Staff
Administrative Staff
Rebekah Kellaway Executive Director (click for biography) Rebekah Kellaway has been directing youth theatre productions for twenty years and has directed over forty musicals. She received a B.A. in Elementary Education and a teaching credential from Biola University. In 2008, Rebekah combined her love for education and the performing arts and established Haven Academy of the Arts. She believes strongly in applying educational theory and child development to the directing process. Favorite directing projects include Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Westside Story. Her work as co-director for Sustaining Sound's Little Women received a five star review in Broadway World and earned an Eddon Award for Best Production. As an educator, Rebekah is passionate about more than just mentoring the next generation of young performers; she also mentors other non-profit founders, focusing on branding, strategic planning, and program development. You can find her teaching workshops and consulting with non-profit leaders one-on-one. She is especially passionate about helping small non-profits better define their mission and create long term sustainability. When she's not wrangling young performers, Rebekah enjoys spending time at Disneyland with her husband Matthew and their three year old son. |
Rachel Schiller-Geis Director of Operations (click for biography) Schiller-Geis has a background in music with a BM in Vocal Performance from Biola University. She has served in non-profit administration for over 10 years with expertise in bookkeeping, budget-development, grant writing, fundraising, and program development. During the pandemic, she helped develop original core curriculum that proved integral to the organization’s survival. Schiller-Geis has been with Haven Academy since its conception; first, as a teaching artist, and then as an admin. She now serves as the Director of Operations and uses her historical knowledge to build suitability strategies for the organization. |
Emily Murtaugh Barish LA City Programs Director (click for biography) Emily Murtaugh Barish is a Haven Academy alumnus, who first joined the Haven Staff in 2018, where she spent a year in both our Haven Pico Union and South Bay programs as a contracted staff member before transitioning into her role as the LA City Program Director in 2019. In addition to her role at Haven, she has been an intern at the Nehemiah House of Pico Union, an organization that provides holistic wrap-around social services for the community ranging from tutoring, job reentry assistance and service to the unhoused population, as well as mentorship for community youth through the S.A.Y Yes Pico Union after-school program. She worked as a mentor at S.A.Y Yes before being brought on as the program’s assistant director, a role she held from 2021-2023 before joining Haven full time to launch our second year-round, tuition free site, Haven West Adams. She is passionate about the role that mentorship and committed, caring adults play in mitigating the effects of trauma in students who have experienced ACES, and her commitment is motivated by her own lived experiences. She believes in the power of students seeing themselves reflected in their educators, and her team of instructors reflect the communities that Haven’s LA branches serve. She has received certification in crisis de-escalation through SAMHSA, and a certification in trauma-informed, play-based care for early childhood educators through the Life is Good Foundation’s Playmaker University. She is currently studying to earn both her 200 hour yoga teacher certification and Social-Emotional Learning facilitator certification through Breathe for Change. She is passionate about incorporating therapeutic modalities and mindfulness, trauma-informed care, cultural humility and restorative justice practices into her performing arts praxis to create a space of safety, bravery and creativity for her students and staff. She is a proud 5th generation Angeleno, and has lived in the Pico Union neighborhood of Los Angeles since 2020. |
Erin Fields Finance Associate (click for biography) Fields holds a BS in Human Development in Family Studies from Colorado State University and has a background in grant writing, programming, and bookkeeping. Fields joined Haven in 2018 as an Admin Assistant and transitioned to Finance Associate in 2021. Fields played an integral role during the pandemic managing Haven’s books and providing reports to leadership. Fields has also spearheaded the transition of multiple platforms, increasing efficiency in the organization. Fields continues to use her historical and financial knowledge to advocate for various programs and staffing needs, and to help Haven to continue to grow and thrive. |
Brandi Morales Office Manager (click for biography) Brandi Morales is excited to be a part of the Haven team after years of being a student. She is currently studying music at El Camino College with a focus on Vocal Performance and is expected to transfer to Cal State Fullerton in 2022. Brandi is excited to work with an organization that has had a positive impact on her life and her love for theatre. Along with being a student, Brandi has taken on various roles backstage at Haven including, lobby management, stage makeup artist, tech crew, choreography, and more. As a behind the scenes administrative assistant, she aims to support Haven’s mission of student development through the arts. |
Instructors
Updated Staff Coming Soon!
