Teaching Artists
NCTC is fortunate to work with some of the most talented teaching artists in the Bay Area. Learn more about them below.
AISHWARYA KULKARNI
(SHE/HER)
SATELLITE TEACHING ARTIST
Aishwarya is a spirited Teaching Artist with seven years of experience inspiring students aged 12-18 through the magic of theatre. Armed with a Bachelor’s in Performing Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in School Psychology from Pune University, India. She seamlessly blends creativity and psychology in the classroom. Certified in Higher Education Teaching from Harvard, Aishwarya believes in hands-on learning and active engagement—because who learns anything by just sitting still? Whether crafting lesson plans or guiding students through IB and IGCSE curriculum, she’s passionate about turning both life and coffee into teachable moments. She thrives on making education meaningful, one scene at a time!
ANNE YUMI KOBORI
(SHE/HER)
SATELLITE TEACHING ARTIST
Anne Yumi Kobori is a Japanese-American playwright, actor, and teaching artist. She has taught with A.C.T, Word for Word, SF Shakespeare Festival, Magic Theatre, and Shakespearience. Select credits: title role in Hamlet (Silicon Valley Shakespeare), Celia in As You Like It (SF Shakespeare), Henrietta in The Hollow (City Lights Theater). Recent writing projects: Braided at Theatre of Yugen and CalShakes, and Apertures of Love in Times of War with PlayGroundSF. www.anneyumikobori.com
ALIYA BACAL PETERSON
(SHE/HER)
SATURDAY CONSERVATORY: TEEN ACTING
Aliya has performed in NCTC YouthAware’s Puppy Mind and The Emperor’s New Post as well as directing the 2024 touring production of Puppy Mind. After graduating from Sonoma State with her BA in acting, she has worked as a Teaching Artist with Marin Theatre Company teaching improv. She can also be found leading paranormal investigations with The Haunt Ghost Tours and dramatically dying as part of a murder mystery with the Dinner Detectives.
BEKAH LYNN BROAS
(SHE/HER)
SATURDAY CONSERVATORY: MUSICAL THEATRE, GUEST TEACHING ARTIST
Bekah Lynn is a transplant from Denver, CO where she trained and worked at The Denver Center for Performing Arts. She has called San Francisco home since spring of 2021, completed the Summer Training Congress at A.C.T. last summer and has worked with awesome local theater companies since then like SFBATCO, SF Playhouse, 3Girls Theater, and now—NCTC! When she’s not onstage, she’s behind the lens running her photography business. @bekahlynnphoto
GABE JAMES
(HE/HIM)
SATILLITE TEACHING ARTIST
An Oakland native, Gabe returned to the Bay Area in June 2023 after receiving a BFA in Theatre Arts and BA in Psychology from Hofstra University. Gabe fell in love with physical theatre and Shakespeare in college before starting a career in education. Youth empowerment through theatre education is a passion of his and Gabe is so excited to join the NCTC team!
GRACE CRAIG
(SHE/HER)
CONSERVATORY: MUSICAL THEATRE
Grace Craig has been working as a vocal coach in the Bay Area for the past two years after having completed her Master’s in Vocal Performance at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She also has experience teaching choir, music, and music theory from her undergraduate program at The Crane School of Music. She is also a professional singer-actor and recently performed in NCTC’s Ride the Cyclone as Jane Doe.
JEFFREY DRAPER
(HE/HIM)
SATELLITE TEACHING ARTIST, ADULT DRAMA CLUB
Jeffrey Draper has been teaching theater in the Bay Area since graduating from the American Conservatory Theater MFA program. He has been a high school for 23 years and has been an education director at Marin Theater Company and Center REPertory Company. Jeffrey believes in the power of storytelling, characterization, and performance to bring people together and make the world a better place.
JENNY ROSEN
(SHE/HER)
GUEST TEACHING ARTIST, ADULT DRAMA CLUB
A company member at BATS Improv since 2003 Jenny served as Dean of the BATS School of Improv for four years. She regularly performs long and short form improvisational theater at Fort Mason Center. As a teacher and coach, Jenny has worked with students from ages 2 to 102. She enjoys using theater games to inspire collaboration, positivity, and creativity in and out of the classroom. A specialty is the incorporation of classroom curricula into theater training! Jenny has performed in Aspen, Improv Olympic (LA), The MET theater (NYC), The Moth and at the SF Fringe Festival. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Jenny Rosen lives in Potrero Hill with her husband and two children, Henry and Magnolia.
JOEL OCHOA
(HE/HIM)
SATELLITE & CONSERVATORY TEACHING ARTIST
Originally hailing from Iowa, Joel moved to the Bay Area in August 2022 to earn his MFA in Acting at Academy of Art University! He was the past Director of Education at Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre and is a current teaching artist at Marin County Shakespeare. Professionally, Joel has appeared on stage and screen including Bay Area projects at Marin County Shakespeare, SF Playhouse, 42nd Street Moon and is represented by Stars Agency. When not teaching, you can find Joel on top of a mountain somewhere drinking an iced vanilla latte! He cannot wait to continue instilling love of the arts into the next generation as a teaching artist at NCTC!
NIMA RAKHSHANIFAR
SATELLITE TEACHING ARTIST
Born and raised in the South Bay, Nima is excited to join NCTC! Passionate about fostering creativity in the next generation, Nima wants to introduce students to the art of acting through dynamic games that challenge students to develop new patterns of thinking. With a professional acting background, including performances at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Nima also leads workshops and participates in talkbacks for young audiences, tailoring the experience to individual learning stages.
SHAUNA SATNICK
(SHE/HER)
SATELLITE & CONSERVATORY TEACHING
An AEA actor and model, Shauna has performed in theatrical productions like Carmen (San Francisco Opera), A Whynot Christmas Carol (A.C.T.), A Doll’s House (Pacifica Spindrift Players), and The Full Monty (Bay Area Musicals). Her screen credits include Soul Credit (E.M.), The Last Thing He Told Me (Apple TV), and Earth Mama (A24). Shauna also models for lifestyle and fashion brands. She’s a graduate of Cal and ACT STC and thrilled to inspire future artists at NCTC!