THE ARTISTIC TEAM
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Laura Little - Producer / Artistic Director
Laura Little recently produced All Is Calm off-Broadway and is co-producing the Tony Award winning Come From Away on Broadway, Toronto, London, Dublin, and on national tour. Her other Broadway credits include: co-producer of the five time Tony Award winning Peter and the Starcatcher and First Date starring Zachary Levi. This is her eighth year producing Traditions of Christmas in Coeur d'Alene. Laura’s other local productions include the reading of The Giver featuring Patty Duke, and concerts featuring Doug Webster, pianist/vocalist Kevin Cole, singer Cami Bradley. Laura is the past Executive Director of Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre and Executive/Artistic Director of CYT Spokane and founder of LLL Talent Agency (now MAM). She is the past president for Coeur d'Alene Sunrise Rotary and is currently a proud member of the Coeur d'Alene Noon Rotary. She was honored to be a Soroptomist Woman of Distinction recipient in 2015 and the Hayden Awards for the arts this year. Laura has served on many theatre boards as well as the Kroc Center’s Advisory Board. She is also currently an executive board member of Friends of Idaho Public Television. Laura is a graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute Producers Program, and a graduate of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls leadership programs. She has three grown children and two beautiful grandsons. |
Rick Taylor - Director
Rick is thrilled to be directing Traditions of Christmas 2019 for a third time. This marks his sixth year of involvement. He has directed First Date, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, and many others for Northwest Christian Theater, Spokane Civic Theater, Aspire, and Laura Little Theatricals. Completing his BA in Communication from Corban University in Salem, OR, his “day job” is teaching at Northwest Christian in Colbert, WA. He is glad to be involved on the creative team with his wife of 32 years, and the love of his life. Thank you to Laura Little for him giving this opportunity. Solo Dei Gloria!
Rick is thrilled to be directing Traditions of Christmas 2019 for a third time. This marks his sixth year of involvement. He has directed First Date, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, and many others for Northwest Christian Theater, Spokane Civic Theater, Aspire, and Laura Little Theatricals. Completing his BA in Communication from Corban University in Salem, OR, his “day job” is teaching at Northwest Christian in Colbert, WA. He is glad to be involved on the creative team with his wife of 32 years, and the love of his life. Thank you to Laura Little for him giving this opportunity. Solo Dei Gloria!
Beth Taylor - Music Director
Beth Taylor started playing piano in 2nd grade, and when she saw her first live performance of Guys and Dolls, she dreamt of playing for a live production someday. It happened starting in 2004 at CYT’s Prince and the Pauper that starred Laura Little’s daughter Jessi. Beth has been involved in productions ever since. Most recently, she co-musical directed Hunchback of Notre Dame for Aspire Theater. In addition, she has accompanied or musically directed such shows as First Date, Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Seussical, Beauty and The Beast, and many others. She is thrilled to be involved with this show and even more thrilled to be on the creative team with her husband, Rick! She cannot thank Laura enough for thinking of her and giving her this opportunity!
Beth Taylor started playing piano in 2nd grade, and when she saw her first live performance of Guys and Dolls, she dreamt of playing for a live production someday. It happened starting in 2004 at CYT’s Prince and the Pauper that starred Laura Little’s daughter Jessi. Beth has been involved in productions ever since. Most recently, she co-musical directed Hunchback of Notre Dame for Aspire Theater. In addition, she has accompanied or musically directed such shows as First Date, Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Seussical, Beauty and The Beast, and many others. She is thrilled to be involved with this show and even more thrilled to be on the creative team with her husband, Rick! She cannot thank Laura enough for thinking of her and giving her this opportunity!
Faith Mitchell - Stage Manager
Faith graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a minor in Film. Faith's previous stage management credits include Romeo and Juliet and Lend Me A Tenor (Eastern Washington University), Stephen Belber’s Tape (Lilac City Performing Arts), and The Memory of Water (Spokane Civic Theatre). Faith has also stage managed Children of Eden and most recently Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame for Aspire Community Theatre.
