DIRECTOR OF STAGEKIDS!

Makiah Star Epstein is the Director of StageKids!. She grew up in Big Sur and has participated in the program as a student, as an intern, as an assistant director and is currently the Director of the program. She worked for many years with Jaime Arze, our original Director of StageKids!

Her natural talents as an actress, comedienne, singer, dancer and musician as well as her extensive skills working with children have made her not only a great fit as a leader in the program, but also an example of how StageKids! encourages the creative and leadership development of it’s participants.

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS

The StageKids! team is largely made up of an internal staff that has progressed from participating students into a variety of roles. Students may become interns if interested and then are mentored by assistant directors who themselves were interns.

The assistant directors have a variety of roles within the program that may cover scene creation, dance choreography, wardrobe and costume assemblage, music composition, backdrop and props building and lighting design. The interns support the assistant directors as well as provide leadership for the program students. Guest teaching artists are also brought in, when available, to enhance the program with their specific skills. The collective of all staff members creates a unique personality to each week’s experience as well as the summer program as a whole.