Faculty & Staff

John Walcutt

John Walcutt

Director, El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory

Teaches: Acting for the Camera I, Voice and Movement

john.walcutt@ocsarts.net

Mr. John Walcutt earned a Master of Fine Arts from USC’s professional actor training program; he also studied at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in Los Angeles. He has more than 35 years of experience on stage and screen as a professional actor and director, a film and theatre producer, and a screenwriter

Mr. Walcutt has worked on nearly 200 film and television projects with more than 100 guest-starring roles including Titanic, Mulan, Little Miss Sunshine, Lost, Criminal Minds, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. For many years, he was the artistic director of Shakespeare Orange County, where he played Macbeth, Malvolio, and Richard III, among many other roles. Mr. Walcutt has won the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Golden Ace Award, as well as the award for Best Director at the Indie Fest and the Las Vegas Film Festival. He was named by Orange County Register as one of the Most Influential People in Arts and Culture for 2014.

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Stephanie Dorian Smith

Stephanie Dorian Smith

Assistant Director, El-Erian Family Acting Conservatory

Teaches: Acting Fundamentals I, Acting Techniques IV, Movement II

stephanie.dorian@ocsarts.net

Stephanie is a professional actor, who has worked in New York and regionally for over 20 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from San Diego State University a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Brandeis University. In 2014, she was one of 16 artists in the country to receive the National Artist Teacher Fellowship Award, a national grant that supported the development and performance of her one-person play, Above Water, under the mentorship of critically acclaimed actress and playwright, Anna Deavere Smith. The play premiered in 2015 and she continues to perform the piece in performance, educational, and advocacy capacities. 

Donald Amerson

Donald Amerson

Instructor

Thespian Director and Teaches: Ensemble I

donald.amerson@ocsarts.net

Mr. Donald Amerson has attempted to change the world paradigm through the arts and public policy. He achieved a Master of Fine Arts in drama/theatre for young audiences from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Mr. Amerson has worked with the Mayor's Office of Detroit, Community-Oriented Policing Services through the U.S. Department of Justice, and Budget Management through the Executive Office of the President of the United States. His artistic career started in New York as an actor, writer and director of fringe projects. Mr. Amerson currently teaches at OCSA where he is the passionate Thespian Troupe Director. He teaches acting, improvisation, experimental theatre, and theatre for social justice. Mr. Amerson is very proud to have had a play produced in London, studied Commedia Dell'Arte in Italy, created theatre curricula for several schools, and privately coached many successful students.

Michael Baker

Michael Baker

Instructor

Teaches: Audition For The Actor

michael.baker@ocsarts.net

Mr. Michael Baker holds a Bachelor of Arts in acting from California State University, Fullerton’s theatre program and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Temple University in Philadelphia. He continues to work in television and film productions for HBO, Showtime, Apple+, Netflix, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. Mr. Baker has also performed on various stages around Southern California including The Groundlings Theater and School, Pasadena Playhouse, Five Star Theatrical, and the Hyperion Theater at Disney’s California Adventure. He has taught acting workshops for UCLA, Pepperdine, California State University, Fullerton, and OCSA. Mr. Baker is also the director of the OCSA Industry Showcase. He serves on the union committee for the American Guild of Variety Artists, and has been a member of The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) for over ten years, as well as Actor’s Equity Association for 18 years.

Shannon Cutler

Shannon Cutler

Instructor

Teaches: Dance for Actors

shannon.cutler@ocsarts.net

Ms. Shannon Cutler graduated from American Musical and Dramatics Academy in New York. In addition to teaching in the Acting Conservatory at Orange County School of the Arts, she continues to train and perform.

Barbara Dodge

Barbara Dodge

Instructor

barbara.dodge@ocsarts.net

Ms. Barbara "B.J." Dodge is a semi-retired teaching artist. She worked at California Institute of the Arts, from 1984-2017, in the School of Theater, and with Community Arts Partnership at Plaza de la Raza, making original plays and adaptations of plays with youth from Lincoln Heights, CalArts students and alumni, and artists from Los Angeles and beyond. In the past 30 years, Ms. Dodge has worked for South Coast Repertory Theatre’s Youth Conservatory, Center Theatre Group Education, and Shakespeare Los Angeles. She got her Bachelor of Arts in theatre arts from CSULB, and her Master of Fine Arts in speech and dramatic arts from the University of Iowa. In addition to working with Musical Theatre and Acting conservatories at OCSA, Ms. Dodge teaches and directs occasionally as an adjunct for Cal Poly Pomona, CSULB, and at Plaza. She also serves as the Theater Chair of California State Summer School for the Arts, an immersive, multi-discipline residential program.

Abel Garcia

Abel Garcia

Instructor

abel.garcia@ocsarts.net

Mr. Abel Garcia (Playreading/Voice and Diction. Acting II) was born and raised in El Paso, Texas where he also received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre performance. Since moving to California in 2016, he has worked professionally as an actor in Orange County, Texas, and West Virginia. In 2021, Mr. Garcia earned his Master of Fine Arts in acting from the University of California, Irvine.

Cynthia Karim

Cynthia Karim

Instructor

Teaches: Makeup

cynthia.karim@ocsarts.net

Mrs. Cynthia Karim has worked as a professional makeup artist and licensed Aesthetician since 1975 and began her tenure at the Orange County School of the Arts as a designer and teacher in Special Effects Makeup, Hair, and Wig Design in 2001. She also works at the university level and in the industry, including SNL and MadTV. Mrs. Karim also earned her special effects makeup certification from Paramount Studios, Hollywood.

