Kimberly currently works as a Costume Supervisor in New England. Her more recent film credits in the Costume Department include the Oscar winning (Best Costumes) film Little Women, HBO’s The Gilded Age, Oscar-nominated film Don’t Look Up, I Feel Pretty, Confess, Fletch and most recently, Hocus Pocus 2, Instigators and At The Sea. Some of her other credits include Lethal Weapon 4, Conspiracy Theory, While You Were Sleeping, Phenomenon, The Bodyguard, Primal Fear, and Wayne’s World, along with the Oscar nominated film The Town. Kimberly is also a former Tap dance teacher! In 2009, Kimberly joined forces with Dena Davis and co-directed The Wizard of Oz at Nayatt School, which eventually led to the founding of Arts Alive! This partnership of Dena Directing and Kimberly as Costume Designer has blossomed over the productions of Willy Wonka, Kids, How to Eat Like a Child, Peter Pan, Bugsy Malone, Jr., Aladdin, Kids, Once upon a Mattress, Broadway Rules, Pinocchio, High School Musical, Jr., All the World’s A Stage, The Aristocats , Kids, Into the Woods, Jr., Seussical, Jr., Jungle Book, Kids, 101 Dalmatians, The Little Mermaid Jr., Shrek The Musical, Jr., Lion King Jr., Alice in Wonderland, Mulan and Annie. It has always been a dream for Kimberly to bring her love of theater and design to the schools.

Marisa received her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in theatre and a STEAM Certificate from Roger Willaims University, graduating summa cum laude in May 2024. 

Marisa grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut, where her love of performing grew through years of competitive dance and theatre performance. Since her first musical in 5th Grade, Oliver, Marisa has acted in multiple plays and musicals with notable roles, including Jane Banks, Mary Poppins, Lou Ann, Hairspray, and Marci, Almost Maine. Marisa first combined her love of teaching and theatre with a “Play in a Day” Workshop with Arts Alive in 2021. Since then, Marisa created “Take the Stage With Miss C,” in 2023, a summer theatre program through Simsbury’s Continuing Education Department where her students learned a musical in a week with opportunities to explore readers’ theatre, singing, dancing, and acting. Marisa had the opportunity to run another successful summer of her program before returning to Rhode Island this fall to complete her Master’s in Special Education. When not teaching theater, you can also catch Marisa in her other role, “Miss Cestone,” student teaching, substitute teaching, and working as a COZ Staff member at Colt Andrews Elementary School. Marisa’s experiences on-stage and in the classroom support her in creating an inviting, supportive environment for students to explore the joys of performing! Although this is her first year as an Arts Alive! Staff member, she is so excited to be a part of the team and can’t wait for future productions! 

Marisa is excited to bring her passion for education and theatre to the Colt Andrews 1st Grade Mermaids and Pirates program this fall. She has exciting choreography ready and is excited for a MER-MAZING TIME!  

In 2016 she began working as a teaching artist for the Arts Alive! school programs and has been involved with the productions of Aladdin KIDS, Mulan Jr, Alice in Wonderland Jr, Annie KIDS, Cinderella KIDS, and Beauty & the Beast Jr. In our 2019-20 season, Molly served as Stage Manager for all Arts Alive! productions. Molly is proud to continue to be part of the Arts Alive! staff.

Molly is a graduate of Keene State College, earning degrees in Acting (BA) and Elementary Education (BS). While at Keene State College, Molly acted in multiple plays, was the Costume Head for the department musicals, was president of the colleges improvisational comedy team, and was a member of the Theatre and Dance Honor Society, Alpha Psi Omega. Molly also spent six months studying acting in London, England at  Goldsmiths, University of London. Molly is currently teaching 5th Grade at Hugh Cole School in Warren.

Most of her theatre experience has been with the Bristol Theatre Company, where she has also been a board member for many years. Some of her favorite on-stage roles include Maria (West Side Story), Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls) and Philia (forum).  Off stage, she has Directed numerous children’s productions over the years and recently Directed Bristol Theatre Company’s production of A Christmas Carol, A Play with Music.  Kara was excited to join the team at Arts Alive last year, this being her third production with the group.  Kara’s favorite role, by far, is the role of Mom to Kali (17) and Kaila, 12.  Kara lives in Bristol with her husband, Jess, daughters and 2 dogs.  She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and is an Interdepartmental Project Manager for the State of RI, DHS, Office of Child Care. 

