ABOUT | Stages Chicago

Copy of Copy of Permafrost Snowflake (3).png

Performing Arts Education for EVERY Child

Stages Chicago is an arts education program founded in 2016 that is dedicated to bringing the highest quality, developmentally appropriate performing arts experiences to children and families. Our curriculum is developed by professional performers turned early childhood development professionals who have decades of experience onstage and in the classroom. Stages is proud to offer a variety of inclusive programming for all ages and abilities. From developmentally appropriate music classes for infants (that are also entertaining for adults) to after school programs that serve as a training ground for the next generation of performers, Stages has it all.

In 2021, Stages Chicago transitioned to a not-for-profit organization in order to expand our reach and better support our mission of making quality performing arts education experiences accessible for all children and families.

Our Core Values

Children of all races, abilities and socio-economic statuses should have access to high quality arts education and arts experiences.
Representation and diversity matter. We want to celebrate and amplify diverse voices and stories that make up both the greater theatre community as well as the communities in which we operate. We want every child to see themselves in the stories we tell and feel a sense of belonging.
Arts experiences foster empathy in children which in turn builds more inclusive communities.
We believe in the magic of musical theatre and the ability of high quality arts experiences to inspire creativity, curiosity, and openness in children.

Meet the Board

Emily Pinas Schakowsky

Founder, Executive Director,

& Board President

Emily Pinas Schakowsky

Founder &

Executive Director

In 2016, armed with her extensive knowledge of musical theater and child development, Emily transformed her vision of what developmentally minded performing arts education could be into a reality and launched Stages Chicago.

Prior to dedicating herself full time to teaching, Emily performed professionally here in Chicago as well as in New York. She holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Theatre from New York University's Steinhardt School and an M.S. in Child Development from Chicago's Erikson Institute.

In 2023, Emily took on her favorite role yet when she welcomed her own Broadway Baby, Adelyn, to the Stages Family.

Colin Funk

Director of Early Childhood Programming

& Board Vice President

Colin Funk

Director of Early Childhood Programming

& Vice President

Colin has both performed and worked with children most of his life. He has worked as an actor and choreographer for professional shows throughout Chicago, with companies like Metropolis, Towle, Kokandy, Porchlight, and many others. He continues to sing in The Chicago Carolers, The Feathered Beaus, and self produced cabarets. He also produces a podcast with husband Pavi called "Then, A Moment" all about storytelling.

After working as a nanny for many years, he joined Stages when the company started in 2016, has helped grow the program, and has filled many roles. He has since gotten a masters degree in childhood development from Erikson Institute, with a focus in infancy, and became a developmental therapist with a trauma based care specialization. He still works part time as an Infant Development Specialist at La Rabida Children's Hospital.
Colin is now the Director of Early Childhood Programming, and wears many hats in helping Stages to run smoothly while growing to help more and more people.

Allison Hendrix

Board Secretary

Jeremy Round

Board Treasurer

Sara Yaniga

Board Member

Meet the Team

Naomi Brigell

Business Manager

Naomi Brigell

Business Manager

Naomi Brigell is an arts administrator and performer who has been working with Stages Chicago as Business Manager since 2019. She previously worked as an administrator with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Tanglewood Institute, Handel and Haydn Society, Moores Opera House, and Boston Lyric Opera. Alongside her administrative career, Naomi is an accomplished operatic mezzo-soprano who has sung professionally with companies throughout the country including Des Moines Metro Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Saratoga, Dayton Opera, Opera in the Heights, Chicago Opera Theater, and Opera Naples. Naomi is passionate about accessibility in the arts and is proud to support Stages Chicago’s mission to provide quality performing arts education to all children and families.

Claire Weinstein

Parties & Events Manager & Teaching Artist

Claire Weinstein

Parties & Events Manager

& Teaching Artist

Prior to becoming the Parties & Events Manager for Stages, Claire spent many years in the classroom as a public school teacher in Chicago, Memphis, and France (yes, she is bilingual!). She is a graduate of the Erikson Institute and holds a M.S. in Early Childhood Education. Claire's extensive knowledge of Child Development combined with a love for all things planning makes her the ultimate party planner and one of our favorite guest Teaching Artists on Day Off Camps!

Faye Davis

Birthday Party Coordinator & Teaching Artist

Faye Davis

Birthday Party Coordinator & Teaching Artist

Faye is a teaching artist who's been a part of the Stages Chicago team since November 2022. Among her Stages roles, Faye is a Broadway & Me and Stars instructor, Party and Events Coordinator, and a Stages camp counselor. She received her BA in Theatre Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and works as a professional actor in Chicago. At the age of 4, Faye began performing on her Fisher Price stage, and has been acting and singing ever since. Faye incorporates her love of the arts, imaginative play, and fun when working with her students in the classroom.

