Jolene "jojo" doDSON bogard
Managing Director: Instructor: Acting for Camera, Improv, Acting for the Elementary Student, Writing for the Stage, Moderator of Special Guests
A 30 plus year veteran Entertainment professional working in Film, Television and Theatre. Jojo graduated of USC's Cinema School, and her career in Children and Community Theatre didn't take off until she met her husband in 2011. "My future Step Daughter was in a play...and I volunteered. They were struggling and I knew I could help out." She got hired...and never left. She then started Heyjojo Productions as a Children's Theatre. Ms. Bogard has also taught at BGC of Huntington/Valley's "Clubhouse Theatre", Huntington Beach High School's famed Academy of Performing Arts for 2 years in Dramatic Production (for Writing and Directing), North Coast Rep's Theatre School as the Improv Comedy Instructor 2 years, and now as the Full time, Managing Theatre Director for Heyjojo Productions/Solana Beach Community Theater...as a Volunteer. Jojo built this theatre/studio to be an encouraging and positive environment she always dreamed about when she was younger. "Give the kids a sandbox and let them play and encourage and support them all the way. It's what I do." (Credits: Too many to list! But Favs: "Rent"2021; "Mamma Mia" 2021; "Little Shop of Horrors" 2017; "The Lion King" 2022.)
EMMY CLAIRE KAIDEN
Resident Choreographer
Emmy Claire trains in all genres at Evoke and is on the LCC High School Varsity Dance Team. For the last 4 years, she was Hollywood Vibe National Top 3 Dancer Of The Year and traveled on Vibe Company assisting the faculty and performing in many cities. This year, she was awarded National Radix Top 30 Teen Protégé and NRG Dance Project Teen Prodigy. Emmy Claire has performed as a back-up dancer for Madison Beer, Jordan Fisher and Ruth Righi. When she’s not dancing, she enjoys crafts, cooking and volunteering.
Debbie Niscastro
Recommended Vocal Professional
Debbie has been a private voice teacher for over 25 years and specializes in Musical Theatre and Rock/R & B. She studied under the tuteledge of Ron Anderson, vocal coach to the stars, who has coached such amazing artists as Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson, Red Hot Chile Peppers, with the “speech-level singing” technique. She is currently studying the Alexander Technique and hopes to be accredited within the next year. Debbie has over 30 years of professional experience as a actor/singer and has toured and appeared on many stages in San Diego and Los Angeles. Debbie has many regional credits in musical theatre such as Sweeney Todd, Evita, How to Succeed in Business, Hello Dolly, The King and I, and Annie, and has been the musical director for such shows as Hairspray, Rent, The Wiz, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast and Charlottes Web. She has been a choral director and cantor for her church Mission San Luis Rey. Debbie has 2 very accomplished children who both play instruments, sing and are accredited from UCLA and Reed College in Portland Oregon. In her spare time (lol) Debbie is the lead singer for the rock band Tribute. Nicastro Voice Studios | (760)-519-3370
michael dashefsky
Voice/Piano Coach and Music Director
Michael has been grateful to be working with HeyJojo/Solana Beach Community theatre with his good friend Andrew Miller since Mamma Mia in spring of 2021. He has been a working performer since completion of his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at California State University Fullerton where he graduated Cum Laude. He has been fortunate to have worked for a variety of entertainment institutions which have taken him to all corners of the globe from Princess Cruises, Tokyo Disney Resort, Universal Studios Singapore and also as a dueling piano player for Holland Americas branded musical venue Billboard on Board. His stage credits include: the Christmas Wonderland National Tour, East West Players, the Chance Theatre, Transcendence Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare and Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.
He prides himself on providing students with encouraging vocal coaching and music direction from a working professional. He is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association and represented by DDO Artists Agency. He has completed all levels with Honors in the California Certificate of Merit Piano Examination in aural, written theory/piano performance and received a 5 in AP music theory. Michael is very proud of all of his HeyJojo students and loves watching them grow in each production. More information about vocal and piano instruction can be found on: https://linktr.ee/mdashefsky
Instagram: m_dashef
Scott Stiles
Art Class Teacher
Scott found a love for drawing and painting at a very young age and carried it through to a career in advertising design and later commissioned artwork. His love is painting the ocean, seascapes and drawing and painting portraits. A beloved teacher at St. James Academy, his works tend to be as realistic as possible and that is how he teaches his students to draw and paint. He believes that if a student can learn the skills to draw and paint in a realistic manner he or she can then take their art creations into anything they desire with confidence. His students have won "best of show" middle school, at the Del Mar fair (drawing and pastel) and many , many blue ribbons. His students learn how to master techniques to get the desired outcome in drawing and painting.
Diana Baker
Acting Instructor and Theater Manager
Diana studied Theater at Ohio University, Syracuse University and The Stella Adler Conservatory in NYC. She has been acting on stage since she was a child in NYC, regionally and locally here in San Diego. She is excited to be joining the Solana Community Theater and HeyJoJo Productions staff.