Our Mission
We produce theatre and theatre education in Tucson that entertains, educates, and enlightens children, adults, and families.

Live Theatre Workshop
3322 E Fort Lowell Rd
• Tucson, AZ 85716
Reservations: (520) 327-4242
• livetheatreworkshop@gmail.com

Education Staff

Click on pictures to read biographies of LTW's stellar education staff.

Amanda Gremel started at LTW as a student in our education program more than 15 years ago. Now our Director of Children’s Programming, she is proud of the growth and direction of LTW’s education program and Family Series, where she also helps to create fun and exciting shows for all ages. Amanda leads the education program by creating a safe environment where students can build confidence and explore their imaginations.
She also directs and is onstage for LTW’s Mainstage and Family Series. Amanda feels very fortunate to work with amazing talent of all ages, and she enjoys sharing her love of theatre with all in her community.

Amanda Gremel
Director of Children's Programming

Stephen Frankenfield is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, where he studied acting for theatre and film. He is an actor and director on LTW’s Mainstage and Family Series stage with multiple Arizona Daily Star Mac Award nominations to his credit. Stephen is LTW’s Assistant Director of Children’s Programming, helping to create fun and creative environments for kids, both onsite and in the community, that emphasize skill building and teamwork, while challenging them to grow as individual artists. Stephen writes original plays for our theatre classes and camps that have been published and performed in theatres across the world.

Stephen Frankenfield
Assistant Director of Children's Programming

Instructors

Samantha Cormier is thrilled to be back at Live Theatre Workshop after receiving her M.F.A in Performing Arts at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). Samantha also holds a B.F.A in Directing/Theatre Production from the University of Arizona and has performed and directed in theatres from New York, Savannah as well as your favorite theatres in town including The Gaslight Theatre, Arizona Onstage Productions and Beowulf Alley Theatre. Favorite roles include Betsy/Lindsey (CLYBOURNE PARK), Fiona (SHREK), Corrie (BAREFOOT IN THE PARK), Winifred (ONCE UPON A MATTRESS), Helena (A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM), Susan (TICK, TICK...BOOM), Columbia (THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, MAC Award nomination, Best Actress), Lisa (COLLECTED STORIES) and Sally Bowles (CABARET). Favorite shows directed/choreographed include, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, INTO THE WOODS, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, FOREVER PLAID, GODSPELL, HONK!, NUNSENSE, and THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES. She has also had the privilege of instructing the Broadway bound at Stagedoor Manor, Studio Connections, Civano Elementary, and Live Theatre Workshop. Samantha is so incredibly lucky to have such wonderful, supportive people in her life and thanks all who support the arts.

Samantha Cormier

Holli Diffin grew up in Tucson, singing and performing on local stages around town. She has been both a teacher and performer here at Live Theatre Workshop (LTW) for the past fifteen years. Some of her most beloved roles as an actor have been Carnelle in The Miss Firecracker Contest, Lucille in Dearly Departed, Lorraine the Squirrel in Jeremy Frey Kicked a Hole in the Sky, Maggie in Dancing at Lughnasa, the title role in Sylvia by A.R. Gurney, and Lil’ Bit in How I Learned To Drive. Holli feels incredibly fortunate for the opportunity to work as an instructor at LTW teaching theater classes and camps to diverse students of all ages. She is thankful to have found such an outstanding creative home filled with such wonderfully imaginative and kind-hearted folks.

Holli Diffin

Madison Doser has been involved in theatre for many years through her schooling and various community theatre programs and continues to perform today. She is a student at the University of Arizona seeking a degree in Public Health. As an educator, Madison is dedicated to helping create a fun-loving and beneficial environment for students to grow and develop. She enjoys sharing her love of theatre with her students helping bring about the joy and happiness that theatre can offer.