Haley Bolithon

Teaching Artist

Haley Bolithon

Teaching Artist

Haley Bolithon has been working with kids since her first summer job as an Inclusion Aide for NWSRA. Since then she has been a nanny, a babysitter, a swim instructor, and a counselor for an after-school program. Haley has been acting professionally since age 13 as Martha Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre. Since then she has acted at A Red Orchid Theatre, The House Theatre of Chicago, Chicago Children's Theatre, Redtwist Theatre, Blank Theatre Company, and Inkwell Arts and Learning, and she can be seen on TV in Somebody Somewhere (HBO), Work in Progress (Showtime), Knives and Skin (Chicago Film Project), and various commercials. Haley is an ensemble member at Bramble Theatre Company and Proboscis Theatre and is an alumnus of School at Steppenwolf.

Hope Lee

Teaching Artist

Hope Lee

Teaching Artist

Hope graduated with her BFA from Stephens College in 2018. This is where her love for children’s theatre was sparked. She moved to Chicago in August 2019 and began teaching at Stepping Stones Nursery School. Here she started with infants and joined the 2/3 yr olds. Her main focus was merging art of all forms to navigate social and emotional development. From there she began to nanny and joined the Stages team in 2021. Hope is elated to be apart of the team whether it’s running party logistics, or helping out with camps and classes. The power of art and community fills her heart!

Alimmah Muhammad

Teaching Artist

Sabrina Schoenberg

Teaching Artist

Dance Director &

Teaching Artist

Sabrina Schoenberg

Sabrina is thrilled to be developing a dance program and heading the dance department at Stages. She brings an extensive amount of directing, choreography and teaching experience. Sabrina has taught at the Deerfield Park District, Kidstage Productions, Apachi Day Camp and the prestigious Actors Training Center as well as Fred Astaire Long Grove where she developed and taught a Ballroom and Musical Theater Dance class for children. Sabrina also has experience teaching in early childhood settings thanks to her time as an assistant teacher in the preschool program at Glenbrook North High School. Sabrina holds a BA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago. Sabrina is a national champion ballroom dancer and Fred Astaire’s pro-am grand champion. She travels around the world competing and trains daily at Fred Astaire West Loop under award winning instructor & owner Andre Santore, where they coach frequently with some of the world’s best ballroom dancers, many of whom have appeared on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Olivia Buss

Camp Director & Teaching Artist

Olivia Buss

Camp Director & Teaching Artist

Olivia Chant Buss is a Chicago based actor, director, writer, and educator. This is her third year with Stages Chicago, where she teaches toddlers, teenagers, and every age in between! Olivia primarily teaches Broadway Preschool Prep, Broadway Stars, and school residency classes throughout the school year, as well as serving as Camp Director during summer. When not in the classroom, she helps manage marketing and outreach for Stages. Olivia has been performing professionally in theatre and film for nearly her entire life. She is also a produced director/writer with new projects always in the works. Olivia is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's BFA Acting program.

Deanna Nutt

Broadway Prep Lead Teacher & Teaching Artist

Deanna Nutt

Broadway Prep Lead Teacher & Teaching Artist

As a dedicated teaching artist at Stages Chicago, I bring a unique blend of experience and expertise to the world of children's theater. With seven years of invaluable childcare experience in daycare, preschool, and camp settings, I've honed my skills in creating engaging and educational experiences for young minds.

I am a proud graduate of Virginia Tech, where I achieved academic excellence by graduating cum laude. My degree in theater performance, coupled with the completion of the pre-education track, equips me with the knowledge and passion necessary to inspire and nurture the budding talents of our young performers.

At Stages Chicago, I am committed to fostering creativity and self-expression in our future stars, while instilling a love for the arts. I look forward to contributing to the growth and development of our young actors as we embark on an exciting journey through the world of children's theater.

Alvi Allen

Teaching Artist

Alvi Allen

Teaching Artist

Alvi is a teaching artist and performer with Stages and has been working with this amazing team since June of 2023. Alvi moved to Chicago from their small town in Wisconsin to pursue a dream of theatre and to immerse themself in such a hub for the arts. They were on track for a Musical Theatre BFA at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts when the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately cut their schooling off. They didn't let that stop them, and they made their way to Acting Studio Chicago where they studied under Chicago artists such as Christina Gorman and Sarafina Vecchio to hone their skills. They worked typical hourly jobs before dropping it all to work in the field of childcare, a dream they had in their back pocket from high school, which lead them to the amazing opportunity at Stages. They are so happy they can sing and dance and play with kids and share their love for the arts with them as well! They wished they had something when they were this young, but that only drives them further and inspires them more.

