Our teachers are performance-based educators with the desire to help each student achieve success as a performer.

Through real-life experiences, educationally, professionally and volunteering; our teachers set a high standard of goal-oriented education.

Our teachers understand the importance of being a mentor and instill strong work ethics, integrity and a respect for the craft in each student.

Julie Schroeder

Julie Schroeder has been involved with different aspects of theatre for over 40 years. She has acted, directed, or has designed hair, makeup and costumed for over 100 shows. She has been involved with the Academy of Children’s Theatre since 1999, directed ACT‘s award winning Troupe, and has been a part of the staff as the Outreach Coordinator since 2007. Her grandchildren are third generation ACT. Julie directs Troupe and Troupers.

Josh Darby

Josh is thrilled to be with ACT as its artistic director, improv director and teaching artist. Josh loves to work with kids of all ages and teaching theater arts to the next generation is a true passion. He is a graduate of CWU class of ’08 with a BA in Theatre Arts: Youth Drama, SCT Teaching Apprentice Program (’13-’14) and Columbia College of Hollywood emphasis in Acting for the Camera (’11). Since graduation he has worked in children’s theatre as a teaching artist, actor, writer and director in Seattle, Los Angles and the Tri-Cities. Along with teaching with ACT, Josh is continuing to teach with Seattle Children’s Theatre and Three Rivers HomeLink School in Richland.  He couldn’t be more psyched to keeping working with and learning from the great people, families and students of ACT! And as always Josh is a proud member of Hufflepuff House! Josh directs Spontaneous Combustion, Sparks, teaches Saturday morning Pre-K classes.

Tayler Riley

Amber Mitchell

Jessica Cole