Volunteers
Volunteer of the Month
Kate Valeriano
Kate is a junior and member of the choirs program at Mira Costa High School. She performed in Finding Nemo as the moonfish and is currently volunteering for The Spongebob Musical. Kate’s favorite part about rehearsals is learning the songs and dances, because they keep students engaged and display the cast’s hard work. Her reliability and attentiveness make her an incredible volunteer who is always ready to lend a helping hand. Kate encourages new members of the Anchorless family to make the best of their experiences by stepping out of their comfort zones. Through her time at Anchorless, Kate has learned to not fear making mistakes, and now embraces her errors as opportunities for growth.
Volunteers of the Month
October 2024
Melania Torrisi
Melania is a junior at Mira Costa High School. She is a part of their Drama Department and performed in their production of Footloose.
Melania joined Anchorless in Fall 2023 to volunteer for our production of Peter Pan. Her favorite part of the experience was watching the show come together after months of hard work and preparation. Her optimism and genuine kindness make her an incredible volunteer. She advises new Anchorless students and volunteers to never give up, as nearly anything is possible when you put your mind to it. She has adopted this mindset since joining the Anchorless family, and hopes to help others achieve the same.
August 2024
Gianna Goodman-Bhyat
Gianna is 17 and an incoming senior at Mia Costa High School, where she runs a club for banned books and participates in the mock trial team. Outside of school, she is a coach at Sender One Climbing Gym.
Gianna has been involved in six Anchorless shows playing various roles ranging from Judge Yertle the Tertle in Seussical, to costumes manager in Peter Pan, to Director of Finding Nemo Jr. She loved seeing her creative vision come to life on stage and witness the cast’s progress throughout the rehearsal process in her leadership role in Finding Nemo Jr. Gianna always takes the time to build connections with every student and volunteer at rehearsals, ensuring everyone feels comfortable and supported at all times. She advises new Anchorless students and volunteers to not fear mistakes, as you are bound to mess up; instead, she urges everyone to use these errors as points of reflection and learning. Gianna is excited to embark on her final year with Anchorless and use the lessons she has learned with us in her future endeavors.
July 2024
Gabriella Fish
Gabriella Fish recently graduated from Mira Costa and will be attending Stanford University in the Fall. She is very involved in the community, including her role as a seamstress at Lauridsen Ballet California's Costuming Department, the Head of Research and Public Speaking in Beach Cities Health District’s Youth Advisory Council, and a UCLA internship program. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with her friends, going on walks to the pier, sewing, crocheting, and volunteering a local dog rescue center.
Gabriella joined Anchorless to help with costume design for Moana and Peter Pan, but furthered her involvement as Anchorless’s Administrative Assistant. She particularly enjoyed leading costumes for Peter Pan because she was able to curate more detailed costumes so each student felt special and unique. Gabriella stands out as a volunteer with her kind and empathetic approach that ensures everyone feels comfortable and cared for. She appreciates Anchorless because she has not only found happiness through making costumes, but also interacting and forming friendships with the students.
June 2024
Ava Ford
Ava Ford is a senior at Mira Costa and is Anchorless’s Operations Director. At Mira Costa, Ava is an active member of the Drama/Tech Department where she has performed in several productions and benefits and has even co-directed a scene.Ava began volunteering with Anchorless for our online production of Frozen during her freshman year but currently runs our Saturday Drama Class program. During her time at Anchorless, she has particularly enjoyed watching all the students grow their confidence and get excited about theater.
Ava is an amazing volunteer because uses her experience in theater to highlight the individual talents and abilities of our students. Working with anchorless reminds Ava of why she loves theater. She believes that theater is meant to connect people through empathy, understanding, and friendship, which she has found through her drama classes in the park. She plans to continue to work with the special needs community through performing arts, and hopes to ultimately build a future where performing arts is accessible to everyone.
May 2024
Aaron Henschel
Aaron is a junior at Mira Costa and is currently Anchorless’s Executive Director. He is part of Mira Costa’s Model UN and Drama/Tech programs and is performing in Costa’s Spring musical Footloose.
