Olivia Cowell
Executive Director + Teacher

Olivia is a theater educator, award-winning director, and choreographer. She has directed adult and youth productions with theater companies in the Bay Area, selected directing credits include: ​Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The 39 Steps, Madagascar Jr., Seussical, Shakespeare Summer Stroll 2023 & 2021 (Shakespeare Napa Valley and diRosa Center for Contemporary Art), She Kills Monsters, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, James and the Giant Peach Jr., Finding Nemo Jr., Junie B. Jones the Musical Jr., Romeo and Juliet, Elf the Musical Jr., All Together Now, Matilda the Musical, Mary Poppins, Shrek the Musical, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, Peter Pan, Private Eyes, A Chorus Line, Late: a Cowboy Song, The Wizard of Oz, Lend Me a Tenor, and Alice in Wonderland. Olivia has taught drama throughout Napa Valley to aspiring actors elementary school age to adults. Schools and theaters include: The Brannan Center, McPherson Elementary School,  Phillips Magnet Elementary School,  Browns Valley School, Blue Oak Lower and Upper Schools, St. Helena Elementary, St. Helena Primary School, Napa Christian Campus of Education, Yountville Elementary School, Pueblo Vista Alternative Elementary School, Calistoga Elementary School, Silverado Middle School, Redwood Middle School, Cybermill Technology Inc., Hopper Creek Montessori, Vichy Elementary School, Bel Air Elementary School, Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, The Napa Valley Opera House, and Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center.
As a faculty member in the Theater Arts Department at Napa Valley College, Olivia teaches a variety of theater courses, she is also an Associate Director with Shakespeare Napa Valley. A member of California Educational Theatre Association (CETA), TYA/USA, Royal Academy of Dance, and American Alliance for Theatre & Education. She has a Masters Degree in Drama from San Francisco State University and has worked as a choreographer throughout her career, having trained with UK-based Royal Academy of Dance.  Olivia has been a part of Cafeteria Kids Theater since 2007, becoming Executive Director in 2024. As a Napa Valley native, spouse of a theater professional and mother of two amazing kids, she is proud to be an arts educator in this community.  When not in the theater, Olivia likes to go an adventures throughout the Bay Area with her family and pup.
Email: ​[email protected]
​

---

Vivian McLaughlin
​Musical Director + Teacher

Vivian has a BFA in Musical Theater from New York University.  She performed on Broadway and starred in the television show Out of the Box currently streaming on Disney+. She has performed in Russia and Argentina, recorded several children’s audiobooks, and can be heard on Volume I and II of the Playhouse Disney CD Series. Vivian has filmed industrials and commercials for companies such as Western Union, Sun Microsystems, MSN, and Visa. She is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA and AEA. Vivian was the head of the theater department at Justin-Siena High School where she taught acting and choral classes, and directed their musicals and plays. After leaving the position, she returned to the school to music direct and conduct the orchestra for their yearly spring musicals.  She has been an adjunct faculty member at Solano Community College where she music directed for Solano Youth Theatre and was the acting Artistic Director for the Teen Touring Company. A multiple Arty Award winner/nominee for her music direction, Vivian has also taught at several other schools including: Fairfield High, Benicia High, Will C. Wood, American Canyon High, Rodriguez High, Sun and Stars Montessori, Stone Bridge School, St. John’s Catholic, St. John’s Lutheran, Pueblo Vista Elementary, Northwood Elementary, Matthew Turner Elementary, and Oakbrook Elementary. Vivian has also been the music director for the J & S Center for Performing Arts and at the Missouri Street and Lincoln Theaters.  In addition to Cafeteria Kids Theater, Vivian currently works with Starbound Theatre and Musical Mayhem Productions, and offers private voice/piano lessons. While some of her students can now be heard singing on Broadway, Vivian hopes to impart an appreciation for musical theatre and the art of singing, regardless of whether or not her students choose to pursue the arts as a career. She feels extremely lucky to be part of the Cafeteria Kids Theater family and to have landed the roles of “wife” to Bret and “Mommy” to daughter Julien.

---

Tessa Mello
In-School Residency Coordinator + Teaching Artist

Tessa Mello is an arts educator and actor based in the Napa Valley. She started working as an Intern for Cafeteria Kids Theater in 2017 and became a Teaching Artist in 2021. Tessa graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BA in Theater and a concentration in Theater and Community, and is excited to now take on the role of In-School Residency Coordinator + Teaching Artist. She is a Napa Valley College Alumni and acted in productions  including: Shrek the Musical, Mary Poppins, Matilda, Shakespeare Summer Stroll, All Together Now, Musicals Go To the Movies, and Romeo and Juliet. Tessa has taught in St. Helena Elementary School and many classes and summer camps such as CKT’s popular Fairytale Magic during her time as a Teaching Artist. In her free time she enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family. Tessa was raised in Napa all her life and is so thrilled to work with Cafeteria Kids Theater to bring arts to this community.
​Email: [email protected]

---