Lissa Slay

01/05/2026

01/02/2026

The Happy Theatre Teacher wraps an incredible year! 🥳Thanks to all who attended workshops, created art, and engaged in joyful play and meaningful discussions 🥹Your support means everything and I deeply appreciate you!
❤️Lissa

04/27/2025

Come celebrate with us as we chart the seas one last time!✨💙🧜🏽‍♀️

04/26/2025

Come see The Little Mermaid 🧜🏽‍♀️ tonight at 7, tomorrow at 2! See the work of 130+ folks culminating in a joyous celebration of community!!!
⚓️⬇️💙 So beyond grateful for this incredible company!!! 🥹🌹
A quick lil photo dump - an audience of stuffies, including my Theatre Potato™️, the shells🐚 took 23 hours EACH to print 😮 (Thank you, !!!👌🏽)

09/21/2021

02/23/2020

Supporting in their second year of with their production of 101 Dalmatians - good work, cast, crew, and school team! Congratulations and enjoy the rest of your run!

02/15/2020

Eleven years ago, KCACTF Region 8 was hosted by CSU Fullerton, where I was finishing undergrad, and it changed my life. That’s where I caught a glimpse of what could really be. I attended workshops and wrote tons of notes. I met amazing . I sang at Next Step auditions. That’s where I met Michael McGill, executive director of Missoula Children’s Theatre, who saw something in me. Taking that contract at that festival changed my life. So after 11 years, I came full circle to CSU Fullerton this week, where so much magic and joy happened for me, back to Region 8, to teach a workshop in theatre education, to continue to share the joys of teaching theatre to others. (My husband, who I met at CSUF, was also teaching workshops for the festival! Yay Theatre Couples™️!) ✨
Thank you, , , and . You do such good work, and change so much for so many. Thank you, thank you. ❤️🎭❤️

@ California State University, Fullerton

07/27/2019

Five years as the Education Director of American Coast Children’s Theatre have come to a close. I started the program with a kid on the hip and one growing in the belly. I remember when I was first asked to take on the building of a summer camp program that not only included campers but addressed the college interns’ needs as well. I remember feeling exhausted just thinking about it! But at that same time of being both pregnant and a new mom, I was hearing a lot of junk from people “you should stay home and focus on your kids” “let’s see how you handle having kids before you get a mainstage” etc. It was like, I gotta do this for the kids AND THE THEATRE MOMMAS. And to prove to myself that I could rise above that negativity and grow. 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
And something amazing happened. The communities I served rose up and took care of me and mine. We sold out my first summer and nearly every summer since. I did not do this alone - so much prayer and so many people loved and helped and gave so much. When I needed costumes - friends gave freely. When I needed advice, colleagues gave freely. Every year I got stronger in my practice and programming and could serve with a full, happy heart. My summer program has been a huge part of me these past five years. Sure there’s been rough times and heartache, but mostly - the joy of watching children I M A G I N E what the world could be when we laugh and sing and tell stories together.
🎶❤️🎶
Thank you to all of the children (some of them now about to be seniors!!!), to their amazing families, to my interns past and present, to staff, and the wonderful who worked by my side for three of those years. This is the speech I was too choked up to make. Thank you, I love you, and I’m signing off. 🎙
To with love,
Miss Lissa,
Founding Education Director 15-19 @ American Coast Children's Theatre

07/27/2019

featured me in their Orange County Inspiring Stories section! Thank you, for the recommendation and thank you to Sid and the Voyage LA staff! 👉🏼 http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-lissa-slay-lissa-slay-orange-county/ or just click the link in my bio! ❤️

06/20/2019

The Lion King, Jr.
Harbor View Elementary at Coronda del Mar High School's Sea Kings Theatre
Director: Lissa Slay
Choreographer: Bretlyn Lazaris
Music Director: Debi Wheeler-Ure
Stage Managers: Marissa Del Gatto and Tyler Thoreson
Lighting Design: Ryan Linhardt
Sound Design & Engineering: Christopher Rushman
Costume Design: Karla Kurtz

Photos by Danielle Vernengo Hobert Photography

06/23/2018

Director/Choreographer: Lissa Slay
Music Director: David Anderson
Venue: The Learning Center, Linda Vista Elementary School
Presented as part of the OUSD Elementary Musical Theatre Pilot Program, led by Mrs. Lissa Slay