Jonas Basom

Jonas Basom has taught drama and theatre for eighteen years at all grade levels and has personally trained thousands of students and teachers. He is the author and creator of The Drama Game File, a curriculum program in arts and literacy for use with students of all ages. His curriculum has been adopted by all of New York City public schools and is used by professors and classroom teachers in more than thirty-five states. His company, Drama Education Network, brings standards-based curriculum, professional development workshops, and online resources to teachers and schools nationwide. Basom is a recipient of the Bravo Award for Outstanding Arts Educator of California.

Carole Miller

Carole Miller is an internationally recognized scholar, workshop leader, and speaker. Her primary areas of research are the relationship of drama to learning across the curriculum, and helping generalist teachers to become comfortable, competent, and confident drama practitioners. She is editor of a number of award-winning texts and has been a keynote speaker for the Australian National Conference for Teachers of English and Literacy in Tasmania. Miller is an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Victoria, and is a recipient of the Faculty of Education Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Michael Nelson

Michael Nelson is co-founder of Magical Moonshine Theatre, a professional touring puppet theatre. Since 1979 he and his wife, Valerie, have performed in eighteen countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Together they have headlined at international festivals as well as toured for the U.S. State Department. Michael has taught puppetry arts on the national and international level to students, teachers, and professional performers. He is currently in his fifth year as a California Arts Council Artist in the Schools, designing curriculum and teaching puppetry at two elementary schools. Over the past three decades the Nelsons have won numerous awards and honors, including three Unima–USA Citations of Excellence in Puppetry, the highest national award for puppetry, founded by Jim Henson.

Valerie Nelson

Valerie Nelson is co-founder of Magical Moonshine Theatre, a professional touring puppet theatre. Since 1979 she and her husband, Michael, have performed in eighteen countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Together they have headlined at international festivals as well as touring for the U.S. State Department. Valerie received training as a Montessori teacher before trying her hand at puppetry in 1979. In addition to her work with Magical Moonshine productions, she is a recording artist and live performer, singing everything from choral to opera to jazz and folk music. Over the past three decades the Nelsons have won numerous awards and honors, including three Unima–USA Citations of Excellence in Puppetry, the highest national award for puppetry, founded by Jim Henson.