About Us
The Player’s Studio is a non-profit drama club and performing group based in North McAllen, Texas. We exist to serve the greater McAllen area with particular focus on youth and youth/community involvement through access to the performing arts and education.
Our Story
The Player's began as a homeschool cooperative class. In the fall of 2016 the original organizer of the class moved away from the area and our current director, Karen Culbertson, agreed to take the club until a replacement could be found. However, by the end of the spring semester she had become fully invested and has been running the club ever since. That first semester in the spring of 2017 the club had nine students and performed a Showcase of four short skits. The Player’s Studio has now enrolled more than 200 students and has performed fourteen plus full length plays. We currently have three educational levels, a growing collaboration with RGV Down Syndrome Association, and a new Community Player's performing group. The Player’s Studio also offers Summer intensives and workshops and proudly collaborates with other local performaing arts institutions in the McAllen area.
Our Mission
Without confidence in who they have been created to be, young people may find themselves lost and falling short. But when confidence is nurtured, children, teens and young adults can become competent and cooperative members of their communities. Artistic performance is an effective means for awakening this kind of confidence in people of all ages and for all times of their lives. At The Player’s Studio it is our goal to use quality art and education to promote confidence for a lifetime.
Meet Our Team
Karen Culbertson
Founder and Director
Karen is the Founding Director of The Player's Studio. She took over the club in 2016 when it was a cooperative class for homeschoolers and has since been blessed to see it grow into a thriving educational and performing program. Outside of the studio setting, Karen has a variety of educational experiences across multiple age groups including 12 years homeschooling, 2 years of preschool, 4 years of Literature and Writing Cooperative classes, and 3 years as a personal tutor. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and United States History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a poet and playwright and has written several plays for The Player's Studio, including adaptations of William Shakespeare, Wonderland, an adaptation of Lewis Carol's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Karen also has two original works:The Spelling Bee Buzz and Jack, the Giant Thief. She has directed more than 20 productions.
Manny Cianciotto
Assistant Director
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Manny has been a performer for The Player’s Studio since the fall of 2020. Even before this, he was always involved in the theatre life; from writing plays for his family in the 3rd grade to leading roles in his senior year. Manny wishes to help all thespians have the same wonderful experiences he did and enjoy drama just as much. To help him complete this goal, he became a student leader for The Young Players and The Junior Players as well. Now that he has graduated, Manny will return as assistant director for TPS!
Ryan Culbertson
Set Design
Ryan Culbertson has been the backbone of The Player's Studio since day one. In support of his wife's vision Ryan has created set pieces for every show that has been produced by TPS. Some of his most impressive pieces include a foam fireplace with working lights, Aslan's Stone Table that could break apart and come back together, and a ten foot tall Beanstalk. With every production his knowledge grows and with it, the quality of TPS programming. Ryan is also responsible for most of the design work used at The Player's Studio. By day, he is a Career Transitions Supervisor with Job Corps
Elanor Culbertson
Costume Design
Elanor (Ellie) is a graduate of The Player's Studio where she acted for seven years. Her love of theatre began at an early age when she was cast in the Disney Jr musical 101 Dalmatians. Since then Ellie has participated in more than a dozen shows. She was the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the caterpillar in Wonderland, Emily in Our Town and Rosalind in As You Like It, just to name a few. Ellie has also been a student leader at TPS for several years. She is currently a sophmore at South Texas College where she is studying Graphic Design with plans to attend art school.
Organizational Assistant/Props Master
Maya Wylie
Maya Wylie is a freshmen at South Texas College where she is studying Graphic Design. She is also a singer. Maya has been singing since she was 11 years old and is currently a soprano in the STC Choir. She was also afforded the opportunity to act in two summer theatre productions at 13 years old. She began her volunteer time with TPS the summer of 2023 as Stage Manager for Hamlet Gone Wrong. Maya looks forward to helping actors produce the best play they possibly can.
Kate Wilson
Acting Coach
Kate is an eighteen year old freshman in college, and a graduate of The Player's Studio. She has loved performing onstage since middle school and it has become a big part of her life. Kate has had the wonderful opportunity to perform in eight TPS plays including playing Alice in Wonderland, the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Ashgirl in Ashgirl, and Jo March in Little Women. She is very excited to join the TPS staff and help the actors grow their acting abilities.
Corrie Tomai
Assistant Set Design
Cora "Corrie" Tomai is a 16 year old junior at World scholars and has been doing theatre for five years, starting inthe sixth grade. Since then, she's participated in three One Act Plays (actor in When She Had Wings by Susan Zeder, prop assistant and understudy in She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen, and prop assistant in The Lost Boy by Ronald Gabriel Paolillo), acted in an online performance of 10 Ways to Survive the End of the World by Don Zolidis, and has participated in three class performances. She is very excited to dive into technical, set, and prop work with The Player's Studio.
Febe Snyman
Costume Stitcher
Febe Snyman is a 17 year old student at Sharyland Pioneer High School. She has been active in theatre since 2016 and began costuming in her freshmen year. Febe is a passionate creative who also enjoys baking, modeling, singing and dancing.
Our 2024-2025 Student Leaders
Nina Lopez
Stage Manager
Nina has been participating with The Player's Studio since middle school. Her roles include Lucy in The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe, Essie in You Can't Take it With You, and as Sallie Moffat and understudy for Beth March in Little Women. She is currently cast as Belle in A Christmas Carol. Nina is excited to learn more about the behind the scenes work that goes into a successful production.
Judah Lara
Social Media
Judah Lara has participated with The Player's Studio for two years. His roles include Glutton Toad in The Ash Girl and Ed in You Can't Take it With You. He is currently cast as Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol. Judah's love for theatre is one of his greatest assists in his leadership role. He is an encouragement to everyone and looks forward to learning more about the production process.
Charis Paredes
Young Player's Assistant
Charis is a junior in her sixth year with The Player's Studio. Her roles include Mrs. Cagney in The Spelling Bee Buzz, Susan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Judith in The Ash Girl. She is currently cast as The Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol. Charis is passionate about helping younger children overcome and improve things they struggle with and is excited to make an impact.
Faithful Lara
Technical Assistant
Faithful Lara is in her second year with The Player's Studio. Her roles include Mac in You Can't Take it With You and as swing in Little Women. This year she is excited to take on leadership in the are of technical theatre and learn all about light and sound. Faithful is excited to be helpful in any way that she can.