Teaching Artists

Artistic Lead for Productions

Gary Schoenfeld serves as Artistic Lead for Productions at Spindrift School of Performing Arts, bringing years of creative leadership and a deep commitment to youth theater. A longtime member of the Spindrift community, Gary has directed productions since 2016 and helped shape the organization’s artistic vision. He formally stepped into leadership as Company Director in 2022 and, after a brief retirement in 2023, returned in 2025 with renewed dedication to the work and community he loves.

In his current role, Gary directs several shows each season, including the Mainstage musical, and guides the artistic planning process. He leads season selection, ensuring productions reflect Spindrift’s mission, values, and student-centered goals. Gary also mentors teaching artists and production staff, fostering a collaborative and inclusive creative environment.

His theatrical expertise, leadership, and passion for youth development make him a vital part of the team. With a focus on storytelling, ensemble building, and inclusive practice, Gary’s work continues to shape the heart of Spindrift’s programs.

Sage is a San Francisco Bay Area based theatre performer and teaching artist. An alum of SSPA in her teenage years, Sage was thrilled to come back to perform in School of Rock as Principal Rosalie Mullins and even more thrilled to join the teaching artist team. Sage has additionally performed at theatre companies around the Bay Area, including NCTC, Berkeley Playhouse, PSP, Coastal Rep, LASC, and Lyric Theatre. While teaching at camps this Summer, she will be performing in The Sound of Music at Berkeley Playhouse and reprising her role in Ride the Cyclone at New Conservatory Theatre Center, where she previously appeared in the regional premiere of the show. 

Amy is excited to continue leading our ELOP program at Cabrillo Elementary. With a diverse background in dance, art, and pilates—and many years of stage performance—she brings both creativity and experience to her work with students. Amy began her dance career with the modern dance company Pax Fiat in the greater San Diego area and has spent over 15 years teaching dance to children both in the U.S. and abroad. For the past five years, she has also taught drawing and art to elementary-aged students. Amy is passionate about nurturing creativity and movement in every child she works with.

Elizabeth brings over 25 years of dance experience to the Spindrift family! She began her dance journey at Studio One for the Performing Arts in North Little Rock, Arkansas, where she eventually became the owner and Artistic Director. In 2002, she earned her BA in Cinema with a minor in Dance from San Francisco State University. Elizabeth spent many years working in TV and film in Los Angeles before returning to the Bay Area. For the past several years, she has taught at Dance Effects and CDC, sharing her passion and expertise with students of all ages. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the Spindrift family!

Kennedy Johnson is thrilled to join Spindrift School of Performing Arts as a Teaching Artist after spending the summer supporting camps and performances. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, she trained on both the New York and Los Angeles campuses and brings a strong foundation in musical theater, choreography, and performance.

Kennedy has assisted with a variety of youth productions across the Peninsula, including choreography for Beauty and the Beast at Highlands Elementary and support roles with productions at San Mateo and Burlingame High Schools. She is also an active performer, with recent credits including The Prom (FMT), Annie (Coastal Rep), Fiddler on the Roof (PA Players), 9 to 5 (Coastal Rep), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (San Jose Stage), and The Drowsy Chaperone (WVLO).

Having grown up on the Peninsula immersed in theater and dance, Kennedy is passionate about giving young performers a creative space where they feel seen, supported, and celebrated. She brings energy, empathy, and a love for the performing arts into every class she teaches.

Sawyer is a versatile choreographer and dance educator at Spindrift School of Performing Arts, where she teaches across a wide range of styles including modern, contemporary, jazz, musical theater, and hip hop. She has choreographed for productions and leads classes that support students at all levels, from beginners building foundational skills to advanced dancers refining their technique and performance.

Trained in dance since the age of three, Sawyer has continued her study of jazz, modern, musical theater, contemporary, and ballroom through college and beyond. She brings a strong technical foundation together with creativity and play, ensuring that her classes challenge students while also keeping movement joyful and engaging.

Her teaching philosophy centers on building confidence, artistry, and community in the studio. Drawing inspiration from choreographers such as Ohad Naharin and Irmgard Bartenieff, she incorporates mindfulness and expressive exploration into technical training. Sawyer encourages students to view dance not only as performance but also as a pathway for creativity, resilience, and self-expression.

At SSPA, Sawyer is committed to creating an inclusive and inspiring environment where students feel supported to take risks, grow as performers, and discover their unique choreographic voices.

Kimberly is a native of San Francisco, attended SOTA San Francisco and AMDA in New York City before performing in a European tour of 42nd Street (Millie). She appeared in numerous productions and companies throughout the Bay Area. As she continued performing locally, Kimberly developed a strong desire to give back to the next generation of artists through teaching. With over 25 years of experience in theater as an actress, choreographer, and director, she has previously worked with SSPA as both a choreographer and dance teacher. Most recently, she founded Center Stage Theater Arts in Pacifica, where she directs full productions with students from kindergarten through 8th grade.

centerstagetheaterarts.com

Tony is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a dedicated pianist, composer, and music director. Originally from Seattle, he grew up performing at Seattle Children’s Theater and later trained as a music director through the 5th Avenue Theatre’s Rising Star Project, where he co-led West Side Story and composed a series of original five-minute musicals. While at the Conservatory, Tony premiered several original works and recently music directed On a Clear Day You Can See Forever for Seattle’s Ballyhoo Theater. He’s thrilled to bring his energy and creativity to the Spindrift team.

 Bree is a longtime teacher at Spindrift School of Performing Arts, where she brings her passion for dance and theatre to life in every class. She holds a degree in Theatre, Dance, and Education and has been involved in the performing arts since the age of 7. Bree grew up training locally with both Spindrift and Coastal Repertory Theater, and now shares that same joy with her students. In addition to teaching, she has directed multiple theater productions and led a variety of dance classes. Bree loves being part of the Spindrift community and is looking forward to another incredible year. 

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Gary has been a performing artist since childhood, with early training in singing, dancing, and acting through P.S. Performance, a local performing arts company. He has appeared in over 80 musicals with theater companies throughout the Bay Area and is deeply rooted in the regional arts community. In 2019, Gary founded the North California Arts Collective and currently serves on the boards of Z Space (San Francisco), Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley), ReAct Theatre (Seattle), TheatreWorks Silicon Valley (Mountain View), Woodside Community Theatre, and Hillbarn Theatre (Foster City). Since 2020, he has also worked as a social justice professional, consulting in diversity, equity, and inclusion education and mentorship.