Kailea Saplan, Ph.D.

About Kailea

Kailea Saplan is an interdisciplinary actor, teaching artist, and researcher originally from the island of Hawaiʻi. Like the young artists at Interlochen, Saplan began acting when they were just eight-years-old, and they have been a diehard theatre kid ever since. Saplan studied theatre and philosophy in college at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Upon graduating, they began their professional acting career in Portland (OR) with Portland Actors Ensemble and Original Practice Shakespeare. In 2016, they moved to Madison, Wisconsin to study education; they earned their M.S. and later their Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Throughout their studies, Saplan continued acting and began teaching theatre and creative drama with organizations like Children's Theater of Madison and Whoopensocker. Saplan is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Acting at California Institute of the Arts, intent on refining their craft as a theatre maker and re-centering art in their teaching and research work. Saplan is thrilled to join the artist-educators at Interlochen for the first time this summer. They send many thanks to their friend and the previous Director of Junior Theatre, Dr. Katherine Norman, for introducing them to this magical organization.

In my experience, the most curious and playful learners make the best actors. So, my goal as a director and teacher is to foster a learning environment where students can follow their curiosity, take risks, and make bold discoveries that they will learn from and carry into future performances.