Executive & Artistic Director / Owner
Laura Grissom
Ms. Grissom has been involved in children's community theatre in the San Fernando Valley for twenty years! As the Children's Musical Theatre Director at a local dance studio from 2008 - 2011, Ms. Grissom produced and directed four productions a year, including two shows each summer for the studio's summer camp program. Previous shows include Oliver!, The Sound of Music, Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka Jr., Beauty and the Beast, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Footloose, Bugsy Malone, Aladdin and Grease. Since establishing Kismet Kids in 2011, Ms. Grissom has directed over 60 productions at several local schools including Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, 101 Dalmatians, Snow White, Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, The Jungle Book, Seussical the Musical, Annie, The AristoCats, Hairspray!, Mulan Jr, Shrek the Musical!, Disney's Sleeping Beauty, High School Musical!, Mary Poppins, The Lion King, The Addams Family, Into the Woods, Hercules, Matilda, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (Online), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Online), Frozen, Newsies, and Descendants the Musical!
Ms. Grissom is currently the director of the award winning competition Dance Core, at West Valley Dance Academy. In addition to directing and producing 4 shows a year at KKMT, Ms. Grissom also directs children's musical theatre programs at elementary schools in Chatsworth, Reseda, and Simi Valley.
Ms. Grissom is currently the director of the award winning competition Dance Core, at West Valley Dance Academy. In addition to directing and producing 4 shows a year at KKMT, Ms. Grissom also directs children's musical theatre programs at elementary schools in Chatsworth, Reseda, and Simi Valley.
Music Directors
Katie McTyre
Originally from Santa Ana, California, Katie now considers the Los Angeles area her home, after over a decade on the East coast. Holding both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in music she has had extensive training in both classical repertoire and contemporary music theatre. A lover of cabarets and standards, Katie is also well versed in oldies, jazz, and popular music. We were thrilled to have Katie join our Kismet Kids family in 2015. She has since been the music director for Mary Poppins, Aladdin Jr, Cinderella, Willy Wonka, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, Snow White, Peter Pan, The Lion King, The Sound of Music, The Addams Family,
Into the Woods, Shrek the Musical, The Little Mermaid, Seussical, The Jungle Book, Annie, Hercules, Hairspray, Matilda, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (Online), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Online), High School Musical, Frozen, Newsies, and Descendants! Katie recently performed in local productions of The Sound of Music, 9 to 5, Young Frankenstein, and in Spamalot!
Into the Woods, Shrek the Musical, The Little Mermaid, Seussical, The Jungle Book, Annie, Hercules, Hairspray, Matilda, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (Online), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Online), High School Musical, Frozen, Newsies, and Descendants! Katie recently performed in local productions of The Sound of Music, 9 to 5, Young Frankenstein, and in Spamalot!
Eric Schultz
Eric is the newest member of the Kismet Kids family. He began performing when he was in the third grade in his local production of The Wizard of Oz. Since then, Eric has performed all over the world, from California to Japan! Eric has been music directing for almost 3 years and loves to inspire children through music! He recently graduated from Western Governors University where he is received his Masters in Secondary Education. Eric started music directing for Kismet in 2024 for Hercules and he has since been a part of the KKMT team for our productions of Frozen, Aladdin, Newsies, Wizard of Oz, Descendants, The Little Mermaid, and Into the Woods!
Eric is the newest member of the Kismet Kids family. He began performing when he was in the third grade in his local production of The Wizard of Oz. Since then, Eric has performed all over the world, from California to Japan! Eric has been music directing for almost 3 years and loves to inspire children through music! He recently graduated from Western Governors University where he is received his Masters in Secondary Education. Eric started music directing for Kismet in 2024 for Hercules and he has since been a part of the KKMT team for our productions of Frozen, Aladdin, Newsies, Wizard of Oz, Descendants, The Little Mermaid, and Into the Woods!
