The Rose’s professional teaching artists are the best in the region! They are the same professional actors who perform in The Rose’s main stage productions, and most have college and graduate degrees in theater arts and education. Each class features one lead teacher, as well as an assistant to help provide additional support.
Brian Guehring, Education Director & Playwright-in-Residence
As The Rose’s Playwright-in-Residence, Brian has written many scripts including If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, The Bully Show, The Misfits, and Holiday Time Around the World and his scripts have been honored by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Kennedy Center, and the Nebraska Arts Council. This season he will be performing in A Year with Frog and Toad and has recently been seen on stage as Sharktooth in How I Became a Pirate, Colin in The Misfits, and Starkey in Peter Pan – The Musical. He earned his MFA in Children’s Theater and Creative Drama from the University of Texas at Austin, and was honored in 2006 with a Human and Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association. He is currently serving on the board of Theater for Young Audiences/USA. Brian can be reached at briang@rosetheater.org or (402) 502-4636
Kevin Ehrhart, Teaching Artist
Kevin has been teaching at The Rose for 22 years. He studied dramatic arts at UNO and is a Master Teacher with the Nebraska Arts Council’s Artist-in-Schools program. He teaches improvisation, directing, Shakespeare and all forms of creative drama for ages preschool through high school. As a director, Kevin has been responsible for numerous main stage productions including this season’s Madeline’s Christmas and A Year with Frog and Toad. This season he will be performing in George and Martha: Tons of Fun and was recently seen on stage as the Cat in the Hat in Seussical – The Musical and as Pierre in How I Became a Pirate. Kevin can be reached at kevine@rosetheater.org or (402) 502-4620.
Michael Harrelson, Teaching Artist & Community Outreach Coordinator
This is Michael’s seventh season as a full-time teaching artist at The Rose. Michael coordinates The Rose’s outreach programs for children with special needs: financial barriers, autism, hearing impairments, Down syndrome, and prolonged hospitalization. Michael has a BFA from Hannibal-LaGrange College and was recently seen in Annie–The Musical, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, Miss Bindergarten, Little House Christmas, Horrible Harry, and The Wizard of Oz. Michael can be reached at michaelh@rosetheater.org or (402) 502-4634.
Michael Miller, Teaching Artist & Literary Manager
Michael joined our full-time staff in 2011 having previously worked for Macon State College, Mercer University, Omaha Children’s Museum, Omaha Performing Arts, El Museo Latino, and Omaha Boys and Girls Clubs. Michael is a Master Teacher with the Nebraska Arts Council’s Artists-in-Schools program with a focus on creative drama and design residencies. He has an undergraduate degree from Yale University and a Masters degree in Non-Profit Management from UNO. He has directed for the Teens ‘N’ Theater season, performed as Centipede in James and the Giant Peach, and the national tours of Frog and Toad, Richard Scarry’s BusyTown, and Treasure Island. This season Michael will be performing in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Micahel can be reached at michaelm@rosetheater.org or (402) 502-4624.
Michael Wilhelm, Teaching Artist
Michael has been teaching at The Rose for 21 years, and for six of those years, also participated as a Master Teacher with UNL’s Arts Are Basic program. His many Rose acting credits include How I Became a Pirate, Annie–The Musical, Peter Pan–The Musical, Treasure Island, Little House Christmas, The Night Before Christmas, and Coppélia. Michael is also the performer for The Big (Not-So-Bad) Wolf, the popular one-man show that has been seen by thousands. This season Michael will be performing in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Michael can be reached at michaelw@rosetheater.org or (402) 502-4616.
Stephanie Jacobson, Teaching Artist & Director of Youth Productions
We are excited to welcome Stephanie back to our full time staff. She directed The Rose’s award winning world premiere of The Misfits and will soon direct George and Martha: Tons of Fun. She starred on stage as Laura in If You Give a Cat a Cookie and as the mother in Pinkalicious, and has been cast to perform in A Year with Frog and Toad this spring. Stephanie has an MFA in acting from the University of Iowa and is a certified yoga instructor. She worked for three years at the Jim Henson Company. Stephanie can be reached at stephj@rosetheater.org or (402) 502-4629.
Andy Saladino, Teaching Artist
Andy is starting his third season as a teaching artist after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Theater Education. He completed both a Rose advanced theater education internship and a year-longt teaching artist internship. He has been seen on our stage as Skeezie in The Misfits and as Nate in The Adventures of Nate the Great. This season Andy will be performing in George and Martha: Tons of Fun. Andy can be reached at andys@rosetheater.org.
Jennifer Ettinger, Teaching Artist
Jennifer is starting her second season as a Rose teaching artist. She is a graduate of Coe College in Cedar Rapids with a degree in Creative Writing and English and a minor in Theatre. Last season, she performed as April in Holiday Time Around the World and Carole in The Bully Show. This season Jennifer will be performing in Madeline’s Christmas. Jennifer can be reached at jennifere@rosetheater.org.
Maddie Mardesen, Teaching Artist Fellow
This is Maddie’s first season at The Rose after previously completing a summer internship. She earned a BA in English and Theatre from Morningside College in Sioux City. She will be performing in Nebraskaland! and Ticket to Toyland. Maddie can be reached at maddiem@rosetheater.org.
Shannon Rzucidlo, Teaching Artist Fellow
This is Shannon’s first season at The Rose and she is thrilled to be here! She received her degree in theatre and psychology from the University of Arizona and previously completed an educational theater internship with Lexington Children’s Theater. This year Shannon is performing in Nutrition Man, Nebraskaland!, and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Shannon can be reached at shannonr@rosetheater.org.
Kelsey Celek, Teaching Artist Fellow
Kelsey is so excited to be joining The Rose’s staff this season. Kelsey earned her BFA in acting/musical theater from Wright State University and has completed three tours with the Missoula Children’s Theatre. This season Kelsey will be performing onstage in A Year with Frog and Toad. Kelsy can be reached at kelseyc@rosetheater.org.
Dange’ Sanders, Teaching Artist Fellow
Dange’ Sanders is pleased to return to The Rose after previously completing a summer internship. Dange’ is a proud graduate of the University of Kansas, where she studied theater, film, and media studies. This season Dange’ will be working on the Teens ‘N’ Theater production of Young, Gifted, and Black. Dange’ can be reached at danges@rosetheater.org
Patrik Kilcoyne, Teaching Artist Fellow
Patrick is ecstatic to return to The Rose after graduating from Creighton University with a BFA in Technical Theatre. He has previously completed two summer education internships at The Rose. In addition to this, he has had a summer education internship with the Lexington Children’s Theratre and is currently the Membership and Publications Intern for TYA/USA. This season, Patrick will be serving as one of the Co-Directors for Pride Players Project 14. Patrick can be reached at patrickk@rosetheater.org.
