Meet our Teaching Artists

Karen O’Hanlon has served as Chance Theater’s Community Outreach and Education Director since 2015. As an educator, she is deeply committed to using theater as a tool to build empathy, confidence, and meaningful skills in her students. Through programs like Speak Up, she empowers local youth, veterans, and teens on the autism spectrum to find their voices and share their stories with courage and authenticity. Her career highlights include writing and directing A Celtic Holiday with Craic in the Stone (named Best Special Event by Examiner.com), teaching and directing at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton for the First Stage, and the in-school residency program. Regional East Coast Director for Creative Theatre, and Debate Coach and Judge Trainer with the Orange County Debate League.  Karen has been at Fairmont Private School since 2009 as a teacher and is the current Middle School Coordinator for the International Baccalaureate Program. In 2021, she was recognized as one of Orange County’s Top Ten Teachers by Parenting Magazine. As a performer in orange county, Karen has appeared with the Pacific Symphony at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and on the Chance stage in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (OCTG nomination for Best Ensemble), the Southern California premiere of Middletown, The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later (named to LA Stage Times’ Top Ten of 2013), Passion Play (Orange County premiere), Rare Birds (OTR Workshop), Verité (OTR Workshop), A Charlie Brown Christmas (understudy), and The Eight: Reindeer Monologues.

Darryl Hovis is an actor, director, and designer, resident artist and Education Director at Chance Theater. He earned his MA in Theatre Production at Central Washington University and studied acting at the Professional Conservatory at UCSD under Anna Shapiro (Steppenwolf) as well as South Coast Repertory under Karen Hensel. He is the co-founder and artistic director of the Culver City Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, where he developed an intensive arts program for high school students in theatre, film, music, and art, and has gone on to develop theatre programs at other Southern California high schools, as well as Theatre International at Leysin American School in Leysin, Switzerland. He has directed a multitude of productions, some of his favorites being Therese Raquin (Chance Theater), Rent and The Threepenny Opera (Samohi Theatre), Machinal and Resurrecting Antigone (UniTheatre), and The Miracle Worker and Treehouses (AVPA). He dedicates his work to God and to his wife, Angela, and three children, Dylan, Andrew, and Julia.

Jonathon Lamer is a professional actor and theatre adjudicator with credits in the Midwest, New England, the Mid-South, and throughout Southern California. He has been an adjudicator for the US Army Europe Tournament of Plays, The Lenaea High School Theatre Festival, The California Educational Theatre Association, and local high school theatre competitions. He was a theatre instructor for the Summer Conservatory attached to Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN, teaching both young performers and adult participants. He led many acting workshops during his time in Europe, focusing on monologue and scene work.

Robyn Manion is a proud Resident Artist here at Chance Theater. Past productions with this company include West Side Story, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, In The Heights, Hairspray, Fancy Nancy, Parade (Ovation nominated), Violet (LA Times Critic’s Pick), Big Fish, Lizzie (Ovation winner, Best Musical-Intimate Theater), Ragtime, Edges (OCTG Award nomination: Outstanding Music Direction), and Spring Awakening. She has also done musical direction at Chapman University (Cabaret, The Who’s Tommy, and 9 to 5), and Saddleback College (Spitfire Grill). Robyn teaches middle school music full-time at Harbor Day School, and is also the proud owner of Heavenly Voices Productions, an Andrews Sisters style performance company where trios of women provide high-caliber vocal entertainment for holidays and special occasions. She is grateful for the ability to make music her livelihood, and is so very thankful to this theater company for giving her the opportunity to continuously create meaningful art. www.heavenlyvoicesproductions.com

James Michael McHale is an actor, director, Resident Artist, and Literary Manager at Chance Theater. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from California State University Long Beach, completed conservatories with the Michael Chekhov Association and The Actor’s Center (NYC), and multiple intensives at Lesly Kahn & Co in Los Angeles. As a director, he recently won the Orange County Theatre Guild Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for American Idiot at Chance Theater, where his directing credits also include the OC Premiere of Edges, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas among others. He has written and directed a number of storytelling concerts for Pacific Symphony presented at Segerstrom Concert Hall including: Beethoven: Trials to Triumph, A Dream of Tchaikovsky, The Curious Case of the Vanishing Violin, and Music from the Movies and More! James’ acting credits include Much Ado About Nothing at The Old Globe, the National Tour of APOLLO 11 for Troika Entertainment, multiple regional theater productions of the musical Once, and many productions here at the Chance. His teaching artist experience includes a variety of classes at Chance Theater, co-directing Chance’s Speak Up program for Junior High and Highs School, working as a guest director at local middle schools, and directing a number of Elementary School productions for Musical Theater Playground.

