Staff

Davila Hernandez

Owner

Davila received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an Emphasis in directing from Texas State University in 2008. She directed shows such as The Shadow Box, The Weirdest Honeymoon Ever, and Twelfth Night. At Texas State, she was trained in Improv, Fitzmaurice Voicework, Stylization, Characterization, Movement, and Stage Make-up.

Davila once worked for Extreme Home Makeover to gain knowledge of film sets. She loves to travel and went to London to gain more knowledge of her favorite writer, Shakespeare. She loves doing research on different genres and costuming.

Davila also has extensive experience as a teacher in a Montessori school, where she teaches values such as independence, creativity, patience, and endurance. In her free time, she loves cooking, watching movies, playing and watching sports, planning parties, and spending time with family.

Davila loves being able to be part of any child’s life to help motivate, enlighten, love, and inspire their creativity! Ms. Davila joined the Drama Kids team in January 2012 and is looking forward to another fabulous year!

Keyna Barahona

Drama & Acting Teacher

Keyna recently graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and a certificate in Philosophy-Pre Law. She became a performer at a young age when she started ballet at eight years old and ultimately became a thespian when she started Destination Imagination at the recommendation of her 5th-grade teacher.

She continued pursuing theatre in middle school where she was part of many plays which included a One Act Play in UIL; she even received a medal for being an “All-Star Cast” in 2015. In high school, Keyna competed in numerous speech and debate tournaments and had the opportunity to judge some theatre competitions. She continued to learn more about theatre production by taking a college course on world theatre and avidly watching multiple Broadway performances.

This year, she is thrilled to share her passion for theatre at Drama Kids by inspiring students to be confident, express themselves, and be leaders in today’s competitive world. In addition to Drama Kids, Keyna is working towards writing a biography, developing innovative apparel, and pursuing a law degree.

Marie Denny

Drama & Acting Teacher

Marie has been performing on stage and on camera for the last 20 years and now channels that creativity through voice-over and long form. improv. She has a communications degree from Northwestern University, and when she wasn’t acting, she was teaching children and adults in after-school settings and classrooms. She’s delighted to be working with Drama Kids, spreading her love for creativity and performance, and teaching young people skills that help them be the best version of themselves!

Kira Barnes

Drama & Acting Teacher

If you asked Kira Barnes where she thought she’d be as an adult, teaching theater to children would not have been her first guess. That just makes the prospect more exciting, and she’s always ready to pass on knowledge from her own theatrical experience and learn from others. When not “yes, and”-ing, she’s likely to be found drawing or working on some craft.

Sabrina Levenson

Drama & Acting Teacher

​Sabrina is a passionate theater enthusiast and graduate of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where they chose to major in Theater after discovering their love for the arts in high school. With a diverse background in various aspects of production, they have gained experience in costumes, lighting, and makeup, allowing them to appreciate the many facets of theater.

In addition to their theater work, ​Sabrina enjoys cosplaying, streaming, and singing, and is eager to dive deeper into these creative pursuits. Their commitment to the arts and love for performance continue to shape their journey as they explore new opportunities for self-expression and connection through their hobbies.

Julia Novak

Drama & Acting Teacher

Julia’s love of theatre began at a young age when her grandmother took her to see Hairspray. From that moment on, she was hooked! She participated in theatre throughout school and took acting classes similar to Drama Kids, where she discovered the fun of creating characters, telling stories, and expressing herself through performance.

Every job Julia has had since she began working has involved children in some way. She spent several years as a nanny before starting her photography business in 2018. Since then, she has worked with hundreds of families and children of all ages. Her photography experience has strengthened her love of storytelling and taught her how to help kids feel comfortable, build confidence, and let their personalities shine. Her silly energy also tends to make her a fast friend among kiddos!

As a Drama Kids teacher, Julia hopes to create an encouraging space where students feel comfortable expressing themselves, trying new things, and embracing their creativity. She wants each child to leave class feeling a little more confident in who they are, both onstage and off.

In her free time, Julia loves crafting, writing, and cooking. She is so excited to join the Drama Kids team and share the same joy and confidence she found through theatre as a child!

Avery Elliott

Drama & Acting Teacher

Avery Elliott is a Houston native with a degree in Theatre Studies from Sam Houston State University. True to her degree she finds herself drawn to a variety of disciplines. They work primarily as an Actor, Dramaturg and Teaching Artist. As a Teaching Artist she is thrilled to have the opportunity to inspire and work with the next generation of theatre makers. This is her first year with Drama Kids and she is excited to be joining the team. Some of her credits include Kate Understudy/ASL performer/Dramaturg in The Miracle Worker at Stageworks. As well as R.C. In Bug, Marina Timofeyevna in Uncle Vanya, and Warden/Dramaturg in Imogen Says Nothing at SHSU. She wishes to remind us to always stay curious as it paves the way for collaboration!

Andrea Gibbs-Haagensen

Musical Director

Andrea graduated from Texas State University-San Marcos in 2010 with a dual degree in photography and graphic design. She grew up on stage, performing with her home studio’s competition dance team and in local community theatre productions. As an adult, she has continued to explore her love of theatre and the arts, in on-stage and behind the scenes roles. A few of her favorite shows she’s worked on are: Sweeney Todd (Ensemble, Costume & Props Manager), Noises Off (ASM, Costume & Props Manager, H&MU), Beetlejuice the Musical Jr PILOT Production (Props Manager – See my photo for a mini version of the sandworm puppet I made for this show!), Hairspray (Ensemble, dance captain), and Suessical the Musical (Bird Girl #1). She loves working with children and teaching them the importance of theatre, and how it can help shape & grow who they are, whether they’re on or off stage!