Aaron is currently Anchorless’s longest volunteer, having been volunteering with us since our 2018 production of Beauty and the Beast. Aaron’s favorite memory from Anchorless is directing Seussical’s tech week as it allowed him to form stronger friendships with his peers. Aaron stands out for his positive attitude and outgoing character as he is always ready to help out fellow volunteers and students. Aaron urges future volunteers and students to not fear making mistakes. He reflects that although the first few times volunteering for special needs organizations may feel daunting, putting yourself out there and allowing yourself to make connections with others will prove very useful. Aaron appreciates that Anchorless has allowed him to connect with a very important part of his community.
April 2024
William Kiely
William is currently a senior at Mira Costa and will be attending Brown University in the Fall. He is very involved within the community as a helpline volunteer, president of Muscle Acapella, and actor in Mira Costa’s Spring musical Footloose.
William has been a part of Anchorless for the past four years, starting with our online production of Frozen in 2020. His favorite role was Vlad Vlafikof in Seussical because he loved bonding with the cast as his character was carried around the stage. He particularly enjoyed his first production, Frozen, because he became very close with his buddy John and got to see his improvement throughout the show. William stands out for being an extremely friendly, charismatic volunteer who truly cares about all the students and volunteers in our program. He praises Anchorless for fostering a fun and welcoming community that has allowed him to grow as a person and build lasting friendships.
March 2024
Natalie is senior at Mira Costa High School, where she plays an active role in the Drama Department. She is a member of the Student Thespian Board and is cast as Wendy Jo in Mira Costa’s Spring production of Footloose. In her free time, Natalie enjoys dancing, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Natalie has volunteered in Anchorless Drama Classes for the past three years. Every Sunday, she enjoys watching the students and volunteers improve their improvisational skills and creativity. She appreciates Anchorless’s welcoming and kind environment and always looks forward experimenting and making unique acting choices in games like spaghetti, house, and night at the museum. Natalie is one of our most driven, determined volunteers, and her passion for the performing arts and dedication to spreading joy makes her an amazing volunteer.
Natalie Cooper
February 2024
Holly is a sophomore at Mira Costa High School, where she is the president of the Healthy Relationships Committee. Outside Anchorless, she enjoys cooking, skiing, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.
She performed in her first Anchorless production, Peter Pan, as Darling’s Lady. Holly loved making new friends with the amazing cast, and treasures the memories they made together. She thanks Anchorless for allowing her to learn and grow with the students. At rehearsals, Holly enjoys participating in the games, particularly Night at the Museum, because she gets to see everyone express themselves creatively. Not only is Holly kind and compassionate, but she is extremely hard-working, always coming to rehearsals knowing the dances and lines and ready to help out.
Holly McGarry
January 2024
Annika is a freshman at Mira Costa High School. Outside of Anchorless, she swims and participates in Mira Costa’s Model UN program. Annika also enjoys reading and watching Gilmore girls in her free time.
Annika will be performing in her first Anchorless Production, Peter Pan, as Nana’s Apprentice in January. She appreciates Anchorless for providing her with insight into the lives of neurodiverse students and young adults and allowing her to build new friendships. Annika loves having fun at rehearsals and putting a smile on everyone's faces, yet she always makes sure to come to rehearsal with her dances and lines memorized. She is extremely proud of the entire cast for working hard at rehearsals and at home to produce an incredible show.
Annika Waters
December 2023
Anna is a freshman at Mira Costa High School. Anna is very involved with the community as a member of National Charity League and Cteen, a Jewish teen community group. In her free time, Anna enjoys acting in plays, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends, family, and three cats.
Anna will be performing as in her first Anchorless Production, Peter Pan, this January as Peter Pan’s Shadow. She enjoys dancing at rehearsals, meeting new people, and playing games, namely, Night in the Museum. Anna’s enthusiastic attitude and ability to connect with our students makes her an excellent Anchorless volunteer.
