Our People

Don Amerson has demonstrated a long-term passion for education and the arts. He began his journey by earning a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University, majoring in Social Science. He earned a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, specializing in forming and managing non-profit organizations. Cementing his artistic commitment, he obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre for the Young from Eastern Michigan University.

In California, Don Amerson has helped shape young minds and nurture talent across different institutions and communities. As an Adjunct Professor at Santa Ana College, he teaches Theatre Arts, instilling in students a deep appreciation for dramatic literature and acting methodologies. He has been a stalwart educator at the Orange County School of the Arts, teaching a myriad of subjects ranging from Acting to Mask to Theater History, fostering creativity and critical thinking among his students. His illustrious career at South Coast Repertory began in 2012. He is proud to teach a high level of skills while keeping the environment fun and light.

Not content with traditional classroom settings, Don has extended his reach far and wide. From serving as an Executive Board Member of the California State Thespians to coaching aspiring actors at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, Don has left an indelible mark on many local and state programs. His dedication to using theater as a tool for social justice is evident in his work, whether it's facilitating workshops on political theater, directing productions like "Enemy/Flint" and "Sadako and a Thousand Cranes", or other projects addressing issues of intolerance and discrimination. 

Beyond teaching, Don Amerson has excelled in theater management and producing, bringing to life countless devised productions that resonate with audiences on a profound level. As the President/CEO of Drama In Action, he spearheads initiatives aimed at fostering artistic expression and community engagement. 

Elijah Green holds a BA in Theater Directing from UCLA, and is based in Compton, CA. Over the years, Elijah has helmed productions of Pippin, Once On This Island, and High School Musical 2, as well as developing and directing several bold original works. Whether mentoring aspiring directors at Center Theatre Group or directing youth productions at New Roads School, Elijah’s artistic practice is all about spreading joy, building confidence, and fostering empathy in the next generation.

Jacqueline Vellandi is a recent graduate from Rutgers University - Mason Gross School of the Arts where she earned her BFA in Theatre. A lifelong storyteller, she has studied through class and professional productions at the Orange County School of the Arts and South Coast Repertory. Most recently, her training culminated in six months at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London and performing as Marcus Andronicus in their production of Titus Andronicus. A multihyphenate artist, Jacqueline is a published playwright and producer working on her debut novel. Having previously taught creative writing as a healthy outlet for expression to at-promise youth, Jacqueline recognizes the power of the arts to change lives on an individual scale, as much as a global one. Prioritizing accessibility, communication, and individuality, Jacqueline yearns to teach the next generation of artists the lifelong impact a story, or even a single feeling, can have.

Penelope Pauley inspires fun and play in kids of all ages through theatre and Shakespeare. Over the years she has created student-led productions including: A Comedy of So Cal Errors, Three Week Macbeth, Greek Myths Reimagined, and Hamlet: To Be or Not to Be a Zombie. She continues to hold after school acting classes, improv workshops and individual audition coaching. 

As an actor, she has performed in Eli Daughdrill’s Faith (now streaming on Amazon), Sharri Hefner’s Barriers and Rachel Carey’s Good Thoughts. Penelope wrote, coached and spoke publicly in the personal development field for over a decade. 

Penelope creates imaginative, inclusive and collaborative spaces for kids because connected, self-assured people make a kinder and brighter world. 

Erica Lynn Bailey, Acting, Film & Television. 

Erica Lynn holds a BA in Theater Arts and Communications from California State University Dominguez Hills. She’s been a member of SAG-AFTRA for over fifteen years. She has worked on Movies, TV shows and commercials as a Lead Actress and Background artist. She’s worked with different schools teaching performing arts and dance to children. She loves inspiring others and has a special interest in working with children. She wants to teach children good character and integrity through acting & performance.

