instructors

creative leaders

Offering classes year round, BPA’s educational programs support the values of successful learning and personal growth. All courses focus on the development of self-esteem, effective and caring group skills, and a comfort with and love of the arts. By providing a non-judgmental, positive, and supportive environment, BPA Theatre School helps children tap into their own creativity and respect that of others!

Appointed BPA’s Artistic Director in July 2008, Steven Fogell has been a part of BPA for more than twelve years, working as a teacher, director, and designer. Steven’s first role with BPA was that of Costume Designer for the Mainstage production The Little Prince. He then moved on to teach in the Theatre School and direct Annie. He has directed more than 60 Mainstage and Theatre School shows for BPA. Among his favorite BPA directing credits are Jekyll & Hyde, Cabaret, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Les Misérables, Romancing the Buddha, and Woodpile. Steven is a published playwright, with eight plays in print thus far. He has recently added screenplay writing to his repertoire, and premiered his new film Engagement at the 10th Anniversary Celluloid Bainbridge Film Festival in March 2008.

Jessica Low is delighted to be joining the education staff at BPA. BPA credits include Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde, Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors, and choreography for Urinetown, Gypsy, and Kiss Me, Kate. Other favorite regional credits include Tommy (Village Theatre, Female Swing), A Chorus Line (Maggie, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre), and Children of Eden (Eve, Capital Playhouse). Jessica has a BA in Drama from the University of Washington with an emphasis in acting and directing. In addition to performing and choreographing she is also passionate about working with youth, having worked as a youth educator for Civic Light Opera, ArtsWest, and Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre. Currently she is an instructor/director/choreographer for Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE program where she works with Pre-K through 12th grade students, teaching exploratory and musical theatre classes. Village Theatre credits include The Jungle Book (Director and Choreographer) and Honk Jr. (Choreographer).

Maribeth Hinderer has been performing for more than 30 years. Since relocating to Bainbridge Island in 2000, she has been involved in productions at Island Theater, Ovation! Musical Theater as both a performer and choreographer, and at BPA, also, as both a performer and choreographer. She received a degree from the University of Arizona, and went on to be married to her husband, Alan, and have 2 children, Austin, a junior at Western, and her daughter Taylor, a senior at BHS, also seen in many productions on Bainbridge Island. Maribeth has studied voice with numerous instructors across the country and has been a part of small ensembles and doing solo work for many years.

Whether performing on-stage or teaching theater school, Gabe Carbajal is always excited to be back at BPA. Last seen in BPA’s Woodpile, Young Playwright's Festival, Urinetown, and Gypsy; he also appeared in Island Theater's reading of Stop Kiss, directed by Steven Fogell. Woodpile is Gabe's last show before leaving Seattle and relocating back to his hometown of San Luis Obispo, CA to start his masters in education at Cal Poly. Gabe has taught BPA Theatre School’s pre-school classes for the last two years, and thankfully, he returns in the summer of 2008 to lead BPA’s 1st – 2nd and 3rd to 4th Grade Theatre School offerings. He’ll also appear this summer in Camp Teen Broadway’s Thoroughly Modern Millie as a mentor performer for the production.

Sophia Federighi is very excited to become a member of the teaching staff at BPA. She has been performing for 16 years in and around the Seattle area, and has recently been seen on the BPA stage in Urinetown (Hot Blades, and Dance Captain), Jekyll & Hyde (Red Rat Girl), As You Like It (Rosalind), and Woodpile (Lila). She has an AA from Seattle Central with an emphasis in theatre arts, including performance, playwriting, directing, and technical training. She is currently furthering her education with private lessons and will be Vocal Directing this summer's Camp Teen Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, along with teaching 5th-8th grade Theatre School classes.