Choreographers
Mariah Grissom
Mariah began her dance journey at a young age and is trained in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, tap, musical theatre, and pointe. She started teaching when she was fourteen and in addition, Mariah is also a coach for a competitive dance team at West Valley Dance Academy, where she currently teaches. Her choreography has achieved several Judge's Choice, high point placements, and choreography awards over the years as well. Mariah began choreographing for Kismet Kids Musical Theatre in 2014 as well as musical theatre programs at local elementary schools. Mariah's main goal is to help people of all ages express their passion for dance, and to use the art as a creative and progressive outlet! Since joining Kismet Kids, Mariah has choreographed for Shrek the Musical, Disney's Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, Aladdin Jr, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, The Lion King, The Sound of Music, The Little Mermaid, Annie, Hercules, Matilda, Frozen, and Descendants. Mariah is excited to return each summer to Kismet Kids.
Shanelle Brooks
Shanelle began dancing at the age of 6 years old and is trained in Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, HipHop, Ballet, and Musical Theatre. At the age of 13 she started competitive dancing and continued until her senior year of high school, winning several awards along the way. She has also performed in many Kismet Kids productions. Shanelle started out as an assistant teacher at her dance studio and later became a substitute teacher for a variety of genres. She is currently enrolled at College of the Canyons as a Theatre major. Her passion is to see her students excel in the art of dance and performance and to have fun while doing it. Shanelle started choreographing for Kismet Kids in 2021. Since then her choreography appears in The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek the Musical, Addams Family, Willy Wonka, Grease, Hairspray, Hercules, Aladdin, Newsies, The Wizard of Oz, Descendants, and Into the Woods!
Shanelle began dancing at the age of 6 years old and is trained in Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, HipHop, Ballet, and Musical Theatre. At the age of 13 she started competitive dancing and continued until her senior year of high school, winning several awards along the way. She has also performed in many Kismet Kids productions. Shanelle started out as an assistant teacher at her dance studio and later became a substitute teacher for a variety of genres. She is currently enrolled at College of the Canyons as a Theatre major. Her passion is to see her students excel in the art of dance and performance and to have fun while doing it. Shanelle started choreographing for Kismet Kids in 2021. Since then her choreography appears in The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek the Musical, Addams Family, Willy Wonka, Grease, Hairspray, Hercules, Aladdin, Newsies, The Wizard of Oz, Descendants, and Into the Woods!
Marina Martinez
Marina began her dance training at the age of five. Growing up she trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, lyrical, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop and jazz funk. She has taken part in competition teams as well as a performance teams. At the age of 17, she decided to challenge her love for dance as a choreographer in multiple studios around the San Fernando Valley and has continued to do so for the past six years. She had the opportunity to coach a performance team for 4 years which gave her the experience to work with students of all ages. Marina continued her passion as a dancer by joining the Cal State Northridge Hip Hop team where she now is entering her second year on the team. She strongly believes in using dance as an outlet to express oneself while providing your aspiring dancer with the foundation to grow! As a member of the KKMT team, Marina has choreographed for Schoolhouse Rock, Matilda, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, and Seussical the Musical!
Marina began her dance training at the age of five. Growing up she trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, lyrical, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop and jazz funk. She has taken part in competition teams as well as a performance teams. At the age of 17, she decided to challenge her love for dance as a choreographer in multiple studios around the San Fernando Valley and has continued to do so for the past six years. She had the opportunity to coach a performance team for 4 years which gave her the experience to work with students of all ages. Marina continued her passion as a dancer by joining the Cal State Northridge Hip Hop team where she now is entering her second year on the team. She strongly believes in using dance as an outlet to express oneself while providing your aspiring dancer with the foundation to grow! As a member of the KKMT team, Marina has choreographed for Schoolhouse Rock, Matilda, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, and Seussical the Musical!
Staff Director
Zack Grissom
Zack is the only other staff member who has been with the program since the beginning. He began performing in numerous Kismet Kids productions at a young age, before becoming the Head Production Assistant in 2018, and eventually the Staff Director for the last three years. Zack's goal is to make sure that every Kismet Kid has an amazing experience. He looks forward to meeting and working with every Kismet Kid each show. Zack is currently a Preschool/Early Kindergarten Director at a local private school during the school year.
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