Anna Hattendorf
October 2023
Kelly Berman is a senior at Mira Costa High School. Outside Anchorless, Kelly is a part of the Mira Costa Drama Tech program. As a stellar tech volunteer, Kelly also helps out in teching POPs productions. In her free time, Kelly enjoys hanging out with her friends, dogs, and family and taking photos.
Kelly was the stagehand in Newsies and will be the Stage Manager in our January production, Peter Pan. Kelly has realized how unifying theater is through her experience at Anchorless shows and rehearsals. The camaraderie she felt while working on Newsies was unmatched to any other show she had worked on, and looks forward to volunteering in future Anchorless productions. Kelly’s passion for theater, true kindness, and compassion for others makes her extremely easy to work with and an incredible asset to the Anchorless Tech team.
Kelly Berman
August 2023
Kate is a junior at Mira Costa High School. She is the president of Mira Costa’s Choir Department and is a member of Coterie A-Cappella. In her free time, Kate enjoys painting, writing poetry, songwriting, and reading.
Kate plays an active role in Anchorless as Marketing Assistant, lead costume designer for Newsies, set designer for the recent production of Moana, and a tech crew member for both productions. Kate is extremely kind, friendly, and approachable. She loves interacting with the students before the shows and helping others when she can. Kate appreciates Anchorless because it has given her many great friendships.
Kate Christensen
May 2023
Jaden is a junior at Mira Costa High School. She loves expressing her creativity by making animations, drawing, and writing creatively in her free time. She attends an art studio and is part of the Creative Writing Club and Every Small Act Matters Cub at her school.
Jaden is excited to perform in her first Anchorless production this month, Moana, as the role of Nova. She is grateful for the opportunity to help others and to step out of her comfort zone. She enjoys dancing at rehearsals and has loved watching the show come together. Jaden is proud of her and her peers’ hardwork and is excited for the performances.
Jaden Jones
April 2023
Sonnet Prakash
Sonnet is a student at Mira Costa High School. They are passionate about the environment, participating in beach clean-ups through Costa’s Every Small Act Matters Club. They are also involved in the Creative Writing Club at their school and take art classes. In their free time, Sonnet enjoys writing, singing, making music, painting, and drawing.
Our upcoming spring production, Moana, will be Sonnet’s first Anchorless show. They love Moana’s soundtrack, dancing on stage, and having fun with their castmates. Sonnet thanks Anchorless for not only improving their confidence and giving them something to look forward to, but for giving them many new friends. Sonnet is flexible, attentive and outgoing, and with their friendly, approachable personality, they are an excellent volunteer.
March 2023
Jack Adler
Jack is a student at Vistamar High School. He is captain of the golf team and is involved in his school’s theater program, currently playing Benny in Rent. In his free time, Jack enjoys hanging out with friends, playing cards, and golfing.
In January, Jack volunteered for his first Anchorless production, Newsies, as Sound Manager and is excited for the upcoming spring production of Moana. He loves Anchorless because he wants to help make theater more accessible and a special experience for everyone. With his outgoing and lively personality, Jack loves interacting with the hard-working students backstage.
February 2023
Sydney Dust
Sydney is a student at Vistamar High School. She is very involved with theatre at her school, co-producing a student-run production and participating in performances. In her free time, she reads books and spends time with her friends.
Sydney performed in her first Anchorless production last month as Pulitzer’s Assistant in Newsies. She is inspired by the creativity of the directors and enjoys learning new dances. She is a committed volunteer and always takes the time to rehearse to ensure the play goes smoothly. Sydney is always looking out for her fellow cast members and works hard to make sure everyone has a great experience.
January 2023
Ava Federici
Ava is a student at Mira Costa High School. At school, she is a member of the Model United Nations program, Associated Student Body, and the softball team. She is interested in flying, and is working on getting her private pilots license and learning how to fly a prop plane.
This month, Ava performed in her first Anchorless Production as Buttons in Newsies. She looks forward to rehearsals every week and is thankful to be a part of the Anchorless community. She loves collaborating and creating friendships with fellow cast members. Ava finds the challenge of performing very rewarding and is always willing to work hard to achieve her goals.
