Staff
Tricia Foster
Owner & Executive Director
Tricia Foster is the Owner and Executive Director of Drama Kids of NE Dallas, Rockwall, S Collin & Denton Counties. Tricia holds a BFA in Theatre Arts performance from Stephens College and attended graduate school at the University of North Texas, where she earned a Texas Teaching Certificate in Theatre Arts and English. She has been involved in theatre all her life as an actress, director, and stage manager, working at professional and community theatre venues. She has over 30 years of teaching experience, working with children of all ages.
Phillip Slay
Program Director
Phillip has been with Drama Kids since 2015 as a Drama Teacher and Program Manager and now serves as the Program Director. He acquired his Bachelor’s in Arts and performance from the University of Texas at Dallas and his Master’s in Performing Arts Administration from Roosevelt University. Phillip is very active in community theatre, both performing and directing, as well as being a resident company member of Repertory Company Theatre. He loves Drama Kids and everything that it does for students in the DFW Metroplex. Drama Kids is FUN!
Jessica Torres
Administrative Support
Since Drama Kids inception, Jessica has been working behind the scenes and handling registration processing, class scheduling, and bill processing, along with a myriad of other responsibilities. Jessica hails from Sam Houston State University. She has seen thousands and thousands of kids build confidence and life skills in DK, including her own two boys, who are now articulate young adults! Jessica is a help and friend to many, including the four-legged type!
Kelsey Rubeck
Drama Kids Lead Teacher
Kelsey is our most veteran Drama Kids teacher and has been with the Drama Kids program for over 15 years as either a student or employee. She knows the program well and has witnessed and experienced the benefits firsthand. She grew up with an appreciation for the arts and has performance experience in both dance and theatre arts. She is a true Broadway fan, having seen over 85 shows to date! She hails from UNT Dallas with a Bachelor’s degree. Kelsey’s students constantly beg to have her dramatic Cavalier Spaniel, Bonnie serve as class mascot!
Sway Sanford
Drama & Acting Teacher
Ms Sway’s Drama Kids will be thrilled that she is back for another year of dramatic fun. While working in the acting field in Atlanta, Ga, she felt the “pull” to move to Dallas and had no idea what was in store for her. Ms Sanford fell in love with her drama students and the way she could help develop their confidence while letting her own childlike spirit soar! Her BA in Speech and Theatre, coupled with her acting experience and love for children, make her an excellent DK teacher!
Molly Rose Lenaghen
Drama Kids Teacher
Ms. Molly studied Theatre and Performance Studies at Western Colorado University and brings over 10 years of performance experience along with five years in childcare. A dedicated performer, she loves singing, acting on the stage, as well as costuming. She hopes to continue performing professionally and even nationally someday! Ms. Molly’s favorite part of working with children is their limitless imaginations and natural creativity. She is passionate about theatre and inspiring young performers to express themselves with confidence.
Margaret Lowe
Drama Kids Teacher
Ms. Margaret previously pursued a degree in Legal Studies at Point Park University and brings more than 15 years of diverse experience working with children. Her background includes roles as a nanny, Sunday school teacher, assistant youth choir director and children’s support group facilitator, amongst many more titles! She loves the excitement, energy, and joy children bring. Ms. M is passionate about helping them discover their unique gifts and talents and loves seeing them bloom in confidence. In her free time, Ms. Margaret enjoys arts and crafts, reading, singing, traveling, and exploring new foods as a self-proclaimed foodie.
Kevin Koickal
Drama Kids Teacher
Mr. Kevin earned his BFA in Acting from Long Island University and has been teaching in various roles since 2016, including tutoring, instructing, coaching martial arts, and working in childcare programs. A performer at heart, he has acted professionally in NYC and co-founded a theatre company in the DFW area presenting full-year seasons. Mr. Kevin loves making an impact on students and is passionate about experimental and innovative performance. In his free time, he enjoys acting on stage and film, as well as playing cards.
Kara Odom
Drama Kids Substitute Teacher and Spring Performance Stage Manager
Kara is an experienced Drama Kids teacher who has been a part of the program for many years. She believes in the program and is passionate about building confidence in children. Kara has been involved in theater arts as either an actress, director, or crew member since she was a small child. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Tech University and currently works as a Registered Nurse at Medical City, Plano. During our Spring Performances, Kara is the wizard who works backstage to keep things running smoothly!
