Staff

Melissa Diller
Owner/Operator

Melissa’s experience producing children’s shows as the Vice President of the Rock Hill Community Theatre in SC, teaching children drama at the Maumelle Central Arkansas Library and Citizen Schools; combined with her own talent as winner of the Metrolina Theatre Association Lead – Actress award and commercial actress/modeling background with Carolina Talent Agency makes her passion and talents the perfect fit for Drama Kids. Her degree is from USC. She is thrilled to be able to make a positive difference in the lives of so many Pulaski county children. Her goal as an educator and owner is to provide a nurturing and supportive environment in which all types of children can come together to explore their talents that will lead them to lifelong success.

Melissa volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate supporting children through the foster care system, board member of the Maumelle Players community theatre, and a certified yoga teacher.

Join our team! Drama Kids is seeking dynamic and fun part-time teachers to meet our growing class schedule. Please visit our Teaching Opportunities page and submit your interest.

Laura Beasley
Teacher

Laura Beasley is a certified early childhood education teacher and a certified yoga instructor. Laura’s love of the arts, especially music and drama, began as a child and this love continued as she participated in both band and drama programs in high school and marching and concert bands in college. Laura, a native Arkansan, received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

Upon completing her Master’s Degree, Laura taught elementary aged children in the Cabot Public School District, where she strove to build positive relationships with her students and promote constructive interactions among her students. Several years later, Laura became a Registered Yoga Teacher and began teaching yoga to both children and adults. During this time, Laura also began teaching for Drama Kids of Little Rock. Her love of music, movement, and drama are shared with students in a program which focuses on building students’ confidence through Drama concepts.

Laura feels so very privileged and excited to be a part of the Drama Kids team! She loves seeing students grow in confidence and creativity through the Drama Kids program! Laura’s goal is to guide students as they proudly work toward achieving their full potential!

Jordan Taylor
Teacher

Jordan is currently a UALR student working towards a BA in Theatre Arts. She was The old Crone in the Arkansas arts center Children’s Theatre production of “the Adventures of Robin Hood” and Mopsy in the “Adventures of Peter Rabbit.” She spent 3 summers at their Summer Theatre Academy. She was also in many of her alma mater’s productions at Mount St. Mary Academy. She is thrilled to be helping the kids grow in confidence and self esteem.

Shelby Kirby
Teacher

Shelby Kirby is an actor, educator, and theatre director native to Little Rock, AR; she holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Loyola University New Orleans. She is currently attending NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development for her Master’s degree. Drama Kids is lucky to have her come share everything she is learning with our students over the summers and breaks. Her most recent acting credits include Daisy Hannigan in Biloxi Blues (National WWII Museum), “Steward” on the Polar Express Train Ride (Warner Bros.), and Babe Botrelle in Crimes of the Heart (Loyola University). Her directing credits include The 39 Steps: A Live Radio Play (Loyola University), Legally Blonde, Jr. (Southern Rep Theatre – Arts Education), The Wizard of Oz, Jr. (SRT – Arts Education), and “Brief Interviews with Internet Cats” (SRT – Arts Education), as well as assistant directing Song of a Man Coming Through (SRT – Mainstage). Shelby has worked as a theatrical teaching artist for Southern Rep Theatre in New Orleans. As a teacher, Shelby aims to cultivate the creative and supportive environments necessary for young artists to grow. She hopes to teach her students how skills developed through theatre are multifaceted and can be transformed into success both in the theater and beyond.

Precious McCullough
Teacher Assistant

Precious is a recent gradute of Arkansas State University with a Bachelor’s in Theatre. She’s thrilled to be helping children grow in extraordinary ways through art. She hopes to one day open a school for the arts right here in Arkansas and continue to inspire children across the state.