LAURA HIMES (she/her/hers) is a graduate of University of Oklahoma with a BME in Vocal Music Education. She worked as a choir teacher in the public schools for five years until she decided it was time to follow a life long dream of opening a performing arts studio. As a performer and music director, she has worked at Lyric Theatre, Sooner Theatre, Poteet Theatre, Cimarron Opera, Jewel Box, The Bethany Stage, and The City Cabaret. She has played the piano for 20+ years and has accompanied choirs, private voice students, ensembles, and musicals.  Laura is a co-founder of OKC onstage – okconstage.com. 

ANGELA POLK (she/her/hers) recently worked for The Mine in NYC as a Talent Agent with 200+ clients in TV, Film, and Theatre. While in NYC, she worked for Leading Artists, Dave Clemmons Casting, and DGRW. As a director, actor, and stage manager, she has worked for Lyric Theatre, Fresh Paint Performance Lab, Ignition Arts, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Paper Mill Theatre, CityRep, Poteet Theatre, Jewel Box, The Bethany Stage, The City Cabaret,  and Red Carpet Theatre. Angela holds a BM and MM in Music Theater from Oklahoma City University where she studied under Florence Birdwell. She currently works as the Production Coordinator for OCU in both the music and theatre schools. Angela is a co-founder of OKC onstage – okconstage.com. 

KRISTIN STANG (she/her/hers), a native Minnesotan, relocated to OKC six-years-ago from NYC. For six years now, she has been Director of Fine Arts at St. James the Greater School, in addition to Founder/Director of The St. James Children's Choir who performs throughout the metro. She has taught musical theatre production classes for ages 4 - 8, and private voice for six years as well. Favorite stage credits include Glinda/Aunt Em in The Wizard of Oz, Irena in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Ghost of Christmas Present with the former Lighthouse Dinner Theatre in MN. Other directing credits include Annie Kids, Willy Wonka Kids, Into the Woods Jr., and various children's musical showcases/revues.

ANDREA BARTLOW (she/her/hers) graduated from UCO with a degree in Vocal Music Education and Business Administration minor. She’s taught music education in public schools for over 15 years where she has directed over 50 stage productions. In that time, she has been honored by her colleagues as Teacher of the Year twice. Andrea also taught private voice and piano lessons for 7 years. She has performed with local community theatres and has even shared the stage with some of her students. 

AMELIA CASTOR (she/her/hers) has been a student at Kismet Arts for the past 3 years in voice and Center Stage Production shows INTO THE WOODS (Cinderella’s Mother/Granny), FREAKY FRIDAY (Monica), HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (Martha), and SHREK (Fiona).  She has been dancing for 10 years, focusing on Classical Ballet, Modern, and Tap.

Robert Cooper (he/him/his) is a graduate of Southern Nazarene University with a Bachelor’s degree in music education. He has been an educator for 12 years, which included time as the  choral and drama teacher at Edmond Central Middle School. His show choirs and jazz choir won numerous awards, and he has directed over 15 musicals and plays in his time at Central. As a performer, he has been on the stage at Poteet Theatre (Lord Farquaad in SHREK THE MUSICAL), Jewel Box (Billis in SOUTH PACIFIC), and Kismet’s productions of OLIVER! and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

ELIZABETH DRAGOO (she/her/hers) is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma and holds a Bachelors of Music in Musical Theatre.  She has been an active member of the theatre community in Oklahoma for over 20 years and has had the great pleasure of performing with many local theatre companies including: Summerstock Productions, Reduxion Theatre Company, Kismet Arts, The Sooner Theatre, The Pollard, Oklahoma City Theatre Company, Jewel Box Theatre, Carpenter Square Theatre, Poteet Theatre and Lyric Theatre.  Elizabeth has directed, choreographed, and taught classes for The Sooner Theatre, El Reno Community Theatre, The Bethany Stage, Oklahoma Center for Arts Education, Yukon High School, and Poteet Theatre.  She most recently served as the Artistic Director for The Bethany Stage and is currently on the adjunct musical theatre faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma.

KYLAN L. DURANT (he/him/his) is a graduate of Oklahoma City University where he studied music, dance, and theater. He received his initial dance training at Bartlesville Civic Ballet under the guidance of Soili Arvola and Leo Ahonen. Choreography credits include: The Gondoliers, Once Upon a Mattress, Dean’s School of Dance Christmas and Spring Recitals. Performing credits include: Shrek the Musical, Catch Me if You Can, Thoroughly Modern Millie, American Spirit Dance Company, 9 to 5, The Drowsy Chaperone, Once Upon a Mattress, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, and Arvola’s Dracula. “Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery.” –Martha Graham 

BAILEY MAXWELL (she her hers) is a producer, director, actor, and Production Coordinator for the Music and Theatre Department at Oklahoma City University.  She's studied Music Theatre with the University of Central Oklahoma, in addition she studied Improv & Musical Improv with The Barrow Group School (NYC, NY) and Stomping Ground Comedy Theatre (Dallas, TX). Bailey is passionate about collaborating with young artists to encourage OKC's thriving theatre community! 

KAYLENE SNARKSY (she/her/hers) is a Boston-born creative artist.  After graduating from Oklahoma City University with her BS in Dance and Arts Management, Kaylene toured nationally with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.  Kaylene has performed, taught, and choreographed in theatres and studios across the country.  She is a "forever student" and is continuing her studies in acting at HB Studio NYC under the guidance and direction of Lisa Pelikan.  Kaylene's Why is to illuminate the path so that she may guide others to run toward the power of Possibility.  She is psyched to be back in the theatre after such a long hiatus and is so pleased that it is with Kismet Arts!  

ELLIE VALDEZ (she/her/hers) is originally from San Antonio, TX, with a life long history of performing. Her dance background varies from Mexican Folklorico to cheerleading, to Musical Theatre. Other styles she has done include hip hop, contemporary, ballet, tap, and jazz. Performing and creating works that move from a place of purpose and community while creating a culture of consent and safety are some of her passions, no matter which project she is working on. She is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Musical Theatre, and is currently working towards her 200 hour yoga certification. She is also continuing her journey in Intimacy Direction training while cultivating a sense of consent and safety within each artistic process. One of her communities is within the YMCA where she was able to create a program for school age kids called Musical Fitness, encouraging kids to get up and move! Ellie has choreographed for some local productions of Footloose, Beauty and the Beast, and Ghost the Musical. Some of her favorite performance credits include LIZZIE and American Idiot! Ellie is stoked to share her passion for art and expression at Kismet Arts!