Spring Break Camp
April 11 - 15, 2021
Randall Kohlruss - Artistic Director | Instructor
Randy is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic in Hollywood with a Certificate of Occupational Studies in Acting. He took classes in acting, vocal production & power, movement classes with tap and ballet foundation, stage combat, improv, acting styles, acting from stage to screen, and a twelve week intensive in Shakespeare. He's been appearing in theatre up and down the Central Valley including recent leading roles in productions of Be More Chill, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, Urinetown, Peter and The Starcatcher, The Who's Tommy, and many more!
Julie Lucido - Education Director
Julie is a freelance director and associate member of the Stage Directors & Choreography Society. Experienced in live performance as well as commercial and film she has worked on many local TV spots as well as radio and the local theatre circuit. A performer who acts, sings, and dances her wide range of experience also includes working as choreographer and director. She is the founder of the Backyard Readers Theatre Lab and currently is the President of UR Here Theater Company and graduate of UC Santa Cruz.
Mandy Everson - Instructor
Mandy is a Southern California native, and a graduate of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSU Long Beach. Although also trained in classical and jazz styles, musical theater will always be where her heart is. She brings a wealth of experience as a performer and educator, and is excited to join the Central California theater scene.
Jennifer Ruiz - Costume Manager
Jennifer Ruiz studied costume design at Cal State Fullerton and has worked throughout Southern California in all aspects of costuming for the past 5 years before returning to Fresno. If she hasn’t been the costume designer she has built the costumes.
Rachel Hibler - Director | Instructor
Rachel Lynne Hibler is a theatre artist and educator based in Fresno, CA. Rachel has over a decade of experience as a performer, writer, director, costumer, and production designer. She was most recently featured as Theresa in Circle Mirror Transformation at Vista Theatre Company and Lady Agatha in The Hound of the Baskervilles at Good Company Players. Rachel is the formerTheatre, Forensics, and Stagecraft teacher at Edison Computech, and currently heads up the Theater Department at Roosevelt High School of the Performing Arts.
Abigail Paxton - Director | Instructor | Board Member
Abigail Paxton has been involved with CMT for eleven years. She is the current drama teacher of Buchanan High’s Bear Stage. She holds a Master’s Degree in Theatre Studies and Design, and most often serves as technical director for CMT productions. In her spare time, she enjoys trips to the car wash, taking in rescue animals, and spending money she doesn’t have online (because both this job and her teaching job barely cover the mortgage).
Amber Janel Smith - Lead Stage Manager|Technical Instructor|Acting Instructor | Camp Director
Amber Janel Smith is a professional Stage Manager and Stagehand, having finished degrees in Technical Theatre and Theatre Arts - Acting Emphasis. Her most recent credits include The Squirrelswith URHere, Matilda with CMT, The Agony of Ecstasy, Detroit ‘67, Darkside, and Fat Pig with Fresno State, The Bremen Town Musicians with Theater for Young Audiences, The Nutcracker with Lively Arts, and multiple productions with Fresno City. She has worked as lead stage manager for the Devised Theatre program at the Region 8 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and is a three-time KCACTF Stage Management Fellowship nominee and Stage Management Fellowship finalist.
Josh Montgomery - Director | Instructor | Choreographer
Josh Montgomery - International/National tours: DisneyLive! THREE CLASSIC FAIRYTALES (Asia Tour), Theatre under the Stars WEST SIDE STORY (Baby John), Theater of the Stars Broadways 50 th anniversary tour of WEST SIDE STORY (Baby John). Regional tour credits: A CHORUS LINE (Mark), GYPSY (Tulsa) HOT IN HOLLYWOOD national AIDS benefit and Universal Studios Entertainment. Director and Choreographer credits: A CHOURS LINE, SINGING IN THE RAIN, THE WEDDING SINGER, DISNEYS THE LITTLE MERMAID, BIG RIVER, and GREASE. Mr. Montgomery is a proud AEA and AGVA member.
Daniel Hernandez - Director | Vocals | Instructor
Originally from Clovis, Ca., Daniel has his Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Northridge. Previously Daniel has Vocal Directed with Good Company Players, CMT, Stageworks Fresno and was an acting coach for Performance Arts Workshop in Los Angeles. Performance credits include Frederick Frankenstein (Young Frankenstein), Joseph Kennedy Jr. (Grey Gardens), Otto (Spring Awakening), Robert Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).
