Spotlight on ASL-Interpreter Extraordinaire, Liz Mendoza

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Anthony Zelig

For over three decades, San Diego Junior Theatre has been offering American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performances for each of its productions. And one interpreter in particular, Liz Mendoza, has been devoted to SDJT since the beginning! Every season, Liz oversees booking interpreters for each production and very often takes on the performances herself. We decided it was time to shine the JT spotlight on Liz and her invaluable work!

SDJT: How long have you been working as an ASL interpreter for live performances?

Liz: I have been interpreting theatre since 1984 when I interpreted Candida for my capstone project with two other students in the interpreting program at Mesa College. Since then, I have loved interpreting for the theatre. In 1999, I auditioned for and was accepted into the inaugural year of the Theatre Development Fund’s “Interpreting for the Theatre” weeklong seminar at The Juilliard School in New York City. We interpreted Les Misérables on Broadway for our final project.

SDJT: Wow! That must have been an incredible experience! And how long have you been doing interpretation for Junior Theatre?

Liz: I believe I have been interpreting at Junior Theatre since about 1990. I love interpreting shows at Junior Theatre! It is a wonderful venue to mentor future theatre interpreters. Many interpreters don’t realize how much work goes into interpreting for a show. We have to memorize every aspect of the show, including lighting, blocking, mannerisms, off-stage audio, in addition to the lines and songs.

SDJT: I imagine many audience members don’t realize how much time and effort is devoted to preparation. Do you have a favorite Junior Theatre production that you’ve interpreted for?

Liz: They are all so good! I am particularly impressed with the Shakespeare shows, which provide a unique challenge to interpret into ASL. These shows take much more time to rehearse than non-Shakespeare shows. There is a lot of time-intensive research that we have to do to make a parallel experience for the Deaf audience with the hearing audience.

SDJT: Do you have any stories to share about interpreting for JT shows? Any special moments or highlights?

Liz: Interpreting at Junior Theatre is always such a welcoming experience. Backstage in the green room is always fun because the kids are interested in either learning ASL or showing us that they have learned some signs. My favorite part was when ASL was incorporated into a show. I consulted on that and was so proud of their performance!

SDJT: Do you also provide interpretation for other types of events or situations outside of entertainment?

Liz: I have been a full-time interpreter since 1984, working mostly in the community (education, medical, legal, etc.) in addition to interpreting shows at Junior Theatre, Civic Theatre and the Old Globe. I am currently a full-time ASL-English Interpreting professor at Palomar College, while interpreting part-time.

SDJT: Your passion for this work is so clear. What sparked your interest in doing this?

Liz: A fun fact is that during the summers growing up, I accompanied my aunt, Valerie Victor (Maschner), while she played piano for rehearsals and performances at Junior Theatre in the ‘70s. She inspired my interest in the performing arts and I acted and danced for many years. Theatre interpreting is another aspect of being involved in the performing arts.

SDJT: Amazing! I had not realized your relationship with Junior Theatre began at an early age! Do you have future aspirations with this line of work?

Liz: My goal is to have all theatre accessible to all people. It is important to be forward thinking when planning performances and not adding interpreters as an afterthought. Junior Theatre does an amazing job of providing access and inclusion for its patrons and actors.

If you are interested in following Liz’s work, please check out her Facebook page: Stage Signs of San Diego. And, of course, make sure to attend our ASL-interpreted performances (the last Saturday of each production) to see Liz and her colleagues make the onstage magic accessible to those in the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community!

Spotlight on Junior Theatre’s Wig & Makeup Designer, Meg Woodley!

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Anthony Zelig

San Diego Junior Theatre has had the pleasure of working with Wig & Makeup Artist, Meg Woodley on each of our productions since we reopened in September 2021. We thought it would be fun to shine the spotlight on Meg, ask her some questions and take a look at some of her work.

Make sure to check out the photos below the Q & A!

SDJT: What inspired you to get into doing hair & makeup?

MEG: I’ve always loved playing with and doing my hair in different and sometimes crazy styles- there’s a great picture that I have of myself at 12 where I have several pigtails sticking out at random places! Professionally, I went to college for Musical Theatre Performance and my program was very strict about all the students in the program having more skills than just singing and acting. It was required of each of us to learn about every aspect of theatre and to work in all the different positions throughout our years in the program. I fell in love with stage makeup and how to make and style wigs! It allowed me to be creative in different ways!

SDJT: Did you train under anyone early in your career?

MEG: I got a basic education in stage makeup and styling wigs when I was in college but I had the best education when I started working at Alabama Shakespeare Theatre. I was hired as a wig intern and very quickly worked my way up to be the second in charge of the department. I was building wigs and prosthetics as well as running shows! It was a wonderful place to learn the foundation of my skills and I got to work on so many different types of shows and with different designers that it really strengthened my abilities.

SDJT: Aside from Junior Theatre, which theatres have you work worked at, here in San Diego or elsewhere?

MEG: I am the Wig and Makeup Supervisor at The Old Globe Theatre full-time now and have done some side projects for San Diego Opera Theatre, here in San Diego. I spent several years at the Alabama Shakespeare Theatre and with the Prather Production house in Pennsylvania. I have also done three national (and Canadian) tours and two international tours in China, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and have worked in theatres around the country and the world.

