Our highly trained and professional staff collectively share credits on Broadway, regional theatre, as well as countless TV and film appearances.
Jim Cady
James Cady began his life in the theatre at the age of 18 after winning a full two-year scholarship to the famed Pasadena Playhouse. After graduation he went to New York and studied acting with Lee Strasberg, He returned to California and attended the University of California at Berkeley where he received his MA in directing, then spent another two years at UCLA where he received his MFA in directing. He has taught acting and directing at the University of Cincinnatti and UCLA where he taught the MFA program in Acting. James then spent 30 years in the film industry as a producer/director/Production Manager responsible for hundreds of TV commercials, documentaries and one feature film.
Moving to New Mexico he plunged back into his first love: the theatre. In the last seven years James has directed some twenty-five award winning plays in Albuquerque including James Cady’s Hamlet, The Member of the Wedding, Private Lives, The Front Page, Death of a Salesman, Life in the Theatre, Souvenir, The Philadelphia Story, The Diary of Anne Frank, Moon for the Misbegotten, The Iceman Cometh and After the Fall. James also acts in plays, TV and movies and is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA.
Classes: Actors Workshop & Director’s Corner
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Heidi Griffin
Heidi Griffin is excited to begin her 3rd year, writing and assistant directing for ALT’s Children’s Theatre Department, under Kathryn Morales. Heidi, who studied Comedy Writing at UNM, under Digby Wolfe, especially loves the Playbuilders classes, where she helps the kids work together to develop cooperative stories, based on their own original characters. Children continue to be the best collaborators and audience with whom Heidi has ever had the pleasure of working.
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Kathryn Morales
Kathryn K. Morales is a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico. In her youth, she had the opportunity to work with Bill Hayden, who founded the Albuquerque Children’s Theatre in 1962. Her work with him planted a life long love of children theatre in her heart. As an adult she returned to work with Bill and later Sue Ann Gunn who took over the mantle of director of ACT at the time of Mr. Hayden’s death in 1989. Albuquerque Children’s Theatre merged with ALT in 2002. Kathryn continued to work as an assistant to Sue Ann Gunn and later with Jonathan Dunski (founder of Play Conservatory) who oversaw the educational programs at ALT in the early 2000’s. Beginning in 2006 she stepped in as Education Coordinator and has had the joy of teaching and directing children and youth in classes, productions and outreach programs offered through ALT. With the help of Albuquerque Children’s Theatre alumni, Kate Murphy Sanchez and Heidi Griffin both gifted playwrights, she has developed the PlayBuilders program which gives young children the opportunity to create original characters and plays that are showcased on ALT’s historic stage every semester. She feels very honored to carry on Albuquerque Children’s Theatre legacy of “theatre for, by and with children” in conjunction with ALT’s historic community theatre.
Classes: Play Actors, Play Builders, Let’s Put on a Play, Fairytales We Love
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Staci Robbins
Staci Robbins is an Actor, Director and Arts Educator. She has served as Artistic Director, Producer, and Guest Artist at theatres across the U.S. including, Barksdale Theatre, Theatre IV, Southern Rep, Horizons Theatre, Papermill Playhouse, Rivertown Rep, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, The Actors Center, Discovery Theatre, Stage III, Playmakers of Baton Rouge, and Fusion Theatre, Mother Road Theatre, and The Adobe Rose Theatre here in New Mexico. She has directed over 150 stage productions, commercials and film.
Formerly Managing Artistic Director of The Generic Theatre (VA), Managing Director of Southern Rep (New Orleans), Founder/Executive Artistic Director of Ashland Stage, and Artistic Director of the School of Performing in the Richmond Community – SPARC (VA), Staci has been recognized for her commitment to arts education and outreach programs for all ages and diverse populations.
A long-time member of Actors Equity (AEA), ret., and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), Staci has numerous credits, including regional theatre, national tours, cabarets, TV, and feature films.
Classes: Silver Players