Richard Kinsey

Richard Kinsey

Instructor

Teaches: Acting Techniques IV, Actor’s Forum, Singing for Actors

richard.kinsey@ocsarts.net

Mr. Richard Kinsey performed on Broadway for several years as Javert in Les Miserables and is the recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award. Mr. Kinsey continues to work professionally as an actor and singer, along with his teaching at the Orange County School of the Arts.

Stephanie Shelfer Lopez

Stephanie Shelfer Lopez

Instructor

stephanie.lopez@ocsarts.net

Ms. Stephanie Shelfer Lopez is a professional actor, director, and theatre maker. She received her Bachelor of Arts in theatre from Kennesaw State University. Ms. Lopez moved to Los Angeles in 2001 to continue to pursue her dream of working as a professional actor in theatre, television, and film. While taking a hiatus from the business of acting to focus on her family, she felt a calling to be a teacher. Ms. Lopez went back to school to complete her Master of Fine Arts in acting and performance pedagogy from California State University, Long Beach in 2001 where she still teaches an Introduction to Acting class.

Jenny Moon Shaw

Jenny Moon Shaw

Instructor

jennymoon2@aol.com

Ms. Jenny Moon Shaw started performing professionally from the age of six. She holds a bachelor's degree in drama and theatre arts from Birmingham University, England and trained to teach theatre at the London Central School of Speech and Drama. She was Director of Performing Arts and Head of Drama at a high school for nine years, and was twice nominated for National Teacher of the Year. Ms. Shaw’s excellent skills in the art of teaching earned her the county position of Advanced Skills Teacher. She moved to America in 2012 where she began performing professionally in regional theatre. Ms. Shaw became a resident teaching artist for Segerstrom Center for the Arts and has been there for eight years. She also works as a freelance director and choreographer.

Wyn Moreno

Wyn Moreno

Instructor

wyn.moreno@ocsarts.net

Mr. Wyn Moreno is an actor, singer, dancer, fight choreographer, dialect coach, playwright, director, and educator. He holds a Bachelor of Science in art education from Utah State University, and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from California State University, Fullerton. In addition to OCSA, Mr. Moreno is an Associate Visiting Professor of theatre at Riverside City College, Orange Coast College, and Santa Ana College. He serves as board president and founding resident artist of the Wayward Artist Theatre Company in Santa Ana, and is a member of The Orange County Theatre Guild and The Orange County Playwright’s Association.

Bodie Newcomb

Bodie Newcomb

Instructor

Teaches: Acting Techniques I, Acting for the Camera I, Playreading I, Shakespeare III

bodie.newcomb@ocsarts.net

Mr. Bodie Newcomb studied at California State University, Fullerton and has been working professionally in theatre, film, television, and commercials for over 30 years.

Christopher Sullivan

Christopher Sullivan

Instructor

christopher.sullivan@ocsarts.net

Mr. Christopher Sullivan is an actor, director, writer and improviser. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he has performed everywhere from street corners to large theaters, and film and television. He is the former Artistic Director of Modjeska Playhouse, and Mr. Sullivan is the current Creative Director of and performer with Modjeska Unscripted Theater. He specializes in devised theatre where his works are often created within a collaborative and improvisatory environment. Using everything from traditional theatre styles to puppetry and improvisation, Mr. Sullivan’s objective is to bring laughter and heart to the stage. Alongside his performing and writing projects, Mr. Sullivan teaches at South Coast Repertory Theater and Orange County School of the Arts.

Duck Soon Walcutt

Duck Soon Walcutt

Instructor

Teaches: Voice and Movement, Movement II

duck.walcutt@ocsarts.net

Ms. Duck Soon Walcutt is a certified dance instructor and a yoga master, and gymnast. She specializes in yoga therapy and its application to voice and movement.

Jay Wallace

Jay Wallace

Instructor

jay.wallace@ocsarts.net

Mr. Jay Wallace is an actor, director, and educator originally from Kansas City, now based in Long Beach. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts in acting from California State University, Long Beach. In his nearly 20-year tenure with the organization, Mr. Wallace has served in many capacities – including the founding of the Acting and Musical Theatre Conservatories at OCSA’s sister school, California School of the Arts-SGV.  In addition, he has served as adjunct professor and guest director at Santa Ana College. Beyond the numerous productions he has directed and produced for both programs and beyond, Mr. Wallace has performed professionally both on stage and screen throughout the past two decades. 

Advisory Board

 Michael Nehring

Michael Nehring

Professor

Theatre Department, College of Performing Arts

Chapman University

Bio coming soon!

Mary Joan Negro

Mary Joan Negro

Associate Professor of Theatre Practice and Director of BA Acting

School of Dramatic Arts

University of Southern California

Bio coming soon!

 Kevin Kuhlke

Kevin Kuhlke

Arts Professor specializing in acting (advanced scene study), directing, improvisation, and physical theatre

School of Acting, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts' Department of Drama

New York University

Mr. Kevin Kuhlke has acted with Anne Bogart, Robert Wilson, Mabou Mines, the Builders Association, the Iowa Theatre Lab, and the Holderness Company regionally and in New York including Lincoln Center, the Public Theater, PS 122, Danspace, MOMA, the Franklin Furnace, the Culture Project, and La Mama.

Mr. Kuhlke’s directing work includes over 30 productions in various venues including the Atlantic Theater Company, Seattle Rep, the Huntington Theater Company, Theater for a New Audience, ICA in London, Warsaw Theater Festival, Moscow Arts Theater School, the City Theater in Iceland, the A.R.T. Institute, and theatre schools in New York, the Netherlands, and Greenland.