SDJT: What are some of your favorite shows you have worked on, both at Junior Theatre and at other theatres?

MEG: I’ve worked on some amazing shows! A few of my favorites are Beauty and the Beast, The Importance of Being Earnest (Alabama Shakespeare); Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Trojan Women (Rockford); The Wizard of Oz (National and International Tours); Come Fall In Love, The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The XIXth (The Old Globe); The Jungle Book, Edgar Allan Poe’s Gruesome Gallery of Grotesquerie (Junior Theatre).

SDJT: Can you share some details about the work you did for those shows?

MEG: For most of the above shows I built and styled a lot of wigs, facial hair pieces, and for some I’ve gotten to make prosthetics. For Beauty and the Beast, I got to create the Beast’s facial prosthetics and make a lot of beautiful wigs! For A Midsummer Night’s Dream I got to make a really cool mohawk for Puck and several beautiful wigs! In all of these shows, I got to work with some amazing artists and people who made the whole process so much fun!

SDJT: Have you worked in tv and/or film?

MEG: I have done a little bit in short films- mostly styling hair but I also got the opportunity, recently, to create a character costume for the spooky ‘King’ character for a short film called Henry’s Kingdom.

SDJT: How is it working with JT students? Is it very different from your work at the Globe or elsewhere?

MEG: I’ve loved having the opportunity to work here at JT. I think it’s such a wonderful place for kids to be creative! It’s so important for them to have a space, not only to create, but also to feel comfortable expressing themselves and I think JT has been a wonderful place for that! The JT kids are so much fun to work with- no matter the size of the role or the crew position, they want to make it their own. It’s a real joy to see the kids want to learn anything they can and I try to always show them something new and cool, whether it’s a styling technique or a new makeup skill. I also thinks it’s such a good idea to have them try different crew positions as well as get to perform- I think it’s so important to learn all that you can and have an appreciation for the different jobs within the theatre. Also, my student crews have always been excited to try new things and ready to take on the challenges of the job! There are 22 wigs in The Sound of Music and my student crew is responsible for them throughout the run. I’m so proud of my teams and they have always worked really hard!

SDJT: Do you have any dream shows you’d love to work on?

MEG: I would love to work on lots of shows! Anything that will be challenging! But my top recent dream shows to do hair and makeup on would probably be Shrek the Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton and Six! I love musicals!

SDJT: And finally, do you have any aspirations outside of hair & makeup?

MEG: Now that we’re back in the swing of things after the pandemic, I’d really love to get back into performing! I miss singing on the stage! But I’ve also been thinking about possibly going back to school to get a degree in psychology.

Check out Meg’s latest wig and makeup creations in our 76^th season of productions, starting with The Sound of Music, running now through November 12!

Photos below: Meg’s hair and make up creations on such show as How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Beauty and the Beast and Junior Theatre’s The Spongebob Musical.

Spotlight on THE SNOWY DAY Director, Kandace Crystal

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Anthony Zelig

Kandace Crystal is an SDJT teaching artist and is currently working with Junior Theatre as the director of The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats. She was recently recognized by the Times of San Diego for directing two of San Diego’s top plays of 2021!

Kandace’s experience working with theatre kids goes way back. She believes there is an incredible connection one builds when working with theatre kids that you don’t get anywhere else. She says, “If the deep dive into social and emotional issues in a theatre class helps to transform one child’s experience as they navigate the muck of life, I am happy to be a part of that journey.” One of Kandace’s all-time favorite experiences was teaching a mime class at Nativity Prep, sharing that the kids were such naturals and jumped in feet first. Kandace has been a teaching artist at Imagine Brave Spaces, Blindspot Collective and Trinity Theatre Co., among others. “It’s one of those positions that I keep coming back to because it really keeps me in touch with the human side of this theatre world.”

Kandace began as a JT teaching artist this past summer and shares, “I didn’t know what to expect but the transition was so easy because the kids were awesome, the aides were professional and the environment allowed me to thrive as an artist and educator.” Her highlight from the summer was creating puppets with her students. “Building puppets from scratch allows for character development in a way that we may not have considered before. JT’s partnership with Animal Cracker Conspiracy for the puppetry in The Snowy Day is allowing the actors to explore this different medium.

When asked what drew her to directing, Kandace shared, “Everything in me tried to stay away from directing. But I was drawn to it, as I love putting the elements together in unique ways while helping people see themselves reflected on the stage and in these stories.” Someone in the field whom Kandace admires is Ava DuVernay, as both a storyteller and educator. “Her commitment to uplifting other storytellers is an admirable feat and that is something I hope to do as I continue in my career.”

Kandace shares that a snowy day is the perfect backdrop for what it means to be a kid and directing The Snowy Day is allowing Kandace to explore a beautiful story with a diverse cast. And, of course, there is the chance to work with puppets. “As an actor, I had to work alongside a puppet in the show Fuddy Meers. Watching the intricacy that goes into building and operating a puppet intrigues me and I am excited for this opportunity to learn along with my actors as we work hard to get this show up and running.”

