Who we are | The Playground

About
The Playground Acting Program

The Playground Acting Program empowers students of all ages to explore their creative potential through a blend of high-level acting techniques and our play-based approach. Inspired by the curiosity and spontaneity of childhood, our methodology encourages students to embrace their instincts and push beyond overthinking, creating space for bold, authentic performances.

Our courses are designed to develop technical skill, confidence, and a lifelong passion for the arts in a supportive and challenging environment. Students at The Playground learn a range of industry-standard techniques, including Stanislavski, Meisner, Viewpoints, Suzuki, Uta Hagen, and Shakespeare, as well as specialized skills like voiceover, stage combat, and movement and vocal techniques inspired by Jacques Lecoq and Linklater. All of our teaching artists are highly trained, with professional experience and degrees in acting.

Building a creative community is at the heart of our mission. We create opportunities for students to connect, collaborate, and grow together through monthly improv classes for adults, actor and artist meetups across Dallas at local coffee shops and bars, and other community-building events. These gatherings foster a supportive network of creatives, offering inspiration and camaraderie both inside and outside the classroom.

We’re proud to partner with Arts Mission Oak Cliff and Teatro Dallas to bring our mission to life. Whether you're an aspiring actor, seasoned performer, or professional looking to grow, The Playground is where creativity thrives.

Alysia Giakoumas first conceived the idea for The Playground during high school. Her entrepreneurial spirit was further ignited after taking a class at Southern Methodist University (SMU), where she entered the SMU Big iDEAS pitch contest. Her pitch won $1,000 in startup funds and access to resources and support. Following this success, Alysia secured additional grants from SMU and won the Big iDEAS contest a second time. For the first four years, SMU provided space for The Playground in their executive suite at SMU Expressway Towers. The Playground has since relocated and partnered with Arts Mission Oak Cliff and Teatro Dallas.

Originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, Alysia studied acting at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, with a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. During her senior year, she received the SMU's Outstanding Woman of the Year Award in recognition of her achievements with The Playground, her community service, and her active involvement in SMU programs.

Alysia works professionally as an actor and producer in both theatre and film. Her work includes performances at regional and Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway theaters, and roles in short and feature films and commercials.

As of September 2022, Alysia is based in New York City but returns to Dallas quarterly to support The Playground’s programming. In 2023-2024, she produced a film that won the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, earning her team over $300,000 worth of Panavision equipment. She successfully pitched to Executive Broadway producers for film funding and secured four major brand sponsorships. In November 2024, Alysia Executive Produced and starred in Do You Feel Anger? by Mara Nelson-Greenberg Off-Off Broadway.

Alysia Giakoumas

Founder and Program Director

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Lead Teaching Artist

I’m Kirschen ‘TeX’ Wolford, a multi-hyphenated artist with deep roots in Dallas. My journey began at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where I honed my passion for theatre. I continued my studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, earning a B.F.A. in Acting. This pivotal experience transformed my artistry from one-dimensional to multi-faceted.

My career has taken me across diverse stages, from a national children’s theatre tour to performances at regional theaters like the Wilma Theater and InterAct Theatre in Philadelphia. I’ve also acted in independent films and contributed as a sound scorer and composer for original plays and films in both Dallas and Philadelphia.

To all the dreamers out there: Remember, anything is possible!

Visiting Teaching Artists

Deanna Ott

An actor, director, and arts educator, Deanna has been seen onstage in Broadway National Tours, in film and television, and at Tony Award-winning regional theatre companies nationwide. She teaches acting, voice and speech, movement, executive presence, and improvisation to students, professionals, and C-suite executives. Over the last five summer seasons, she has been a resident director in the theatre department at Camp Manitou in Maine.

Deanna is currently the Voice and Speech professor for Texas Christian University’s BFA Acting Program. Deanna recently directed the Off-Off-Broadway production of Do You Feel Anger? in collaboration with Alysia Giakoumas (Founder of The Playground). She has assistant directed at Friends Seminary in NYC, at SMU, and at CSUF. Deanna also coaches dialects and accents for professional clients, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Southern Oregon University, and the Irving School District. She holds an MFA in Acting from SMU.

For more information, visit www.deannaott.com.

Jon Garrard

Jon Garrard is a proud New Orleans native.
After graduating from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, he attended Southern Methodist University where he earned a B.F.A. in Theater with an Acting Emphasis and was honored with the Greer Garson Award for Excellence in Acting upon graduation.

He is currently represented by Clutts Agency.

Carson Wright

Carson Wright is an actor based in North Texas with deep roots in the local community. First venturing into the arts at the Theatre Conservatory in Dallas' Arts Magnet High School and then studying acting at the SMU Meadows School of the Arts, he’s been filling his artistic toolbox with new skills since he was young. Working in the entertainment industry while teaching children and teens about everything from Shakespeare to auditions to the ABCs of theatre has kept his technique sharp. Carson is represented by the Kim Dawson Agency and has recently worked with Second Thought Theatre, Shakespeare Dallas, Shakespeare Everywhere, WaterTower Theatre and Kitchen Dog Theater.

Petey McGee

Petey McGee (Dez) is a native of Kansas City, best known for his work on the hit Starz series "Power Book II: Ghost" as the charismatic TA Salim Ashe Freeman. He also starred in the Award-Winning short film "U Shoot Videos?" directed by Bel-Air's Morgan Cooper. McGee got his start on stage with the KC Repertory Theatre, graduating from the University of Missouri with a degree in Theatre. He then joined Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, appearing in productions of "The Winter’s Tale" and "Cymbeline" before returning to the US, where he graduated from Rutgers University's prestigious MFA program. Petey is one of the founders and company members of First Fight Films Production Company, based in NYC. In addition, McGee is a writer, producer, and musician.

