Our Artistic Director

Dana Hanstein-Hanlen has worked in educational theater for more than 30 years. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts Performance and Directing from California State University, Long Beach. She has worked with Alex H. Urban as a founding member of the First Artist Children’s Theatre in Northern California, as well as the Founding Musical Youth Artist Repertory Theatre Executive Director of Greater Los Angeles Children’s Theatre in Southern California.

 

Dana founded Musical Youth Artist Repertory Theatre in 1989 with a volunteer staff and a board of five volunteers. She expanded the program to the Northern California area in 1992 and to the Whittier area in Southern California in 1998. Since its inception, MYART has presented more than 100 productions with a repertoire of more than 20 shows, including two original productions: The Best of Broadway and Alice in Wonderland.

​

Dana has taught her special blend of theater and education to young people of all ages, running educational theater programs throughout California and numerous after-school and community outreach programs in the Southern California area for MYART.

​

She has worked as program coordinator for after-school theatre arts programs in the public school system and has taught for various summer camps, including Long Beach Community Players, Cerritos College’s Continuing Education program "College for Kids," Westerly School in Long Beach, and Alpert Jewish Community Center in Long Beach. Dana continues as a consultant and instructor for local drama classes and clubs and as a workshop guest speaker.