Meet our AMAZING Teaching Artists!

Brian Bell

Brian Bell has worked for ten years as a teaching artist. He began teaching through artist residencies in Texas, then taught English in Europe while also working as a curriculum writer for an ESL company based in Taiwan. In the summer of 2003 Brian was able to work as a faculty associate for the National High School Institute's theatre division at Northwestern University.  In Chicago Brian has taught critical literacy through storytelling and creative writing for Adventure Stage Chicago as a part of the Neighborhood Bridges program. This fall Brian is pleased to be returning with Adventure Stage as well as starting new residencies with ARTS Berwyn and Pegasus Players. 

Dani Bryant

Dani Bryant hales from Gatlinburg, TN, but has called Chicago home for two years. Dani studied Drama at NC School of the Arts and Actor Training at The Hartt School. Dani's worked with Adventure Stage Chicago in Holes, Apple Tree Theatre in Quick and Dirty, and teaches acting and movement with Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble and the Evanston Arts Council.Dani is a founding member of Cabaret Vagabond,whose European approach to the variete' show fosters a community of  Chicago artists who gather and make art! Dani is currently directing Charlotte's Web at Steele Beam Theatre. See it October 30th-November 15th!

Brandon Campbell

Brandon Campbell has worked for Adventure Stage Chicago and the Vittum Theater as a teaching artist, stage manager, and production manager, since moving to Chicago in 2001.  Hailing from Portland, OR, Brandon originally began teaching sketch comedy and fairy tale theater at the Northwest Children’s Theater. In Chicago he has taught storytelling and adaptation for students ages 4th grade through high school. Teaching artist residencies include Chase Elementary, Healy Elementary, Gladstone Elementary, The Shanti Foundation for Peace, and Clemente High School with After School Matters. In his creative time he works as a puppeteer and designer, and a saxophone player.

Jasmin Cardenas

Jasmin Cardenas is excited to be teaching once again with Adventure Stage Chicago, where she also performed in the 2008 World Premiere of THE BLUE HOUSE.  She has been an arts educator in Chicago for over 10yrs working with infants to adults.  As an actress, choreographer and teaching artist she has also had the good fortune of working with: The Goodman, Lifeline, Silk Road Theater Project, Pegasus Players, Aguijon, Teatro Luna, Chicago Childrens, Teatro Vista and Collaboraction (where she is an Artistic Associate). Jasmin is a member of the Chicago Storytelling Guild and a board member of the Pedogogy and Theatre of the Oppressed, a non-profit organization that promotes critical thinking and social justice. www.ptoweb.org. Jasmin received her B.A. in Theatre Arts with a Specialization in Creative Drama from National-Louis University, IL.

Dana Cruz

Dana Cruz has been a theater artist in Chicago since 2001.  She is a company member of Teatro Luna and is currently the program director for their Latina Directors Lab, which is a training ground through Teatro Luna that provides a safe space to incubate up and coming Latina artists. As an actor, she has performed with Teatro Luna, The Goodman Theater, Strawdog Theater, Adventure Stage Chicago, Collaboraction, The Neofuturists, Circle Theater and Emerald City. She has a BFA from Boston University’s Theater Conservatory. Dana also has twin daughters, loves gardening, her bike, her husband and living in Chicago.

Amanda Delheimer

Amanda feels extraordinarily blessed to work as a freelance director, choreographer, writer, and educator all over the fine city of Chicago.  After completing her Master's in Theater and Spanish at the University of Chicago in 1999, Amanda worked for a couple of years in Los Angeles and Mexico before returning home to the Windy City.  In addition to her work with Adventure Stage (where she works as both a director and a teaching artist), Amanda has had the pleasure of collaborating with the Steppenwolf, the Goodman, the Court, the Next, Pegasus Players, Red Moon, Collaboraction, Strawdog, and Teatro Vista, among others. She is the Artistic Director of the Serendipity Theatre Collective, an organization dedicated to bringing people together through story, and spends the rest of her time working in the local public schools as a teaching artist, teaching storytelling, playwrighting, and personal narrative in classrooms throughout the city.

Sarah Rose Graber

Sarah Rose Graber graduated from Northwestern University’s Theatre Program and received her acting certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Sarah was the 2004 Circumnavigator Travel Around the World Grant Scholar and traveled to Britain, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina studying theatre for social change and its educational role. She has taught classes and directed shows for youth at Northlight Theatre, Chicago Humanities Festival, National High School Institute Theatre Program, Village Players, and numerous schools in the Chicago area. She is proud to be teaching for her second year at Adventure Stage Chicago. 

Jen Malone

Jennifer is thrilled to be returning to ASC’s Neighborhood Bridges program for the 2009-10 school year. A dedicated teaching artist, Jennifer heads the voice program at The School of Rock, where she also directs shows and runs Summer R-n-R Boot Camp.  She also teaches acting classes and directs youth theater productions. The NB program suits her education philosophy of actively challenging students to expand their vision through exposure to and experience in the Arts.  Jennifer holds a BFA in Theater Studies and a Creative Wring Certificate from Kent State University and an M.Phil in Irish Theatre & Cultural Studies from Trinity College-Dublin. 

Brianna Sloane

Brianna Sloane is a theatre artist, storyteller and hobby folklorist from right here in sweet home Chicago. She studied ensemble theatre at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA and physical theatre at the Accademia Dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy.  She's an ensemble member of Piccolo Theatre, where she serves as Education Associate and is co-directing this year's annual Holiday Panto, Perseus & Medusa or it's all Greek to me! She is also an artistic associate of The Bricklayers, where she gets to play with masks and puppets. When she’s not teaching or making theatre, Brianna likes growing vegetables, sailing tall ships and traveling.