Jake Mouchawar is a performer, puppeteer, director, and theater educator originally from Thousand Oaks, CA. He currently serves as the Education Associate for the Chance Theater. He graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in Theatre Education & Performance from Emerson College, where he was awarded the 2022 Excellence in Theatre Education award. He has performed at The Burren in Cambridge, the Pantages in Hollywood, and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He has also studied with Boston University, the American Musical & Dramatic Academy, and Actors Studio of Orange County. While in Massachusetts, Jake became well-regarded for both his Boston-based acting workshops and his time teaching at Hill House, Weston High School, and the Madeline English School. Since returning to California, Jake has been a contracted teaching artist for Chance Theater and the Anaheim Unified School District. Notable directing credits include A Story of Hope (AUHSD), Mr. Burns: a post-electric play (Full Fathom), Into the Woods (T.CO) and Chicago (T.CO). Notable performing credits include Little Peasants (Food Tank), American Idiot (MTS), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (EmStage), She Kills Monsters (Kidding Around), and Spring Awakening (Bella Vita Productions). Notable podcast appearances include a spotlight episode on ThED Talks in 2023. His pedagogy is inspired by Augusto Boal, Viola Spolin, Kristin Linklater, Bethany Nelson, and Sharrell D. Luckett. Outside of the profession, Jake is a regular volunteer with the Pet Adoption Center of Orange County and enjoys writing short-form prose, swimming, antiquing, and watching competition reality shows. He is the Founder of JAKE MOUCHAWAR COACHING, a holistic private acting coaching practice serving all ages and skill levels throughout Orange County and Los Angeles.

Martin Noyes is from Irvine, California where he works as a teacher and fight director. His most recent work was fight directing The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Chance Theater in Anaheim, California. Mr. Noyes also has worked at South Coast Repertory fight directing such shows as Hitchcock Blonde, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, Ridiculous Fraud, Bach at Leipzig, Nothing Sacred, and System Wonderland. At Shakespeare Santa Cruz: King Lear, As You Like It, and Pygmalion. Mr. Noyes is a Certified Teacher in the Art of Stage Combat through the Society of American Fight Directors and has been fight directing for 35 years. Mr. Noyes received his BFA from Southern Oregon University and his MFA from the University of Alabama, both in Theater with an emphasis in performance. Martin Noyes is the CEO of ADVENTURE THEATER LLC, which is an interactive roleplaying theatrical experience.

Shai Culver is an Asian American actress with a BFA in Musical Theater from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. With a strong foundation in performance and education, she has taught acting and improv to children and adults at an acting studio in Burbank, CA, led Musical Theater and Improv with No Limits at McCoy Rigby, and coached audition techniques and cold reading at the Nevada State Thespian Conference. In addition to her work in the performing arts, Shai has supported special needs classrooms for the past three years and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in speech therapy. She believes that everyone has the ability to act and sing—you simply have to discover what works best for you. With dedication and the right guidance, she believes anything is possible.

Shinshin Yuder Tsai is a dedicated Resident Artist and full-time staff member at Chance Theater, where he serves as the Producing Associate. He is also a valued Board Member on the Council for OCTG and the Founding Artistic Director of the AAPI Sketch Comedy Troupe, No MSG Added. With nearly a decade of experience as a teaching artist, Shinshin has inspired countless young minds. His work at conservatories in Orange County and Los Angeles has been instrumental in creating a pathway for at-risk youth to transition to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He has directed over 30 children’s productions, including a delightful full-scale musical reminiscent of Cinderella. His influence has empowered many children to find their confidence, embrace the arts, and thrive as individuals. He focuses on kindness and compassion, emphasizing ensemble building to promote proactive thoughtfulness. Shinshin’s notable directing credits include productions such as She Kills Monsters at Long Beach Playhouse & STAGEStheatre, The Hatmaker’s Wife, LOVE/SICK, and Cowboy Vs. Samurai at Long Beach Playhouse. He has also directed The Pillowman and Almost, Maine at the University of California, Irvine, Metamorphoses and Mother Courage and Her Children at Chapman University, and Kvetcher in the Wry at OC-Centric. Most recently, he directed the 2024 OCTG Award Shows at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The arts transformed Shinshin’s life as a young child, and now he’s dedicated to paying it forward, helping other children find their voices, passions, and confidence, just as other artists once did for him. And in his spare time? He’s lovingly curated the ultimate list of All-You-Can-Eat restaurants in Southern California—because even artists need a good meal! With Shinshin, parents can rest assured that their children are in the hands of someone who truly cares about their growth, creativity, and happiness.