Felicia Hinojosa

Teaching Artist

Felicia Hinojosa

Teaching Artist

Howdy y'all! I was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas and moved to Chicago to study musical theatre and education at Columbia College Chicago. I am classically trained in classical and operatic singing, but found my passion in theatre and acting as well. I began my education journey on accident by giving Zoom voice lessons in 2020 and it evolved into a love of being a Teaching Artist! My mission is to bring DEI and accessibility to anyone who wants to learn about voice/acting. I recently made my music director debut with POC Production's "Royalty Cabaret". My past shows include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona) , The Little Mermaid (Andrina, princess), Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal), Grease (Marty), Head Over Heels (ensemble), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Cassandra), and Hamlet (Lucianus, Gravedigger).

Ricky Luoto

Teaching Artist

Teaching Artist

Ricky Luoto

Originally from Sonoma County, California, Ricky is acclimating (poorly) to Chicago living, but loving every second of it! A soon-to-be-graduated BFA Musical Theatre student at Columbia College Chicago, Ricky is so honored to be apart of Stages, with so many other wonderful teaching artists. Ricky was most recently seen in ‘The Amateurs’ at Columbia College Chicago, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for him!

Cameron Nalley

Teaching Artist

Cameron Nalley

Teaching Artist

Mr. Cameron has always had a passion for performing, and graduated in his hometown from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music with a BFA in Acting. Since then, Cameron has performed both on main-stages and in educational tours with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, as well as Midsommar Flight back here in Chicago. Since working for Stages, Cameron has had the pleasure of teaching just about every level of classes we offer.

Hunter Trammell

Teaching Artist

Cee Scallen

Camp Director & Teaching Artist

Cee Scallen

Camp Director & Teaching Artist

Cee Scallen (they/them) is a theatre artist, arts educator, and dedicated cat parent. They have a decade of performance experience and theatrical training from the Guthrie Theater, Carleton College, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, the National Theatre Institute, and Moscow Art Theatre. Recent credits include Lysander in Big Noise Theatre's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Buzz/Overseer in Impostor Theatre Co's Footholds Vol. 4. In addition to their work with Stages Chicago, Cee is the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program Coordinator and ensemble member with Imagination Theater. They yearn to make inclusive, innovative, and intentional theatre that strives to make a social impact. Cee is proud to be represented by Talent X Alexander.

Jonah Cochin

Birthday Party Coordinator & Teaching Artist

Jonah Cochin

Birthday Party Coordinator & Teaching Artist

Jonah is a Chicago-based actor/singer/teaching artist. Originally from Massachusetts, he moved to Chicago in 2015 and has been working in theatre ever since. He has worked with a variety of theatre companies in the Chicagoland area, including Porchlight Music Theatre, Blank Theatre Company, and The Beautiful City Project, among others. When he is not performing or teaching, Jonah enjoys playing guitar, rewatching episodes of Glee, or exploring parts of Chicago he hasn’t seen before!

Heather Bohan

Teaching Artist

Heather Bohan

Teaching Artist

Heather Bohan (she/her) is so happy to be a teaching artist here at Stages Chicago! She is also currently a senior acting major with an education minor at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Onstage, Heather has performed in Lane Call at the Factory Theater, in cabarets with the Beautiful City Project and Ring of Keys, and played Mary Flynn in Merrily We Roll Along at CCPA. Heather has always wanted to pursue theatre and teaching, so working with Stages truly is the best of both worlds! @heatheratstages

350662800_1530453374471173_3525758894485087101_n - Miranda Freaking Hunter.jpg

Miranda Hunter

Teaching Artist

Miranda Hunter

Miranda Hunter has been working with young stars since she was fourteen years old. Starting as a counselor in training at a Nashville theater camp, Ms. Miranda has worked with young stars both in the classroom setting as well in the theater for the last decade; and she is so excited to be working with Stages! Aside from her experience with children Ms. Miranda has an extensive musical theater background both on and off the stage; lending her voices to projects such as MTI’s Children of Eden Jr. Outside of Stages Ms. Miranda works as a local comedian and playwright recently nominated for "Best Playwright of 2023" in the Chicago Reader.

Kylee Masterson

Teaching Artist

Kylee Masterson

Kylee is a Chicago based actor, playwright, and teaching artist. They are a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Musical Theatre and Fashion Styling. They have been working with youth for years from starting their own drama program for middle schoolers to teaching art classes over summers. They have worked with different companies in Chicago to act and have their own plays produced.

Duda Regis

Teaching Artist

Duda Regis

Teaching Artist

Duda is thrilled to be part of the Stages Team! She is a performer, teacher and an animal lover. She is a student at Roosevelt University- CCPA, where she is earning her BFA in Musical Theatre with a Dance concentration. Duda was last seen in “Phantom Tollbooth” and “Mirrors: The Change I Want to See” at CCPA.

Back home in Brazil, Duda started working with kids and teenagers academically in 2021. In the summer of 2023, she worked at 7&8 Dance studio with kids from k-2 to High School! Duda joined the Stages Team in the Fall of 2023, and she is so happy to be assisting in Broadway Stars classes! She hopes you enjoy Stages as much as she does.

Patrick ZurSchmiede

Teaching Artist