AUDREY RYAN

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTIONS

Administration; Director of All-ages productions

Audrey Ryan, has worked as the Director of Productions at Chandler Youth Theatre since 2017. Audrey directs over 3 full-scale all-ages productions a year both in-house and off-site while also teaching acting classes, running theatre camps, and catering drama education to both public and private schools within the valley.

Previously, she graduated summa cum laude in 2019 with a BA in Theater and a certificate in secondary [theater] education from ASU. She also recently obtained her license as an ASU Gammage Teaching Artist trained in the Kennedy Center Arts Integration method.

Before joining Chandler Youth Theatre, Audrey worked as a choreographer and director for private schools within the Diocese of Phoenix. In addition to teaching, Audrey has also worked as an actress and musical composer for The ASU MainStage, Vessel Live Performing Arts, and ImprovMania Comedy Club.

MAYA CHAVEZ

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTIONS

Director of Chandler Youth Theatre Company and Teen productions & Instructor of Private Lessons

Maya Chavez has worked for Chandler Youth Theatre since 2017. Currently, Maya is currently in her undergrad through Berklee College of Music studying Interdisciplinary Music Studies. She provides private voice lessons for ages 10-18 and is the director of our Company Troupe and all teen productions. Her students have gone on to gain acceptance to colleges and art schools such as AMDA, Grand Canyon University (GCU), and more. Previously, Maya has worked with various theatre programs throughout the valley, volunteering as young as 13 years old.

In addition to teaching and directing, Maya performs with her band, Valley Orange, all around the Phoenix area.

BRIANNA BAILEY

DIRECTOR/ACTING INSTRUCTOR

Instructor of Littles' and Teens' Acting classes, Storytime Theatre, and Camera acting classes.

Brianna Bailey has worked as a director/instructor at Chandler Youth Theatre since 2021. In this role she directs stage productions, leads acting classes, and runs theatre camps in order to cater drama education to both public and private schools within the valley.

She graduated with her master's degree in Psychology from Arizona State University in 2020, with a research focus on interpersonal relationships and group communication. Prior to this, she lived as a young acting professional in California signed to both an agent and manager. While teaching, Brianna draws on that extensive past experience in the entertainment arts (in film/on stage) as well as her strong psychology background to create a welcoming space for her students that is both fun and educational.

In addition to teaching, Brianna also takes the stage as an improviser at the ImprovMania Comedy Club.

JESS JACOBS

Choreographer/Dance 101 Instructor

Jess has been working as a choreographer and dance instructor for Chandler Youth Theatre since the Spring of 2021. Jess recently graduated from Benjamin  Franklin High in the Summer of 2021 and has been accepted to AMDA College and Conservatory of Performing Arts for  their Musical Theatre program.

Years prior, Jess has been performing as an actor, singer, and dancer within the valley; theatre companies including Actors Youth Theatre and Chandler Youth Theatre.  Previous roles include Heather MacNamara in Heathers the Musical, Brooke in Legally Blonde, Uzo in Godspell, Mrs. Corry in Mary Poppins, and various others.