She believes that working with youth is a fascinating experience; to see the world through the eyes of kids today. Kandace wishes to remain a student to the craft. “Through it all, I hope to be a student at all times, as they help me continue to grow to be the best collaborative and educational director I can be.”

It should be noted that Kandace is not a fan of spare time. She has been working toward becoming a fully certified Intimacy Director/Coordinator, is Co-Chair of San Diego’s Theatre Alliance and just began a new position as San Diego Repertory Theatre’s Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager.

Kandace will be teaching a JT Studio workshop for our winter session: Tips, Tools and Trick for the Pre-Professional Actor. For more information, and to register, follow this link.

The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats opens on January 21 and runs through January 23. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please follow this link.

Junior Theatre Welcomes New Education Director, Elissa Russell!

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Anthony Zelig

San Diego Junior Theatre, the nation’s longest-running youth theatre program, welcomes Elissa Russell as its new Education Director.

Elissa comes to SDJT from Theatre Aspen in Colorado, where she held the position of Director of Education Programming and Administration. Elissa has also worked as a teaching artist and administrator at Midland Community Theatre, Austin’s ZACH Theatre and Virginia Repertory Theatre. She holds a degree from the University of Texas at Austin with a specialization in Shakespeare, and formerly reviewed theatre for the Austin Chronicle.

In Elissa’s position at Theatre Aspen, she made active strides in expanding outreach efforts in neighboring communities, placing the utmost urgency on expanding their current programming beyond Aspen to include areas with limited access to arts education.

She says, “It is vital to me to grow my career with a company that prizes equity, diversity, accessibility and creating a generation of future theatre lovers. San Diego Junior Theatre’s commitment to upholding these standards makes me confident that our ideologies are in alignment.”

JT’s Executive Director, James Saba says, “We are very excited to welcome Elissa as Junior Theatre’s new Education Director as we recharge, recalibrate and reimagine in-person educational programming in the Casa del Prado. Elissa is passionate about arts education and its power to transform lives and she will be a wonderful addition to senior staff.”

Spotlight on FROG & TOAD Choreographer, Emily Shackelford

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Anthony Zelig

Get to know Emily…

Emily Shackelford is a professional actor, teaching artist and San Diego Junior Theatre alum who spent 10 years with JT growing up. After earning her B.F.A. in Theatre from Stephen’s College, Emily went on to perform with many theatre companies in the Midwest, East Coast and New York, including the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Coterie Theatre, DC Arena Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, Syracuse Stage and Off-Broadway at The New Victory Theatre. As a teaching artist she has worked with The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Musical Theatre Heritage, KC Starlight Theatre, The Coterie Theatre and, of course, SDJT.

While a student at Junior Theatre, Emily appeared in a whopping 24 productions, including Annie, Peter Pan, Charlotte’s Web, SchoolHouse Rock Live, Once On This Island, Cinderella, Footloose, The Sound of Music, 42nd Street, Seussical, Beauty And The Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town and The Wiz. When asked about her favorite show, she says, “It’s hard to choose, but I remember especially loving Really Rosie and Zombie Prom.”

On the education side, she remembers loving the workshop classes, many of which were taught by Artistic Director, Desha Crownover. “Each course would focus on a musical or play, and we would put it on its feet by the end of the multi-week session. I was introduced to many amazing shows this way – A Little Night Music, Newsies – before it was the Broadway musical, 42nd Street, Pirates of Penzance, and more.”

Regarding her time at Junior Theatre, and how it impacted Emily as an adult, she says that it gave her confidence and drive. “It taught me lifelong lessons not only about the craft of theatre performance that I carry with me into my professional career, but more essentially, the importance of showing up for one another.”

Emily is excited to now work with Desha, as the choreographer on A Year with Frog and Toad. “I used to choreograph more often in my youth. Throughout that time I had the privilege of working with truly incredible and renowned choreographers, such as Sam Pinkleton, Darrell Moultrie, Lorin Latarro, Richard J. Hinds, Jeff Calhoun, Erika Chong Shuch and Jerry-Jay Cranford, and I hope to incorporate what I have gleaned from my experiences with them. They each were so inspiring to me, with distinct styles and skills for storytelling.”

And Emily is a big fan of this musical! She had the pleasure of performing in a production of Frog & Toad at The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri a few years ago. Emily played one of the Birds, as well as a Mole, a Squirrel, a Mouse, and the Large and Terrible Frog.

When asked about her goals working on Frog and Toad, Emily shares that she wants to give back to the kids at Junior Theatre today, the joy that she experienced when she was here as a kid. “It was a safe space to learn, feel challenged and develop friendships and community.”

And asked about her experience so far, she enthusiastically responded, “I am so impressed with this cast! These kids are energetic, sharp, hardworking and full of ideas! Which is the best thing for an actor to have.”

Junior Theatre is so excited to have Emily back with us for Frog and Toad’s adventures! Come see her innovative choreography in the show, which opens October 29 and runs until November 14. Tickets on sale now!

Photos below: Emily in Junior Theatre productions of Really Rosie, Our Town and Annie.