December 2022
Charlie Baboolal
Charlie is a student at Mira Costa High School. He balances his time between being a scholar student and playing for the volleyball team, while being an active member of the drama department. In his free time, he loves making his friends laugh and acting in theater.
This January, Charlie is going to perform in his first Anchorless production, Newsies. At rehearsals, he enjoys dancing and spending time with the students and other volunteers. Through Anchorless, he has grown his character by becoming a kinder, more caring and understanding person.
November 2022
Seph Peters
Seph is a student at Mira Costa High School. They are a member of choir and drama, and in their free time, enjoy reading and writing. He frequently volunteers for children’s classes at Resin Art Gallery.
Seph is going to perform in their first Anchorless production this fall, Newsies Jr. Seph is consistently patient and understanding, making him a wonderful volunteer. Their favorite part of rehearsals is learning the dances.
September 2022
Emma Gordon
Emma is a student at Manhattan Beach Middle School. Emma actively participates in musical theater and dance. In her free time, Emma enjoys hanging out with her friends, writing, and going for walks.
This summer, Emma performed in her first Anchorless production, Shrek Revue, as the elf, where she felt very welcomed by the Anchorless family. She will also be a Performance Volunteer for Newsies this fall! She enjoys working with all of the students and volunteers to put on a great show. Emma is a wonderful performance volunteer, as she always comes to rehearsals engaged with a positive attitude and bright spirit.
July 2022
Alexandra Goldman
Alexandra is an incoming sophomore at Mira Costa High School. She spends much of her free time hanging out with her friends and participating in taekwondo, cross country, and lacrosse. She also enjoys playing board games with her family and playing with her dogs and guinea pigs.
Alexandra has volunteered with Anchorless’s Saturday Drama Classes, is currently a performance volunteer in Shrek Revue, and will teach at the Friendship Camp drama station this summer. Her first production with Anchorless is Shrek Revue where she is playing the roles of Young Shrek and Wicked Witch. She loves interacting with and getting to know the students and finds joy in helping others through Anchorless.
June 2022
Catherine Greenberg
Catherine is a student at Mira Costa High School. She enjoys helping her mom with dinner, watching her favorite TV shows, and hanging out with her friends. Catherine is very studious, spending much of her time doing schoolwork and volunteering with Anchorless.
Catherine has been in two Anchorless productions. Her first production was Seussical, where she played a Jungle Character, and she recently played a townsperson in Mary Poppins. At rehearsal, Catherine loves talking to the students about their weeks and what they’ve been up to recently. She does an amazing job of lifting other students up and being a great friend.
May 2022
Karyme Valeriano
Karyme is a student at Mira Costa High School. She is involved with Costa’s drama department, and she auditions for television and commercial projects outside of school. She also enjoys making self tapes, watching her favorite shows, and hanging out with her friends.
Karyme’s first Anchorless production is this spring’s Mary Poppins. At rehearsal, she loves learning dances, playing acting games, and spending time with her buddies. Karyme has met many new friends through Anchorless, and she looks forward to rehearsals every week.
April 2022
Samantha Bennett
Samantha is a student at Manhattan Beach Middle School. Outside of Anchorless, she loves reading, listening to music, hanging out with her family and pets, and frequenting Knotts Berry Farm. She also participates in singing lessons.
Samantha’s first production with Anchorless is this spring’s Mary Poppins. Her favorite part of rehearsal is playing fun acting games with the cast. Samantha is a valuable volunteer who learns quickly and is good at making new friends.
March 2022
Caroline Cryer
Caroline is a 15-year-old student at Mira Costa High School. She loves to keep herself busy, playing softball, participating in choir, and singing in Costa’s acapella group, Coterie. She also loves to sing and write songs.
Caroline’s first production with Anchorless is this spring’s Mary Poppins. Her favorite part of rehearsal is playing theater games, particularly zip-zap-zop. She always actively and enthusiastically participates and is a great listener. Anchorless has shown Caroline the impact of true kindness and has taught her how to be a better listener in her everyday life.
