Who we are | The Playground

About The Playground

Acting Program

Alysia Giakoumas first came up with the idea for The Playground in high school, after taking an entrepreneurship class at Southern Methodist University (SMU), Alysia discovered the opportunity to begin her program through the SMU Big iDEAS pitch contest, which won her $1,000 in startup money along with countless support and resources. After her big win, Alysia applied to and won grants within SMU and eventually won her second Big iDeas contest.

The Playground uses high-level acting techniques taught at the top universities for acting in The Playground curriculum.The teaching artists have trained in a myriad of techniques such as Stanislavsky, Meisner, Uta Hagen, Viewpoints, Laban, Suzuki, Chekhov, Improvisation, Shakespeare, Single Sword Stage Combat, Soul Work, Voiceover work, circus, gymnastics, Linklaters' Active Breath, International Phonetic Alphabet (Dialect and Accent Work), Jacques Lecoq Movement forms, and much more. All of the teaching artists at The Playground have graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting or are currently pursing their undergrad or MFA degree.

As we become adults we shut down our instincts and forget the importance of PLAY because we are afraid of what others might think or that we will look silly. At The Playground, we encourage students to explore that child-like mindset that gives us the permission and the freedom to explore ourselves as an artist.

The Playground Acting Program encourages empathy and enhances the self-esteem of students. We are devoted to creating a diverse, encouraging, accepting, friendly, and no-judgment environment for students to become the best artists and humans they can be.

The Playground is supported by SMU's Engaged Learning, SMU's Big iDeas, SMU Meadows School of the Arts, and is partnered with Ignite Arts Dallas.

Lead Teaching Artists

Katie Ibrahim

Katie Ibrahim is a Dallas-based theatre artist originally from Orlando, FL. She graduated from SMU with a degree in Theatre Studies where she directed, stage managed, and produced a number of productions, including directing Aaron Posner’s Stupid F***ing Bird. She has worked on numerous productions in NYC, Boston and Dallas. She recently was the Stage Manager for Pass Over at Second Thought Theatre and just finished Assistant Directing Hamlet at Shakespeare Dallas this past September.

Dylan Hudson

Dylan Hudson is originally from Florence, South Carolina and he is a current Sophomore at SMU studying Theatre and Business Management. Before SMU he had the opportunity to study at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities where he studied Stanislavski, Linklater technique, Shakespeare, Mask, Laban, Rodenburg, and Devised theatre. He has been a part of numerous productions and most recently was a Fellow at Dallas Theatre Center Public Works Dallas.

Visiting Teaching Artists

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Alysia Giakoumas

Founder

Alysia Giakoumas is an Actor from West Palm Beach, Florida, who studied acting at SMU Meadows School of the Arts with a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. In her senior year at SMU, she won the prestigious SMU Outstanding Woman Award for her accomplishments with The Playground, her dedication to serving her community, and her devoted involvement in SMU programs. Giakoumas has over a decade of experience teaching Acting at a myriad of premier programs such as G-Star School of the Arts (FL), Dallas Theatre Center (TX), FUMC Drama (FL), various schools, and through private lessons. Alysia works professionally as an Actor while helping others pursue their dreams. She has acted professionally at Dallas Theatre Center, Echo Theatre, participated in staged readings for Off-Broadway Theatre, Theatre East, and has been in several short and feature films and commercials. Alysia is based in New York City as of September 2022.