ICDT PAC
Staff Bios
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Shayna is a native of Walnut Creek and discovered theater at the age of 9 under the direction of Edward Belasco in the Belasco Theater Company. Over the next ten years, she performed locally with numerous theater companies and trained with The Ballet School, Lawrence Pech and private vocal instructor Lucia Scardigno. She moved to New York in 2001 and graduated with a degree in Psychology, Linguistics, and Philosophy from New York University. Shayna is a proud mother of two young boys who teach her every day how to be curious, bold, and full of humor. She is overjoyed to be bringing her love of theatre to a new generation of performers and to provide the Bay Area with some OUTSTANDING musical theatre!!
co founder &
Theatrical producer
Shayna Ronen
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Jarusha received her BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College. Upon graduating, she continued her professional acting career performing with multiple regional and Off-Broadway theatres. In 2011 her passion took her overseas to Tokyo Disney Resort, where she shared magic bringing beloved Disney heroines to life for two years. She is now settled in the East Bay and has performed locally with Clayton Theatre Company, Vagabond Players, and CCMT where she starred in the title role of Gypsy. After completing two years as a preschool teacher, she is so happy to finally combine her passion for theatre with her love of teaching and inspiring children.
Co-founder &
Artistic director
Jarusha Ariel
Berkley Woll is the Production Assistant and Stage Manager for ICDT. She graduated from William Jessup University where she studied Arts Management. After graduating she went to NYC for a stage management internship at the Gershwin Theatre for Wicked on Broadway! She has pursued Stage Management & Technical Theatre for many years. Favorite credits include Oklahoma (PSM), A Midsummer Night's Dream (ASM), It's a Wonderful Life (Assistant Lighting Design), Spelling Bee (Lighting Design), Guys & Dolls (Props Assistant).
production manager
Berkley Woll
Benny Garcia
Teaching artist
Benjamin Rafael Garcia developed a passion for theatre and music very early in his life. It brings him such joy to help nurture that passion in children and young adults at I Can Do That Theatre Company. He began studying music (piano/voice) at age 8, Acting at age 10, and Improvisation at 16. He can currently be seen performing as an actor and Vocalist in plays, musicals, and revues in theatres all over the Bay area.
Jacob Woll
Vocal instructor
Jacob Woll studied at Cal State East Bay majoring in music education and vocal performance. He currently teaches music at Livermore Valley Academy. Throughout high-school and college, Jacob has performed in various musicals, some of his favorite roles include: Chris (Miss Sigon), Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid) and Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). He placed 2nd in National Association of Teachers of Singing in the Musical Theater category as well as 1st in Classical. He currently leads Trinity Livermore Church’s choir and worship team. Music and Theater are Jacob’s biggest passions and he is so excited to share his skills with ICDT.
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Rosie Corr
Teaching artist
Rosie Corr is a student at Pomona College.She is double majoring in Economics and Theatre, with an emphasis on Musical Theatre and Dance. She is an ICDT graduate and has been a part of ICDT since the very first summer showcase, and has served the company in all facets, from cast member to dance captain to associate choreographer to director’s assistant. She also has directed and choreographed extensively throughout high school and college, as well as worked as a theatre and dance teacher at Beth Chaim Congregation. She recently started her own community-driven musical theatre company at college, and directed, choreographed, and produced her first full length production. She is so excited to be teaching classes at ICDT!
Chris Aceves
Teaching artist
Chris has been performing in musical theatre for the past 20 years of his life. He has been trained in ballet, jazz, and modern dance and is very well versed in many different styles of dance technique. He has worked with many favorable companies in the Bay Area including Broadway By the Bay and Contra Costa Musical Theatre Company. Some of his favorite credits include: A Chorus Line, West Side Story, & Oklahoma. Teaching has always been a huge passion of his and he is ecstatic to be able to help kids and teens personally grow, develop, and build confidence through dance and musical theatre!
Katie Turley
Vocal instructor
Benjamin Rafael Garcia developed a passion for theatre and music very early in his life. It brings him such joy to help nurture that passion in children and young adults at I Can Do That Theatre Company. He began studying music (piano/voice) at age 8, Acting at age 10, and Improvisation at 16. He can currently be seen performing as an actor and Vocalist in plays, musicals, and revues in theatres all over the Bay area.
Anya Absten
Teaching artist
Anya Absten is a Bay-Area based professional performer, teaching artist, and yoga instructor. Anya received her 200-hr Yoga Teacher Certificate from Yoga to the People (San Francisco) in 2017 and studied mindfulness and meditation with Dr. Domonick Wegesin at Namaste (Oakland) in 2019. Currently, Anya is a full-time faculty member at Oakland School for the Arts teaching theatre and dance, but you may have seen her in the ICDT studio where she also teaches theatre and dance from time to time. In her yoga and meditation classes, Anya likes to use the resonating sounds of a quartz-crystal singing bowl in savasana to invite the body and mind into alignment with the present.
