Shaking the Tree Instructors
Liz Hayden (she/ her)
In 2003, Liz Hayden began teaching down in Santa Monica. She began with teaching adults at the Piero Dusa Acting Conservatory, and decided to dip her toes into working with children, teaching Fairy Tale theater classes through Santa Monica’s Parks & Recreation department. This turned her whole post graduate plan in a different direction. Since moving to Portland in 2005, she has taught children's drama. She runs her own drama program Kid's Create at Lakewood Theater in Lake Oswego, and at Westhills Montessori School. Upon moving to Portland, Shaking the Tree was Liz’s first place of employment, along with NWCT. She is a 13 year member of Hand2Mouth theatre where she creates, devizes, tours, and collaborates. She has a B.A. in Theater From SOU and an MFA in performance from NIU.
In 2003, Liz Hayden began teaching down in Santa Monica. She began with teaching adults at the Piero Dusa Acting Conservatory, and decided to dip her toes into working with children, teaching Fairy Tale theater classes through Santa Monica’s Parks & Recreation department. This turned her whole post graduate plan in a different direction. Since moving to Portland in 2005, she has taught children's drama. She runs her own drama program Kid's Create at Lakewood Theater in Lake Oswego, and at Westhills Montessori School. Upon moving to Portland, Shaking the Tree was Liz’s first place of employment, along with NWCT. She is a 13 year member of Hand2Mouth theatre where she creates, devizes, tours, and collaborates. She has a B.A. in Theater From SOU and an MFA in performance from NIU.
Claire Aldridge (she / they) is a theater artist, dancer, and educator based in Portland Oregon. Credits with Shaking the tree include Short Flix, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Head Hands Feet, and Orpheus and Eurydice. She is also the creator of Anatomy of A Rabbit, which was a recipient of the Regional Arts and Culture Council “Make. Build. Learn.” Grant Award, and is a founding member of the Siren Theater Ensemble; an international collective of women. Claire is a graduate of the Dell’Arte International School for Physical Theater, and is currently studying with the Portland Experimental Theater Ensemble in their ICP program.
Kai Hynes (he/him) is a theatre artist, teacher, and administrator. Credits with Shaking the Tree include MODELMINORITY, Family, Short Flix, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle. He has also worked with Hand2Mouth Theatre, Orphic Theatre, Milagro Theatre, Imago Theatre, Fuse Theatre Ensemble, and the Livermore Shakespeare Festival. Originally from San Jose, California, he holds a B.A. in Theatre and English from the University of Portland. He is also a recent graduate of Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble’s Institute for Contemporary Performance.