Michael Baker holds a BA in Acting from California State University of Fullerton’s theatre program, and an MFA in Acting from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He continues to work on TV/Film productions for HBO, Showtime, Apple+, Netflix, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. He has also performed on various stages around Southern California including The Groundlings Theater and School, Pasadena Playhouse, Five Star Theatrical, and the Hyperion Theater at Disney’s California Adventure. Michael has taught acting workshops for UCLA, Pepperdine, California State University of Fullerton, and is currently and instructor in the Acting Conservatory at Orange County School of the Arts. He is also the director of the OCSA Industry Showcase. Michael serves on the union committee for the American Guild of Variety Artists and has been a member of SAG-AFTRA for fifteen years, as well as Actors Equity Association for over twenty years.

Theatre: Assassins! (Berkshire Theatre Festival), Crazy For You (Ogunquit Playhouse), Shel’s Shorts (Project: Theatre), 1776 (Five Star Theatrical), Dangerous Beauty (Pasadena Playhouse), Company (Five Star Theatrical) and Frozen (Hyperion Theater at Disney’s California Adventure). TV/Film: “Oppenheimer”, “King Richard”, “The Perfect Guy”, “Barry”, “This Is Us”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Griselda”, “High Desert”, “Super Pumped”, “S.W.A.T”, “Clipped”, “The Fugitive”, “How To Get Away With Murder”, and “911”.

Cynthia Karim has been a Production, Design and Special Effects Makeup teacher for 23

years at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA). She and her crew (students)

design and work most of the productions in the Music and Theater, Classical Voice, Ballet

Folklorico, Acting and Integrated Arts conservatories. Her art experience includes being

an Art Docent Coordinator for Placentia/Yorba Linda Unified School District for 15 years

where she wrote and planned the Art History lessons for The Renaissance, Impressionist,

and Japanese and Modern Art periods. She has taught numerous Special f/x workshops

to Girl Scouts of Orange County for the past 20 years. She has worked as a professional

makeup artist as a licensed Esthetician since 1975. She attended Westminster College

and the University of Utah, and earned her Special effects Makeup Certification from

Paramount Studios, Hollywood. From 1990-2000 she worked in Children’s Theatre

focusing on stage makeup and hair, costume design, scenic design, props, and stage

management. She has worked in various design capacities for Fullerton Civic Light

Opera, Claremont College, Whittier College, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and various L.A.

and Orange County High Schools. She has also done photo shoots and PSAs with the cast

of Saturday Night Live and MadTV

Cora Riley, an Orange County native, grew up in the City of Orange where she attended The Orange County High School of the Arts. With a passion for Shakespeare Cora decided to further her acting training in England at the prestigious Royal Central School Of Speech and Drama in London. After making her West End debut Cora Riley returned to the United States where she appeared in several professional Shakespeare productions at Shakespeare Orange County. “Miss Riley” ,as she is affectionately known now, has been teaching for the last 8 years at her alma mater- OCSA. In addition to Shakespeare classes Cora Riley also is a dialect coach, movement instructor and acting technique teacher. 

B.J. Dodge is a teaching artist who retired from the California Institute of the Arts after 33 years.

First, as a member of the Theater School, in performance, and for 27 years – primarily - as a

coordinator and lead instructor for CalArts’ Community Arts Partnership, where she was in

residence at Plaza de la Raza, and oversaw the process of creating original and adapted work,

with a playwright, Plaza youth, CalArts alumni, CalArts students, and staff. This program was

year-long in scope, and involved process to production, at both Plaza, and (starting in 2006,) at

the REDCAT in downtown L.A.

She worked for California State Summer School for the Arts from 1989 - 2025, as an acting,

movement, and mask instructor and as chair and co-chair of the theatre discipline. Making

theatre in community, with children and youth has been an enduring theme in the work she has

chosen: she helped to design a program called P.L.A.Y. for Center Theatre Group Education in

collaboration with L.A.’s Best, and served as a teaching artist and mentor for CTG Education.

She's worked with Southcoast Repertory’s Youth Conservatory, Shakespeare Center Los

Angeles: in collaboration with Carver Middle School, and at East Los Angeles Performing Arts

Academy, and the Huntington Library. She has also been on staff at OCSA and at CSArts-SGV

as an instructor and as a substitute teacher from 2016 - the present. She has directed at Cal

Poly Pomona’s Department of Theatre and New Dance, and at CSULB, and enjoys teaching

mask, movement and collaboration to all