Staff
Our staff are professionals working in their respective fields who keep up on industry standards while ensuring appropriate educational benchmarks are met. Ensuring students are getting hands-on, real-world experiences in theatrical productions, and receiving performance training just as they would in the professional world is something we strive for here at TCOE Theatre Company.  

Bethany Rader

Director 

Bethany Vertical

Bethany (she/her) joined TCOE as the Theatre Company director in December 2016. She has her B.A in Theatre Arts from Fresno State (2006) and her M.A in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Fresno Pacific University (2011). Prior to joining TCOE, she worked at Fresno Pacific University for nine years, directing  their theater program for seven of those years. Some of her directing titles include Charley’s AuntGodspellAntigoneThe Sound of Music, and Little Women. Bethany has also served as an assistant director and a production assistant for Stage Works Fresno under the leadership of Joel Abels, working on Dogfight and Into the Woods.

Bethany is honored and excited to be a part of the Theatre Company family. “A chance to work with the TCOE family is always something I have wanted to do. Having grown up seeing the productions and seeing such amazing talent has made the prospect of working with this company very sweet to me. I stand firmly behind what the Theatre Company stands for and where it has come from. I believe in its mission and relish the opportunity to see it continue to grow and thrive. I look forward to serving this family as we continue to explore what TCOE has to offer."

(559) 651-1482 ext. 3372

Charlotte Garcia Da Rosa

Vocal Director

Charlotte Headshot

Charlotte Garcia Da Rosa (she/her) is honored to be in her 21st season as the Vocal Director for the Theater Company. She vocal coaches all shows, teaches spring voice/musical theatre classes, and directs their fall musical. She also loves to help with hair and makeup design for the company productions. A local performing artist, musical theater director, and voice teacher- Charlotte is grateful for the training she received at Golden West High School’s choral and drama programs, and San Jose State University’s vocal music program. She credits Susan Mathews, Jeff Seaward, Mike Wilson, Dr. Charene Archibeque, Vicki Shagoian, Chris Mangels, John Sorber, her grandmother- Alexis Evans, and her father, Charles Culbreth for their mentorship, inspiration, and teaching.  Charlotte resides in Visalia with her husband Joe, and their two sons- Jonathan and Joseph. She is a very proud ChaCha to her daughter Jessie’s sons, Spencer and JJ.   

Charlotte is extremely blessed to be a part of the wonderful performing arts community in Visalia and enjoys working with her colleagues at COS Theater, The Visalia Players, Sequoia Symphony, and the drama and choral programs at the Visalia Unified High Schools as well as local charter and home schools. She has owned her own vocal studio and taught/coached privately for over 20 years teaching students in contemporary, Broadway, and classical styles of singing and performing. She has over 35 years of performing experience as a concert soloist, musical theater performer, director, choreographer, backup singer, guest clinician, consultant, and vocalist. 

Throughout Charlotte’s career, she has directed, vocal coached, staged, worked on, or performed in well over 100 musicals. Some favorites include Godspell, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Once on This Island JR., Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Shrek, Rent, The Last Five Years, Fiddler on the Roof, Newsies, Hairspray, Frozen JR., and The Secret Garden. Other favorite moments in her career include artistic directing Sequoia Symphony’s “The Beat’ video project during the pandemic shutdown, staging the Marriage of Figaro with Visalia Opera Company, hosting the annual Holiday Cabaret at the Ice House Theater, hosting master classes with Betsy Wolfe and Vicki Shagoian. She especially cherishes collaborating on master classes and concerts with her dear friend, former Theatre Company alum and now Broadway veteran performer, Angelo Soriano.   

Charlotte was honored with the Majorie Brandon Award in 2023 for her contribution to arts in Visalia and the community. She hopes to continue inspiring performers and sharing her passion for performing arts for many years to come. She will forever be grateful to former Theatre Company director Brian Roberts and former Tulare County Superintendent Jim Vidak for giving her this amazing job! 

(559) 651-1482 ext. 3373

McKenna Friend-Hoffman

Choreographer and Theatre Company Support

McKenna Friend-HoffmanMcKenna (she/her) joined the Theatre Company in this role in December of 2021. She has over ten years of professional experience working in musical theatre and dance. Her award-winning choreography has been performed all over Central California. A classically trained dancer since the age of seven, with a special focus on tap and theatrical jazz, McKenna also studied dance composition, production, and pedagogy at the University level.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from California Polytechnic State University and has worked with various arts nonprofits in programming, fundraising, and public relations.

McKenna has also taught and choreographed for numerous dance studios, choirs, and community programs, including the College of the Sequoias, Visalia Unified School District, the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra, Cal Poly Theatre, and Orchesis Dance Company.

“I am beyond thrilled to be working with TCOE Theatre Company," McKenna says. "I know that by following Nicole Zweifel I will have very large shoes to fill. Nicole is a vital member of our community—she choreographed the first musical I ever performed in—and I have always looked up to her. I am looking forward to bringing new programming to students all over Tulare County who deserve access to the high-quality artistic opportunities that the Theatre Company is known for.”

(559) 651-1482 ext. 3374

Mg Swarts

OnStage and Planetarium Facilitator

Mg (she/they) joined the Theatre Company and Planetarium (jointly called the Stage and Space Collaborative) in this role in February of 2023. They hold a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology with a minor in theatre from California State University, Fresno, and a master’s degree in education from San Francisco State University. 

Mg has a lifelong love of all things theatre, storytelling, and learning. Beginning with kids’ choirs in childhood and a dad who would randomly burst into song, Mg has always been surrounded by music. Mg’s performance credits include several seasons with the Fresno Community Chorus and University Dance Theatre at Fresno State, as well as various roles at San Francisco State, and Chico State. They are a self-taught ukulele player, and they do nightly performances of “bedtime stories with ma’dada” for their two kiddos. Mg feels that working with TCOE and the Stage and Space Collaborative is an excellent way to give kids a taste of theatre arts and science, how cool these can be, and ways they can keep exploring.

(559) 733-6433

Additional Staff

OnStage Program Staff: 

Abbey Cantu (she/her)

Tannis Carson (she/her)

Jackie Casillas (she/her)

Becca Coffey-Godfrey (she/her)

Jose Flores (he/him)

Audrey Loeffler (she/her)

Alexis Long-Mayberry (she/her)

Antony Lotenero (he/him)

Michael Newman (he/him)

Lyra Paez (she/her)

Rahim Pullom (he/him)

Roman Robles (he/him)

Maddie Stober (they/them)

Emilie Walker (she/her)


Costume Designer: Amanda Marshall (she/her) 

Stage and Space Collaborative Staff: Craig Alameda (he/him) and Conan Palmer 

Volunteers
All of the amazing work we do for our performing arts youth would not be possible without the support of our incredible volunteers. Former students, parents, teachers and administrators, and dedicated community members make up our long list of friends. Thank you to anyone and everyone who has sewn costumes, built sets, sold tickets, etc. We could not do it without you!

If you are interested in working with TCOE Theatre Company, visit the Support the Theatre Company link.