TEACHING ARTISTS
AISHÉ KEITA / THEATRE + MOVEMENT
Aishé Keita is a healing artist and two time award winning actress. She is based in Seattle, WA but has been seen on stages throughout the US. Aishé appeared in Seattle Magazine's September issue as must-see artist. Where she also received recognition for her work at Seattle Repertory Theater and The Guthrie Theater for the co-production of Familiar by Danai Gurira. Aishe's first solo show, Griot, produced by Earth Pearl Collective premiered in 2018 and is now in the works to tour. She holds a B.F.A from Cornish College of the Arts in Original Works (playwriting, acting, directing) with a minor in applied theater. Aishé has taught healing through creative expression at Gig Harbor Women Correctional Facilities for five years and teaches acting/improv to first-year students at her alma mater, Cornish. Recently co-founder of the African healing collective, Niles Edge. Aishé focuses on the relationship between Theater and African Healing modalities with a special focus on the Diaspora's relationship to self.
QUEENIE SUNSHINE / SCREENWRITER + ART DEPARTMENT + PRODUCER 'SUNNYSIDE UP'
Queenie Sunshine joined South End Stories in the summer of 2020 to help bring life to the puppet world of Sunnyside Up. With a background in theater, art, and early childhood education, and a love for all things crafty and fun, Queenie was very excited to embark on a web series geared especially for the very young. Working with youth is one of her passions, and she relishes each opportunity to assist young people in discovering and cultivating their own love for performing arts. Queenie enjoys spending time with canine, feline, and human friends, watching her two children grow, playing croquet, making art out of found objects, playing in her dollhouse kingdom, and singing with her vintage jazz combo, the Savoy Night Owls.
NICK THOMPSON/ FILM
Nick Thompson is a filmmaker and photographer in his hometown of Seattle. He recently finished his feature film Skagit, an experimental thriller set in Washington State, which won Best Feature at Hastings Rocks Film Festival. His other projects include music videos for local bands Salt Lick and Velvet Q and the web series Douglas Fern’s Fact File, a docu-satire chronicling Seattle’s history and rapidly changing cultural landscape, as well as several experimental short films. Nick’s work has been presented at The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival, Local Sightings Film Festival, and Northwest Film Forum, and a book of his photography is available at local bookstores. He was born and raised in the South End and is thrilled to be working with South End Stories. More information about his photography and other film projects is available online at nicktfilms.me.
RAJAH MAKONNEN / FILM
Rajah Makonnen is a video artist who has created projection mapping video installations for venues such as Fred Wildlife Refuge, music videos for various local musicians, worked on advertising campaigns for companies like HBO and Warner Brothers, crafted short form narrative content independently, and more.
LILY KROLOPP / FILM + MULTI-MEDIA
Bio to come!
CHAMP ENSMINGER / FILM
Bio to come!
NEELY SEEMS / THEATRE
Bio to come!
MEGAN FELISE / DANCE + THEATRE
Megan Felise is a Performer, Teaching Artist, and Choreographer based in Seattle, WA. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i where she trained in Hula, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Jazz, and Modern Dance. She has an extensive background that ranges in volunteering with children and professionally teaching Academic and Artistic Programs. For the 2021 – 2022 School Year, Megan was an Elementary School Drama Teacher with the Hawai’i Department of Education. She is a 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher and Barre Instructor. Megan currently teaches for Redmond Academy of theatre Arts, South End Stories and Seattle Theatre Group.
Aside from teaching, Megan has performed with Trial and Error Productions’ “Hope to Hiroshima” Project with Gabrielle Kazuko, ZTHEORY Heels Dance Company, Zay’s
Baes Performance Company, Tint Dance Festival, Local Short Films: Harmony of a Feather and A Whole New World In Focus, and Ballet-Burlesque Company Verlaine and McCann onstage. This season, Megan performed Flying Choreography as "Ariel Double/Ensemble" for 5th Avenue Theatre’s “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” and is now a “Choreographer Mentor” for their Rising Stars Production of “Something’s Afoot”.