Since becoming a certified dance teacher through Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston in 2003, Jen has had the pleasure of teaching thousands of students. She continued her training at Rhode Island College and was fortunate to work with talented artists and choreographers while performing with the college’s dance company and in musical theatre productions. Jen is a veteran dance instructor with experience teaching all ages at schools and studios in RI and MA, including Dance with Energy, Riverside Dance Center, the Portsmouth Abbey School, Rocky Hill School, St. Philomena’s School, Just Dance!, Twinkle Toes Dance Studio, and RI Dance Alliance’s Chance to Dance. She is currently on staff at J-DAPA in Smithfield and Creative Hope Academy of Dance in Pawtucket. Since 2013 she has been part of the creative team at Arts Alive! She has had the pleasure of directing and choreographing for summer camps, workshops, and many shows including Lion King, Seussical, Willy Wonka, Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, Shrek, Pinocchio, and Moana. In 2014 she was a dance artist in residence at Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts. She has received awards for her jazz, contemporary, and tap choreography. Jen is passionate about her craft and is fortunate to be sharing it with young performers for over 20 years! 

Marisa received her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in theatre and a STEAM Certificate from Roger Willaims University, graduating summa cum laude in May 2024. 

Marisa grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut, where her love of performing grew through years of competitive dance and theatre performance. Since her first musical in 5th Grade, Oliver, Marisa has acted in multiple plays and musicals with notable roles, including Jane Banks, Mary Poppins, Lou Ann, Hairspray, and Marci, Almost Maine. Marisa first combined her love of teaching and theatre with a “Play in a Day” Workshop with Arts Alive in 2021. Since then, Marisa created “Take the Stage With Miss C,” in 2023, a summer theatre program through Simsbury’s Continuing Education Department where her students learned a musical in a week with opportunities to explore readers’ theatre, singing, dancing, and acting. Marisa had the opportunity to run another successful summer of her program before returning to Rhode Island this fall to complete her Master’s in Special Education. When not teaching theater, you can also catch Marisa in her other role, “Miss Cestone,” student teaching, substitute teaching, and working as a COZ Staff member at Colt Andrews Elementary School. Marisa’s experiences on-stage and in the classroom support her in creating an inviting, supportive environment for students to explore the joys of performing! Although this is her first year as an Arts Alive! Staff member, she is so excited to be a part of the team and can’t wait for future productions! 

Marisa is excited to bring her passion for education and theatre to the Colt Andrews 1st Grade Mermaids and Pirates program this fall. She has exciting choreography ready and is excited for a MER-MAZING TIME!  

In 2016 she began working as a teaching artist for the Arts Alive! school programs and has been involved with the productions of Aladdin KIDS, Mulan Jr, Alice in Wonderland Jr, Annie KIDS, Cinderella KIDS, and Beauty & the Beast Jr. In our 2019-20 season, Molly served as Stage Manager for all Arts Alive! productions. Molly is proud to continue to be part of the Arts Alive! staff.

Molly is a graduate of Keene State College, earning degrees in Acting (BA) and Elementary Education (BS). While at Keene State College, Molly acted in multiple plays, was the Costume Head for the department musicals, was president of the colleges improvisational comedy team, and was a member of the Theatre and Dance Honor Society, Alpha Psi Omega. Molly also spent six months studying acting in London, England at  Goldsmiths, University of London. Molly is currently teaching 5th Grade at Hugh Cole School in Warren.

Most of her theatre experience has been with the Bristol Theatre Company, where she has also been a board member for many years. Some of her favorite on-stage roles include Maria (West Side Story), Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls) and Philia (forum).  Off stage, she has Directed numerous children’s productions over the years and recently Directed Bristol Theatre Company’s production of A Christmas Carol, A Play with Music.  Kara was excited to join the team at Arts Alive last year, this being her third production with the group.  Kara’s favorite role, by far, is the role of Mom to Kali (17) and Kaila, 12.  Kara lives in Bristol with her husband, Jess, daughters and 2 dogs.  She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and is an Interdepartmental Project Manager for the State of RI, DHS, Office of Child Care. 

Since becoming a certified dance teacher through Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston in 2003, Jen has had the pleasure of teaching thousands of students. She continued her training at Rhode Island College and was fortunate to work with talented artists and choreographers while performing with the college’s dance company and in musical theatre productions. Jen is a veteran dance instructor with experience teaching all ages at schools and studios in RI and MA, including Dance with Energy, Riverside Dance Center, the Portsmouth Abbey School, Rocky Hill School, St. Philomena’s School, Just Dance!, Twinkle Toes Dance Studio, and RI Dance Alliance’s Chance to Dance. She is currently on staff at J-DAPA in Smithfield and Creative Hope Academy of Dance in Pawtucket. Since 2013 she has been part of the creative team at Arts Alive! She has had the pleasure of directing and choreographing for summer camps, workshops, and many shows including Lion King, Seussical, Willy Wonka, Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, Shrek, Pinocchio, and Moana. In 2014 she was a dance artist in residence at Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts. She has received awards for her jazz, contemporary, and tap choreography. Jen is passionate about her craft and is fortunate to be sharing it with young performers for over 20 years!