Doug Cole | Co-Director
Theater Director, Playwright, Storyteller, Musician
Doug has been writing and directing children's plays for over twenty five years and is the author of over twenty plays for young people. Doug currently teaches drama at numerous schools in the East Bay, and has been the director of Doug's Drama since 2003. Doug is a former 4th grade teacher at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Oakland and Black Pine Circle in Berkeley, and was on the faculty of JFK University as a teacher trainer for five years. He has an MA in Elementary Education and a second MA in School Administration.
Doug is well known as one of the preeminent children's storytellers in the Bay Area, and is an accomplished musician, playing harmonica and percussion in some of the top blues bands in the East Bay. Doug is also a screenwriter and has recently completed a script for a feature film for adults. Visit DougsDrama.com to learn more.
André Cole | Co-Director
Dancer, Drummer, Actor, Educator​
​André teaches his very popular after school enrichment dance classes at numerous schools around the Bay Area. An Oakland native, Andre has been dancing, drumming and performing since a very young age and enjoys sharing knowledge and creative energy. Since Kindergarten Andre performed in every talent show year, now encouraging kids to build confidence in expressing themselves in front of an audience.
His journey continued at Oakland School for the Arts where he trained in ballet, modern, jazz and more. This took him to New York City, graduating with a B.A. from the New School in dance and psychology and training intensely with the Alvin Ailey School. André then performed professionally in a number of on and off-Broadway shows and original works.
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André has taught youth dance ages 3 and up for over a decade and continues to educate kids and adults in creative dance and fitness. For more of André's work visit AndreCole.com
Zezé Cole | Visual Arts Director
Educator: Director of Visual Arts
Zezé is a long time educator having run the Narnia Playhouse preschool for two decades incorporating the visual and performing arts into her teaching. She is the arts & crafts director at Cole Arts creating projects for kids to create costumes, stage design and more. She infuses her afro-Brazilian origins into camp pulling from decorations and life of carnival.
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Niamh Collins | Camp Instructor
Actor, Singer, Musician, Educator
Niamh is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Oakland, California. She began performing at a young age in musical theater productions at Berkeley Playhouse and later worked professionally in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She continued her training at the Stella Adler Academy, where she deepened her foundation in acting and storytelling.
Her creative work has since expanded into music, leading her to New York City where she produced two original music videos. Alongside her performance career, Niamh has a deep love for arts education. She attended numerous theater camps as a child—including Cole Arts—and began working as a counselor in her teens, fostering creativity and confidence in young artists.
In addition to acting, singing, and dancing, Niamh enjoys drawing, painting, sculpting, building sets, and playing guitar. She is passionate about creating joyful, imaginative spaces where students can explore and express themselves.