Christiana Frank, Founder/Program Director
Reno native, Christiana Frank, created KidScape Production’s eight years ago at the New York City Police Department /At-Risk Youth Division. Christiana attended Juilliard in New York City as well as Yale School of Drama in Connecticut. She had extensive coaching with Uta Hagen for over two years and continues practicing her craft even when not performing! Her resume was built on Broadway as well as on Television and in Films. Her lifelong love for performance art brought about her passion for sharing its affects on the individual student. As a result, she has created a professional curriculum which focuses on the experience of the participants, helping them discover tools for life long success. KidScape of Reno, NV has been running for over 3 years in Washoe County. Thank you all for being part of the excitement!
Marissa Filippis, Instructor/Program Director
My name is Marissa, and I love my work with KidScape! I am a Nevada native, born and raised in Reno. My love of performance and people kept me committed to the theatre in high school, and after graduation I left home for San Francisco to study with Shelley Mitchell at the Actor's Center. Once I returned to Reno and began instructing for KidScape I realized the most fulfilling way to experience my love of theatre was through teaching it. I am the luckiest girl in the world to be able to meet so many wonderful people each day and be a part of a program that has taught me just as much as our students. When not instructing I love to hang out with my doggies, be silly with friends, eat, go exploring, or seek out new adventures. I am proud to continue to grow with my students, and I’m looking forward to all the good times to come. Thank you!
Joseph (Jody) Paslov, Instructor
Jody has studied theater at the University of Wisconsin, Southern Oregon State College and The Ruskin School of Acting in Santa Monica, CA. He has performed improvisation as a member of "Comedy Sportz" in Reno and Lake Tahoe, and has taught improv in Los Angeles. His theater credits include performances with the Brewery Art Center's "Proscenium Players," Virginia City Theater Muckers and the Dakota Theater in Minden, NV. His television and movie credits include appearances on ER, Ally McBeal, The X-Files, Chicago Hope and Walt Disney's "The Kid." Jody's love of theater and acting goes back as far as he can remember. He has been touched and transformed by it miraculously...many times! He especially enjoys the opportunity it affords any of us to be whoever we dare or dream to be.
Michelle MacKay, Instructor
Hello! My name is Michelle MacKay and I am new to the KidScape crew. I absolutely love it! I was born and raised in Reno, Nevada and really wish that I had a program like KidScape when I was growing up. The social skills, self-esteem and creativity that we instill in our students is amazing. To be able to get up in front of an audience and speak loudly, clearly and confidently is an asset we all could use. Our students can think on their feet, and have excellent presentation skills which are capabilities useful in any area. In the short time that I have been involved with KidScape I have not only seen a huge change in the students but in myself! I am currently a student at UNR graduating in a year with my teaching license, and I personally recommend KidScape, to all of the students that I teach. My favorite part about the program is that we have fun, and get all of these great benefits along with it.
Jessica Wilson, Instructor/Program Director
Hi. I’m Jessica. I was born and raised in Carson and I love working with kids at KidScape Productions! I did my first play when I was five and it became a passion of mine; I’ve been doing it ever since. I studied improvisation for a semester and am learning more each day working in the Washoe County Schools. As an actor, my favorite role is “The Player” in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”. I enjoy being able to help kids grow confidence and improve their self-esteem, it is such and amazing experience!
Nadeen Black, Instructor
Hi, I’m Nadeen Black. I am a senior at McQueen High school. I love to watch movies and hang out with my friends. I love to travel and meet new people. After high school I am planning on attending UNR and studying Journalism and Psychology. I love working with kids and I volunteer at many summer camp programs for children. I got involved in Kidscape through one of these programs. I am very excited to be working with this group of people and can’t wait to get to know everyone!
Katherine Bending, Instructor
My name is Katherine Bending and I have been with KidScape as a student for more than a year and an assistant instructor since March 2008. I love to perform and with KidScape I get amazing opportunities to do just that. Through helping at camps and classes with KidScape, I have gained more experience and improved my acting skills. I have gained self-confidence, leadership skills and better learned how to present myself in front of an audience. This has helped me with my presentation skills at school, in an interview, and around my peers. My goal as a KidScape Instructor is to pass on leadership skills, self-confidence, presentation skills, and the fun experience of acting to the students.