Madison Doser

Richard Gremel has been teaching at LTW for the past 10 years. He started out as a student of the classes when he was in high school. Richard is also the Acting and Technical Theatre teacher at Empire High School. His theatre program, at Empire, has earned numerous awards including a one-act Nationals appearance in 2014, State One-Act Champions in 2015, and voted Best Musical of Tucson for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards: Tucson Sing-Off. He earned his BFA in Theatre Education from the University of Arizona in 2008 and is currently pursuing his MA in Career and Technical Theatre from Concordia University-Portland. Along with teaching, Richard acts, directs, designs, and writes plays. He currently has 5 published plays which have been performed across the United States, Canada, India, and Hong Kong. Richard was named Teacher of the Year for the Vail School District in 2014 and was a top 9 finalist in the Circle K/U of A Outstanding Faculty Awards in 2016.

Richard Gremel

Kris Kissel has been teaching theatre at Sabino High School (Go Sabercats!) for a very, very long time. He earned a BFA in Theatre Education from the University of Arizona (Go Wildcats!) and a Master of Theatre degree from Southern Oregon University (Go Raiders!). He teaches improv and summer camps at Live Theatre Workshop, where he has also performed, written, and directed. He is a member of the AZ State Thespian Board and serves as the AIA South Region Theatre Director. He is the author of The Night Titus Barnaby Muttered "Macbeth", published by Big Dog Plays and Here Be Dragons, published by Heuer. When he's not busy with any of the above, he loves watching movies, sports, and The Simpsons. He lives in Tucson with his wife, two kids and their barky little dog.

Kris Kissel

Michael Martinez is the executive director of Live Theatre Workshop. Previously he has performed on the LTW Mainstage and Family Series in delightful shows such as Souvenir, The Brave Little Tailor, The Frog Prince, The Wizard of Oz, and Rockin Around the Christmas Tree. Michael is passionate about the city of Tucson and is committed to helping with services that arts and educational organizations provide to make Tucson a great place to live. Michael has a Bachelor degree in music from the University of Arizona and a Masters degree in Public Administration. He loves teaching musical theatre classes at Live Theatre Workshop and previously, he taught at TUSD’s Fine Arts Youth Academy, the OMA Project, and served as Director of Contemporary Music at First United Methodist Church. Michael is delighted to be part of this hilarious cast, and forever grateful that his Star Wish came true and he gets to perform in outstanding musicals for a living.

Michael Martinez

Emily Nickerson graduated from Empire High School in 2018 and is taking classes at Pima Community College. She is studying theater education and wants to be a theater teacher.

Emily Nickerson

Ericka Quintero Heras earned her B.F.A in Theatre Education from the University of Arizona in 2007 and studied musical theatre and dance at Collaborative Arts Project 21 (Cap21)in New York. She is the Theatre Arts Teacher at Salpointe Catholic High School, teaching acting and technical theatre. Ericka was Arizona's Theatre Teacher of the Year in 2016 and Salpointe's theatre program has been awarded Gold Honor Troupe for the past 20 plus years and is growing. Ericka also works at several local theatre companies as a teaching artist, actress, director, and choreographer.

Ericka Quintero Heras

Kyleigh Sacco has been involved in the Tucson theatre scene since 2016 and has taught at Live Theatre Workshop since 2017. In addition to her work as an instructor she has acted, stage managed, and worked various other tech jobs. She is soon to graduate from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and a B.S. in Natural Resources. She knows first-hand the powerful outlet that theatre can provide and hopes to inspire her students to be honest communicators in any area they pursue. Kyleigh creates a welcoming and safe environment for students to explore their capabilities and the world around them in ways that may have previously seemed impossible.

Kyleigh Sacco

Taylor Thomas loves teaching musical theatre classes at Live Theatre Workshop and has performed in LTW’s Family Series as Helga in THE BRAVE KNIGHT SIR LANCELOT, Margaret in QUIRKUS CIRCUS & THE MISSING RINGMASTER, and Tabitha in TABITHA TURNPIKE HAS A MONSTEROUS PROBLEM. She was the Musical Director in LTW productions of YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN and SNOOPY THE MUSICAL! Taylor costumes at the Gaslight Costume Shop and has performed as Lillian in their production of BACK TO THE PAST. She has studied music theory, piano, and many other musical instruments for most of her life and hopes to inspire each student to find their voice.

Taylor Thomas

Savannah Whitmer