February 2022
Kali Smith
Kali is a 16-year-old student at Mira Costa High School. When not volunteering for Saturday Drama Classes or rehearsals, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family. Kali also enjoys baking, painting, and backpacking.
Kali’s first production with Anchorless was this year’s fall musical, Seussical, where she played a Jungle Citizen. Kali loves playing games and learning dances with students and other volunteers. Through her experiences with Anchorless, Kali has learned how to reach large goals and has realized the importance of kindness in her life.
January 2022
Naila CdeBaca
Naila is a twelve-year-old student at Adams Middle school. Outside of Anchorless, she loves to play soccer with Sand and Surf, and also enjoys being outdoors.
Naila’s first production with Anchorless is this year’s fall musical Seussical, where she is a part of the costume crew! Naila loves visiting thrift stores to look for costumes, and is very talented at picking out the right pieces. Through Anchorless, Naila has been able to learn more of the ins and outs of costuming in a fun and inclusive space.
December 2021
Lily Boettcher
Lily is a sophomore at Mira Costa High School. Outside of Anchorless, she enjoys reading, watching TV, and spending time with her loved ones. Lily also spends much of her time writing and dancing.
Lily’s first production with Anchorless is this year’s fall musical, Seussical, where she will be playing the role of Jungle Citizen 1. She loves dancing and making new friends in rehearsals. She is grateful for all of the experiences she’s had through Anchorless, and she is excited for many more to come.
November 2021
Gianna Goodman-Bhyat
Gianna is a freshman at Mira Costa High School. In her free time, she participates in competitive indoor climbing, plays piano, and volunteers at her synagogue as a madricha teacher’s assistant. In addition to her numerous extracurriculars, Gianna loves to write, watch Netflix, read, and she is currently learning how to use Python!
Gianna’s first production with Anchorless is this year’s fall musical, Seussical, where she will be playing the role of Judge Yertle. In rehearsal, Gianna loves learning dances and working with the kind and supportive students and volunteers.
October 2021
Jaxon Stroyke
Jaxon is a freshman at Mira Costa High School. He is a very active student, participating in multiple school activities and clubs including Comedy Sportz, choir, Drama Club, Improv Club, and beach volleyball. Outside of school, Jaxon spends his time by hanging out at the beach with his friends, singing, acting, and taking dance classes.
Jaxon’s first production with Anchorless is this year’s fall show, Seussical, and he will play Cat 1. He enjoys learning dances and meeting new friends in rehearsal. He always lights up the space with his bright and energetic personality, which helps him teach the students to the best of his ability.
September 2021
Charlie Farber
Charlie Farber is a freshman at Chadwick School. He is a busy student, participating in his school’s theatre and Model United Nations programs. Outside of his extracurriculars, Charlie enjoys reading, playing video games, and hanging out with his friends. He also likes to run, watch films, and collect vinyls.
Charlie’s first show with Anchorless was High School Musical 2 where he played Ryan. He has also been a part of our Saturday drama classes and our Summer 2021 Showcase. He loves Anchorless because he feels like he is part of a family when he sees how happy the students are in rehearsal. Additionally, Anchorless has helped him grow and practice his social and leadership skills.
August 2021
Krish Patel
Krish will be a senior at Mira Costa High School this fall. He volunteers at the UCLA Health Center to help the elderly and also plays Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball. In his free time, he likes to hang out with friends, watch movies and sports, and play video games.
Krish made his Anchorless debut in Frozen as Townsperson 11. He has since been in Matilda Jr. where he played Rudolpho. Krish enjoys doing run-throughs and practicing scenes with his cast. He brings a positive mindset to every rehearsal and helps everyone do their best in each production he is a part of.
July 2021
Julia Holton
Julia is one of our committed tech crew members. She worked on the costume and prop design team for both Matilda and Frozen. As well as being part of the tech crew for Willy Wonka, Frozen, and Matilda. Through Anchorless, Julia has been able to experience the sense of community that is felt while working on a musical. Through her involvement with anchorless, Julia has used her interest in historical fashion and musical theatre to bring Anchorless’ shows to life.
