Meet MAPA’s Staff ...
David Johnston
Executive and Artistic Director
Artistic Director of MAPA since 1992, David has more than 30 years experience directing professional, educational and children’s theatre production. He taught theatre workshops and has been an acting coach and directing consultant for the last 25 years. In addition he worked as an acting instructor at the University of Oregon and Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. His creative work has included associations with the Northwest Shakespeare Ensemble, New City Theatre, Essential Theatre Alliance, University of Oregon, Augustana College, Lane Community College and Circa ‘21 Dinner Theatre, where he founded the children’s theatre and touring company. Mr. Johnston received his MFA in Theatre/Directing from the University of Oregon and his BA in Speech and Theatre from Augustana College with special studies in theatre management and directing at the University of Minnesota. Some of David’s Hawai’i directing credits include: Wit, Tartuffe-Born Again, Twelfth Night, The Boys Next Door, Damien, The Grapes of Wrath, Jesus Christ Superstar (with Keali’i Reichel) All My Sons, Narnia, The Wizard of Oz, and over 30 productions touring to schools throughout Hawai’i.
Kathleen Schulz
Dance Director
Kathleen Schulz has studied modern dance with Martha Graham in New York, jazz with Roland Dupree in Los Angeles and ballet with Nico Cerese in Los Angeles. She has taught dance and performed nationwide. Kathleen has been teaching and choreographing on Maui for over 32 years, the past 19 years with the Academy where she serves as the Dance Director and head costumer.
Carolyn Wright
Director of Programs
A long-time teaching artist, Carolyn began working for MAPA as a drama specialist for the Voices program in 1998. She is an advanced teaching artist for the Hawaii Arts First Partners, advocating for arts education and mentoring classroom teachers in arts integration. Prior to moving to Maui in 1991, Carolyn performed in and directed shows for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre Program in the San Francisco Bay Area as a founding member of the troupe. Carolyn earned her BA in Political Science from Duke University and her MA in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. She is also a licensed elementary school teacher in Hawaii.
Mark Collmer
Production Manager
Mark Collmer has over thirty years experience as a creative artist, producer, director, actor and administrator in the world of theatre. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Directing for Theatre from the conservatory program at California Institute of the Arts. He has had the pleasure of teaching in a number of institutes for higher education including the University of Illinois –Urbana-Champaign, and Bucks County College. Mr. Collmer has toured internationally with NYC based children’s productions and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and he has opened shows at Universal Studios Hollywood and Orlando.
Letha Yap Palmanteer
Fiscal Operations Manager
Letha first began working for MAPA as an administrative assistant in 2002. After a two year break to Washington State where she and her husband owned a small sign-making and engraving business, she returned to MAPA as the Fiscal Operations Manager. MCC accounting and twenty-two years working with financials has come in handy. Though this local girl lived most of her life on Maui raising three children, she has still managed to travel extensively living in Japan, Washington, Alaska and Europe. She’s always open to more travel if it comes her way. People, swimming, reading and travel are her passions.
Willow Combo Krause
Front Office Administrator
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Board of Directors Keith Ranney - President Dottie Aganos - Vice-president Linda Howlett - Secretary Kit Okazaki - Treasurer Auriol Flavell Steve Goldstein Chris Hart Phil Johnson Lisa Paulson Robin Pilus |
Dance Teachers Katira Arak Ashiya Carter Anne Westwick Barry Brinker Jones Camille Romero Danelle Watson Hiroki Ichinose Jennifer Campbell Jamy Woodbury Kathleen McKeon Kelsey Reyes Katie Talbot Nan Guillory Rebecca Owen Virginia Holte |
Drama Teachers Eva Sikes Donna Breeden Kristi Scott Lasensua Osborne Lauren Burgess Rebecca Owen Margherita Pappas Sally Sefton-Johnston Kathleen Schulz Tanya Delury Tour Actors Mark Collmer Derek Nakagawa Shannon Spicola |
Photography courtesy of Daniel Bendjy, Grins 2 Go, James Gwinn, David Johnston, Marti Kluth, Gerry Mooney and Rebecca Owen.