Eric Berg

Eric is an actor, director, producer, podcast-maker, and teaching artist based in Dallas. Select acting credits include: Eugene in Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues (Theatre Arlington), Boy in US/THEM (Echo Theatre), Parker in Split Second (Jubilee Theatre), Damis in Tartuffe, and Sebastian in Twelfth Night (SMU). Eric has directed productions of in a word (Echo), Eurydice, and STELLA (SMU) and numerous readings for Kitchen Dog Theater, Echo, and IMPRINT Theatreworks. He has served as associate/assistant director at AT&T PAC, Dallas Theatre Center, Stage West, Kitchen Dog, and Jubilee. Eric has been a proud Producing Partner at Echo Theatre since 2019, where he has produced many mainstage productions and several seasons of the staged reading series, Echo Reads. He is also the co-founder/producer of Echo Offstage, an interview-based podcast focusing on the most influential and innovative women+ in theatre. He holds a Certificate of Achievement in Drama from the SC Governor's School of the Arts & Humanities and a BFA in Theatre from SMU. Eric has taught several MasterClasses at The Playground.

Irwin Daye

Irwin Daye, is a local talent here in DFW who received his MFA in Acting from SMU Meadows School of the Arts. He's appeared on many regional stages across Texas and is a talented Voice Over artist. Most recent stage credit includes Floyd in August Wilson's Seven Guitars. Next, he'll be directing a short play in Soul Rep's short play festival. Irwin is a current Acting Instructor at KD Conservatory and is represented by the Linicomn Agency. He's happy to watch actors train at a craft he loves... acting.

Tharmella Nyahoa

Tharmella Nyahoza is a multi-faceted artist originally from Burundi, Africa and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. She is graduating May 2023 with a BFA in Theatre and a specialization in Acting from Southern Methodist University. Recent credits include The World Premiere of RAGE by Janelle Gray (Dallas Theatre Center),
If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfuka (Jubilee Theatre), the World Premier of The Yaelmihkeinsploke by Dylan Guerra (SMU), The World Premier of The Black Album 2020 directed by Regina Taylor, 12th Night the Musical directed by Tiana K. Blair (SMU) and most recently Moon Man Walk by James Ijames (Jubilee Theatre) Tharmella is passionate about being a vessel for telling stories that explore and excavate the soul of humanity, while empowering and magnifying diverse voices.

Molly Searcy

Molly Searcy is an American stage, screen, and voice over actor, best known for
her work with Crunchyroll, FUNimation, Sentai Filmworks, Microsoft, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Cartoon Network, and as a member of Dallas Theater Center’s Brierley Resident Acting Company. Molly comes from a ballet
background and earned her MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University. She loves animals, traveling, is a proud native Houstonian and an Astros fan.

Caroline Hamilton

Caroline Hamilton is a Dallas-based theatre director and audio producer originally from the foothills of South Carolina. She received her BFA in Theatre Studies from Southern Methodist University, and have since directed Goat Song at Second Thought Theater and It’s My Party! at Echo Theatre. She's also directed numerous staged readings at Echo Theatre and SMU's New Visions New Voices Festival. She's worked at Dallas Theater Center, Stage West, Second Thought Theatre, and Undermain Theatre, and assisted directors like Regina Taylor, Aaron Landsman, Joel Ferrell, Christie Vela, and Blake Hackler.

Victoria Cruz

Victoria Cruz is an actress and storyteller with a passion for Improvisation and Character Development. She uses these tools in her work and in every opportunity she gets. She earned her MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University, and her BA in Communications from University of Alabama in Birmingham. Her favorite projects include voiceover for Lumenaria at Okratron 5000, and performing Classical works with Shakespeare Dallas. Although an Alabama Native, being a part of a military family allowed her to live all over the world during her upbringing. She has performed all over Dallas and most recently was in Hamlet at Shakespeare Dallas. She has also worked at Stage West and Tony-Award Winning Dallas Theatre Center.

Kyle Fox Douglas

Kyle Fox Douglas is a New York City based Theater, Film, and Television actor. He was born in Bronx, NY to Jamaican parents. Kyle studied acting at Southern Methodist University, where he earned his BFA in Acting. He has performed Off-Broadway and can be seen on telveison in networks such as Peacock, ABC, Amazon Studios, and NBC. Kyle taught a MasterClass in our Audition class in Spring of 2022.

Abi Brittle

Abi Brittle is an actress from Seattle, WA and a current Sophomore student at SMU Meadows School of the Arts studying Acting. She has interned and worked for educational theatre companies such as Treasure Trunk theatre (Brooklyn, NY), Taproot Theatre (Greenwood, WA) and the Driftwood Players (Edmonds, WA). Abi has been working professionally as an actress since she was 10 and can be seen on Schooled and Everything Sucks! on networks such as Netflix and ABC. Abi has taught On-Screen Acting, Kids Improv, and several other classes at The Playground.

Danny Lovelle

A Cuban from Florida, Danny Lovelle came to Dallas to attend SMU and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with a specialization in Acting in 2020. During November of 2020, Danny assistant stage managed Teatro Dallas’s ‘A Grave is Given Supper’. At the beginning of the same year, he performed in Undermain Theatre’s world premiere of ‘Madame Bovary’. Currently, he is working on a Shakespeare Clown Project with his former movement professor, and the production of ‘The Merit System’ at Teatro Dallas as Raymond. In addition to stage acting, he is pursuing a career in voiceover and is the cohost and producer of the art-review podcast The Artenders. Danny has taught in our Improv classes

About The Playground Acting Program

Lead Teaching Artist

Visiting Teaching Artists

About
The Playground Acting Program