Outside of Anchorless, Julia is a senior at Mira Costa High School. She participates in a charity organization called the Sandpiper Juniors and is also a BSA scout. Julia is a creative; writing poems, songs, and stories. She also enjoys studying historical fashion, environmentalism, and going to Disneyland.
June 2021
Sydney Brooks
Sydney is an avid volunteer. She first got involved with Anchorless through the National Charity League and has continued working with the program since her first show, Frozen. Joining Anchorless in 2020 gave Sydney an opportunity to connect with people and establish a routine during a time of isolation. Now, she loves being part of Anchorless Drama Classes and getting to learn dances, write scenes, and perform with her friends. She has gotten the chance to see her friends and castmates grow throughout her time with Anchorless and finds it rewarding to watch them succeed.
Sydney enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to the beach, playing tennis, traveling, and listening to music. She also works with the Friendship Foundation and Heal the Bay through the National Charity League. This summer, Sydney is looking forward to volunteering with the Friendship Foundation and getting to spend more time with her friends.
May 2021
Paloma Hashemi
Paloma is a student at Vistamar school. In her free time, she likes to listen to music, play the piano, scrapbook, and hang out with her friends and pets. She also works with an organization that promotes social justice in education.
Paloma’s first show with Anchorless was Frozen, where she played the Housekeeper. She is now part of the Tech Crew for Matilda and a volunteer for Saturday Drama Classes. She loves going to rehearsals and getting to learn dances and meet new people. Anchorless is like a second family that has given her memories to hold onto forever.
April 2021
Ava Ford
Ava is a Freshman at Mira Costa High School. She loves performing in plays and musicals through the Costa Drama Department and other local production companies. Some of Ava’s hobbies include traveling, skiing, and dancing. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Ava made her Anchorless debut in Frozen. She made new friends in the process and enjoyed getting to know her cast mates while practicing scenes. Through Anchorless, Ava learned the importance of embracing the obstacles thrown at you; despite the challenges of a virtual show, she had a lot of fun and helped put on a great performance.
March 2021
Hope Craig
This is Hope's first school year as a member of the Anchorless family, and she has become very involved. She joined the cast of Frozen KIDS and taught and volunteered at several drama classes. We're excited that she's back as a member of the Tech Crew for Matilda The Musical JR. Her volunteer work with us is best characterized through her positive energy and focus.
Hope is a sophomore at Vistamar School. She's a part of her school's theatre and Mock Trial programs. She also takes contemporary, ballet, and tap dance classes. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, reading, and watching YouTube.
February 2021
Andrew Feidler
Andrew is a junior at Mira Costa High School. He participates in Model United Nations conferences, where he debates international issues. He's also a part of Amigos Unidos, a volunteer group for high schoolers in the South Bay. In his free time, Andrew enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing and watching sports, and going to the beach.
Andrew has kicked off his Anchorless career as a performance volunteer in Frozen, and he's also planning on joining the cast of Matilda later this spring. Through his time with us so far, he's felt accomplished by giving back to his community, and he's had a great time making new friends and memories. His favorite part of rehearsal is spending time with his buddy in a breakout room to socialize and practice lines.
January 2021
William Kiely
William is a current freshman at Mira Costa High School, where he's a part of the Model United Nations, Mock Trial, and Moot Court programs. In his free time, he likes to read, play board games, and golf.
William's first show with Anchorless is Frozen KIDS. Through his participation with Anchorless, he has made new friends and has gotten to know many of his peers. He enjoys learning new dances and playing theatre games alongside the students.
December 2020
Jacqueline Tran
Jacqueline has recently joined the Anchorless family as a performance volunteer in Frozen KIDS. She also regularly attends our Saturday drama classes to participate, lead breakout rooms, and occasionally co-teach. Her favorite aspect of Anchorless is staying in touch with new and old friends and seeing them grow through theatre.
Jacqueline is a freshman at the University of Southern California. Outside of school and Anchorless, she can be seen volunteering at programs run by The Friendship Foundation and knitting.
