Vinh Nguyen, Artistic Director

Vinh is a theater artist, director, educator, and administrator with over ten years of experience in the field. His journey with TIM started in 2013 when he choreographed for The Little Mermaid Jr. and has always enjoyed coming back to this art-loving and supportive mountain community. Vinh currently teaches theatre and directs for Bay Area Children’s Theatre in Oakland and has previous taught at San Diego State University, Almaden Country Day School, and Dance Attack Studios. He has worked professionally as an actor, director, and choreographer for many prominent theaters in the Bay Area and San Diego. Vinh holds an MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University and a double degree in Musical Theatre and Hospitality Management & Recreation from San Jose State University. www.MrVinhNguyen.com

Kyle has been involved in theater (both onstage and offstage) for around twenty years. Last season Kyle co-directed our big hit Madagascar Jr. and has helped with the recent TIM shows of Wonderland High, Yellow Submarine, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Lion King, and Narnia among others. Most recently he rolled on stage as President Roosevelt in Annie and before that Kyle has been seen onstage as a member of the Festival Theater Ensemble, roles have included Tybalt from Romeo and Juliet and Aramis in Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers. Kyle has extensive experience and interest in stage combat and is currently a fight captain for West Valley College. Kyle is grateful to be part of the TIM team, having his ideas listened to and opinions valued. He  thanks everyone who worked together so well to help these shows shine!

Kristen Pearson has been vocal directing for two years. She loves working with youth theater and is excited to be working on another Disney production, as she began directing with Peter Pan Jr. She has been a choir, vocal, and piano teacher for the last 9 years and loves being involved in theater in many different ways. She is excited to continue working with voices young and old.

Lindsey Duran has been working with children's theatre companies in the Santa Cruz area for the past 12 years and is another returning TIM alumnus! She has lit up our stage in the past with her work on Shrek (TIM/2017/Director-Choreographer), Phantom Tollbooth(TIM/2014/Director) and The Little Mermaid (TIM/2013/Director) and we are so excited to see her work with our Shining Stars on Shrek. Other works include The Addams Family (Cabrillo Stage/2017/ Ancestor), High School Musial (All About Theatre/2017/Director), Thoroughly Modern Millie (SLV High School/2015/Director, Choreographer), 42nd Street (All About Theatre/2015/Director, Assistant Choreographer) and many more.

Sadie Rose Lamkin is an accomplished director and we’re excited to have her for Sleeping Beauty Kids!

Lorna Kohler MFA teaches voice, winds, guitar, piano and Orff Schulwerk at her studio here in the mountains. Ms. Kohler has been Vocal Director for the Theatre in the Mountains Rising Stars production of Winnie the Pooh, James and the Giant Peach, Jungle Book, Dinosaurs Before Dark and 101 Dalmatians. She loves witnessing the growth of the children as they bring the play to life and is grateful for all the adults whose time and talent makes the magic happen. In February 2018, the Santa Clara County Branch of the National League of American Pen Women honored Lorna Kohler as an Achiever in Music for Wishbone Drum, a collection of thirteen songs composed and performed by Lorna on voice, guitar, oboe, and English horn. She is currently rehearsing for three concerts and an opera with three different orchestras and playing oboe and English horn in the pit orchestra for Aptos High School production of Cinderella.

By day Mark works as a microwave EDA software developer, but at night and on weekends he is a lighting designer, photographer, Girl Scout leader, builder of carnival games, and dad to Elena and Megan.  During his grad school years he hung and focused thousands of lighting instruments at the Cornell Center for Theatre Arts.  After a twenty year hiatus from theatre technology he was recruited by Theatre in the Mountains to be their new lighting guy (designer, electrician, board-op…) and serve as the Technical Advisor on the Steering Committee.  Wonderland High was his first production, and he is looking forward to illuminating our young performers in Beauty and the Beast Jr.. and Once Upon a Mattress.

Kevin Arnold is a man behind the camera and behind the scenes. He is responsible for filming and producing videos for the cast and their families to enjoy, and also has provided most of the candid photos on the Theatre in the Mountains website. A veteran of over 27 TIM productions spanning 9 years, a past Steering Committee Chair, Production Manager, and still the TIM Webmaster, Kevin has enjoyed being part of an organization that provides an incredible opportunity for the children in our mountain community to develop confidence, self-motivation, friendships, and theatrical skills in a supportive and exciting environment.