About the Instructors
DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATORY / INSTRUCTOR: Howard Shangraw Howard Shangraw An award-winning actor, director, and teacher, his professional acting career includes productions off-Broadway, summer stock, feature films, episodic television, day time soap operas and regional theatre productions for South Coast Repertory Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, Laguna Playhouse, Grove Shakespeare Festival, and various equity waiver theatres in the Los Angeles area. His directing resume includes productions of classical and contemporary repertoire and musicals for professional theatres, community theatres, colleges and high schools. He has directed shows at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Matrix Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Stella Adler Theatre, and over thirty productions for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts acting company. He directed internationally for Theatre Mediterranean in Barcelona, Spain. Also, a playwright and composer, his original musical, The People Versus B. B. Wolfe, was produced by South Coast Repertory and toured Orange County under a special grant from Target Stores. Howard has been a teacher of acting for over thirty years with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, South Coast Repertory’s adult and youth conservatory programs, and the Pasadena Youth Conservatory, and chaired the Theatre department at the Idyllwild Arts Academy from 2004 – 2014.
OUR INSTRUCTORS
Click on a name to read more about each instructor.
MELANIE BLUE
Melanie Blue is an accomplished actor, improviser, playwright, teacher, and five-time recipient of the Desert Theatre League Award for Outstanding Acting. Prior to moving here, she performed extensively in Chicago and LA. Melanie is the protégé of the guru and godfather of improv, Mr. Del Close. When she is not building an improv empire, you can find her starring in local commercials and performing in theatrical productions with the best companies of the Coachella Valley. Melanie teaches all levels of improvisation and produces improv shows at various venues.
As a teacher, Melanie is known for her supportive, honest and incisive feedback. She is invested in the growth and evolution of each of her students. She prides herself on creating a space safe for exploration where the artist can flourish. Melanie adores all things improv, and her mission is to pass down the incredible storehouse of knowledge and wisdom she’s been fortunate enough to receive, whilst evolving and adapting it for the times and for each individual student. Melanie’s core belief is that the art of improv doesn’t just make better performers, it makes better humans.
ALIX KOREY
Alix Korey returned to her home in Rancho Mirage after co-starring in the 2016 acclaimed Broadway revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Her previous Broadway appearances include ALL SHOOK UP, CHICAGO, Neil Simon’s 45 SECONDS FROM BROADWAY, TRIUMPH OF LOVE, AIN’T BROADWAY GRAND, IS THERE LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, and PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Off-Broadway, she originated roles in THE WILD PARTY (Drama Desk nomination), NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY (Outer Critics Circle nomination), and SUBURB (Dramaleague award), among many others. She has appeared in numerous films, including six Disney animated features, and on several prime-time TV series, and has released two award-winning solo CDs. For 15 years, she taught at NYU in the Tisch School’s Cap21 program, and after relocating to California, she continues to teach at Musical Theatre University, a high school arts program for the Palm Springs Unified Schools.
TERI RALSTON
TERI RALSTON
Celebrated actress Teri Ralston shares her many years performing on Broadway and around the world, providing students with a unique insight into the art of and joy of singing. Her extensive acting career, includes the Broadway shows YOUR OWN THING, JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS, and the original productions of Stephan Sondheim’s COMPANY and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Her association with Sondheim has continued over the years performing or directing 10 of his works, which includes playing Sally in 3 productions of FOLLIES, Madame Armfeldt in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, and SIDE-BY-SIDE-BY-SONDHEIM in which she starred with Peggy Lee. She was also in the original cast of BAKER’S WIFE, with music by Stephen Schwartz, and had the pleasure of being the leading lady in Cy Coleman’s HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN. Favorite roles she performed are Mama Rose in Gypsy, Mame in MAME, Dulce Mae in BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE, Sally Bowles, and later, Fraulein Schneider in CABARET, Cousin Nettie in CAROUSE and Maria, and Mother Abbess in productions of SOUND OF MUSIC. Teri has performed worldwide in cabaret and was the soloist with Michael Feinstein and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl and the New Mexico Symphony. She is featured on 7 original cast albums, 3 CDS recorded in London, and a solo CD, I GOTTA GET BACK TO NEW YORK.
Teri has also been teaching for most of her professional career. She got her BA and teaching credentials in Theatre and Music at San Francisco State University. Through the years, she has continued to coach voice, teach seminars, teach at performing arts high schools, and teach and direct at USC, UC Irvine, San Francisco State University, University of Louisville, Chapman, and Cal ST. Fullerton. She taught at AMDA (American Music and Dramatic Arts) in New York for 13 years, and part of the year teaching at the Musical Theatre University in Palm Springs, CA.
LAURA STEARNS
Laura studied theater at a performing arts conservatory as a youth performer and has been working in professional theater since the age of thirteen. As a theater professional in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which included twelve-years on staff at the Guthrie Theater, Laura has worked with professionals from around the country who are at the top of their game, both on and off stage. Laura is an accomplished actor and director with a diverse skill set that has given her the opportunity to work in almost every department of theater production, including: stage management, prop construction and design, sets, lights, costumes and wigs. She was the wig master at the Guthrie for5 years before relocating to Southern California in 2023.
