Executive & Artistic Director / Owner
Laura Grissom
Ms. Grissom has been involved in children's community theatre in the San Fernando Valley for several 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 50 productions 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) and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Online)!
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), and High School Musical! Katie recently performed in local productions of The Sound of Music, and 9 to 5.
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), and High School Musical! Katie recently performed in local productions of The Sound of Music, and 9 to 5.
Tiffany Schirz
Tiffany is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, singer and songwriter and is thrilled to be back this summer working with our amazing kids! Tiffany was awarded the Arion Award music scholarship and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison to major in Music with Piano emphasis. While in college, she also toured internationally with the 40-voice UW-Madison a cappella Concert Choir and wrote a cappella vocal arrangements. She earned Bachelor's degrees in Music and Journalism, graduating with honors. Tiffany's first productions with Kismet Kids were Into the Woods and The Addams Family!
Tiffany is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, singer and songwriter and is thrilled to be back this summer working with our amazing kids! Tiffany was awarded the Arion Award music scholarship and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison to major in Music with Piano emphasis. While in college, she also toured internationally with the 40-voice UW-Madison a cappella Concert Choir and wrote a cappella vocal arrangements. She earned Bachelor's degrees in Music and Journalism, graduating with honors. Tiffany's first productions with Kismet Kids were Into the Woods and The Addams Family!
Gabriella Bluvband
Gabriella is the newest member of the Kismet Kids family. She is a Los Angeles based classically trained soprano who received her training at California State University, Northridge. She has been lauded for her acting skills and excellent work ethic. Gabriella has also received numerous awards for her performing, academic achievement, and skill as an educator. She is currently in her final semester of her Master's in Vocal Performance and is eager to perform and continue following her passion. In addition to performing, Gabriella is an award winning voice and piano teacher who loves sharing the gift of music with her students! Teaching both kids and adults, her focus is on building a love for the instrument and the process of learning music. Gabriella's first production with Kismet Kids will be Willy Wonka and she looks forward to many more!
Gabriella is the newest member of the Kismet Kids family. She is a Los Angeles based classically trained soprano who received her training at California State University, Northridge. She has been lauded for her acting skills and excellent work ethic. Gabriella has also received numerous awards for her performing, academic achievement, and skill as an educator. She is currently in her final semester of her Master's in Vocal Performance and is eager to perform and continue following her passion. In addition to performing, Gabriella is an award winning voice and piano teacher who loves sharing the gift of music with her students! Teaching both kids and adults, her focus is on building a love for the instrument and the process of learning music. Gabriella's first production with Kismet Kids will be Willy Wonka and she looks forward to many more!
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 California Dance Academy, where she began teaching in 2020. 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, and Matilda. Mariah is excited to return each summer to Kismet Kids.
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, and The Wizard of Oz.
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, and Shrek the Musical.
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, and Shrek 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. 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 currently attends CSUN and works fulltime as a teacher in early childhood education during the school year.
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