Hello and Welcome to Theatre!
Ms. Likes' Bio
I have been teaching at Chandler High School since 2008-09. I got my Undergraduate Degree in Secondary Education English from ASU, obtained Secondary Theatre Certification, and have a Masters in Educational Leadership from GCU. I have always wanted to teach and come from a long line of educators. Both of my parents, as well as my sister, and now my niece are educators. I have also been a professional actress for over 30 years. I have performed all over the world including: Les Miserables (Broadway/National Tour - Eponine, Cosette, Ensemble), Walt Disney World (The Voyage of the Little Mermaid - Ariel, The Mickey's Starland Show - CJ, The Hoop Dee Doo Revue - Claire DeLune, and various special events), Tokyo Disneyland (Feel the Magic - Ariel, Pocahontas, Jasmine), Disney Cruise Lines - The Disney Magic (Voyage of the Ghost Ship - Princess Angelina, Disney Dreams - Ariel, Hercules (Nymph), and Fiesta Texas (Rockin' at Rockville High - Barbara Ann). Some of my local Phoenix-area credits include: Next To Normal (Diana - Scottsdale Community Players), Blithe Spirit (Mrs. Bradman - Toro Theatre Co. Fundraiser); A Christmas Carol (Mrs. Cratchit - Actor's Theatre of Phoenix); I Love You, Your Perfect, Now Change (Phoenix Theatre); Will Rogers Follies (Mrs. Rogers - P.T.); As You Like It (Rosalind - Southwest Shakespeare Company); Into the Woods (Little Red - P.T. - AriZoni Award). I have directed Les Miserables, School Edition three times (Greasepaint Youtheatre - 2002-03 AriZoni Award, 2003 Chandler High School Choir production, 2019 Chandler High production). I have also appeared in various television and film productions, including Jolene (Kendra - feature film starring Jessica Chastain - filmed partially at CHS), America's Most Wanted (Fox Network), Love the Way You Lie (Discovery ID Channel), to name a few. I am so happy to have moved into the next stage of my life, teaching and sharing my real life experiences in the entertainment industry with my students. Since becoming the theatre teacher here at Chandler High in 2014, our productions here at Chandler High have been nominated for and won multiple National Youth Arts Awards and ASU Gammage High School Musical Theatre Awards, including Best Musical 2020 (All Shook Up) and 2022 (Legally Blonde). In 2019, our lead male actor, Casey Likes, won Best Lead Actor at the ASU Gammage HSMTA, went on to compete at the National Jimmy Awards and was a finalist. From that experience, he gained several professional contacts in the NYC Broadway community and booked the lead role in the new musical Almost Famous opening on Broadway in October 2022! Many CHS Theatre Alumni have gone on to study theatre and acting at Boston University, Oklahoma City University, ASU, and several are now professional working actors. Our past fall plays and spring musicals have included Almost Maine, The Little Mermaid, A Christmas Carol, The Great Gatsby, Les Miserables, Alice, Rock of Ages, Bottom of the Lake, Into the Woods, Arsenic and Old Lace, Cinderella, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Seussical, and The Crucible. My personal greatest performance to date was bringing 2 awesome children, Casey and Claire, into the world! Casey graduated with the class of 2020 and Claire attends Chandler High. Most notably, I graduated from Chandler High in 1991. I am so happy to be "home" and to be teaching and directing such amazing young people!