Staff

Alexandra Kaplan

Lead Drama Teacher & Social Media Manager

Tori Garritt

Senior Drama Teacher and Musical Theater Vocal Director

Hi, my name is Tori! I have a Bachelor’s of Music, concentration in voice, from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. Born and raised in Upstate New York, I participated in musicals and plays throughout high school, starring onstage, painting sets, choreographing dance numbers, and working backstage. Throughout college, I sang with the Ithaca College choral ensembles, premiered numerous works, and was involved in the development and recordings of new musicals. Additionally, I was a part of ICTV’s first musical theatre TV show, Subject to Change, and had the opportunity to program and perform a solo recital. In my free time, I am a figure skater, plant mom, and coffee lover. I am so excited to be a part of Drama Kids and to help kids fall in love with creativity and the arts!

Brianna Curran

Lead Drama Teacher and a Musical Theater Director

Hey! My name is Brianna Tapia. I am 22 years old, and I have been in theater for as long as I can remember. I love all things Disney and anything involving the theater! I just finished my 58th show at Pima Community College! I have worked as a children’s theater director for years in Casa Grande. I would love to have my own theater one day! And… I’m very excited to be joining the Drama Kids team!

Bailey Chwalek

Senior Drama Teacher

Hi, My name is Bailey. I was a fine arts kid through and through as I grew up performing and singing. Today, I’m a fan of Dungeons & Dragons. I love using silly voices around the table with my friends once a week as we play the game. I also enjoy singing Disney songs at the top of my lungs in the car, but shhh… that’s a secret. I’m super excited to bring my love for theater and performing to all of my Drama Kids students.

Chris Torborg

Senior Drama Teacher and Musical Theater Director

Hello, my name is Christopher Torborg. I began acting at a young age and have been involved in all aspects of theater since. I’ve acted in, directed, stage managed, and designed shows, both in school and professionally. In my free time you can find me reading, working on model cars, or hanging out with my pet leopard gecko, Elizardbeth. My life has been immensely enriched through theater. I believe the stage offers unique opportunities to learn lifelong skills. I’m thrilled to be able to give back those experiences through education and to help children create their own lasting memories.

Ben Kaplan

Director of Operations

Ben Kaplan has recently joined Drama Kids of Tucson as the Director of Operations. A retired Navy corpsman, Ben was a vital member of a medical team that developed and trained soldiers on a curriculum designed to extend survival. He brings a wealth of experience in leadership, training, and curriculum development, making him a valuable asset to our team.

Paris Rinckey

Drama Teacher

As a mother of four, I have transitioned into a DramaKids teacher, supporting a program that has positively impacted my children. With a fine arts background and experience in dance and cheer competitions, I am well-equipped to create a love of the theater using all of the values this program offers. I look forward to creating meaningful relationships and a strong sense of community during my time with DramaKids.

Julia Snook

Drama Teacher

Hi! My name is Julia Snook! I’ve been doing theatre since I was a toddler! I’ve worked with various theatre companies around Tucson as an actor, and I have also directed and stage managed shows with Tanque Verde High School and Saint Francis Desales Parish. I am thrilled to be Drama Kids teacher as working with children is truly my passion. I’m excited to help your children explore their creative side through theater!

Myla Boyd

Drama Teacher

Hi! My name is Myla! I just moved from Chicago to Tucson to experience the arts and culture of the desert and west coast! In Chicago, I discovered a love for theatre and expressing myself as creatively as I can! I am college graduate with a degree in education. I am also an artist! I’m excited to bring my passion for creativity, drama, expression to Drama Kids.

Beverly Cassell

Drama Teacher

Hi!! My name is Beverly Cassell, and I am so excited to spend my summer with Drama Kids! Throughout high school, and now in college I have taken several theatre classes which have allowed me to both better express myself, and to collaborate with people around me. I can’t wait to share my love of theatre, and experiences to everyone!

Breann Whitehead

Drama Teacher

Hello, My name is Bryann. I am a 3rd grade teacher with a passion for theater, music, and the arts. I spent my college years participating in theater, band, and choir, and I try to incorporate all of those things into my classroom whenever I can. I also helped found our school’s after- school choir club which focuses on building confidence in kids through music. I am excited to bring my classroom skills to Drama Kids!

Maija Hildlebrand

Drama Teacher

Hi! I’m Maija, and I’ve lived in Tucson my whole life. I’ve had a love for music and theatre for as long as I can remember, especially singing and anything involving fashion or costumes. I started performing in 3rd grade and haven’t stopped since! I’m currently a teaching assistant, and I absolutely love working with kids and seeing their creativity come to life. I’m so excited to help create a fun, supportive environment where everyone feels safe to express themselves and grow their confidence!

Kyle Odell

Drama Teacher

Hi! My name is Kyle Odell. I’m a Theatre and Music major in college with a strong passion for teaching and performance. I perform locally throughout the community, including with Stories That Soar!, an organization dedicated to bringing children’s original stories to life on stage.
There’s nothing more exciting than watching a child realize their story has been chosen and transformed into a live performance—it’s truly magical! I’m so excited to work with your children this summer and can’t wait to create, perform, and have fun together.