Meet the Rising Stars Directors
Charis Ifland
Charis Ifland
Charis Ifland
Choral Specialist
Charis Ifland is a Kitsap-based music educator and performer who believes in the transformative power of the arts. With over a decade of teaching and performance experience, she brings passion, creativity, and compassion to every stage and classroom—creating space for students to express themselves, grow, and find joy in music and community.
IIa Faubion
Charis Ifland
Charis Ifland
Audition Specialist
lla Dreessen (she/they) is a local film and theater performer and also runs a thriving voice studio in Poulsbo. She specializes in teaching musical theater and contemporary styles of singing and acting for stage and film. She is a producer at Kitsap Forest Theater and for Cosmic Coyote Films. She is passionate abo
Audition Specialist
lla Dreessen (she/they) is a local film and theater performer and also runs a thriving voice studio in Poulsbo. She specializes in teaching musical theater and contemporary styles of singing and acting for stage and film. She is a producer at Kitsap Forest Theater and for Cosmic Coyote Films. She is passionate about promoting foundational arts education in Kitsap County, where we are so blessed to have a thriving performing arts community. She wants anyone passionate about theater and performing to have the tools they need to succeed in auditions and on stage! You may have seen her on stage at Port Gamble Theater, Bainbridge Performing Arts, or Kitsap Forest Theater, or singing with her band Sidde Folk.
Nina Polachek
Charis Ifland
Nina Polachek
Voice Specialist
Nina Polachek, founder of Bainbridge Vocal Studio, is a classically trained soprano and experienced vocal instructor with over 20 years of professional performance and teaching. After an early international debut and extensive study in music and philosophy at institutions including Boston University and GCAS College
Voice Specialist
Nina Polachek, founder of Bainbridge Vocal Studio, is a classically trained soprano and experienced vocal instructor with over 20 years of professional performance and teaching. After an early international debut and extensive study in music and philosophy at institutions including Boston University and GCAS College Dublin, she returned this year to the Pacific Northwest to share her expertise with Kitsap County. Her teaching method blends imagination with technique to help students of all ages strengthen and express their unique voices. After debuting this spring as Phoebe D’Ysquith in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Nina is thrilled to collaborate with Port Gamble Theater for this summer’s innovative educational program in the musical arts.
amanda fish
amanda fish
Nina Polachek
Voice Specialist
Amanda Fish is a vocalist, music educator and director who has a passion for helping students unlock their vocal potential. She studied at Elon University under the tutelage of Dr. Polly Butler-Cornelius. After graduating with her Bachelors in Music, Amanda attended George Mason University as a Master of Music stude
Voice Specialist
Amanda Fish is a vocalist, music educator and director who has a passion for helping students unlock their vocal potential. She studied at Elon University under the tutelage of Dr. Polly Butler-Cornelius. After graduating with her Bachelors in Music, Amanda attended George Mason University as a Master of Music student of the renowned Mezzo Soprano Patricia Miller. After receiving her Masters Degree in Vocal Performance, Amanda went on to Shannandoah University’s Vocal Pedagogy Instutute, where she received her certificate in Contemporary and Commercial Music. Amanda is currently a member of the National Association of Teacher of Singing.
Amanda has been teaching private voice lessons for the past twelve years to all ages and skill levels. During that time she also music directed 15 junior musicals for elementary, middle and high school students.
Hank Hayden
amanda fish
Hank Hayden
Acting Specialist
Alix black
amanda fish
Hank Hayden
Acting Specialist
Alix Black holds a BFA in Acting from The University of Montevallo. She has taught various workshops to youth in improv, audition technique, and acting technique. She has a particular love for Shakespeare and is currently working on BPA's summer production of Macbeth. She has been seen onstage at PGT as Amanda Wingfi
Acting Specialist
Alix Black holds a BFA in Acting from The University of Montevallo. She has taught various workshops to youth in improv, audition technique, and acting technique. She has a particular love for Shakespeare and is currently working on BPA's summer production of Macbeth. She has been seen onstage at PGT as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie and Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Most recently, she portrayed Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Ernest at JBT.