Amanda Zarr is a professional actor, director, and adjunct theatre professor. She earned her BFA from Chapman University and her MFA from the prestigious PATP program at the University of Washington. She currently directs and teaches at Chapman University and Goldenwest College. She was a member of Shakespeare Orange County for over 10 years and served as Associate Artistic Director. She has been a guest artist with Ophelia’s Jump, Pensacola Shakespeare Company, ACTC, Need Theater of Los Angeles, Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and Long Beach City College. Notable acting credits include: Hamlet (Golden West College), Fiona (In a Word) and Margie (Good People) at Chance Theater and Juliet, Helena, and Lady Anne at Shakespeare Orange County. She recently won the Orange Curtain Review‘s Best Actress for 2022 (Lina in Cry it Out, Chance Theater). She was proud to work with Santa Fe playwright Joanna Garner on her new work Gutting as a part of the OTR series at Chance Theater where she is a Resident Artist. For Chance Theater, Amanda also produced, directed, and co-stared in the online show Chance Encounters.

Juliet Fischer was last seen at Chance Theater in Such Small Hands. Her other credits include the Broadway and Touring shows of Chicago, On the Town, A Christmas Carol, Kiss Me Kate, Waiting in the Wings (off Broadway) and as a Radio City Music Hall Rockette. Her favorite roles include: The Prom (Angie), The Children (Rose), Rumors (Claire), The Play That Goes Wrong (Annie), Death by Design (Brigide), Mamma Mia (Tanya), 9 to 5 (Violet), Chicago (Velma), and her one woman show: My Midlife Cabaret. She holds a degree in Theater Film and Television from U.C.L.A. Film and TV credits include: The Prom with Meryl Streep, Omar at Dinner, Lemonade, Windfall (recurring), TED, and Crazy For You on PBS (as the toe tapping Mitzi).

Rob Blaney began accompanying musical theater in high school, and by 20 he was vocal directing, music directing, and accompanying six to ten shows a year. He spent two summers as a pianist at the Sacramento Music Circus and worked on national tours, including rehearsal accompanist for Leader of the Pack (starring Sha Na Na) and Assistant Conductor/Keyboard 1 for Evita (starring Valerie Perri). He has served in leadership roles for 300+ productions across children’s theaters, schools, colleges, and professional companies throughout Southern California. In demand as an audition pianist, he has accompanied master classes with Lea Salonga and Hugh Jackman at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. As an educator, Rob has taught vocal music and musical theatre at middle schools, high schools, Santa Ana College, and Concordia University. At the Chance Theatre, he has served as Music Director for The Last 5 Years, the staged reading of The Boy In The Bathroom, and has headlined and accompanied many Chance-A-Thon concerts. His greatest joy is his family.

Link Montgomery, who has experience both in participating and assistant teaching at The Chance, is a Theatre Major at CSUF. They are working towards getting a teaching credential so they can become a theatre educator. With experiences in acting, dancing, singing, directing, and multiple technical categories, Link is focused on building a well-rounded skillset.

Kenzie Dunsmore is a multi hyphenate artist and educator with a BFA in Acting for the Stage and Screen. She is passionate about creating theater that is exciting, compelling, and challenging. With over two decades of experience, Kenzie has worked on countless productions as a performer, director, choreographer, and stage manager. Kenzie currently serves as the theater director at Calvary Chapel High School and is dedicated to equipping the next generation of artists. She is thrilled to be returning to the Chance as part of the Teens Speak Up team! A few of her acting credits include: Our Town, So That Happened (web series), Trip (short film), The Trojan Women, Three Sisters, Hairspray, Newsies, and Elf The Musical. Directing: You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, 21 Chump Street, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Assistant Director).