Logan Barker
Drama Kids Teacher
Mr. Logan earned his degree in General Studies from Collin College and was a Drama Kids student himself for 12 years. Passionate about theatre, he enjoys video games and working out, and dreams of one day performing on Broadway in New York. Mr. Logan loves working with children because he relates to them and finds joy in being reminded of the happiest memories of his own childhood. He feels happiest when surrounded by the people and activities he loves.
Emily Phillips
Drama Kids Teacher
Ms. Emily graduated from Royse City High School and brings over six years of experience working with children aged 2–17 through various church programs, along with four years as a scare actor and musical theatre training. She loves seeing children’s hearts and minds open to learning and new experiences, believing we should all keep a childlike curiosity. Passionate about both her faith and theatre, Ms. Emily enjoys singing, acting, spending time with friends and family, and experimenting with DIY projects. Her future goal is to continue performing on stage while teaching theatre on the side.
Megan Lemonds
Drama Kids Teacher
Ms. Megan earned her BA in Theatre from University of Texas at Dallas and brings a vibrant mix of teaching and performance experience to her work. She has taught with Drama Kids, Dallas Children’s Theater, Tippi Toes Dance, and has performed with Lyric Stage, NTPA Repertory, and Lakeside Community Theatre. A passionate performer, Megan has appeared in a national tour and loves spending her time performing, playing guitar, camping, and attending concerts. She is dedicated to igniting a love for the performing arts in her students while helping them build confidence on and off the stage.
Alexandra Casida
Drama Kids Teacher
Alex is a current student at University of North Texas and is excited to be in her second year teaching with Drama Kids. She loves working with children and is continually inspired by the energy and creativity they bring to everything they do. Passionate about education and personal growth, Alexandra finds joy in seeing both her students and herself achieve their goals through hard work. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, watching new movies, and shopping, and she hopes to become a lawyer in the future.
Ava Sharkey
Drama Kids Teacher
Ms. Ava is a current Psychology student at University of North Texas who brings warmth and creativity to her work with children. She participated in theatre throughout high school and has served as a summer camp counselor, where she taught kids how to cook and build confidence in the kitchen. Ms. Ava loves how imaginative children are and how naturally they find joy in the small things. Passionate about helping others feel valued and supported, she finds happiness in being surrounded by those she loves and enjoys reading, crocheting, and watching TV in her free time. She hopes to one day be an LPC.
Amritha Vipindas
Drama Kids Teacher
Ms. Amritha holds a Master’s degree from Bangalore University and is also a dedicated dance instructor at an academy serving nearly 300 students. She is passionate about helping students grow and excel in all areas of their lives through encouragement and strong mentorship. Ms. Amritha loves children’s curiosity, energy, and creativity, and finds joy in watching them learn and develop new skills. Dance is what makes her happiest, and she strives to spread positivity and joy in every class she teaches.
Zaynah Rahman
Drama Kids Teacher
Ms. Zaynah is a current student at Texas Woman’s University and has experience working at the YMCA. She has a lifelong background in caring for children, alongside her three siblings. She loves working with kids and is inspired by watching them grow in confidence and flourish into their unique selves. Zaynah plans to become a pediatric nurse, combining her passion for healthcare and child development to make a meaningful difference in young lives. In her free time, she enjoys collecting comic books, especially DC Comics and Marvel Comics, as well as watching movies, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family who support her goals.
Marcos Hillman
Drama & Acting Teacher
Mr. Marcos brings a very creative and artistic background to his Drama Kids teaching – being a dancer for many years, Mr. Marcos knows how important it is to have an outlet for creative expression. He encourages his Drama Kids to think outside of the box and be creative in a safe and nurturing way. We love having Mr. Marcos on our team!
Kylon Clay
Drama & Acting Teacher
Mr. Kylon graduated as Valedictorian from MediaTech Institute with an Associate’s Degree in Acting. He is a professional actor with experience in numerous films and series and is currently filming an original project. He is also the President and Founder of Writers Original, where he mentors and collaborates with aspiring writers and performers to bring original stories to life. Mr. Kylon is passionate about empowering creativity, building confidence, and inspiring the next generation. His goal is to become a middle school theatre teacher in the DFW or East Texas area, where he hopes to make a positive impact and create a supportive, trusting environment for every student.
Jade Boyer
Drama & Acting Teacher
Ms. Jade is a wonderful addition to our teaching team. Currently, she works as an educator at a private school, where she also teaches the Drama Kids class after school. She loves getting to work with her kids and ensure they have a fun and engaging time in Drama Kids each week.