Staff
Alexandra Kaplan
Lead Drama & Acting Teacher
Hi, My name is Alex Kaplan, and I am very excited to bring my love of theater to Drama Kids. As a child, I was a student at Live Theater Workshop where my love for theater flourished. I have had the pleasure of studying with Anna Risley who was a Saturday Night Live player. Currently, I am a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in theater. I look forward to moving to New York to pursue my love of theater as a career after graduation. For right now, I am super excited to work with all of your Drama Kids!
Nic Holt
Musical Theater Director
Hi, my name is Nic Holt. I graduated from the University of Arizona with my B.A. in Theatre Arts and have always had a passion for performing, improv, and everything fun and goofy. I grew up in Arizona and have been involved in many productions throughout high school, Pima Community College, UA’s Studio Series, and more. Theatre is so special because of the confidence and creativity it can spark in people; I’d love the opportunity to spread that joy around. Some things I like to do in my free time are writing, rock climbing, playing with LEGO, and just being an all-around dork. I’m super excited to have some fun with Drama Kids and share the magic of creativity with as many children as possible!
Tori Garritt
Lead Teacher & 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 Tapia
Drama & Acting Teacher, Communications Manager
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
Drama & Acting 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.
Abby Minter
Drama & Acting Teacher
My name is Abby Minter, and I am so excited to be a part of Drama Kids! I have been in theater since the young age of 7 years old, which means I have been in about 51 shows! This includes musicals, plays, and even reviews. And… I have danced since the age of 2. I have also worked in several other aspects of theater, including backstage crew/manager, directing, choreographing, stage managing, light operator, sound operator, costume crew, props crew, set crew, and so much more! I love theater with a passion, and my goal is to teach others the joy and passion that theater brings me. I love seeing the happy smiles on kids’ faces when they are on stage performing after they have rehearsed so hard. I look forward to seeing your family for performances and rehearsals!
Nickole Custodio
Drama & Acting Teacher
Hey everyone! My name is Nickole Custodio, and I am excited to work with Drama Kids. I was born in Nogales, Arizona, and eventually moved to Tucson when I was 10.
During my first years in Tucson, I developed an interest in orchestra, where I learned to play the violin and continued for 9 years. My orchestra instructor also taught the musical theatre class, which I eventually took once I reached middle school. I immediately fell in love with theatre, and since then I have been involved in various projects as an actress, director, writer, and designer.
Currently, I am a student at Pima Community College, completing my AFA in Theatre, and I am working towards transferring to a university next year. In my free time, I love playing video games, listening to music, and playing bass with my band, COWS. My goal is to create a safe environment where everyone feels welcome and inspired. I can’t wait to create awesome theatre magic with the kiddos!
Parker Phillips
Drama & Acting Teacher
My name is Parker Phillips. I’ve held a long passion for theatre and have extensive experience in child theatre education. I’m originally from Ohio where I attained professional theatre training, then I received my bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Richmond, and am working on my masters at the University of Arizona. In my free time, I enjoy playing music, and writing and love all types of games. I cannot wait to help spread one of my passions – theatre – to kids in the Tucson area with the rest of the Drama Kids team!
Lux Cool
Substitute & Assistant Drama & Acting Teacher
Hello! My name is Lux. I moved to Tucson in 2022 from Kentucky where I earned a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Dance. I’m loving it here! I’ve been performing on stage since I was 4, and I’ve had a passion for creativity and performance my whole life. I love reading, writing, dancing, acting, roleplaying in Dungeons & Dragons! I’m very passionate and animated, and I cannot wait to have fun & grow with your Drama Kids!
Natalie Harvey
Drama & Acting Teacher
Hello!! My name is Natalie Harvey! I’ve participated in drama and theatre since I was a small child. I’m currently a student at Pima, and I plan to pursue a career in art therapy since I believe art deeply connects to the human spirit. All kinds of art are enjoyable to me, and I look forward to connecting with your students and giving them a reason to smile! I enjoy video games, playing/ listening to music, and being outdoors! I absolutely love musicals and will do my best to sing along to a few in my car. I love being expressive, and I hope to help your children to express themselves in creative ways as well!