About Us
The Staff
Lori Shanebeck
Executive Producer/Director
Continually amazed at God’s goodness, Lori is celebrating eight years at "the best job in the world." A graduate of Biola University, she was involved in traveling drama teams and competitive speech as a student. For the last 25 plus years, she has been acting, teaching, directing, and writing, most recently, as Director of Drama at First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton. She is blessed beyond words to be called to this position and has had an incredible time of growing and learning with the wonderful students and families that make up Biola Youth Theatre. Lori and her husband Michael (otherwise known as Mr. Make-up Man) are blessed with wonderful children; David and his wife April, Kyle, and Colleen. A special thanks to my family for all of the love, support, and encouragement they lavish on me.
Janet Payne
Vocal Director/Coach
Vocal Director Janet Payne is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton, with a degree in Voice Performance. She has studied voice, conducting, and opera with leading teachers and coaches throughout the world. Mrs. Payne’s professional career has included positions as soloist with the Roger Wagner Chorale and The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; soprano soloist at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood; and soloist and recording artist of the Back to The Bible Broadcast. Her musical theatre experience includes seasons in San Diego, Santa Barbara and Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as leading roles in numerous university opera productions. Mrs. Payne’s teaching experience encompasses 30 years of opera direction and vocal instruction, both privately and at university level. Mrs. Payne would like you to know: "I count it a great blessing and privilege to be a part of Biola Youth Theatre, working with such talented young people and fine families. It is so much more than a job to me, it is a mission to mentor and encourage these young people to impact the world for Jesus Christ."
Michele Stevens
Choreographer
Michele has been involved in the performing arts for 25 years, and her passion is ministry in the arts. Michele worked professionally in the arts regionally as an actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer. Favorite roles include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly, Morales in A Chorus Line, and Catherine Marshall in A Man Called Peter, for which she was nominated for an Obie (Best of Off-Broadway) award. Choreography credits include The Pajama Game, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Music Man for the City of Rancho; Oliver for Fontana Mummers Theatre; Camelot and The Spirit of Christmas for the Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre and Hot Coffee for the Lamb’s Players Theatre in NYC. She has choreographed industrials in Colorado, California, and New York, as well as concert pieces for various studios in Colorado. She has also worked with various college and high school show choirs such as The Citrus Singers in Azusa, California, and The Upland High School Show Choir in Upland, California. Michele has a B.F.A. in Acting from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and a Master’s of Organizational Leadership from Biola University. She has worked for Biola Youth Theatre for 5 years, as both a director and choreographer, and she continues to be blessed and humbled to work with such dedicated students who long to glorify God with their creative talents.
Helen Walker
Costuming
Biography coming soon...
Dave Auda
Production Designer
Dave is a pastor at Mosaic - a church committed to communicating Jesus in a relevant and compelling way through the arts. He has also enjoyed being a designer and leader with Biola Youth Theatre for eight years. His theatre resume includes a B.A. from California Baptist University in Fine Arts, and set designs for LA Theatre Center, Actors Repertory Theatre, San Jose Civic Light Opera, Mosaic, Cal Baptist University, and Promise Keepers. Dave, his wife Tamra, and daughters Sarah, Ruthie, Rebekah, and Deborah feel blessed to be part of two creative Christian communities.
David Goo
Technical Director
David is excited to work with Biola Youth Theatre. David has been with Biola Youth Theatre since spring of 2002 and is encouraged and blessed by the growth he has witnessed in the lives of the students in both their talents and more importantly, their character. David is privileged to serve with a staff that genuinely cares for the students and challenges them to succeed and to keep their focus on Jesus Christ.