Natalie (she/her) is excited to be returning to Character Kids again this year! She graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts in 2022. She specializes in acting, directing, and teaching. She has 10+ years of experience working with youth development programming. She has a passion for helping young people develop skills onstage and in their everyday lives! When Natalie isn’t teaching you can find her spending time outside, reading, at the movies or snuggling with her bunny RoRo. 

Carmen (she/her) is a Midwest movement and theatre artist, specializing in choreography, performance, and children's theatre. She studied theatre and dance at the U of M - Twin Cities, and works with schools in the area like Blaine High School and Valley View Middle School. She is originally from the Milwaukee area, where she works with Lake Country Playhouse. When not in the theatre, you can find her reading, baking, or playing board games.

Emily (she/her) is an actor, writer, and educator who holds an MFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina–Greensboro. Originally from Minneapolis and recently based in Brooklyn, some of her stage credits include Macbeth (Shakespeare on the Sound), The Revolutionists (Rooftop Theatre Collaborative), and Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet (Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival). Most recently, she taught at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp as an Acting and Movement Instructor.

Isabelle (she/her) is a Minneapolis-based interdisciplinary theatre artist and educator. She is so excited to be working for Character Kids as a teaching artist! Isabelle holds a BFA in Acting and a BA in Journalism from the University of Minnesota-Duluth where she graduated with Latin and Departmental honors. She has performed at numerous theaters across the state. Favorite credits include Stupid…Bird (Nina), Silent Sky (Henrietta), and The Crucible (Abigail). You can find out more on her website: isabellehopewell.com or keep up with her on social media @ihopewell17.

Emma (she/her) graduated from Saint Mary's University of MN with a BA in acting/directing in 2023. After graduating, she toured the states for 2 years with various children's theatre, both performing and directing. Now, she finds her home in Minneapolis with her boyfriend and puppy, where she still teaches, directs, and performs. 

Miranda (she/her) recently moved to Minneapolis from Moorhead, MN. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a Major in Theatre and Minor in Women and Gender Studies. Prior to coming to the cities, she worked for Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre as a director, teaching artist, stage manager, actor and more! Miranda has always found a home in Theatre and Art and hopes to help others find it too. In her free time, you might find her painting, daydreaming, singing, enjoying the outdoors, playing The Sims or just being a modern-day Stooge, usually on accident!

Dana (she/her) is the Education Manager and manages the Twin Cities branch of classes for Character Kids. She is a director, actor, and theatre teaching artist. She has also worked in artistic administration at the Glimmerglass Festival, an opera festival in upstate New York, as well as at Sunset Playhouse, a community theatre in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She works in front of and behind the camera on film sets around the Midwest. When she’s not teaching you can find her snuggling her cat, Gizmo.