Instructors

Teacher

Danielle Gosselin

Danielle Gosselin holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of Central Florida and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Murray State University in Kentucky. She is a local private lesson instructor in Bend, Oregon, specializing in voice, piano, and acting. Previously, she taught as an adjunct professor of theatre at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and performed professionally at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. She has special interests in devised theatre works, Shakespeare, and musical theatre. She is so excited and honored to be a part of the BEAT Children’s Theatre team here in Bend.

Teacher

Julee Vadnais

Julee Vadnais has specialized in Children’s performance for 15 years. She was a performer at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. She is a clown college graduate under the sudo name of Sparkles Sassypants and owner and operator of Whimsy Entertainment for 11 years. She is also the Preschool Director of Oregon Olympic Athletics, and administrator at Cascades Theatrical Company. Julee has a degree in Dramatic Arts from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles. Her face may also be recognizable from several local productions.

Teacher

Gracie Conant

Gracie Conant has been in the Bend, OR theater community and with BEAT since she was 10 years old. She is over the moon, after acting with BEAT for so many years, to now have the privilege of directing! Though she is used to being seen onstage -- "Peter and the Starcatcher" (Ted), "The Music Man" (Marian Paroo) -- she also worked as Assistant Director and Stage Manager for Elf Jr. the Musical.

Director

Maia Denzler

Maia Denzler is a current student at Portland State University where she is working towards a BM in Music and a BA in Theater.

Her first ever musical was BEAT's production of The Pirates of Penzance Jr. during her eigth grade year and she's been hooked ever since.

In addition to acting, Maia has worked behind the scenes in management and design and intends to pursue a career in costuming. A Wrinkle in Time is her directorial debut. 

Teacher

David Purkey

David Purkey is a local actor and singer who thrives on meaningful interactions with people. In 2016, he received a Young Artist's Scholarship for classical voice lessons from the Sunriver Music Festival. He has been a part of twelve different local theater productions. He also works at Starbucks in Bend. David has loved working with BEAT Children's Theatre, and looks forward to continuing his theater adventures with them as their social media coordinator.

Teacher

Heidi Spiker

Heidi Spiker is happy to be a part of Charlotte's Web this season. Her previous theater experience includes acting, casting assistant, assistant director, director, and producing artistic director in various places such as Mexico, Michigan, Virginia, New York City, Boston, and Portland (OR). She is currently a Broker with Keller Williams Central Oregon and happy to be taking on the role of volunteer with BEAT.

Teacher

Mike Ficher

By day, an analyst. By night, an actor, voice artist, emcee, sportscaster, public address announcer, host of The Ultimate Oldies Show, sketch writer, storyteller and improviser.

Mike is a member of Central Oregon's premier Improvisation troupe, Triage, performing at numerous venues in shows and as paparazzi since 2004.

Passionate about the benefits of improvisation and classic about its execution, Mike shares an infectious energy and instills a lifelong enthusiasm for the art.

Improvisation is a guide for life!

Teacher

Gary Loddo

Teacher

Sandy Silver

Sandy began her theater career in NYC and is a life member of the Actors Studio. Since moving to Bend in 2001, Sandy has directed productions at CTC, 2nd. Street Theater, The Tower, and was a resident director at Innovation Theatre Works. Sandy recently returned from New Zealand where she directed two Shakespearian productions for the Ugly Shakespeare Company and conducted master

Education Program Manager

Erin Maxon

Erin Maxon is proud to be instructing for BEAT, as well as leading the in-school education program as BEAT's Education Program Manager. Erin is a passionate educator with more than 15 years experience teaching students age 4 to 95, using theatre and ethical facilitation to create the safest place possible for people to try on different aspects of themselves.   She has her Masters in Applied Drama: Theatre in Educational, Community and Social Contexts from the University of London at Goldsmiths, and a BA from UC Berkeley in Anthropology and Theatre and Performance Studies.   Erin has spent time working with numerous educational organizations including but not limited to theatres, schools, refugee organizations, national historic organizations, and internationally-located school boards.  She is so grateful to be spreading the love of theatre to the young people of beautiful Bend!