TEACHING ARTISTS
Meet our team of teaching artists who bring their passion, expertise, and creativity to every corner of BPA’s Theatre School.
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Amanda Yeoman Brooke
Theatre School Coordinator
Amanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Drama from the University of Washington and certificates in Acting and Directing from SCC. She has over 18 years of experience in theatre, film acting and continuous training. Since 2015 she has been teaching, directing and producing. Amanda is passionate about helping students discover their authentic voices and create deep, human connections through performance. She has worked on multiple independent films, and finds theatre to be vital in the discovery of how we are more alike than different.
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Tina Guldhammer Frei
Tina has been engaged in the performing arts since 2001, with a passion for storytelling and unlocking creative potential. She believes in the power of community-driven art and loves BPA’s supportive environment, where every student can explore their talents. Tina is committed to helping students of all ages enter creative play with confidence, empowering them to generate new ideas and artistic expression.
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Laurel Marlantes
Laurel trained with notable teachers like Janet Alhanti and Iris Klein in Meisner technique and John Theis in theatrical improvisation. She began her career at twelve and pursued acting professionally in Hollywood, with credits spanning from commercials to roles on CBS, NBC, and HBO. Laurel is passionate about helping students discover their unique voices and thrive in BPA’s inclusive, joy-filled environment, where stories have the power to change lives.
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Sandi Spellman
Sandi has been on an improv journey since the early 2000s, learning from a variety of classes, workshops, and books. She believes that improv offers a powerful way to explore our shared humanity. Sandi is dedicated to helping people unlock their creativity and playfulness, encouraging students to apply improv principles to both theater and everyday life. She loves how BPA fosters a spirit of play in students of all ages.
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Josi Twigt
Josi holds a Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts and two Master’s degrees—one in Teaching (MAT) and another in Arts Leadership (MFA) from Seattle University. She has been teaching drama since 2007, specializing in helping students build confidence and creativity through theater. Josi is committed to supporting students as they bring their ideas to life on stage, fostering an environment of collaboration and play at BPA.
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Terace Yeatts
Terace studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University before transitioning into education while raising her family. Passionate about children’s theater, she loves working with young people to create new works and help them discover their voices as creators and changemakers. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Elementary Education, Terace is dedicated to providing the same sense of purpose and belonging she experienced as a young artist in the performing arts.
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Matt Longmire
Matt Longmire brings a rich background in film, marketing, management, and acting, having studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York (Class of 2004). He has also spent years honing his skills in voiceover and dialects. Matt is excited to contributing his diverse experience to the BPA Theatre School.
Guest Teachers
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Aimee Hong
Aimee Hong, music director and voice teacher, has been working professionally in the region for over 10 years. BPA credits include Big Fish, Peter and the Starcatcher, Beauty and the Beast, and Anastasia. Passionate about music education, Aimee enjoys helping musical theatre performers develop the vocal tools to succeed.
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Matt Smith
Matt is an accomplished solo performance artist, improviser, actor, and writer. A co-founder of The Edge, his screen credits include Sleepless in Seattle and Outsourced. Matt teaches improv at Freehold and across the nation, inspiring performers to dig deeper with a motto from Del Close: “Don’t make ’em laugh, make ’em gasp.”
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Stephan Golux
Stephan is a stage director and teacher with over 25 years of experience in professional and academic settings. A proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Stephan holds an MFA from Yale School of Drama. Focusing on Basic research in performance techniques, Stephan brings humor, intensity, and a passion for authentic storytelling to BPA.