Kim Williams Director
Kim developed a love of theatre at an early age through outstanding school drama enrichment, including being accepted into the drama program at her high school. She later earned her BFA in Music Theatre and spent several years working professionally as an actor in Shakespeare, musicals, improvisation, and other live performance productions.
Inspired to become an educator, Kim earned her Teaching Credential and her MA in Education. Through her experiences as both a performer and teacher, she saw firsthand the impact that drama education could have on young people. She dreamed of creating a program that combined the creativity of improv, the energy of musical theatre, and the freedom of student-driven storytelling. From that dream, Drama Maniacs was born.
Drama Maniacs is the program Kim always wished she could have attended as a child—a place where every student, regardless of background or ability, can build confidence, express their creativity, take risks, and experience the joy of bringing stories to life in a welcoming and supportive community.
Kim’s students always told her she was “crazy” when she suggested they walk like a duck or talk like a caveperson. Her over-the-top energy and wackiness earned her the nickname “Crazy Kim”!
Reston Williams Managing Director
From a young age, Reston had an equal passion for both acting and music which inevitably led him straight to the world of musical theatre. Highlights of his wide-ranging career include performing as a Blue Man in Blue Man Group, acting in the hit TV shows Cold Case and Criminal Minds, and most recently being the co-writer and composer of the musical Alice in Neverland, currently in development on Broadway.
Reston’s work in Drama Maniacs is hard to miss as, in addition to handling all the behind the scenes elements of the organization, he also writes all the music for all of the shows!
Alariza Nevarez Assistant Director
Alariza is an actor, educator, and theatre artist who has performed internationally and holds a BA in Theatre Arts (Performance) from San Francisco State University and an MFA in International Acting, with Honors, from East 15 Acting School in London, England. Her training spans a wide range of theatrical styles and techniques, and she is passionate about continually growing as both an artist and educator.
While she loves performing, Alariza is equally passionate about inspiring the next generation of theatre artists. She earned her Preliminary Teaching Credential in Secondary Education and began teaching theatre arts years ago, discovering firsthand the confidence, creativity, and sense of community that theatre can provide for young people.
After moving to Los Angeles in 2016, Alariza joined Drama Maniacs and quickly became an integral part of the program. Over the years, she has taught classes throughout Los Angeles, helped guide students through countless performances, and has trained incoming instructors with her immense knowledge and enthusiasm. As Assistant Director, “La-La-Riza” has continued helping young performers discover their creativity, build confidence, and fall in love with theatre.