Theatre School Manager

Amanda is a passionate educator, director, and performer who brings a decade of experience in theatre and film education (and over 20+ years of performance experience) to her role at BPA. A graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. in Acting, she has performed in numerous film and theatre productions while continuing her own training in the performing arts. Amanda began teaching in 2015 and discovered a deep love for inspiring creativity and authenticity in young artists. As Theatre School Manager, she brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to arts education, fostering inclusive, imaginative, and empowering experiences for every young performer.

Tina Guldhammer Frei has been teaching and performing improvisational theatre since 2001, with a deep passion for collaborative storytelling and creative exploration. She joined Bainbridge Performing Arts as a teaching artist in 2022 and is a founding member of Bainbridge Improv Collective. With a background in improv, storytelling, writing, and ensemble-based work, Tina brings over two decades of experience helping students tap into their creative voice. She loves guiding tweens, teens, and adults as they take creative risks, build confidence, and discover the joy of theatre in a supportive, playful environment.

Laurel trained with notable teachers like Janet Alhanti and Iris Klein in Meisner technique and John Theis in theatrical improvisation. She began her career at twelve and pursued acting professionally in Hollywood, with credits spanning from commercials to roles on CBS, NBC, and HBO. Laurel is passionate about helping students discover their unique voices and thrive in BPA’s inclusive, joy-filled environment, where stories have the power to change lives.

Shawna Avinger is an experienced Music Director and long time educator. She has music directed for multiple BPA Mainstage shows, as well as Mary Poppins JR with Theatre School. Shawna received her Bachelor's of Music from the University of Washington in vocal performance, her Master's degree in Opera Performance from the Maryland Opera Studio, and her doctoral work was in performance and music theory at The Julliard School. She has been working with vocal students since 2000.

Sandi has been on an improv journey since the early 2000s, learning from a variety of classes, workshops, and books. She believes that improv offers a powerful way to explore our shared humanity. Sandi is dedicated to helping people unlock their creativity and playfulness, encouraging students to apply improv principles to both theater and everyday life. She loves how BPA fosters a spirit of play in students of all ages.

Matt Longmire brings a rich background in film, marketing, management, and acting, having studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York (Class of 2004). He has also spent years honing his skills in voiceover and dialects. Matt is excited to be contributing his diverse experience to the BPA Theatre School. Matt is on staff at BPA as the Marketing and Communications Director.

Terace studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University before transitioning into education while raising her family. Passionate about children’s theater, she loves working with young people to create new works and help them discover their voices as creators and changemakers. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Elementary Education, Terace is dedicated to providing the same sense of purpose and belonging she experienced as a young artist in the performing arts.scription goes here

Matt is an accomplished solo performance artist, improviser, actor, and writer. A co-founder of The Edge, his screen credits include Sleepless in Seattle and Outsourced. Matt teaches improv at Freehold and across the nation, inspiring performers to dig deeper with a motto from Del Close: “Don’t make ’em laugh, make ’em gasp.”

Director, Educator Extradonaire

Aimee Hong, music director and voice teacher, has been working professionally in the region for over 10 years. BPA credits include Big Fish, Peter and the Starcatcher, Beauty and the Beast, and Anastasia. Passionate about music education, Aimee enjoys helping musical theatre performers develop the vocal tools to succeed.