversees the after school program, teaches K-8th grade theatre arts throughout Austin in after school classes, and coordinates special projects, workshops, and programs. She graduated in May 2006 with a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin.  In Lufkin and Victoria, Texas, she trained and mentored teachers in using drama as a teaching tool in the classroom, as well as assisted a peer theatre middle school group in devising and facilitation for performance techniques.  From 2005-2007, she directed plays for young audiences with Second Youth Family Theatre in Austin and coordinated their 2007 summer camps.  She developed curriculum and taught summer camps, after school classes and workshops for the Des Moines Community Playhouse in Des Moines, IA for over 6 years.  In December of 2000 she graduated from The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) with a BA in Theatre in Education and Design & Production. Most recently, Sarah co-coordinated a cross-generational outreach program for the 30-year anniversary of the UNI Theatre Department.

Rene Ruiz — Director of Operations and Finance
Rene Ruiz joined the Theatre Action Project (TAP) team in August 2008 and serves as its first-ever Director of Operations and Finance. Rene brings to the position a considerable amount of direct non-profit experience and leadership. In his role at TAP, Rene oversees TAP's Human Resources, manages fiscal operations, coordinates daily office functions and serves as a liaison between the TAP's staff and board. Prior to coming to TAP, Rene served as Director of Operations and Finance at Austin Voices for Education and Youth, Director of Operations at YouthLaunch, and as Deputy Chief of Staff to Texas State Representative John Longoria. He has also held positions as a stock option plan administrator at Trilogy Software and as a corporate legal assistant at Prime Management Group. Rene studied economics and public policy at the University of Chicago. Rene's community involvement includes volunteering as an art instructor at the Gracy Woods II Nursing Center, serving as volunteer coordinator for the Capital Area Games for Life, and as grant coordinator for aGLIFF.

Dustin Wills — Programming Specialist
Dustin Wills comes to Theatre Action Project from the Teatro L'Arciliuto/English Theatre of Rome in Rome, Italy where he worked as a playwright and director. His plays, Ophelia and The Hercules Cycle have been presented both in Austin and internationally. Dustin is a graduate of the University of Texas, with degrees in Theatre and Dance, English, and Italian. He won the 2006 Best Director award from the Austin Critics Table for his production of Cymbeline, or what i will and also is the recipient of the George H. Mitchell Award from the University of Texas Co-op. Additionally, Dustin serves as the Artistic Director of Tutto Theatre Company (working both in Austin and Rome). His specific interests in teaching include world cultures, theatre production, Shakespeare for youth, and large-scale puppetry. As the Interactive Program Specialist he works closely with the in-school touring programs as well as large-scale community projects like First Night and the Summer Pageant in the Park.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDWARD PIERCE, Reflect Austin Photography