Meet the Instructors & Directors
Elizabeth Nowell-Gibbs (Instructor, Director, Choreographer) is a graduate of Midwestern State University with a degree in Vocal Music Education. She has a passion for theater and loves to share that passion with her students. She has many years of both theater and vocal training. Elizabeth has starred in musicals such as West Side Story and The Wizard of Oz as well as the opera production Die Fledermaus. At Studio B she has taught Triple Threat Tween Musical Theater, Broadway Bound, Dramatic Play, Stage Players and choreographed Annie, Jr. and Fiddler on the Roof, and Fame Jr. She has also directed The Magical Land of Oz, Bugz, G2K Cinderella, Willy Wonka and the teen productions of Grease, All Shook Up, and most recently, Little Women the musical. Elizabeth also serves as the Assistant Executive Director at Studio B as well as teaching preschool in Coppell.
Cat Cakmis (Instructor) is currently seventeen years old, and has been involved with theatre for over six years now. She has participated in every theatre class offered within school, and is currently a part of advanced theatre and advanced theatre tech at Marcus High School. She has taken multiple workshops on the topics of the inner workings of theatre and camera work for filmography. Cat has performed in many shows including The Music Man, The Crucible, Willy Wonka, The Musical (Veruca Salt), Chemical Imbalance (Calliope/Penelope), and portrayed Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank. She has competed in the Texas State Thespian Convention and qualified for Nationals in Group Acting. She filmed a short scene with director Albert Pyun for an independent movie that was sent to France’s film festival, and has stage managed and interned for Studio B for shows such as Getting to Know Cinderella and Fame Jr. Cat cannot wait to meet her future class and teach them all they want to know for acting on stage.
Maraea Cardner (Instructor) is a senior at Marcus High school and has participated in theatre continuously for the past 8 years. Some of her previous work includes, Steel Magnolias (M’Lynn), The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor), and Chemical Imbalance, (Lady Throckmortonshire). She has taken every class offered and has participated in multiple workshops through out her high school career. She is looking forward to teaching this year at Studio B.
Austin Hering (Instructor) is a Senior and in pre-production for Little Women, The Musical as Laurie at Marcus High School. He was the title character in Bye, Bye Birdie last winter at Marcus. Austin has starred in many Studio B Productions such as Claus, The Musical (Kris Kringle); Oliver (The Artful Dodger); Grease (Danny Zuko); All Shook Up (Chad); and Little Women (Professor Bhaer). Last summer, he music directed our camp, NYC and Choreographed our camp, GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY. Austin has been an active volunteer at Studio B for the last few years helping with videotography, tech work, and helping out with the drama club. Austin is so excited to share his love of performing and theatre with his new students.
Karen Tipton (Director/Scenic Designer/Costumer) Karen’s background and education is in Music, Theatre and Art. She has been privileged to use her talents at Studio B for many years. Directing credits at Studio B are Dearly Beloved (2013), Any Number Can Die (2013), Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got The Will (2012), Arsenic and Old Lace (2011), and You Can’t Take It With You (2010). Studio B acting credits include Vera Charles in Mame (2004) and Reverend Mother in 3 of the Nunsense series (’06,’07,’08). Karen has also served as costume producer for Studio B in Cinderella (’06) and Babe the Sheep Pig (’12)). Karen always loves to design and create the sets for productions she directs, but she also found herself with a wonderful team creating sets for James and the Giant Peach and All Shook Up. “I am truly blessed to get to do what I love with and for people who are like family. Studio B is the BEST!”
Sara Martin (Minis Instructor) is a retired school teacher having taught 29 years with LISD. She made her acting debut with Trinity Troupe in May, 2011 in the musical Annie Get Your Gun. Her roles included Sylvia Potter Porter, and Maxine. In the spring of 2012 at Studio B she was the lead actress in the production of The Curious Savage for her role as Ethel Savage and was in the ensemble for Fiddler on the Roof. Other Studio B roles include Sara Lee in Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will?” and Ernestine Wintergreen in Any Number Can Die. She made her singing debut with her first onstage solo as Mrs. Bedwin in Oliver!. She assisted with many summer productions and is currently assisting in the Children’s Workshop Production of Aladdin Jr. She will be seen this fall as Nelda in Studio B’s Dearly Beloved.
Studio B Performing Arts 