Britney Acosta (click for biography) Acosta was born in Mexico and moved to LA where she lived in the Koreatown area (Pico Union neighboring city) before moving to Torrance at the age of 12. She has studied cosmetology and music at El Camino College. |
Kelsey Bullock (click for biography) Bullock began her performing arts journey at the age of three, and hasn’t left the theatre world since. A Southern California native, she grew up singing with the South Bay Children’s Choir, where she had the opportunity to perform at Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, England, and dancing with Beach Cities Dance’s performing and competing company, where she performed in the Tanzsommer “Stars of Tomorrow” festival in Austria. She graduated from USC with a BFA in Studio Art, where she was also a member of the Chamber Ballet Company and The Merry Men (one of the university’s three improv troupes). Some of her favorite performing credits include Alice in Wonderland (Alice), Peter Pan (Wendy), Avenue Q (Kate Monster), You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy), and The Crucible (Abigail). Bullock began teaching dance at the age of 15, and has since expanded her teaching repertoire to include acting, singing, improv, music, photography and fine art at various locations around Los Angeles. Today she works as a director, choreographer, dance teacher, and stage manager, as well as a freelance muralist, photographer and illustrator. She is passionate about education, and helping children foster their love of the arts in a safe, fun, and nurturing environment. |
Abigail Cash (click for biography) Abigail Cash has been involved with Haven in various roles since its beginning. After getting to experience the program as a Haven student for many years, she began serving first as a student staffer and then an instructor. She recently graduated from Westmont College with a B.A. in Elementary Education and an emphasis in Musical Theatre, and is grateful for the opportunity to use it here at Haven. Abigail has personally experienced the value of arts education, and because of this she is thrilled to work with a youth theatre organization that works hard to bring arts education to students of all different backgrounds. She feels blessed to have been involved at Haven across all its branches, and cannot wait to share her excitement for the arts with your student. |
Esther Cash (click for biography) Esther Cash has been passionate about arts education since she was young enough to be on the receiving end of Haven’s instruction. She is currently studying at Biola University for her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. Esther has been serving as both a director and choreographer for Haven at their South Bay and Pico Union branches since 2018, and was also a Zoom instructor for multiple virtual programs. Esther’s favorite part of teaching is the space it offers for relationship-building with her students, especially in this creative context. Haven offers such a unique, fruitful experience to all of its students, and Esther feels blessed every chance she gets to serve as an instructor. |
Dorothy Dillingham-Blue (click for biography) Dorothy Dillingham-Blue - Dorothy's passion for performing began in the dance studios & community theatres of Columbia, SC. She continued her studies with the London Drama Programme and Northwestern University, earning a B.S. Today she enjoys working as an actress, VO artist, director, and teaching artist. |
Grace Ehlers (click for biography) Ehlers is a recent high school graduate and has her associate’s degree in business from Southern New Hampshire University. She has been an active member of the Haven Academy of the Arts community for the past nine years. Ehlers is currently working as an intern at the American Heart Association helping to bring fundraising program and equitable educational services to schools in the Los Angeles Area. Ehlers started volunteering at Haven as a summer camp counselor when she was 11 years old. Select performance credits include Michael Banks in Mary Poppins, the Genie in Aladdin Jr., Jo March in Little Women, and The Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek The Musical. |
Margy Emmons (click for biography) Margy Emmons - She earned her Bachelor’s degree in piano performance at the University of Nebraska, and her Master’s degree in accompanying at USC. Ever since junior high school, Margy has been a pianist and/or an accompanist for soloists, choirs, and instrumental ensembles, performing a full range of repertoire from classical to musical theatre, as well as rock and contemporary worship music. She is an experienced vocal coach, composer and arranger, worship leader/director, and has also enjoyed a wide variety of performing opportunities in the United States, South America, Great Britain and Japan. |
