Meet our Teaching Artists

Darryl Hovis is an actor, director, and designer, resident artist and Education Director at Chance Theater. He earned his MA in Theatre Production at Central Washington University and studied acting at the Professional Conservatory at UCSD under Anna Shapiro (Steppenwolf) as well as South Coast Repertory under Karen Hensel. He is the co-founder and artistic director of the Culver City Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, where he developed an intensive arts program for high school students in theatre, film, music, and art, and has gone on to develop theatre programs at other Southern California high schools, as well as Theatre International at Leysin American School in Leysin, Switzerland. He has directed a multitude of productions, some of his favorites being Therese Raquin (Chance Theater), Rent and The Threepenny Opera (Samohi Theatre), Machinal and Resurrecting Antigone (UniTheatre), and The Miracle Worker and Treehouses (AVPA). He dedicates his work to God and to his wife, Angela, and three children, Dylan, Andrew, and Julia.

Karen O’Hanlon, a Philadelphia area native, is delighted to be a resident artist at Chance Theater. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from East Stroudsburg University and has worked as a teaching artist, actress, and director throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. At the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, she spent several years teaching and directing for the First Stage program, as well as their in-school residency program. Karen was the regional director for Creative Theatre, where she worked to bring after-school and summer camps to children throughout the east coast. In addition, she has worked with several outreach programs designed to help at-risk youths and teens find their voice through creative expression. In California, Karen taught Theatre at Fairmont Private School, where she produced student-driven new work. Karen is also a coach and judge for the Orange County middle school debate program.

James Michael McHale is an actor, director, Resident Artist, and Literary Manager at Chance Theater. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from California State University Long Beach, completed conservatories with the Michael Chekhov Association and The Actor’s Center (NYC), and multiple intensives at Lesly Kahn & Co in Los Angeles. As a director, he recently won the Orange County Theatre Guild Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for American Idiot at Chance Theater, where his directing credits also include the OC Premiere of Edges, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas among others. He has written and directed a number of storytelling concerts for Pacific Symphony presented at Segerstrom Concert Hall including: Beethoven: Trials to Triumph, A Dream of Tchaikovsky, The Curious Case of the Vanishing Violin, and Music from the Movies and More! James’ acting credits include Much Ado About Nothing at The Old Globe, the National Tour of APOLLO 11 for Troika Entertainment, multiple regional theater productions of the musical Once, and many productions here at the Chance. His teaching artist experience includes a variety of classes at Chance Theater, co-directing Chance’s Speak Up program for Junior High and Highs School, working as a guest director at local middle schools, and directing a number of Elementary School productions for Musical Theater Playground.

Shinshin Yuder Tsai is a dedicated Resident Artist and full-time staff member at Chance Theater, where he serves as the Producing Associate. He is also a valued Board Member on the Council for OCTG and the Founding Artistic Director of the AAPI Sketch Comedy Troupe, No MSG Added. With nearly a decade of experience as a teaching artist, Shinshin has inspired countless young minds. His work at conservatories in Orange County and Los Angeles has been instrumental in creating a pathway for at-risk youth to transition to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He has directed over 30 children’s productions, including a delightful full-scale musical reminiscent of Cinderella. His influence has empowered many children to find their confidence, embrace the arts, and thrive as individuals. He focuses on kindness and compassion, emphasizing ensemble building to promote proactive thoughtfulness. Shinshin’s notable directing credits include productions such as She Kills Monsters at Long Beach Playhouse & STAGEStheatre, The Hatmaker’s Wife, LOVE/SICK, and Cowboy Vs. Samurai at Long Beach Playhouse. He has also directed The Pillowman and Almost, Maine at the University of California, Irvine, Metamorphoses and Mother Courage and Her Children at Chapman University, and Kvetcher in the Wry at OC-Centric. Most recently, he directed the 2024 OCTG Award Shows at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The arts transformed Shinshin’s life as a young child, and now he’s dedicated to paying it forward, helping other children find their voices, passions, and confidence, just as other artists once did for him. And in his spare time? He’s lovingly curated the ultimate list of All-You-Can-Eat restaurants in Southern California—because even artists need a good meal! With Shinshin, parents can rest assured that their children are in the hands of someone who truly cares about their growth, creativity, and happiness.

Rachel McLaughlan is excited to be a part of the the Teen Speak Up program at the Chance and to work with such amazing teachers and students. Hailing from Northern California, Rachel is a professional performer and singer in Los Angeles. She spent six years singing with Big Bird on multiple national tours of Sesame Street and was a part of last year’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time directed by Darryl Hovis. Rachel is currently a teacher at South Coast Repertory Theatre’s Summer Youth Program for musical theatre. She loves to be a part of the creative process and can’t wait to see how this next generation will inspire and change the world. Much love to her family, boyfriend Kurtis, and cat Ichabod. This summer is dedicated to the memory of Wade Williamson and to her Mom Brenda Brumer who took Rachel to her first ballet class and started this entire journey. Carpe Diem.

Alexandra Kales began teaching drama while completing her undergraduate degree at The Ohio State University, where she taught 3 elementary school theater classes with Drama Kids International. At Ohio State, Alexandra also became involved with the Shakespeare and Autism Project, an ongoing research project and collaboration between the Ohio State Theater and Neuroscience Departments. Through her participation in Shakespeare and Autism, Alexandra co-led two groups of teens on the spectrum and designed theater curriculum, using Shakespeare’s texts and the Hunter Heartbeat Method. Alexandra has been delighted to be a part of Chance Theater since 2022, assisting with both the Spectrum Speak Up and Veterans Speak Up Programs. Alexandra is currently pursuing her Masters in Social Work at Cal State Long Beach and hopes to use theater in her future practice as a clinical social worker.

Amanda Zarr is a professional actor, director, and adjunct theatre professor. She earned her BFA from Chapman University and her MFA from the prestigious PATP program at the University of Washington. She currently directs and teaches at Chapman University and Goldenwest College. She was a member of Shakespeare Orange County for over 10 years and served as Associate Artistic Director. She has been a guest artist with Ophelia’s Jump, Pensacola Shakespeare Company, ACTC, Need Theater of Los Angeles, Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and Long Beach City College. Notable acting credits include: Hamlet (Golden West College), Fiona (In a Word) and Margie (Good People) at Chance Theater and Juliet, Helena, and Lady Anne at Shakespeare Orange County. She recently won the Orange Curtain Review‘s Best Actress for 2022 (Lina in Cry it Out, Chance Theater). She was proud to work with Santa Fe playwright Joanna Garner on her new work Gutting as a part of the OTR series at Chance Theater where she is a Resident Artist. For Chance Theater, Amanda also produced, directed, and co-stared in the online show Chance Encounters.