Faith would like to thank Laura Little Theatricals and the rest of the Traditions team for inviting her to join this fantastic show!
Faith graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a minor in Film. Faith's previous stage management credits include Romeo and Juliet and Lend Me A Tenor (Eastern Washington University), Stephen Belber’s Tape (Lilac City Performing Arts), and The Memory of Water (Spokane Civic Theatre). Faith has also stage managed Children of Eden and most recently Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame for Aspire Community Theatre.
Faith would like to thank Laura Little Theatricals and the rest of the Traditions team for inviting her to join this fantastic show!
Brenda Blankenship - Kickline Choreographer
Since the age of three in Northern California, Brenda has had a passion for dance that progressed over
the years. She started teaching and choreographing at sixteen, which guided her up to North Idaho in
1997 leading to the establishment of her studio Expressions School of Performing Arts at the age of 24.
Ambitious as she is, she’s explored the artistry of movement in non-conventional ways by choreographing
for; synchronized swimmers, bodybuilders, gymnasts, and her specialty dancers. Honored to be a part of
Traditions, she gets a new chance to say, “I am blessed to live out and share my passion everyday.”
Since the age of three in Northern California, Brenda has had a passion for dance that progressed over
the years. She started teaching and choreographing at sixteen, which guided her up to North Idaho in
1997 leading to the establishment of her studio Expressions School of Performing Arts at the age of 24.
Ambitious as she is, she’s explored the artistry of movement in non-conventional ways by choreographing
for; synchronized swimmers, bodybuilders, gymnasts, and her specialty dancers. Honored to be a part of
Traditions, she gets a new chance to say, “I am blessed to live out and share my passion everyday.”
Annie Stillar - Christmas Couple Choreographer
Annie has been a dance teacher and choreographer for 15 years, serving on artistic teams for CYT Spokane/North Idaho, Northwest Christian Schools, Spokane Children’s Theater, Lake City Playhouse, and more. She’s helmed a number of musical theater summer camps and specialty dance workshops, and has been on the faculty for Artistry in Motion since 2016. She’s excited to return to the production circuit by joining the Traditions team this season! “Thanks to Laura for the privilege, and Rick & Beth for your collaboration
Annie has been a dance teacher and choreographer for 15 years, serving on artistic teams for CYT Spokane/North Idaho, Northwest Christian Schools, Spokane Children’s Theater, Lake City Playhouse, and more. She’s helmed a number of musical theater summer camps and specialty dance workshops, and has been on the faculty for Artistry in Motion since 2016. She’s excited to return to the production circuit by joining the Traditions team this season! “Thanks to Laura for the privilege, and Rick & Beth for your collaboration
Jessi Little - Kids Choreographer
Jessi is so excited to be working with this years kids in TOC! Her last involvement with "Traditions" was when she was 9 years old in the Kids Ensemble in San Diego. Select credits include "Crimes of the Heart"-reading, "The Addams Family" (CST), "First Date" (Laura Little Theatrical Productions), "Mamma Mia" (The Public Theatre of San Antonio, TX), and "Newsies" -u/s, "A Proper Place" (Village Theatre, WA). She loves performing cabarets at retirement homes, traveling, and learning new things. In January 2020 she plans to move to Atlanta, Georgia to continue acting and explore!
A big thank you to her crazy friends and family, and her ever faithful and loving God. Atlanta or bust!
Jessi is so excited to be working with this years kids in TOC! Her last involvement with "Traditions" was when she was 9 years old in the Kids Ensemble in San Diego. Select credits include "Crimes of the Heart"-reading, "The Addams Family" (CST), "First Date" (Laura Little Theatrical Productions), "Mamma Mia" (The Public Theatre of San Antonio, TX), and "Newsies" -u/s, "A Proper Place" (Village Theatre, WA). She loves performing cabarets at retirement homes, traveling, and learning new things. In January 2020 she plans to move to Atlanta, Georgia to continue acting and explore!
A big thank you to her crazy friends and family, and her ever faithful and loving God. Atlanta or bust!
Mary Basta - Costumer
Kynzie Washington - Assistant Stage Manager