The company
Glorifying Christ Through
Excellence In the Arts
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CSDC was established in 2002. For co-founders Irene Miller and Marla Ripps, it literally all began with a dream and a prayer. Irene had a dream, and Marla had a prayer for a place where God could be glorified through theatre and where Christians could find an outlet for their talent. Since 2001, CSDC has taught all aspects of theatre arts to students K-12. Through this pre-professional training, the students are able to utilize their gifts and talents to serve others in any aspect of theatre or in business.
With God’s blessing and direction, we envision Crystal Sea Drama Company continuing to grow in its ability to offer classes and productions in a first class facility. Crystal Sea Drama Company is dedicated to training artists in theatre arts education and performance.
In August, 2009, we moved into our current location – a warehouse at 8414 Speedway. The building used to be an archery warehouse. The space, affectionately known as “The Studio”, has been transformed into a black box rehearsal theatre complete with costume shop, extensive costume, props and sets storage, and classrooms.
Co-Founders
Irene Miller, Artistic Director and Acting Instructor, has been involved in theatrical productions since 1970. She has a degree in Theatre and Communications Arts from the University of Iowa.
Marla Ripps, Lead Costumer and Instructor, is a civil engineer who received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M.
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Arsenic and Old Lace, February 2020
the Staff
Irene miller
Executive Artistic Director, Founder
Irene Miller graduated with a Theatre and Communications degree from the University of Iowa. She is the Executive and Artistic Director for Crystal Sea Drama Company, teaches Thursday Performance and Professional Prep class, and directs two shows a year. She has been acting since she was young and has performed in numerous plays, including playing Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, Aunt Martha in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Corrie ten Boom in The Hiding Place. Irene has directed over 60 plays, the last three being '60s Mania, Adventure, and A Wrinkle in Time. She is a mother of nine and grandmother of four and has been homeschooling for 36 years. In her free time, she loves to scrapbook, spend time with her family, and travel with her husband, Larry.
Marla ripps
Founder, Photographer,
Costume Dept. Head Emeritus
Marla Ripps co-founded CSDC with Irene Miller in 2002. She has worked in some capacity in every show CSDC has produced. Her expertise can be seen in CSDC's makeup designs and applications, costumer designs and construction, and photography. Mrs. Ripps has a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University.
CRISTAL RUBIO
Managing Director
Cristal Rubio recently joined our staff as Office Manager after giving us a lot of help with makeup in last year's productions. She will be teaching a Theatre Makeup class this year as well as keeping the ship afloat in the main office. The three youngest of her four kids have attended classes at Crystal Sea since 2022. Cristal also owns a bookkeeping firm called BeautyPro Bookkeeping.
Mike dannelly
Improvisation Teacher
Mike Dannelly was born a natural athlete, but his dreams of becoming an International Olympic Fencer were dashed at the ripe age of 2 ½ years old in a terrible backyard accident involving a llama and a plastic kiddie pool. Mike was introduced to theater in high school and went on to perform throughout college and early adulthood. During his theatrical escapades, Mike was introduced to the world of comedy and laughter. He found that his true passion in theater was making people laugh and enjoyed hearing them have a good time. Mike harnessed the power of laughter and wit to become a professional improvisor. He's the former owner of ComedySportz San Antonio and has been teaching improv for 10 years with the last few being here at CSDC and is self-proclaimed "favorite teacher" to most of our students.
Kelly Hanson
Elementary Teacher,
Art Instructor
Kelly Hanson is a local artist and entrepreneur with over 20 years of professional experience. She has run several art related businesses including working as a decorative interior painter and running an international children’s art kit subscription business. She also spent over 10 years performing locally with the National Comedy Theatre and Comedy Sportz improv troupe. Currently, Kelly is a homeschool mom and teaches kindergarten in a hybrid model school. She loves teaching scenic painting, children’s theatre and art classes here at CSDC!
Gwen kandt
Director, Mentor for Crown Casters
Gwen Kandt teaches English and Drama at Crestmont Christian Preparatory School in Boerne. She has been involved in drama ministries at four churches and led a homeschool theater program in Sioux City, Iowa. Over the years, she has written scads of skits, one-acts, and full-length plays for her students to perform, including two published one-acts: Do-Overs and Everyman 2.0. In her spare time, she reads, blogs (ingennesaret.blogspot.com), and indulges in far too many desserts.
