Rideout Healthy Kids Team
Hello Friends and hearty congratulations to our fabulous cast of Rideout Healthy Kids actors and technicians!
To stay abreast of our efforts, we invite you to visit us online at Rideout Healthy Kids Facebook.
Performers:
Lydia Crist (Performer/Technician) – Lydia is a Yuba-Sutter native and well known to local audiences
for her many starring roles with the FCS Players of Yuba City, as well
as her work as a Children’s Theatre Associate Director. A member
of the Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids since 2017, Lydia is currently
on “sabbatical” while she attends George Fox University in
Oregon as a Theatre Arts and Ministry major – but rejoins the team
– partnering with her dad, Floyd Crist one of our Lead Technicians
– in bringing the message of health, hope and healing to Yuba-Sutter
kids and their families!
Shong Justy Her (Performer/Technician) – is thrilled to be a part of Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids
as a Performer and Technician. Justy is an aspiring actor that just started
his exciting pursuit of the acting life in the summer of 2018. His first
venture into the world of acting was as a student at Studio 24 in Folsom,
CA, where he enjoyed it so much that after learning all the basics, he
went on to audition for and then landed a handful of roles to add to his
resume. Now Justy has decided to return to school to get his Theatre Arts
degree to assist in his goal of making a name for himself. Justy also
performs and works at Yuba College and keeps his days busy with his 2
beautiful kids and his wife.
Lauren Mattos (Assistant Director/Tour Manager/Performer/Scriptwriter) – After a several year “sabbatical” from performing
onstage, Lauren Mattos returned to the stage as a Performer, Technician
and Assistant Director of Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids in Fall of
2018. Lauren is well known to Northern California audiences as a performer
and children’s theatre director and has also served communities
in bringing and championing good health as an Ophthalmic Technician as
well as pursuing her own health and fitness goals in competitive fitness
training. As a wife and the mother of three VERY active boys, Lauren is
excited to help bring the message of health, having a positive body image
and “being the light” to audiences of all ages!
Joseph Moye (Performer/Technician) is well known to Yuba-Sutter audiences and young children. Joe has been
active in the community in our local theaters and public events as an
actor, director, musician and Master of Ceremonies. Joe is also a Children’s
Performer under the Nom de Plume “Sideshow Joe” and has worked
in education as a teacher and a director in our local preschools. Joe
is on the Board of Directors for the Sutter Performing Arts Association,
where they are currently renovating the Sutter Theater in Downtown Yuba
City and Joe is a host on the local Art Radio Today program on 93.3 FM
on Sundays at 4:00pm. Currently, Joe is a contractor with The Families
Learning in Play program with the Playzeum and lives with his Llama Mama
in Law and his wife Lori in Yuba City. Joe is excited to be starting his
journey with the Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids Team! Eat Healthy,
Move Healthy! Be Healthy!
Alec Reische (Performer/Technician) – Alec has been an ARHK team member for 3 years and has numerous
credits as an actor and technician as well as serving as assistant director
of children’s theatre productions. Alec combines his passion for
healthy living choices in his current “role” as an Environmental
Engineering university student as well as being a third generation member
of a Northern California walnut farming family – you might say Alec
is “nuts about good health!”
Hailey Warta (Performer/Technician) - Hailey recently returned to the Yuba Sutter area for her 5th tour with
Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids – Hailey began working with ARHK
as a high school student through a school-work-community service internship
program! Born and raised in Yuba City with extensive credits as a performer
and children’s theatre assistant director, Hailey trained at Studio
24, The Beverly Hills Playhouse and recently graduated from The American
Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York where she studied Theatre, Film
and Television. Hailey currently works with Cast Images Talent Agency
and plans to continue working in theatre, film and casting in the “Golden
State.” Hailey is elated to combine her love for youth and passion
for the arts in her role with Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids!
Technical and Production Staff:
Larry Badger (Technical Director, Asst. Tour Manager) – In his 4th year with ARHK, Larry Badger has been involved in theatre,
technical theatre and audio production since high school. A life-long
journalist and former newspaper editor, Larry is owner of Joyful Sound
audio production company and has served as sound designer for many Northern
California theatre companies, as well as producing weekly live-streaming
broadcasts for the First United Methodist Church in Yuba City. Larry’s
support, mentoring and encouragement of many Yuba-Sutter-Colusa young
artists has been an amazing asset to thousands of young people and their families.
