Who We Are
Stacy Castiglione - Director
Stacy Castiglione is the theatre director for Los Alamitos Drama Department. In addition, she serves as the Performing Arts Chair for Los Al, and is the current Co-Chapter Director for CA State Thespians.
Stacy grew up in Singapore, which allowed her to perform in theaters all over the world. She received her Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Florida State University, where she studied under Lloyd Richards, John Degan, Michael Richey, and George Judy. She received her Master's in Theatre Production and Design from Southern Oregon University.
Stacy spent years as a professional performer on both stage and screen before finding her way into educational theatre. She performed in London's Off-West End in the BAC's production of The King and I, as well as working for the Shaftesbury Theater during the musical RENT's tenure. She has toured the U.S. with the musical Babes in Toyland, worked the dinner theatre circuit in Orlando, and has performed on many L.A. area stages, as well as learning the ins and outs of film and television by working background as her day job. She's been on the set of shows ranging from E.R., Gilmore Girls, and MadTV, to movies such as Van Wilder.
Since teaching theatre for the past sixteen years, Stacy has been named Teacher of the Year for the Orange Unified School District, Secondary Theatre Teacher of the Year by the Orange County Arts Administrators, Orange County Arts Administrators Outstanding Theatre Teacher of the Year, PTSA Teacher of the Year twice, and has coached her students into top honors at the CA State Thespian Festival as well as acceptance into top university theatre programs, in addition to directing and producing up to seven full-scale shows a year.
She lives in Orange County with her husband (a film and television animal trainer turned high-school science teacher), her two children, and an array of pets.
Stacy Castiglione is the theatre director for Los Alamitos Drama Department. In addition, she serves as the Performing Arts Chair for Los Al, and is the current Co-Chapter Director for CA State Thespians.
Stacy grew up in Singapore, which allowed her to perform in theaters all over the world. She received her Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Florida State University, where she studied under Lloyd Richards, John Degan, Michael Richey, and George Judy. She received her Master's in Theatre Production and Design from Southern Oregon University.
Stacy spent years as a professional performer on both stage and screen before finding her way into educational theatre. She performed in London's Off-West End in the BAC's production of The King and I, as well as working for the Shaftesbury Theater during the musical RENT's tenure. She has toured the U.S. with the musical Babes in Toyland, worked the dinner theatre circuit in Orlando, and has performed on many L.A. area stages, as well as learning the ins and outs of film and television by working background as her day job. She's been on the set of shows ranging from E.R., Gilmore Girls, and MadTV, to movies such as Van Wilder.
Since teaching theatre for the past sixteen years, Stacy has been named Teacher of the Year for the Orange Unified School District, Secondary Theatre Teacher of the Year by the Orange County Arts Administrators, Orange County Arts Administrators Outstanding Theatre Teacher of the Year, PTSA Teacher of the Year twice, and has coached her students into top honors at the CA State Thespian Festival as well as acceptance into top university theatre programs, in addition to directing and producing up to seven full-scale shows a year.
She lives in Orange County with her husband (a film and television animal trainer turned high-school science teacher), her two children, and an array of pets.
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Allison Armstrong- Choreographer and Assistant Director
Allison Armstrong is thrilled to be working alongside Stacy Castiglione and the drama students this year! By day she teaches theatre at McAuliffe Middle School and by night she is dancing to her favorite musicals. Allison grew up dancing, acting, and singing in Costa Mesa, CA. Her dance training includes ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, ballroom, west coast swing, hustle, and musical theatre. She started to dance professionally at the age of 12 and choreograph at 16. She has since choreographed for Costa Mesa High School. Musical Theater Academy of OC, the Hartt School, Centre for the Arts on Main (PA), Santa Ana College, Orange Coast College, and various others. Allison attended the Hartt School of Theatre at the University of Hartford, CT. She received a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre and graduated Magna Cum Laude. After performing, directing, and choreographing for Hartt, Allison went on to perform and choreograph in Pennsylvania, New York, and California. Favorite roles include: Patsy in Crazy for You, Mona in Chicago, Ariel in Footloose, and Sandy in Grease. She currently lives in Fountain Valley with her husband, son, daughter, and dog! |
Beckett Zittlau-Johnson- Technical Theatre Manager
Mr. Zittlau-Johnson instructs and supervises students enrolled in technical theater classes and working as members of production crews for all of the high school and district performing arts productions. He has a focus interest and technical expertise in entertainment lighting design, programming, stage electrics and carpentry. For other school and performing arts events you will often find him running lights in the tech booth.
Mr. Zittlau-Johnson worked previously as the Technical Director at at La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California from February 2006 to 2016. While at La Costa Canyon, he was responsible for training and supervising technical crews, which included members from both Stagehand Tech and Drama Production, as well as students in the school’s volunteer service AV club, the “Techninjas”.
Always passionate about entertainment, Mr. Zittlau-Johnson worked for several years with Legoland California Resort as Lead Entertainment Technician. Additionally, he held other seasonal positions such as: Stage Manager Intern at the National Repertory Orchestra; Light Board Operator for the TV show Nick News A World of Difference; and Carpenter at the Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista, CA.
Mr. Zittlau-Johnson came to California from Anchorage, Alaska, where he worked for six years with the Alaska Theatre of Youth. Having held teaching, technical direction and stage management positions as well as lighting designing all shows, he gathered a passion for sharing his understanding of theater technology with young people. He took on many other challenges while with Alaska Theatre of Youth; he co-produced a summer camp weekly TV news program, a technical conservatory advertising campaign, and handled administrative duties. In Alaska, he was also the Production Stage Manager and served on the board as Secretary/Treasurer for Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy, where he produced fifteen shows over five years.
