CPAC Saturday Instructors
Digital Media: Mike Pai
Hip Hop/ Creative Dance: Dwayne Sakaguchi
Broadway Jazz: Logan Espiritu
Basic Sound Design: Robert Matsushita w/ guests
Ballet: Alex Durrant
Broadway Jazz/ Dance Conditioning: Jeremy Hurr
FX Makeup/ Mask Making: Caro Walker
Creative Movement: Rachel Lockhart
Keiki Chorus: Phil Foster
Stage Combat: Brandon DiPaola
Culinary Arts: Baking: MJ Matsushita
Film Acting /Musical Theatre: Christie Brooke
trained at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City. In her latest film work, she played opposite Mandy Moore in director Roland Emmerich's film MIDWAY, in the role of Millicent McClusky, wife of Lt Commander Wade McClusky (Luke Evans) who was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery in the Battle of Midway. From Kaneohe, she was first cast on ABC's Primetime hit show "High School Musical: Get in the Picture," sharing the screen with Zac Efron. Christie Brooke's first role on film was in Sony Pictures "Soul Surfer," opposite AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, and Carrie Underwood. Christie co-starred as Melinda on CBS' "Hawaii 5-0," and plays the role of Sprinkle in the Rich Mullins biopic "Ragamuffin" She is a proud CPAC alumni having played lead roles in musicals like 42nd Street and Guys & Dolls. Miss Christie is the former music teacher at Kaneohe Elementary. She is also a singer songwriter and her music is available now on Spotify and Apple Music.
Voice Audition Workshop: Callie Doan has worked with CPAC since 2007 as a Musical Director for our KidStart shows. She received her Bachelor of Music in Voice and Theatre from Ithaca College in NY, and performed professionally in NY and DC before moving to Hawaii in 2005. Callie has enjoyed performing at various theatres around the island and received a Po'okela Award for Lead Female in a Musical for her portrayal of Jenny in MVT's "It Shoulda Been You". She enjoys teaching Private Voice Lessons out of her home in Kaneohe and always welcomes new students. Callie is the principal singer at a Japanese wedding chapel, sings with the Worship Band at her church, and enjoys spending time with her husband Andrew and son, Alex.
Musical Theatre/ College Auditions: Griffin Lockette
also graduated from Castle High School, where she was a proud member of CPAC, appearing in shows such as 'Little Women', 'Footloose' and 'Macbeth'! One of the highlights of her time at CPAC was traveling to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Griffin earned her Bachelors in Theatre from Long Island University in New York City, where she currently lives and works. While at LIU, she starred in “Trojan Barbie,” “Spring Awakening,” “In The Wake,” as well as two student projects. One of these projects toured an international festival in Manizales, Colombia.
Tap Dancing: Kami Wakabayashi has been performing since the age of 7. She has been teaching acting and theatrecrafts at Castle High School for over four years, while also choreographing our KidStart productions and serving as advisor for the Castle Dance Ensemble. She has also choregraphed during the summers for S.H.I.N.E. at Waialae Baptist Church. She has trained at the Honolulu Dance Studio and Diamond Head Theatre in jazz, ballet, tap, and contemporary dance. Ms Kami earned her Bachelor’s degree in Dance and Theatre with a concentration in Theatre Education from Manhattanville College.
Creative Dance: Nyonda Lane is the owner/operator of Dance Lane, specializing in teaching Jazz and HipHop and is also the current performing arts teacher at one of our Castle Complex feeder schools, Kaneohe Elementary. Nyonda also graduated from Castle High School, where she was a proud member of the Castle Performing Arts Learning Center, where she starred as Bonnie in 'Anything Goes' and one of the Weird Sisters in 'Macbeth', among other roles. She is currently pursuing her degree in education from University of Hawaii.
Tap Dancing: Jayla Wakabayashi has been a part of performing arts from age 6. She has trained at Honolulu Dance Studio, Diamond Head Theatre and Sacred Hearts Academy in jazz, ballet/pointe, tap, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. Ms. Jayla has recently earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Theatre from Marist College. At Marist she performed in numerous productions, including, “Snow White and the Seven Fairy Godmothers”, “Cabaret” (Kit Kat Girl Understudy), “Anything Goes” and “Hello Dolly” (Ensemble). She was also selected as a choreographer for the Marist College Dance Ensemble while also being an active dance member of the club.
Program Director: Karen Meyer has taught English, acting, health, social studies, and currently our Theatre Crafts and Saturday Classes. An actress and designer in Hawaii for many years, she began her teaching career with the Alliance for Drama Education, teaching at over 100 schools on six islands, including residencies for the CPAC program since 1984. Now coming up to her 20th year as the Director of the Castle Performing Arts Learning Center, she received her graduate degree in Education from UH Manoa and a post-graduate certificate in Gifted and Talented Teaching from USC. For her work on stage she has earned several Po‘okela awards both for acting and design. Ms. M has appeared on local stages in everything from Shakespeare to musicals, including productions directed by her mentor, Mr. Bright. Much of her graduate work at UHM was in Children's Theatre and Puppetry, which she still finds fascinating and fun!