CalRep Grad Management Students

Amanda Anderson graduated from Western Oregon University with a B.F.A in Technical Production. She then worked in the Portland, Oregon Area as a freelance Stage Manager and Intimacy Choreographer for multiple years, joining Actors' Equity as a Stage Manager in 2022. She was also the Production Manager and Associate Producer at MediaRites Productions. 

Fun fact: Amanda interned in London on a West End Production called "The Woman in Black.”

My first experience with theatre was watching my sister perform in the high school’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. I involved myself in theatre all throughout high school, but realized that technical work and production was where I wanted to focus in college. While attending Mesa Community College back in Arizona, where I grew up, I was asked by a friend to serve as assistant stage manager for a production of “Three Sisters”. I was enamoured with the feeling of being the spider at the center of the web and went full in on stage management. At Arizona State University, I further expanded my education with writing, directing, and producing, ultimately realizing that what I really wanted to do was run my own theatre. 

When I moved to Los Angeles, I again took on the mantle of assistant stage manager, this time for the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s production of “Picnic” by William Inge. What started as volunteer work quickly became employment with the Odyssey, which then expanded into further freelance work around the city. I was lucky enough to find additional Stage Management and House Management employment at the Youth Academy for the Dramatic Arts and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy respectively. Between that work and producing multiple of my own shows for festivals such as the Hollywood Fringe Festival, the image of my overall goals became clear. 

Utilizing the skills and understanding I gain from CSU Long Beach’s MFA/MBA Theatre Management program, I hope to one day open my own theatre with three distinct playing spaces. One for the typical proscenium theatre productions, one that’s a bit more of a flexible black box for experimental work, workshops, and the like, and a third with a more comfortable, parlor-theatre energy for staged readings, comedy, and music, among other things. Above all else, I want the theatre to be a place for new artists who don’t quite have their footing to get the experience necessary to build competency and confidence in their work. I hope to accomplish this in a way that actively engages not just theatre-goers, but the greater community in the Long Beach and LA areas, becoming an engaged, community-driven venue that brings good into the world as best as we can. 

April Ballinger is looking forward to joining the MFA/MBA Arts Administration cohort. Originally from Chicago, she traded snow for palm trees and has happily called South Los Angeles home for the past ten years.

Before finding her way back to theater, April's career took a few unexpected plot twists. She has worked in theater, youth-serving nonprofit organizations, and most recently as a second-grade teacher. While she loved working with kids, she's excited to return to the arts and combine her creative background with business and leadership.

April earned her B.A. in Theater from Columbia College Chicago and her M.A. in Education from Antioch University. She loves all kinds of theater—from intimate one-person shows to spectacular, large-scale musicals—and is always eager to discover a new production. When she's not binge-watching TV, planning her next road trip, or spending time with her dog, Penelope, she's probably reorganizing or decorating something just for fun. She is a lifelong fan of Shakespeare, and some of her favorite films include Barbie, The Wizard of Oz, ET, Amélie, and Hamnet. April is excited to meet her classmates and begin this next act together!

Daisy Dressel (she/her/hers)
My name is Daisy Dressel and I am a Southern California native theatre practitioner. I began my academic journey into the world of theatre at Saddleback College before transferring to California State University Fullerton. During my years at CSUF, I took courses in many different aspects of technical theatre, helping me to feel well suited to managing a diverse set of artists. From basic coursework in acting or stagecraft, to specialized curriculum in fields such as puppetry or millinery, I have enjoyed learning a variety of skills culminating in how to manage the collaborative nature of theatre. I am very passionate about integrating the many different facets of technical theatre in a creative and innovative way and believe in the power of the arts as a tool for social change. 

In recent years since graduating from CSFU, I have worked as an event coordinator at an Ensemble Performing Arts School, managing groups of over 60 performers and up to 200 audience members. Through this role I have become well accustomed to wearing many hats and have filled roles such as accompanying students on piano and guitar, selling tickets, and running sound within the same day. 

When I am not working as an event coordinator, I have been dedicating time to hands-on research in the form of interviews with my peers in order to address problems theatre artists are facing in the industry. One of my main goals is to make efforts to reach out to those involved in the greater world of theatre - from students, to hobbyists, to industry professionals- and to explore the issues we are facing, whether it be minor grievances to major oversights and injustices. I am thrilled to be starting in Long Beach’s Theatre Management program to give me the tools to realize my dream of making changes to how we manage the art of theatre. I hope to one day open my own theatrical venue as a way to make a direct impact on the community. 

