Company members
What brings us together is our dedication to keeping the arts alive in our schools. We believe in the ability of art and performance to foster an enthusiasm for learning, and by cultivating an appreciation for the arts we are able to enhance the student's overall school experience.
Meet the team
Rachel Baumsten: Producing Artistic Director
Rachel is proud to be the founder and Producing Artistic Director for The Collaboratory. It has been an incredible journey watching this company grow from the ground up. She earned her degree in Theatre Arts from California State University Fullerton. Outside of the company she wears many hats including Co-Chair of the Camp Bravo Alumni Network, and Associate Producer for the Torrance Theatre Company. It's an honor to share her love of theatre and use it as a tool to teach and motivate the next generation.
Rachel is proud to be the founder and Producing Artistic Director for The Collaboratory. It has been an incredible journey watching this company grow from the ground up. She earned her degree in Theatre Arts from California State University Fullerton. Outside of the company she wears many hats including Co-Chair of the Camp Bravo Alumni Network, and Associate Producer for the Torrance Theatre Company. It's an honor to share her love of theatre and use it as a tool to teach and motivate the next generation.
Josh Aguilar: Lead Content Developer
Writer of Hero's Journey, Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, and Story Keepers, Josh is proud to bring his creativity, ideas, and skills to The Collaboratory. Josh is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton's Theatre Department, and is also an accomplished martial artist and sculptor. An avid reader and lover of fairy tales, Josh hopes to help create a work that inspires children (and adults) to follow their dreams.
Writer of Hero's Journey, Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, and Story Keepers, Josh is proud to bring his creativity, ideas, and skills to The Collaboratory. Josh is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton's Theatre Department, and is also an accomplished martial artist and sculptor. An avid reader and lover of fairy tales, Josh hopes to help create a work that inspires children (and adults) to follow their dreams.
Claire Griswold
Claire has enjoyed the title of company member for The Collaboratory for a few years now, and she couldn't be more proud. She's been extremely fortunate to work with children in theater in a myriad of ways, but the magic she creates with her fellow Collaborators holds a very special place in her heart. Claire is currently pursuing her degree in Theatre at El Camino College and often works as both an acting and vocal instructor in the South Bay/Torrance area. As someone who has witnessed first hand the power of communication with young people, she hopes to continue her creative work with people of all ages to create a more loving and collaborative world.
Claire has enjoyed the title of company member for The Collaboratory for a few years now, and she couldn't be more proud. She's been extremely fortunate to work with children in theater in a myriad of ways, but the magic she creates with her fellow Collaborators holds a very special place in her heart. Claire is currently pursuing her degree in Theatre at El Camino College and often works as both an acting and vocal instructor in the South Bay/Torrance area. As someone who has witnessed first hand the power of communication with young people, she hopes to continue her creative work with people of all ages to create a more loving and collaborative world.
Elizabeth Griswold
Elizabeth has worked as an educator in theatre since 2009, both on stage and behind the scenes. She is grateful for what she has learned through her experiences, and appreciates the opportunity to bring foundational material to students everywhere with the empowering art of theatre. She hopes to provide students with a strong sense of self worth and to convey the importance of effective communication, while simultaneously showing them how fun it can be to tell stories.
Elizabeth has worked as an educator in theatre since 2009, both on stage and behind the scenes. She is grateful for what she has learned through her experiences, and appreciates the opportunity to bring foundational material to students everywhere with the empowering art of theatre. She hopes to provide students with a strong sense of self worth and to convey the importance of effective communication, while simultaneously showing them how fun it can be to tell stories.
Amanda Webb
Amanda Webb is a New York native and a graduate of New York University with a B.M. in Music Theatre and a minor in Law and Society. She has always enjoyed working with children, and has been a K-12 music teacher, a math and science tutor, and is one of the most awesome aunts ever. She loves reading, storytelling and singing, and is thrilled to be a part of The Collaboratory and to help kids embrace their inner silliness, bravery and creativity.
Amanda Webb is a New York native and a graduate of New York University with a B.M. in Music Theatre and a minor in Law and Society. She has always enjoyed working with children, and has been a K-12 music teacher, a math and science tutor, and is one of the most awesome aunts ever. She loves reading, storytelling and singing, and is thrilled to be a part of The Collaboratory and to help kids embrace their inner silliness, bravery and creativity.
Nick Bradfield
Jacob Nye
Jacob Nye is a graduate of California Baptist University with his bachelors in Theatre. He enjoys entertaining and teaching children about the world around them using the arts. When he’s not teaching kids about the arts you can find him in a pool teaching kids how to swim and still watch him be the same goofball he is on stage. He is excited to be working with The Collaboratory to inspire kids to be themselves and to go out into the world being the best version of themselves that they can be.
Jacob Nye is a graduate of California Baptist University with his bachelors in Theatre. He enjoys entertaining and teaching children about the world around them using the arts. When he’s not teaching kids about the arts you can find him in a pool teaching kids how to swim and still watch him be the same goofball he is on stage. He is excited to be working with The Collaboratory to inspire kids to be themselves and to go out into the world being the best version of themselves that they can be.
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