After a 15-year career on and off the stage in New York City, Michael relocated to Southern California in 2000. Currently, he is the Artistic Director for the Star Theater Company- which is in residence at the historic Star Theatre in Oceanside. As an actor Michael has appeared in 7 Broadway National tours including 2 productions of The Phantom of the Opera (Piangi), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Baker), The 50th Anniversary production of The Wizard of Oz (Cowardly Lion) and the 25 Anniversary tour of Evita. He has appeared in over 80 professional stage productions and in all 48 of the contiguous United States. Stage appearances in Southern California include the Bearded Lady in the Los Angeles premiere of Side Show (Ovation/Garland awards) Dr. Sex for Disney/ASCAP, his one-man “stand-up” musical comedy I’m $elling Out! at the Hudson Theater in L.A. and recent appearances at the Camino Real Playhouse in Grease (Teen Angel), Greater Tuna (Thurston) and The Rocky Horror Show LIVE! (Frank-n-Furter).

As a stage director, Michael recently directed Pirates of Penzance and Guys and Dolls for the Star Theatre. He has also directed critically acclaimed productions of Into the Woods, the World Premiere of The Bed, Grease, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Vanities, and Little Shop of Horrors for the Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano. He was their resident Artistic Director for 2 years and also produced an annual fundraiser Broadway Under the Stars, which starred performers direct from Broadway including Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent), Liz Callaway (Baby/Cats) and former Miss America Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde). Other directing credits include the Broadway All-Star Benefit for the Red Cross starring Andrea McArdle (in New York City); the critically acclaimed revival of The Mikado at the Chance Theatre in Anaheim; and The Miss Los Angeles/America Pageant. Michael received a 2004 OC Weekly Award nomination for “Best Musical” for The Mikado (Chance Theater) and he is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab West.

Michael’s work with children spans 15 years with various children’s theater productions on the East Coast. He starred in the American Family Theater national tours of A Christmas Carol (Fred) and Wizard of Oz (Lion. and directed Snow White, The Sword in the Stone, and Cinderella for Shawnee Playhouse’s professional Children’s Theater Company. In California he worked with the renowned Chamberlain’s Fine Art Academy in Beverly Hills for 2 seasons directing productions of The Wizard of Oz and Little Mary Sunshine. Both shows featured a cast of over 100 students and performed at the beautiful state-of-the-art Smothers Theater at Pepperdine University. He recently directed our YPA productions of The Wizard of Oz and Annie. Michael believes that teaching his student’s focus, responsibility, and hard work are paramount to their success onstage and in their own life. He also believes in having A LOT of fun! He hopes the YPA can provide a positive learning environment for the amazing children of this area.

Kirsti McCleary began her theatre career at the age of 8 playing Oliver in the musical Oliver.  She has been hooked ever since.  As an actor,  she has been involved with musical theater all over Los Angeles and Orange County and some of her favorite roles with include Marian in Music Man, Nancy in Oliver, Maria in the Sound of Music,  the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hodel in Fiddler on the roof, Edith in Pirates of Penzance, and Sandy in Grease. 

 Behind the scenes, Kirsti loves to sing and has studied and taught voice for over 10 years. She has a background in piano and studied piano for 10 years during her childhood. She has musically directed several shows including Grease, Scrooge, Best Christmas pageant ever, and Charlie Brown, but her passion is working with children.  Kirsti LOVES children and has been working in the childrens theatre since 1997.  She began teaching children’s voice and musical theatre classes at Vibe Performing Arts studio in Valencia, CA.   When she moved to Orange County in 2002, she immediately got involved with a children’s theatre group in Oceanside called Coast Kids theatre where she has musically directed several shows including Oliver, Once Upon a Mattress, Music Man, Grease and the Sound of Music.  She also co-directed School House Rock this past summer.  She was THRILLED to be involved with founding the YPA here in San Juan Capistrano and was musical director for their debut production of Wizard of Oz.   Kirsti is mom to three young children, Cassidy, Carlie, and Christian who have caught the acting/singing bug already!!! She understands how rewarding, confidence-building and FUN childrens theater is and looks forward to working with each of your children and hopes that the YPA will make a positive impact in their lives.

Ella has a BA in theatre, with an emphasis in acting and directing, from Cal State Long Beach. In addition to teaching acting classes at the Young Performers Academy (where she coached our students for The Wizard of Oz last year) Ella has taught youth improvisation classes at after school programs in Long Beach. When she is not teaching, Ella is busy performing in shows at the Camino Real Playhouse (Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, The Rocky Horror Show) and in Long Beach (Vernacular, I Eat Vegans). She is also in the process of getting her teaching credential from Cal State San Marcos so that she can continue spreading her love of theatre to her students. Ella believes that acting is an important outlet for adults and children alike to express themselves as individuals in a creative and safe environment.

Katie Nicol
(Musical Theater Coach)

Katie Nicol
(Musical Theater Coach)

From the moment she spoke Katie Nicol has been singing. Born and raised in Orange County, Katie is no stranger to the stage. Her first brush with fame was when her parents entered her into a beauty pageant at the age of four in which she won trophies for "best personality" and "talent". However, her passion for musical theatre began when her parents took her to see a touring production of CATS in Los Angeles for her 8th birthday. The incredible costumes, amazing make-up and tremendous stunts are what attracted Katie to the stage at such an early age.

Throughout high school she participated in several choirs and played roles in shows such as Maria in The Sound of Music, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Polly Peachum in The Three Penny Opera as well as A Chorus Line, Oklahoma, and Bye Bye Birdie. As one of “Plaid Halibut’s” frontmen, Katie enjoyed performing all over Orange County including venues such as The Whiskey in Los Angeles, The Galaxy in Costa Mesa, and The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Three years ago Katie was introduced to The Camino Real Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano. It was there she met founder of Center Stage Studios-San Clemente, Michael Wallot. It was at CRP where she debuted as Sleeping Beauty and Lucinda in Into The Woods. Some favorite roles include, Marty in Grease!, Lucy Van Pelt in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. Other recent rolls include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at the historic Star Theater in Oceanside.

Katie works as a teacher which consists of keeping 214 eighth graders entertained EVERY DAY by teaching them English at Don Juan Avila Middle School in Aliso Viejo. Her motto is “Teaching is a work of HEART,” and believes she can bring plenty of heart, humor and happiness to kids of all ages while having tons of fun. 

Our super energetic dance teacher Julie has been onstage dancing and appearing in major competitions since she was just a little girl of two years old.  All her childhood studies paid off when she had the great honor to appear on national television as a contestant on Star Search in the Group Dance Category in 1991. Since her college years, she taught in a dance studio for 8 years and choreographed various competition routines for students in all styles of dance. Recently Julie created dance steps for Little Shop of Horrors at The Camino Real Playhouse and The Pirates of Penzance at the Star Theater in Oceanside. She also created our fantastic choreography for last years YPA production of The Wizard of Oz. When asked what her philosophy on teaching dance was, she responded “the more fun we're having the better!”