About Us

Lori Shanebeck

Executive Producer/Director

Continually amazed at God’s goodness, Lori is celebrating nine 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 30 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.

Eileen O'Hern

Vocal Director/Coach

Eileen is honored to have the opportunity to work with your children at Biola Youth Theatre on a full-time basis beginning this summer, having served as Music Director for BYT's summer camp since it began.

Ms. O'Hern earned her MM in Vocal Performance from California State University, Fullerton. She has been a soloist with many professional organizations, including the Knoxville Symphony and the LA Chamber Singers. She appears frequently in concerts of new music, including a live radio broadcast on KUSC-FM’s Sundays at Four, and has given many world premieres. Ms. O'Hern also teaches at Santa Ana College and is on staff at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Hills, where she is soprano soloist/ assistant choir director and directs a youth choir.

Never famous in her own right, Eileen has sung alongside world-renowned opera singers including Rod Gilfry and Deborah Voigt. Even her own children, Danny and Bonnie, now in college, are expected soon to surpass her in both competence and distinction.

"I look forward to increasing my association with BYT, where children are trained and encouraged in their God-given talents to become more like Him. In my humble opinion, there can be no higher calling."

Michele Stevens

Choreographer

Michele has been involved in the performing arts 30 plus 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.