Ashlee Bonvicin, Instructor
Hello! My name is Ashlee Bonvicin and I have been with KidScape Productions since April 2010! I have had such a fun experience so far and KidScape has been my new love and passion. I have always loved to act and now I am so glad to get the chance to teach others and for them to have the opportunity to express themselves. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada but now I am currently a student at UNR. I have been involved in both cheerleading and dancing from the ages of 5-18. This company is such a great program as it allows students to learn how to think quickly while being very creative. KidScape has been such a blessing to me, I love my students, and I hope that everyone has a chance to be a student at KidScape! It is a time that you will never forget!!
April Kasper, Instructor
Hello! My name is April and I was born and raised in Southern California. I achieved a Bachelors degree in Art Studio, split emphasis Painting & Ceramics in 2006 from California State University Chico. I moved to Reno after graduation and enjoy the many different opportunities and entertainment this community provides. I have been lucky enough to be involved with dance and theatre performance since the age of 5. My first theatre role was Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web when a children’s theatre program came to my school in 6th grade. Having recently left a corporate environment I found KidScape Productions like an oasis in the desert and am so thankful for the opportunity to enrich lives through this program. Every child can benefit from this experience by at the very least building self esteem, learning to communicate clearly in front of an audience, and flexing their imaginations, all while having a blast doing it!
Kelsey Raulston, Student/Assistant Instructor
Hello my name is Kelsey, I live in Sparks, Nevada and I am in the 7th grade. I have always wanted to be an actress and I think KidScape is an awesome way to explore the opportunities of being one. I have been attending classes for almost a year and it is just great!!!! I think more kids should get involved with the program because it is FUN!!! One of the things I have learned in class is to have a positive attitude in everything you do; I am more out spoken and able to stand in front of a large audience. Ms. Cris is a wonderful teacher and mentor to me, I am so glad that I am a part of KidScape Productions, and I love it!
Roman Barry, Student/Assistant Instructor
Hello, my name is Roman Barry and I have been with KidScape since I was 13. I was first interested in acting when I was ten. I stopped for a few years, then went to my first acting class with KidScape and rememebered how much I loved to be on stage. It is easier to go to KidScape because it is affordable, fun, and you learn a lot. Being ten I didn't feel like learning, I wish I went to Kidscape when I was younger because I would have learned as much as I know now, then. Now, however with all the skills I obtained from KidScape, I can speak in front of big audiences and give presentations in class. I am glad to assitant intstruct their classes because I look at the students learning major life skills.
Lindsey Corbett, Student/Assistant Instructor
My name is Lindsey Corbett and I am 16 years old. I have been studying with Christiana at KidScape Productions for the last two years. It has been an amazing experience that has changed my life! Even though I had taken other Acting Workshops and Image classes with acting and modeling agencies, I was still extremely shy. After working with Miss Chris and KidScape Productions, my shyness is now a thing of the past! I now have the self-confidence not only to step out on stage and perform, but I have applied the skills in my everyday life. I love teaching these skills to others, making sure they are having fun while gaining self-confidence and leadership skills at the same time.
Jessica Young, Student/Assistant Instructor
My name is Jessica Young. I am 17 years old and have been with KidScape since the summer of 2006. Acting is my passion and has been since I knew what it meant. My passion for acting has only been enhanced by KidScape and has been an amazing experience. I hope that as many children as possible will be able to have this wonderful experience. I have assisted Christiana numerous times at events, school assemblies, etc., and I couldn’t be more excited to help teach kids skills that will last a lifetime as well as give kids a safe place to have fun and expand their creativity and imaginations!
Shaye Riley, Student/Assistant Instructor
Hi, my name is Shaye Riley and I like working with KidScape Productions because it helps you with your confindence and it is so much fun! KidScape has helped me in school by thinking quickly on my feet, and it helps you with being up in front of people. I enjoy all the extra activities, classes, and camps that KidScape offers. I love working and helping out all the younger kids, because they are so cute, eager to learn, and have so much fun!!
Micaela Iveson, Volunteer Assistant Instructor
My name is Micaela, and I am passionate about performing. I took my first class in middle school and have been hooked ever since, participating in literally every opportunity that has crossed my path. I am now a member of the Booth Street Players, my High School's acting troupe. The major lessons I have learned from the actors around me--lessons about confidence, problem solving, sportsmanship, and acceptance--are what I hope to pass on to all of my students at KidScape. I find that I have grown in ways that I could never have expected through acting, and I am now a better teammate, sister, and friend. After high school, I plan to pursue a career in either theatre, medicine, or history.