Heather Arneson (ARISTOCATS, WINNIE THE POOH, THE LITTLE MERMAID CHOREOGRAPHER) is currently in Mary Poppins, after being seen in Oliver! and West Side Story, here at TMP. Heather has experience dancing and performing regionally, as well as teaching and choreographing. Heather just finished choreographing Guys & Dolls, Sr. (Young at Heart Players- TMP), and she is excited to work with the students in CampTMP this summer! In the last year, Heather has performed with Broadway on the Side, Ballet Bellevue, and TMP. Heather has also performed with ManeStage Theatre Company, Katy Hagelin Dance Project, and Relay Dance Collective, to name a few. Many thanks to her husband and daughter for supporting her as she continues to pursue her passion!
Jake Atwood (ARISTOCATS, WINNIE THE POOH DIRECTOR) is overjoyed to be making his directorial debut right here at Camp TMP. Most often seen on the TMP mainstage, Jake has always had an interest in being a part of the camp experiences and helping inspire a new generation appreciate beauty of musical theatre. When not on stage, Jake works as a preschool teacher in the Emerald City where he teaches an adorable group of kids the basic fundamentals of life, love, and happiness. With his passion for theatre, his experiences in teaching and his intense love for Disney, Jake is humbled to have had this opportunity to work with such a talented and loving group of kids. I want to personally thank all of the kids involved in camp this year! Words cannot express how impressed I am at all of your talents! Also, a big thank you to Deanna and Jon for the opportunity and to my beautiful girlfriend Jenna McRill for always supporting my dreams!
Erin Dees (THE LITTLE MERMAID DIRECTOR) just finished her fifth year teaching. She has taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade from Portland, to Rwanda, to Tacoma! While this is her first time directing Camp TMP, she has helped her students stage multiple productions at school. Erin majored in theatre at Lewis & Clark College before returning to get her Master’s in Education. Erin has been seen in TMP’s “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” She absolutely loves the enthusiasm 4th-6th graders bring to any project and couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining the Camp TMP teaching team!
Tyler Dobies (HAIRSPRAY DIRECTOR) graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing with a Music Minor. He has been involved in theatre from an early age beginning with playing a shepherd in a church Christmas pageant. He was most recently seen in Twelfth Night and Pericles (Sebastian/Andrew/Pericles/Boult) with Greenstage Shakespeare. TMP credits include: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver, Evita, and Seussical. PLU credits include: She Loves Me, The Pillowman, Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet, and Into the Woods. This summer will by Tyler’s fourth summer with CampTMP, and he is delighted to be taking a leadership role working the amazingly talented CampTMP campers he has grown to love. Tyler believes that CampTMP’s values of education, growth, and collaboration are truly the strength of CampTMP. Through his previous experience, he strives to ensure that each individual feels empowered to be the best they can be and that everyone feels comfortable being who they are on and off stage. Here is to an amazing summer!
Trista Duval-Wilkinson (BRING IT ON DIRECTOR) has a Bachelor of the Fine Arts in Music Theatre and a minor in Dance from Elon University. She has performed all over the country in musicals, plays, readings, and even a series of solo concerts. She was further trained in teaching classical works to students at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, and has written and directed extensively over the last 7 years. Trista was most recently seen as leading lady Marguerite Saint Just in Tacoma Musical Playhouse’s “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” She loves working with teenagers, and cannot wait to watch them totally own this show!
Zachary Kellogg (HAIRSPRAY, BRING IT ON MUSIC DIRECTOR) is an internationally acclaimed jazz and classical flautist, pianist and composer. A multiple international competition winner, he made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall in 2011 at the age of 13; and has released several CD’s. Zachary is currently Music Director; and Broadway for Broadway program instructor at Puyallup Children’s Theater & Music Academy, where Zachary has taught for six years. Zachary has also served as music director/instructor at many other theaters in the Puget Sound area. Zachary also maintains an active teaching studio (flute & piano) in Puyallup and has written and directed nine original musicals.
