About Us
Established in the belief that theatre is essential to the creative, social, and educational development of young people, we create interactive community-based theatre experiences to inspire learning and empower creativity.
Our Creative Team
Malissa Kano White
Artistic Director
As the founding Artistic Director of Dandelion Stage, Malissa Kano-White’s passion is creating interactive community-based theatre experiences for families, communities, and schools. A playwright, director and theatre educator Malissa is the Director of Theatre and Arkell Hall Foundation Chair at Hartwick College. Before coming to Hartwick she served as Director of Theatre at the University of the Cumberlands, Education Director at the Center for Theater, Artistic Director & Youth Theater Director for Orcas Center, and Teaching Artist for Seattle Children’s Theatre. Malissa’s plays include Butterfly Boogie, Dinosaur Invasion, Ophelia, Love or Nothing, Wishing Rose, Come Home A Stranger, Nanabolele, and Stone Soup. Her works has been produced and/or developed by the Kennedy Center, Musical Theatre Southwest, Blamagam Youth Theatre, Kamijo, Hartwick College, University of the Cumberlands, and Dandelion Stage.
Kathryn Smith
Butterfly Boogie
Choreographer & Co-Creator
Kathryn serves as Adjunct Faculty for Hartwick's Theatre Arts Department where she teaches Dance and Theatre. As a professional dancer, she also serves as choreographer for the Musical Theatre productions at Hartwick. Smith teaches Ballet and Modern at The Dance Connection in Binghamton and as an Artist in Residence at schools in the area. She began dancing at Holbrook-Wade School of Dance and received her BFA in Dance from The College at Brockport. Her passion for dance, movement and anatomy continues to allow her to share and evolve in the world of performing arts.