Emma Raymond - Hair & Makeup Designer
Emma has taken courses at College of the Sequoias for theatre arts and stage makeup, taking her skills all across the Central Valley. She has worked on designing such projects as A GENTLEMAN’s GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST PROMO SHOOT (Selma Arts Center) and such CMT productions as MATILDA, PIRATES Of PENZANCE, and DESCENDANTS. She continues to pursue her creative goals through working as a theatre makeup designer, as well as a freelance artist.
Christine Myers - Instructor
Christine Myers is a born and raised Fresno multi-hyphenate: actor, mother, volunteer, editor/writer, and as one job put it, "contemporary sass." Theatre and community involvement are top priorities, from Fresno State to 2nd Space to UR Here and beyond. Using theatre as a form of connection and instrument for raising awareness, she is happiest laughing, crying and learning with her fellow theatre nerds, onstage and off.”
K. Kirby - Instructor | Stage Manager
K.Kirby is a Clovis native who graduated from Kansas State University with a BA in Theatre with a focus in Tech and Stage Management with a minor in Dance. She is a Stage Manager, Designer (Makeup, Costume, & Props) Dramaturg, Painter, Puppeteer, Builder, Stitcher, and so much more! You’ve seen her work at Selma Arts Centers PUFFS, ZOOT SUIT, SPONGEBOB and LITTLE SHOP. She is also the Company Manager for the Madera Theatre Project as well as a Teaching Artist for the Madera Arts Council. She just joined the CMT Team during Fall Skillz and OLIVER! Kirby cannot be more excited to work with the central valley theatre community!
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Erin Roberts- Instructor
Erin is a performer and choreographer from Fresno. She got her start in Theater at CMT over 20 years ago and has been dancing since she was little. She is a graduate of Fresno State University with a degree in Theater Arts. She has Choreographed shows for high schools, assistant choreographer at CMT, Fresno State and GCP, and is the current choreographer at Centerstage Clovis where she is working on JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. She has danced in shows at CMT, BHS, Centerstage Clovis, GCP, CUSF, Fresno Grand Opera and Break the Barriers. She also studied Child Development in college and has worked at Campus Club and as a substitute teacher. Now she spends her days with her two kids. Her most recent credits are Choreographer for Centerstage's JOSEPH, ONCE, LEGALLY BLONDE, MARY POPPINS and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
Stephanie Axsom- Instructor
Stephanie was born in Merced and came to Fresno to study acting at Fresno State. Since becoming a student she has also taken classes on design, stage management; and put those classes to use through Assistant Stage Managing, Assistant Costume Designing, Stage Managing, and directed. A few of the shows that she has worked on are MEN ON BOATS (William Dunn), LITTLE MERMAID (Crew), THE PILLOWMAN (Wardrobe), and BEAUTIFUL (Crew), ODD COUPLE FEMALE VERSION (Sylvie) and more!!
Madeline Nelson - Instructor
Madeline Nelson is currently a student at Arizona State University studying to obtain her MFA in Theatre for Youth and Community and her MEd in Higher and Postsecondary Education. At ASU, she teaches courses on acting and works in the library with the largest TYA archival repository in the world. She is a Clovis native who received her BA in Theatre Arts at California State University, Fresno. Madeline has experience in acting, improvisation, singing, design, and stage management. Some previous credits include: Androcles and the Lion (Isabella), Comedy of Errors (Luciana), and The Pillowman (Stage Manager). Outside of her performances in an educational setting, she worked with community theatres throughout the central valley in a performing and educational capacity.
Ella Rutiaga - Director | Instructor
Ella Rutiaga began acting with CMT in 2011. She joined the CMT staff in 2021 and has served as a camp instructor, and most recently as a director. Past experience includes Seussical Jr. (Director), Chicago (Mama Morten), Matilda (Mrs. Wormwood), The Little Mermaid (Ursula) and Les Misérables (Madam Thernardier). As a young child Ella appeared on Food Network’s Chopped Junior (Season 3, Think Fig). She is currently attending Fresno State as a Culinology major but continues to cultivate her love of directing, costuming, performing and teaching musical theater as it has been a lifelong passion.
Grant Hill - Instructor
Grant Hill is a practicing actor and educator. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Theater Arts - Acting from Fresno State, throughout which he performed in numerous stage productions, including Spring Awakening (Moritz), Seminar (Douglas), The Pillowman (Ariel), and The Comedy of Errors (Angelo). In addition, he completed a professional summer apprenticeship with the Kingsmen Shakespeare company, where he was involved in backstage duties, mainstage performances, and education for Camp Shakespeare. He continues to pursue his beloved craft locally and beyond.