Lois Lents has been involved in the field of children’s theatre since college. After completing her degree in theatre, she began working with young people and has taught creative drama, and acting workshops for kids in Kansas City, Mo, Dallas, TX, Orange County, California, Portland, Oregon and Klamath Falls, Oregon. She has also directed a wide variety of main stage productions of such favorites as “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”, “Schoolhouse Rock, Live”, “Cinderella”, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” and “A Thousand Cranes.” However, it is Lois’ commitment to arts programming for children that has ed her to found Northwest Youth Theatre.
“The primary focus of my professional life has been to provide young people with opportunities to explore the performing arts. The arts do not reside in a place—they live in the heart of the artist. I have come to believe that taking the arts to children—giving them the tools of self-expression is the best and most important work I can do.”
Katie Laws is a college student with a big background as a performer and theatre instructor. She has been performing onstage since the age of six, and studies music, dance and drama in addition to her honors-level school curriculum. Her most recent performances were as the character “Slightly Soiled” in Peter Pan, and in A Thousand Cranes. She has also been an assistant to the 80 voice Ragland Youth Choir for three years and has worked as an assistant drama instructor since entering junior high. Katie is the Assistant Director of Broadway Brats, an elementary age musical performing group. She looks forward to continuing her work in the performing arts and loves teaching younger students in workshop situations.
"The thing that brings me the most joy in working with children is watching the otherwise shy kids come to life on stage. It is wonderful to see a child blossom as they learn to discover hidden talents they didn't know they had."
Cathy Baker teaches music in many of Northwest Youth Theatre’s programs. Cathy has performed extensively as a featured soloist and in a variety of choirs, singing groups, and theatrical productions. She began teaching music to children when she was 15 years old, and her love of music and of children make her a virtual Pied Piper as she leads young people through the process of play production. NYT is fortunate to have her on our staff.
"I have been teaching children's music for more than 35 years in a variety of venues and have seen first hand, over and over again, the tremendous influence for good that music can have in a child's life. I love music, but most of all, I love children, and am excited for this opportunity to help the children of the Klamath Basin feel the joy and sense of accomplishment that come from developing and sharing one's talents."