Class Act Theatre / Class Act Community Playhouse

Class Act Theatre / Class Act Community Playhouse offers musical theatre, after-school theatre enrichment, and intro to theatre programming. The program presents productions that culminate in a series of performances on stage with handcrafted sets, personalized props, and designed costumes.

• Ages: 4–18 years old

Class Act Theatre / Class Act Community Playhouse operates as a year-round, innovative theatre program with a focus on music, theatre, and acting. Its mission is to positively impact the lives of its students and families by encouraging personal growth through creative expression and theatre. The organization has described itself as “The Leader in Children's Musical Theatre since 1985!” and is involved in musicals for schools and after-school theatre enrichment at select LVUSD, LAUSD, and private schools including Bay Laurel, Chaparral, CHIME, Justice St., Lupin Hill, Mariposa, Round Meadow, and St. B. Unique features include year-round musical theatre and after-school enrichment, productions that feature handcrafted sets, personalized props, and costumes, and core values stated as: Excel Creatively, Work as a Team, Impact the Community, Always Have Fun.

The leadership and staff team includes Jessica Alexander (Artistic Director & CEO; MFA in Acting from New School University), Thom Dalesandro (Company Music Director & Enrichment Producer; BA in Performing Arts: Music from CSU Channel Islands), Karis Brizendine (Kids Music Director & Enrichment Producer; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Baldwin Wallace University), and Michael Cochnar (General Manager & Executive Producer; BFA in Theatre from Doane University). Additional team members include Tiffany Vallerga (Kids Director/Enrichment Producer & Kids Lead Choreographer; BA in Cinematic Arts from San Francisco State University), Ivory Reid (Main Stage Co-Choreographer & Main Stage Kids Producer; AA degree in Theater Performing Arts), Alyssa Dvorak (Company Manager & Tween Program Lead Director; BA from New York University), Ally Muholland (Teen Program Director & Co-Choreographer; Graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy), and Maria Fouras (Enrichment Director & Assistant Director; El Camino graduate who has performed in 12 Class Act shows). The team also includes Lucas Sprague (Assistant Music Director Kids & Enrichment Programs; BA in Music Composition from California Lutheran University), Kate Brennan (Enrichment Program Assistant Choreographer; BFA in Musical Theatre from AMDA), Lucy Davison (Rising Stars Director & Assistant Director; currently attending Pierce College and has performed in 12 Class Act shows), Jessamyn Bruno (Enrichment Team Lead & Associate Director; Bachelor's in Theatre Arts from California State University–Northridge), and Kyle Brizendine (Assistant Music Director Enrichment Programs; Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Studies from CSUN). Further staff members are Liv Vargas (Rising Stars Director & Assistant Director; B.M. in Music Business and Entrepreneurship from SDSU), Taryn Huffman (Assistant Director & Choreographer; BFA in Musical Theatre from Missouri State University), Emily Franks (Enrichment Program & Associate Director; BA in Mass Communications from Florida State University), Cali Mosca (Lighting Designer & Teaching Assistant; currently attending Cal Lutheran majoring in Theater Arts), Cassie Shima (Costume Manager & Designer; BA in Theatre Arts from CSU Long Beach), and Suzy Cochnar (Production Coordinator; Master’s in Education from the University of Nebraska). The Class Act Board of Directors includes Michael Cochnar, Jessica Alexander, Garrett Mendez, Aimee Leff, Marwa Gofnung, Ally Mulholland, Marlena Robbins, Pete Wanat, and Alex Selkowitz.

Last updated June 27, 2026.