Mr. Zittlau-Johnson has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Alaska. While there he was an active member of the student theatre club company and a co-founding officer in the university film club. Additionally, he received the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Award for Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management for his work on a production of Grapes of Wrath.
Mr. Zittlau-Johnson instructs and supervises students enrolled in technical theater classes and working as members of production crews for all of the high school and district performing arts productions. He has a focus interest and technical expertise in entertainment lighting design, programming, stage electrics and carpentry. For other school and performing arts events you will often find him running lights in the tech booth.
Mr. Zittlau-Johnson worked previously as the Technical Director at at La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California from February 2006 to 2016. While at La Costa Canyon, he was responsible for training and supervising technical crews, which included members from both Stagehand Tech and Drama Production, as well as students in the school’s volunteer service AV club, the “Techninjas”.
Always passionate about entertainment, Mr. Zittlau-Johnson worked for several years with Legoland California Resort as Lead Entertainment Technician. Additionally, he held other seasonal positions such as: Stage Manager Intern at the National Repertory Orchestra; Light Board Operator for the TV show Nick News A World of Difference; and Carpenter at the Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista, CA.
Mr. Zittlau-Johnson came to California from Anchorage, Alaska, where he worked for six years with the Alaska Theatre of Youth. Having held teaching, technical direction and stage management positions as well as lighting designing all shows, he gathered a passion for sharing his understanding of theater technology with young people. He took on many other challenges while with Alaska Theatre of Youth; he co-produced a summer camp weekly TV news program, a technical conservatory advertising campaign, and handled administrative duties. In Alaska, he was also the Production Stage Manager and served on the board as Secretary/Treasurer for Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy, where he produced fifteen shows over five years.
Mr. Zittlau-Johnson has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Alaska. While there he was an active member of the student theatre club company and a co-founding officer in the university film club. Additionally, he received the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Award for Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management for his work on a production of Grapes of Wrath.
Stephen Amundson- Vocal Director
Stephen Amundson is an Orange County-based music director, pianist and voice teacher, currently working as the accompanist and vocal consultant for Musical Theatre at Cypress College, resident Musical Director at Musical Youth Artist Repertory Theatre, and accompanist for Relativity School in Los Angeles. A classically-trained pianist, Stephen was attracted to Musical Theatre in middle school, as a singer and as a pianist. Since then, he's been praised for his knowledge & application of vocal techniques & coaching for singers, amateur to professional. He is often called to accompany for 3D Theatricals and various theater companies across OC and LA.
As a performer, Stephen recently portrayed Prince Eric for the Grove Theater's musical "The Little Mermaid" in Upland, CA. Previously, Stephen sang in the choir for the new Peter Seibert & Patrick Lundquist musical “Swan Lake” starring Andrew Lippa, Carrie Manolakos, and Carrie St. Louis, which had its world premiere at Montalban Theater in Hollywood. He also sang in the choir for “Hunchback of Notre Dame” at the La Mirada theater.
Among his latest projects, he has originated the role of Drew in the Laura Watkins and Nicholas Brandt musical "Comic-Con", and understudied and performed the roles of Valjean and Javert in two productions of "Les Misérables". He has also served as vocal coach for University School of Performing Arts in LA during their Musical Theatre summer camp workshop series in the
summer of 2016.
Stephen studied voice & piano privately before completing a degree in Musical Theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Hollywood. Stephen then began coaching young singers at MYART in OC, and shortly after opened a private studio to continue educating more singers in the art of vocal production, covering technique and styles such as Musical Theatre, Opera, Jazz, Pop, Rock, R&B, and more.
Stephen Amundson is an Orange County-based music director, pianist and voice teacher, currently working as the accompanist and vocal consultant for Musical Theatre at Cypress College, resident Musical Director at Musical Youth Artist Repertory Theatre, and accompanist for Relativity School in Los Angeles. A classically-trained pianist, Stephen was attracted to Musical Theatre in middle school, as a singer and as a pianist. Since then, he's been praised for his knowledge & application of vocal techniques & coaching for singers, amateur to professional. He is often called to accompany for 3D Theatricals and various theater companies across OC and LA.
As a performer, Stephen recently portrayed Prince Eric for the Grove Theater's musical "The Little Mermaid" in Upland, CA. Previously, Stephen sang in the choir for the new Peter Seibert & Patrick Lundquist musical “Swan Lake” starring Andrew Lippa, Carrie Manolakos, and Carrie St. Louis, which had its world premiere at Montalban Theater in Hollywood. He also sang in the choir for “Hunchback of Notre Dame” at the La Mirada theater.
Among his latest projects, he has originated the role of Drew in the Laura Watkins and Nicholas Brandt musical "Comic-Con", and understudied and performed the roles of Valjean and Javert in two productions of "Les Misérables". He has also served as vocal coach for University School of Performing Arts in LA during their Musical Theatre summer camp workshop series in the
summer of 2016.
Stephen studied voice & piano privately before completing a degree in Musical Theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Hollywood. Stephen then began coaching young singers at MYART in OC, and shortly after opened a private studio to continue educating more singers in the art of vocal production, covering technique and styles such as Musical Theatre, Opera, Jazz, Pop, Rock, R&B, and more.
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