Kurt Baird, (Technician/Videographer) – In his 2nd year with Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids, Kurt
is another well-known and highly regarded member of the Yuba-Sutter artistic
community! An Air Force veteran, Kurt has also served our region in television,
radio and as a recognized videographer – as well as being an award-winning
bagpiper and member of the City of Sacramento’s regionally recognized
pipe band! Kurt’s rendition of Amazing Grace has “graced”
many, many local gatherings and events – and his wish is for continued
grace and growth among Yuba-Sutter families in their health and well-being!
Floyd Crist (Lead Technician) – In his third year with Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids, Floyd came to the team when his daughter Lydia was one of ARHK’s lead performers! Lydia is now studying theatre at George Fox University in Oregon (and rejoins ARHK when back on breaks!) and Floyd continues to “let his light shine” as a key member of our tech team. Floyd also serves as facilities and maintenance lead at Faith Christian School in Yuba City and his wife Lynn teaches kindergarten in Yuba City as well. The Crist family’s commitment to health, education, the arts and well being for young people and their families is an inspiration to many!
Anne DeMeritt (Costumer, Support Staff) – Anne has served as a vital supporter of Adventist and Rideout Healthy
Kids since its inception in 2013, as mom to Lindsay and Lauren and as
Nana/babysitter to their children while they were out performing –
not to mention being the grace and anchor of the DeMeritt family and her
husband, Paul, our founding director. Anne has worked in children’s
theatre and elementary education for her entire career, is an Elly-award
winning costume designer and loves helping kids and their families learn
about healthy living – and being mom and Nana to her 4 children
(plus their spouses) and 13 grandchildren!
Fred Kirchubel (Asst. Tour Manager/Technician) – In his second year with Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids, Fred
is retired from a 50 year career as a television producer, director, writer
in the Yuba-Sutter area as well as the greater San Francisco Bay Area;
he and his wife Joy created and produced the nationally distributed elementary
school art instruction series “Art with Joy.” Fred believes
that giving children the basic knowledge of good health at an early age
will help them develop healthy habits that will lead to a productive and
happy life and is happy to be back with ARHK for his 2nd year.
Lindsay Roberts (Assistant Director/Tour Manger/Scriptwriter) is well known to Yuba-Sutter audiences and young performers. An alumnus
of Faith Christian High School, a Summa Cum Laude graduate from Bethany
University of Santa Cruz and with vocal training from Yuba-Sutter’s
renown Joaquina Calvo Johnson, Lindsay has been able to perform and direct
in a variety of different venues including as an actress for the Walt
Disney Company at the Disneyland theme park and with Adventist and Rideout
Healthy Kids since its inception. Lindsay is also an experienced arts
educator and director and has taught music and theatre at schools in the
San Francisco Bay Area and the Yuba-Sutter community. Currently, Lindsay
serves as director of Theatre Arts for Twin Lakes Christian School in
Aptos, California; in addition, she keeps busy raising three beautiful
children with her husband Aaron. Lindsay is thrilled to be a part of the
Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids Team and to have the opportunity to
share the important message of health and wellness with the young people
of the Yuba Sutter community!
Paul DeMeritt – (Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids Founding Director/Program
Coordinator) - An award winning theatre director, designer and choreographer, special
projects/special events consultant and leader in the arts and culture
in Northern California for over 40 years, Paul brings a wide range of
credentials and life-experience to Adventist and Rideout Healthy Kids.
From a background in missions and pastoring, Paul served as Founding Director
and Director of Theatre Arts of the FCS Players at Faith Christian School
in Yuba City for 25 years, retiring in 2018; prior to that role, Paul
was Director of Theatre Arts at Bethany University in Santa Cruz for 9
years and he has served as a theatre teacher, director, designer and mentor
for artists of all ages, from elementary to adult. Paul’s background
in the Yuba-Sutter community includes directing Beckwourth Frontier Days
and special project consulting work with the Appeal-Democrat and numerous
community groups, events and organizations. Paul also serves as leader
team member on a regional and national level with men’s support
groups and ministries. Paul and his wife Anne (an ARHK tech support team
member) live in Yuba City, have 4 children (plus their spouses) and 13
grandchildren! Paul and Anne are so grateful to be part of the Adventist
and Rideout Healthy Kids Team and for the privilege of helping to bring
a joyous message of health, well-being and hope to young people and their
families throughout our region and beyond!