GENEVA ESGUERRA (CTAA Program Director, Show Director) is honored to be the new CTAA Drama Program Director. A CTAA alumni, she has been an instructor since 2007 with a brief hiatus in the 2014-15 season. She studied theatre at Leeward Community College and achieved her Bachelors Degree from Chaminade University. Geneva has been involved in the construction and production of various shows across the Island including Tony and Tina’s Wedding (MVT), Little Shop of Horrors (MVT), It’s A Wonderful Life (MVT), The Importance of Being Earnest (HPU), and Alice In Wonderland (DITR).
ELIZABETH BAKER (CTAA Assistant Program Director, Vocal Instructor) is thrilled to return to her alma mater with the program that cultivated her love for the performing arts. She teaches choir and ‘ukulele at ʻIlima Intermediate School. Some of Elizabeth’s favorite CTAA credits include Mary Poppins (Mary), Little Shop of Horrors (Roxie), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia). Elizabeth graduated with her B.Ed. in Secondary Music Education (Choral) from UH Mānoa. Professionally, she serves the Western Region of the American Choral Directors Association as the Marketing & Communications Coordinator, is an active member of both the Hawaiʻi Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education, and sings with Nā Wai Chamber Choir.
AMBER LEHUA BAKER (Costume Instructor) is so excited for her third year teaching at her alma mater. After getting her degree in theatre with a focus in costuming at UH Mānoa, Amber worked professionally in Seattle in a variety of roles. She designed multiple shows at Annex Theatre, worked as a stitcher at the regional Village Theatre, and was the wardrobe supervisor for The Producers at Seattle Musical Theatre. Last summer she was the costume shop manager for ‘Ohana Arts. She is currently the costume supervisor and shop manager at Manoa Valley Theatre.
JAYDEN HONG (Light Instructor) is a returning alumni of both Mililani High School and CTAA, graduating in the class of 2020. Through his years in theater, he has specialized in lights but has experience working in set, sound, and even some as a stage manager. His former works include numerous student directed shows (CTAA), Beauty and the Beast (CTAA), Other: A Micro Story (Kumu Kahua), and Once on this Island (CTAA) which was taken on tour to perform at Palace Theatre in Hilo. He’d like to thank all of CTAA for allowing him to be a part of the program for the past six years, and looks forward to working with them in the years to come.
TOBY FUJIHARA (Sound Instructor) is a 2nd year play production instructor at Mililani High School. He has been in the live sound industry for about 20 years, and has also been involved with many different aspects of music as well. He is very excited to be a part of the Legally Blonde Jr. play, and hopes to help make it a most successful and entertaining experience doing his part as Sound Instructor.
SHANNON NAKATA (Choreographer, Dance Instructor) began dancing in 1989 at DanceWorks, under the direction of Simeon Den and Marie Takazawa. Shannon has performed with DanceWorks, Big City Productions, SLAM Dance Company, and Dance Central. She has also been a cast/crew member in Lisa Matsumoto’s The Princess and the Iso Peanut, the Once Upon One Time trilogy, and The Christmas Gift of Aloha. She graduated from the University of Hawai’i with a degree in elementary education, and currently works at Kipapa Elementary as the performing arts assistant. She also teaches and choreographs for Leeward YMCA’s Dance Central, The Paliku Academy of Performing Arts, and The Movement Center.
Central Theatre Arts Academy 