Kelsey Huard (click for biography) Kelsey Huard has always had a passion for the arts and believes the skills she has learned in theatre helped her succeed in her day to day life. Her theatre experience started with roles like Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof and Rosemary in How to Succeed, and worked in entertainment for Disney for over 3 years. She is so thrilled to join Haven once again, this time as an instructor, and hopes she can cultivate a safe and inclusive space where every student can discover and explore through theatre education. |
Amy Johnson (click for biography) Amy Johnson has taught acting, voice, and piano in the South Bay for 15+ years and has proudly called the stage her home for over 3 decades. She attended UCLA’s School of Theater where she received conservatory style training from master teachers in a variety of acting techniques including Strasberg, Meisner, Adler & Linklater. She earned her B.A. in Theater with a concentration in Acting while simultaneously studying voice under Dave Stroud, learning the Speech Level Singing technique. She also attended the Midsummer in Oxford classical theatre program at the British American Dramatic Academy, studying under teachers from distinguished acting schools all over the world including Yale School of Drama, NYU Tisch and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She has performed in numerous musicals and stage plays including Les Misérables, The Laramie Project, Cabaret, Assassins, and A Chorus Line, and is an award winning vocalist and actor. |
Matthew Kellaway (click for biography) Matthew Kellaway – Community Chorale Artistic Director Matthew Kellaway received his M.M. in Choral Conducting for California State University Fullerton. He is the Director of Men’s Chorus at Biola University where he has also provided individual voice instruction, taught conducting classes and served as assistant director for the Biola Conservatory of Music opera program. Matthew has studied conducting with Robert Istad, Christopher Peterson, John Tebay, Shawna Stewart, and has worked with John Alexander, David Hayes, and Lucinda Carver. Matthew Kellaway is also an established professional baritone vocal performer in the Southern California area currently singing with the Pacific Chorale. Matthew has performed as a featured soloist in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy in conjunction with international choral and solo vocal competitions, and he continues to be a featured soloist with the Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony at Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts. He has also sung with many other prestigious vocal ensembles including Disney’s Voices of Liberty, The John Alexander Singers, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. As a baritone known for his versatility of style, Matthew has sung many operatic and musical theater roles including Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Marquis de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites, Betto in Gianni Schicchi, Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods, Friedrich Bhaer in Little Women, Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore and Germont in La Traviata. |
Angelica Roqué (click for biography) Roqué is a Los Angeles native who has been music directing for youth theater programs since 2006. Growing up in a music-filled home, Roqué cultivated a love for a variety of musical genres and storytelling through song. After touring the US and UK with the educational performing arts nonprofit The Young Americans, she continued teaching and performing throughout southern California. Roqué has taught for educational theater programs at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Palos Verdes Performing Arts Conservatory, several public and private schools, and is elated to include Haven Academy in that list. Her goal is for students to make genuine connections with characters, stories, and fellow performers as they develop their instruments. |
Gianna Summers (click for biography) Gianna Andrea Summers director and performer, graduated with Honors from Arizona State University in Choral Education and Voice Performance in 2003 and graduated with Honors with her Masters in 2005 in Multicultural Education from National University. She has taught choral music in El Segundo for the last 12 years with her choir receiving many awards. They have performed at many venues across America and Europe. Gianna spent time in Costa Rica singing with the Costa Rican Opera and teaching music. Gianna teaches private voice and piano as well as singing professionally in California. Gianna married the love of her life, Bobby Summers, in 2008, their daughter, Kate is 6 years old and loves HAVEN and softball! The Summers have attended OCF for 12 years and love our community. They currently reside in El Segundo, CA with their two dogs Griffey and Daisy. |
Mandi Thomas (click for biography) A former Haven student, Mandi Thomas is so excited to be back in the musical theater world to direct! After going to school to get a teaching credential, Mandi discovered that working with students’ confidence, self-awareness, and artistic skills on the stage is truly where her heart belonged. Ever since directing Moana, Wizard of Oz, and the Little Mermaid, Mandi can’t wait for more directing projects with Haven. |