November 2020
Jacob Pascover
Jacob is one of our newest Anchorless volunteers, and his debut show with us will be Frozen KIDS in February. He has already been placed in leadership positions, including teaching a Saturday drama class, guiding students to complete a scripting exercise in a breakout room, and leading his fellow cast members in practicing one of the dance numbers during a Frozen rehearsal. He's very enthusiastic and contributes to the fun and lighthearted Anchorless environment we strive to create.
Jacob participates in theatre at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School as well. He's a member of the Comedy Sportz team there and has been a cast member in some of their productions. In his free time, he can be seen playing video games and watching movies.
October 2020
Garrett Nose
Garrett is a fairly new member of the Anchorless family. He serves on the Executive Board as our Chief Financial Officer, and is a performance volunteer in Frozen KIDS. His past experience with volunteering and finance, coupled with his cooperative and hardworking attitude, makes him an excellent addition to our team.
Outside of Anchorless, Garrett enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. He's also a part of the Mira Costa High School golf program, and he's currently captain of the Junior Varsity team. In addition, he has a passion for politics, being involved in his school's Model United Nations program and Political Debate Club.
September 2020
Katie Cottle
Again this month, we're spotlighting an alumna volunteer. Katie was one of our most longstanding volunteers. She was a part of the cast in several Anchorless shows, such as Aladdin KIDS, The Jungle Book KIDS, The Lion King KIDS, and High School Musical, Jr. Her favorite part of the rehearsal process is supporting the students in learning the dance numbers.
Katie does other volunteer work outside of our organization, including reading to kindergarteners and caring for preschoolers. Currently, she's a freshman at the University of Missouri.
August 2020
Flor Rodriguez
Flor has been involved in four of our shows with Mychal's, both as a cast member and as a member of the crew. She‘s a friendly and patient cast member, and she’s also a natural leader. Flor's favorite part of Anchorless is playing theatre games at the beginning of rehearsals because she loves to see everyone laughing and having fun.
Outside of Anchorless, Flor is a student at Santa Monica Community College. In her free time, she enjoys coloring and painting. She also loves singing and baking.
July 2020
Elizabeth Goldman
Elizabeth attends Mira Costa High School and plays for the school's lacrosse team. Outside of school, she participates in musicals through Puttin’ on Productions. She loves going to the beach, training and playing with her dogs, and reading.
Elizabeth has been involved with two of Anchorless' musicals, both of which were at Mychal's Learning Place. In Jungle Book, she was in the ensemble, dancing in the main numbers, and she helped behind the scenes with sound and set changes. In High School Musical, she played a cheerleader and a teacher.
June 2020
Aaron Henschel
Aaron, one of our younger volunteers who attends Manhattan Beach Middle School, is a kind and admired individual. When he's not at an Anchorless rehearsal, he can be found playing baseball or basketball or spending time with friends and family. In addition, he's involved with his school's theatre department.
Through his work with our organization, Aaron has developed a better understanding of the special needs community. He prides himself in forming connections with other cast members.
May 2020
Holden Friedrich
Holden, a committed member of the Anchorless family, has been a part of the cast in our last two shows with Friendship Foundation. His hard work ethic and sense of humor make him a well-respected and well-liked cast member. His favorite part of the Anchorless experience is playing theatre games with the kids during rehearsal — Zip-Zap-Zop is his favorite.
Holden attends Mira Costa High School and is a part of the Model United Nations and MAC Rowing programs. In his free time, he can be found playing video games such as Counter Strike: Global Offensive.
April 2020
Frankie Kraus
Don't let their reserved demeanor fool you – Frankie is one of our most on-top-of-it, supportive volunteers. Because he did such a superb job in his first production with us, Beauty and the Beast, we decided to pair them up with the lead for our latest show, Willy Wonka. The kids at Friendship Foundation look up to them.
Besides Anchorless, Frankie is a student at Mira Costa High School, where they're involved with the Drama/Tech Department. In his free time, he enjoys hiking with friends.