Amanda calls Indianapolis home. She lived in New York City for five years 2008-2013 where she had the pleasure of stage managing on such shows as Forbidden Broadway (Off Broadway), Avenue Q (Off Broadway), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Broadway), and many more. She also toured with Artspower National Touring Theatre with Madeline and the Bad Hat, and Rainbow Fish all over the United States as the show’s stage manager. She is a Proud member of Actor’s Equity. Amanda started teaching theatre as a senior in high school. She helped start a drama camp at the YMCA where she began working with Rai Ortman in 2002. She has taught at many different performing arts studios and theatres in Indiana, Tennessee, and New York. She loves bringing her passion for theatre and teaching to her students. Amanda believes skills learned in the theatre arts can enrich a child’s life and prepare them for the future, even if it does not become their career path.  Her hope is that her students gain experiences from being a part of a theatre community. One that will make a positive and lasting impact. 

Rai has been a part of the theater community since she was 6yrs old on stage at Footlite Theater. Growing up in a tough neighborhood in the inner city, the theater became her escape and safe haven. Throughout High School and into her college years, she worked for the Lilly Theater in the Indianapolis Children’s Museum as a performer and house manager. Rai went on to study Theater and Mass Communications at Indiana State University. She and Amanda have co-directed shows and camps for 18+ years together. Together they directed at a local middle school where they chartered an award winning Jr. Thespian Troupe. As both a person with a disability and a biracial woman, Rai has a desire to provide quality theater education and opportunities for youth of all abilities and ethnic backgrounds. Rai strives to produce shows/programs that can be an escape but also accurately and honestly represent the world we live in. She desires to help empower students to project and use their voice both on and off stage. As a performer Rai has been a part of many productions at various local theaters including Footlite, Lilly Theater, and Grace Church. She can also be seen in several local and regional commercials. She lives on the eastside of Indianapolis with her husband who is a video producer/audio engineer and their 3 children.