Deanna Martinez (HAIRSPRAY DIRECTOR) is the current Interim Director of Education, here at TMP. She began her career working for World Vision, working with at-risk youth, utilizing the arts as part of gang intervention and prevention. She then transitioned into Education, becoming a 7th grade Humanities teacher in the Clover Park School District for 6 years. As part of TMP Education, she has directed shows for the Your School’s A Stage program, as well as the Homeschool Academy. Deanna also performs regularly at various theaters in the region, including TMP. TMP credits include The Scarlet Pimpernel, Oliver!, Alice in Wonderland, and Buddy!: The Buddy Holly Story.
Abby McInnis (HAIRSPRAY CHOREOGRAPHER) has been dancing since the age of 3, when she was enrolled in a ballet class. Now, as a junior in college, her dance experience spans 18 years and styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and now swing dancing. Abby spent her high school years on a dance company at the YMCA, where she often performed for schools, nursing homes, and The Festival of Trees. She taught ballet and tap to kids ages 3-16 and choreographed over ten dances for the annual recitals. At the University of Washington, Abby had the opportunity to take several jazz and ballet classes from professional dancers and Broadway choreographers. In the last three years, she has also taken on swing dancing, and thoroughly enjoys learning Lindy Hop and going to Swing Dance Events.
Linda Palacios (THE LITTLE MERMAID DIRECTOR) Linda is overjoyed to to be joining Summer Camp TMP. Linda attended California State University Long Beach where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance and Direction. Over the years Linda has directed several productions, started up multiple school drama clubs, and performed in various performances. Some roles include: The Scarlet Pimpernel (Ensemble), Lamb of God (Mary, mother of Christ), I’ll be Home for Christmas (Stella), and You Can’t Take It With You (Reba). As a mother of three, a military wife and an elementary school teacher, Linda is beyond blessed to continue to work in the theatre industry. She would like to thank her loving family and friends for their constant support and dedicates this work to her mom. Philippians 4:6; 4:13
Jimmy Shields (BRING IT ON CHOREOGRAPHER) is beyond excited to be returning to CAMP TMP! Jimmy has been appearing in TMP productions since the summer of 2008 and has recently been doing more behind the scene work. You may have most recently seen his work as the Director/Choreographer of TMP Family Theatre’s Freedom-train and as co-choreographer of TMP’s Westside Story and The Wiz. Jimmy has also had the opportunity to teach dance all around the greater northwest and has had his work displayed all over the US. Jimmy just recently opened ICONIC ARTS COMPLEX, a dance and performing arts studio located in the heart of Tacoma. “Kindness and love remedy EVERYTHING!”
Gwen Trussler (ARISTOCATS, WINNIE THE POOH, THE LITTLE MERMAID MUSIC DIRECTOR) – A former Choral Director for 5th grade through high school students, Gwen has also taught high school Speech class and Drama for K-12th grade. She was Stage Director for productions of Oklahoma!, A Strange Way to Save the World, and Down By the Creekbank. Gwen taught piano and voice lessons privately for many years as well. Currently part of the cast of TMP’s Mary Poppins (Miss Andrew), she has previously been seen in James and the Giant Peach (Spiker), Oliver! (Mrs. Sowerberry), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn (Aunt Polly), Once Upon a Mattress (Queen Aggravain), The Kids of Bristol (Mrs. G), and Carousel (Nettie Fowler). Favorite operatic credits include Kundry (Parsifal), Eboli (Don Carlo), Abagaille (Nabucco), Ortrud (Lohengrin), Fioretta (I Medici), Brunhilde (Sigurd), and Senta (Die fliegende Hollaender). As a performing member of The Ladies Musical Club of Seattle, Gwen performs in classical concerts and participates in music education programs for school age children. A Voiceover actress, Gwen’s most recent audiobook narration projects are The Bouncing Grandma Mysteries Volume 1 and 2 (Alice K. Arenz), Lying with the Lion (Nora Eli), and Sheva’s Promise (Silvia Lederman).
OTHER STAFF:
Kat Fresh – Costumes
Caitlin Cowen – Tech
Chiquita Levy – Assistant
Raven West – Cheer Coach
CampTMP 