Teresa fehrenbach
Costume Department Head,
Photographer
Teresa Fehrenbach learned the basics of sewing in middle school Home Ec classes and has continued to create things with textiles through the years. She has made baby quilts and clothing for her children and grandchildren, costumes for her church theatrical productions, and most recently has been an assistant costumer and photographer for CSDC. She taught sewing classes in her home and at a 4H club a number of years ago and is excited to offer a sewing class at CSDC again this year. Samples of her work in sewing and photography can be seen on her website at www.tfehrenbachstudios.com.
kari west
Teacher, Music Director
Kari teaches a vocal training class at CSDC and directs the musical aspects of most of our productions. She came to CSDC looking for a place for her daughter to pursue her love for theatre and quickly got involved herself. A private piano teacher, she has a BA in Music Business from Northeast Missouri State (now Truman University) and has played piano since she was 7. Kari and her husband Jeff recently co-founded South Texas Arts Academy in Devine, where she is the managing director and music instructor. They have five daughters; Kari homeschools the one still living at home.
JULIANNA mARTIN
Teacher, Director, Graphic Designer
Julianna Martin is an alumna of CSDC, where she began classes in 2018 and is now teaching acting classes. She has also been teaching theatre for 2 years at St. Gregory Catholic School. Her years at CSDC were full of performing, directing, creating fun memories, making great friends and community, and meeting her fiance Sam. Theatre became a creative outlet for her and helped her get out of her shell; her mission is to give back to the community that has given her long-lasting joy, as well as to spread God’s light and glory to the youth of this theatre.
Office Assistant, Assistant Director
Eastin Kandt graduated with a B.A. in Communications from Abilene Christian University, with a focus on Non-profit Communication and a minor in Theatre. She is a 2018 alumna of Crystal Sea Drama Company. Recently, she has played roles in “Differently Abled”, “Our Town”, and “The Change”. Eastin has stage-managed multiple plays since 2016. CSDC's New Play Festivals hold a fond place in her heart because that is where she got her directorial debut with her self-written piece “Cordelia” in 2016. Eastin loves her 13-year-old dog, Wheatly, and her 1-year-old cat, Prince, and they sort of love each other, too. She’s looking forward to see what God has for her at CSDC now!
TRAVIS RODRIGUEZ
Production Manager, Assistant Director
Travis Rodriguez has spent years both on and behind the stage at Crystal Sea learning about the theater and how to overcome all the obstacles that come with live performances. He assists with the Monday Performance Class and is working as the Production Manager for CSDC. He’s been the assistant director and stage manager for The Servant of 2 Masters and Adventure, and has acted in many plays on the Crystal Sea stage in the last 5 years. He also loves teaching future actors the wonders of Theater. He gives thanks to the Lord for every blessing he’s been given through Crystal Sea and is eager to share those joys with others.
STEVE DUNN
Technical Director, Security
Steve Dunn is a former high school thespian and retired Army chaplain with Masters Degrees in Christian Counseling and Religious Education. He likes to tinker with woodworking and participate in long distance rucks/runs in his free time. He is the father of three boys who have been involved with CSDC since 2018.
MIGUEL HERNANDEZ
Film Instructor
Bio coming!
LARRY MILLER
Lead Carpenter, Tech Class Assistant, Cell Phone Guy
Larry Miller has been having his cell phone "go off" at the beginning of almost every CSDC production since 2005. Since his retirement as a Safety Engineer in 2024, he's enjoyed spending time at the studio building shelves for storage and helping out with the Tech class. Larry is the father of nine children and grandfather of four. He's been involved with CSDC since its inception, as he is the husband of one of the founders, Irene Miller. In his spare time, he enjoys doing handyman jobs around the house and the studio.
VICTOR LAMPHIER
Snack Bar/Supplies Coordinator, Tech Class Assistant, Security
Victor has been involved in theatre in one way or another most of his life. He started at CSDC in 2004 when his daughter, Autumn, was a student, by training our tech students how to work backstage. Victor is a jack of all trades, helping out with whatever is needed around the studio. He's usually one of the first to arrive and is always the last to leave, being sure that everything is locked up and safe before he goes. Victor is a veteran, working many different types of jobs both in and out of the military. He is a cat-lover and rescuer and has a room in his home designed to be cat heaven. CSDC's auditorium is named the Victor Lamphier Black Box Theatre in honor of all of the time and talent he has donated to the company.
Ellie Moellendorf
Teacher, Scenic Painter
Bio coming!