My name is Brizna Fregoso, born in South Carolina and raised by the military. I have moved about 20 times in my life, but I call California home. I graduated from CSU Bakersfield with a Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts and a minor in English Literature, and I am currently living in Oahu, Hawai’i. During my time at CSU Bakersfield, I was a stage manager for a musical production, I acted in a youth production and three different play productions, I directed a one-act play during the Kennedy Center American Theatre College Festival in Glendale, CA, and I photographed two play productions as well. When I moved to Oahu, Hawai’i, I worked at the United Service Organizations (USO), a military non-profit organization, for almost a year, then got hired as an Event Coordinator at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu. My goals for the future are to one day have my own theatre company that explores topics about the military and Latino culture and I want to have the theatre company accessible to all ages. I want my theatre company to be able to reach many states and hopefully other countries. I can’t wait to start the new school year, and I look forward to meeting you all! 

Drew Kelly is a theatre artist, director, and producer whose career has taken him from regional stages to theme parks, cruise ships, and immersive entertainment. His work is driven by a fascination with spectacle, theatrical illusion, and the curious ways storytelling can captivate, unsettle, and connect an audience. He is currently pursuing a dual MFA/MBA in Theatre Management at California State University, Long Beach, and holds a BA in Performance Studies from UC Berkeley. His current research explores theatrical haunting, American ghost stories, and the folklore and superstitions that persist in our theatres. Outside of theatre, Drew shares his home with two huskies, Indy and Bodhi, who are considerably better at creating drama than he is at directing it.

Tyler Madsen is from Redwood City, California and grew up performing with various theatre companies throughout the Bay Area. He earned his B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Molloy University in Rockville Centre, New York. While there, he had the privilege of studying under the CAP21 Conservatory in New York City. After graduating, he worked for the Araca Group, a New York-based merchandise company that produced numerous Broadway productions, where he gained invaluable hands-on front-of-house experience. Later, he moved back to the Bay Area and served as an Administrative Assistant for Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City, California. While at Hillbarn, he directed two conservatory productions featuring elementary and middle school-aged performers. Tyler is very excited to be studying at Cal State Long Beach and hopes to intern for several theatres in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, become a general manager for professional and touring theatre companies throughout the United States, and eventually become an artistic director and producer for a regional theatre.

To be continued...

Brooke is an Australian theatre artist and administrator whose work bridges performance, education, and organizational leadership. With a background in musical theatre, she is passionate about storytelling and the unique ability of theatre to create connection, advocate for underrepresented voices, and build community. After completing a Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Brooke has worked both on and off the stage. Throughout her career, she has fostered a growing interest in the sustainability of theatre, and the processes required to support artists and allow innovative work to thrive. 

Her experiences across Australia have reinforced that sustaining artistic work requires not only creativity, but thoughtful leadership and strong business acumen. This realization inspired her to pursue further education in both artistic and business practices through the MFA/MBA in Theatre Management at California State University, Long Beach. Although Brooke’s passion for theatre began on the stage, her interests have evolved toward the leadership and production side of the industry, where she is focused on how strong artistic vision is supported and realized through effective leadership and well-structured creative systems. Brooke is excited to gain the skills and knowledge that will allow her to facilitate meaningful theatre that is artistically-driven, logistically viable, and accessible to diverse communities.

Chaunsa Serene Oyos is a performing arts practitioner whose theatrical experience has found her spending time on the boards, in the casting and rehearsal room, in the wings, in the booth, in the shop and in conference rooms. She strives to build and cultivate connections, ideas, understanding and innovation through theatre production. 

Fun Fact: She really likes college football.

With a foundation in musical theatre education and creative leadership, I began my journey at iMusical as a dance teacher and choreographer, working with junior performers in group settings. I collaborated closely with vocal coaches, focusing on storytelling through movement and character work. My strengths in staging and rehearsal direction were quickly recognized, and I took on broader responsibilities—coordinating rehearsals, tracking progress, and liaising between students, artistic leadership, and the production team.