Staff

JoAnna Garcia
Administrative Assistant & Director of Musical Theater Programming

JoAnna is a Las Vegas native. She graduated UNLV in 2016 with a Bachelors Degree in Theatre Studies. JoAnna has been involved in theatre starting in high school through her college years. She has done several prodcuctions with community theatres. Since taking an active involvement in the theatre world, she has had a strong desire to teach young ones about the arts. JoAnna has experienced first hand how influential the arts can be and wants to pass that along to our Las Vegas youth. She is excited she has found a program that shares the same vision and can’t wait to see little ones grow to their full potential!

Jessica Pantle
Drama Kids Teacher/Teen Acting Academy Teacher

Jessica Pantle is a Clark County School District kindergarten teacher at Mark Fine ES. She earned a degree from Rutgers University as well as a Masters in Elementary Education. Jessica has held many leadership roles within her school as well as the district professionally developing colleagues. She has been teaching for 15 years. Jessica has worked with children ages 3-18 years in many extra curricular activities. She has been teaching with Drama Kids for the last 11 years. That’s right. 11 years! She was on the original opening team of Drama Kids and has been right there by Drama Mama’s side very step of the way! Jessica loves being part of such a wonderful program that helps build confidence in children.

MaryBeth Kellermann
Drama Kids Teacher

A native of Las Vegas and fan of Las Vegas. MB has been married for twenty years and has a son in high school. Her family loves the arts and have so much fun attending and participating in musicals, concerts, and plays. MB loves to scrapbook memories and spends a lot of free time creating pages about trips and life events. She is also a CCSD Kindergarten teacher, which which keeps her extremely busy. This is her 4th year in the DK family and has truly enjoys her time with us. She loves to see the kids build confidence and have fun. The end of the year performance is so exciting. Watching her Drama Kids shine on the Summerlin Performing Arts Center stage is her favorite part.

Celina Speights
Drama Kids Teacher/Musical Theater Director of Choreography

Celina is a local musical theatre actress in local theatre companies such as Super Summer Theatre and Signature Productions, and also has background in technical theatre with the Nevada Conservatory Theatre. She is currently on a national tour with Sesame Street Live. She has a loving husband and son on her support team, and dedicates every performance to them. Being a Navy kid, she grew up all over the world, but settled in Las Vegas. She recently studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a major in Theatre Studies. Celina’s dream is to run a theatre school of her own with her husband and son. Her favorite part about teaching is building relationships with her students and watching them grow throughout the years. Celina is excited for another year of Drama Kids! This is her 3rd year “in the act” with Drama Kids.

Melissa May
Drama Kids Teacher

Melissa May is a 3rd generation Las Vegas native. She is married and has two teenagers, both of whom keep her & her husband very busy with their respective interests. In her free time she enjoys going rollerblading, tap dancing, and reading. Teaching has been a natural fit for her. She has a bachelors in Elementary Education and has been teaching 3rd grade since 2014. She is super excited to be a part of the Drama Kids family and can’t wait to meet all the amazing kids!

Deanna Harry 
Drama Kids Teacher

Deanna Lee Harry is a native Las Vegan. Deanna has been married for 14 years and has a 10 year old daughter who has been active in the Drama Kids program for 4 years and counting. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking up at Mt. Charleston with her family and her two standard poodles. She also enjoys volunteering at her daughter’s elementary school. When she is not volunteering, Deanna is a Baccarat dealer on the Las Vegas strip and has been for over 26 years. She has a love for reading, but the performing arts is her true passion. Deanna was president of the Thespian Society at Western High School in which she had the honor of directing Alvin Sargent’s Ordinary People. Spending summers watching the Shakespearean Festival as a child, prompted Deanna to attend Southern Utah University and BYU for summer stock. Deanna also dabbled in community theater in which she held a lead role in the production Bad Habits. Seeing the transformation her daughter has experienced while in the Drama Kids program, motivated her to want to help and teach other children to be confident and grow in a creative and fun learning environment. She is very proud and excited to have taken on this new role as teacher and mentor to children who have discovered their passion for the arts as well.

Marcus Martinez
Teen Acting Academy Teacher

Marcus is incredibly excited to join the DK team! Marcus is a local actor/performer here in Las Vegas and has worked with professional actors, directors, and casting directors from all over the country. He enjoys watching all the latest movies and TV shows and loves football, Go Raiders! Marcus has always had a passion for educating and is excited to receive this opportunity from Drama Mama and the Drama Kids franchise. In the theatre there is no right or wrong, there is only what works and what doesn’t.

Chimini Branch
Drama Teacher

Theatre & The Arts have been a huge part of my life for over a decade,so having the opportunity to teach is such a honor for me. Singing as a child is where I first found my voice & The West Las Vegas Performing And Visual Arts Camp and Las Vegas Academy is where I received my Foundation Training in ALL genres of Dance ,Music & Stage Performance. I love every aspect of music and theater, especially how it brings individuals from all walks of life together. It has always had healing power & always will. I look forward to being an asset to Drama Kids Las Vegas!