STS Artists

Sharon O’Brien, Managing Artistic Director, is one of the original developers of Stories that Soar! and has been working with the program since its inception in 2002. In 2004, she co-founded SharMoore Children’s Productions as a way to bring the program to a broader audience. She holds a BFA in Cinematography and a MA in Theatre Education and Outreach from the University of Arizona, as well as an Associate Degree in Entrepreneurship from the McGuire Program at the Eller College of Management where she created an award-winning business plan for SMCP. Her MA thesis looked at the congruent principles of team-based business management and collaborative theatre practices, knowledge she now applies in overseeing SMCP programs and services. As a teaching artist, she has designed interdisciplinary arts curriculum for 15 years, and especially enjoys working with youth of diverse populations and at-risk communities. She presents locally, nationally and internationally at Arts/Educational conferences to share her research findings on Stories that Soar! and her connected StoryShare Curriculum. Ms. O’Brien is an active member of the Literacy for Life Coalition and works to increase awarenss and build capacity around the literacy related issues. As a native Tucsonan, Sharon is deeply rooted in the community she serves.

Dallas Thomas, Production Manager, holds a BFA in acting from Oklahoma State University and has been a Stories that Soar! ensemble member since 2007, filling the roles of actor, stage manager and project manager. Dallas has served various organizations as an actor and theatre educator. Her acting experience includes stage, film, commercial and voice over work. Dallas’ experience as a teaching artist includes acting, drama, speech and debate. She taught for Cameron University’s Speech, Debate and Acting Summer Program; Multigraphis Arts Center, for which she developed and implemented a theatre curriculum; Catalina Foothills Community Schools, as a speech, debate and competitive acting coach; and SharMoore Children’s Productions. Dallas’ business experience in the arts includes serving as house manager and programs specialist for the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute and as marketing assistant for the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television.

Teresa Simone, Education Director, has been an ensemble member of Stories that Soar! since 2003. She has been a teaching artist at diverse locations including the public library, the YMCA, the Tubac Center for the Arts, and a two-room schoolhouse in Forks of Salmon, CA. From 2006-2010 she taught creative drama to grades k-12 at Green Fields Country Day School. She is a graduate of the Dell’Arte International School for Physical Theater, where she specialized in mask-based theaters and ensemble devising. She has an MA from the University of Arizona in Women’s Studies with a concentration in Performance Studies. She has advanced training with Augusto Boal in Theater of the Oppressed, a Freierian-based theater method whereby community members become active participants to create theater that suggests solutions to their own real-world problems. Her MA thesis suggested some contemporary adaptations of Boal’s Theater of the Oppressed methodologies. Teresa has lived, worked and trained with the Tony award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe. She is a founding member of Tucson’s Las SinFronteras, a youth-driven arts advocacy organization, and she is also the founder of Tucson’s Boys’R'Us performance group and co-founder of the BodyMind Theater Group (Boulder, CO). She has worked extensively in theater, including at Pittsburgh’s Acting Company and locally, with Beowulf Alley Theatre Co., Borderlands Theater, The Rogue Theater, Old Pueblo Playwrights, and more. She is also the author of six plays.

Pete Swan, Music Director is one of Tucson’s première Jazz Drummers. As an educator he ran the Pima College Big Band; for five years he performed numerous concerts including Chuck Mahronic and Marcus Roberts. For 17 years he has been on the faculty of the Bud Shank Jazz Workshop and currently serves on the Board of the Tucson Jazz Society.

Performance Ensemble & Teaching Artists

Johnny B. has 20 years experience performing stunts across the U.S., Canada, and Japan. He has performed various characters for Jim Henson’s Muppets along with other TV and film appearances. He loves Stories that Soar!, and kids really love his monsters and chases.

Tiffany B. is an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona. She has performed for 15 years. After she graduates, she hopes to one day start her own children’s theatre company.

Joe Balagna

Darby Blaker is a key member of STS! filling roles as actor, project & stage manger. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2006 with a degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences and happily incorporates ASL into STS! productions.

Shana Brewer has always had a passion for theater and musicals from a young age, and loves working with children. Having two daughers of her own, she knows how important  it is to keep children engaged. She is excited to be a part of an organization with a very bright future.

Greg Colburn

Sean Cronin studied Theatre Arts and French Language at the University of Arizona. An actor and singer, Sean is proud to collaborate with the diverse group of talented and thoughtful artists that dedicate their talents to empowering Tucson’s youth.

Bob and Trish Evans are one of the few happily married couples who enjoy throwing things at each other. They perform together across the country as an acrobatic juggling and unicycling duo. As avid readers who enjoy empowering young minds, the mission of STS! resonates deeply with Bob and Trish.

Kate Goldman applies her passion for dance and choreography with her managerial skills as an STS! project manager and performer.  She’s in her third year with STS! and loves seeing the magic of turning those stories into performances.

Amilcar Guevara leads the band Amilcar Guevara and his Latin Jazz Sextet. As a pianist and composer he has been standing out in Tucson’s Latin Jazz scene for over 20 years. He routinely tours with other musicians, bringing Latin Jazz around the country.

Aaron Guisinger acted at NAU with a National Merit Scholarship. He is a trained Shakespearean actor with a vast repertoire of dialects. He speaks Russian and Spanish and regularly composes classical piano music for Stories that Soar! productions.

Michael Howell

Kristen Islas recently received a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Arizona. She is active in singing with various ensembles and as a soloist in town. This is her very first season with STS! and she is thrilled to incorporate her singing abilities in the shows!

Tony Kuya is a multi-talented musician who loves to bring childrens’ stories to life through sound. He is equally comfortable pounding out blues rhythms on his guitar as he is creating a surreal ambiance with his sitar.

Cyndi LaFrese holds a Bachelor’s degree in theatre from UA and is currently in the ASL English Interpreting program at Pima Community College. She brings her knowledge of the stage, ASL and a positive attitude to STS!

Virginia Miller started out performing with Teatro Viola in Rome, Italy in 1980. Since then she has appeared in the Fellini movie City of Women, toured with a Brazilian dance and music ensemble, obtained her B.A. in Dance and Theatre Studies in NYC at Empire State College, and performed with notable choreographers in NYC.

Sammy Orzech

Shannon Rzucidlo loves acting and kids, so it is no coincidence that she also loves STS! Shannon is currently interning in the education department at Arizona Theatre Company.

Anel Schmidt is a native of Sonora, Mexico. She began her acting career in 1994 in Hermosillo, Mexico and graduated from the Universidad de Sonora in 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in Theater Arts. After graduating, she moved to Arizona and resumed her acting career on Tucson’s stages. She is happy and proud to represent the Latino community and voice.

Ali Serunjogi

Sarah K. Smith holds an MA in Theatre Education and Outreach from the University of Arizona. Sarah is an actor, director, teaching artist, storyteller and arts education advocate. She works as the Education and Outreach Coordintaor at UApresents, and as an assistant producer with Odyssey Storytelling. 

ToRee’Nee Wolf Keiser