Dalen Gunn

Dalen began his Theater Journey as an imaginative home school kid. He was gifted a violin and lessons at age 8 and eventually practiced enough to not sound like a dying cat. He continues to play electric violin at church serving on The Heart Worship Team.

In his teen years he was cast in the local film production of Hinds Feet on High Places produced by his sister, Elisha Toews. Eventually, she roped him into auditioning for local community theatre productions and he got a taste for the stage. Into his early adult years he bounced between Coeur d’Alene and Spokane whenever the right show presented itself.

One day he got a phone call from Spokane Civic theatre and was asked to audition for the role of Buddy Holly. He picked up an acoustic guitar for the first time, had a short lesson and a long weekend, auditioned with the tip of a plastic knife and was cast as the leading role. In six short weeks he master the guitar and smashed the role. He later played the same role at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island, Illinois and the Alhambra Theatre and Dinning in Jacksonville, FL, gaining his equity card. His last production on Buddy Holly was in the founding season of Spokane Valley Summer Theatre. He was also wearing the hats of Managing Director, Box Office Manager, Accountant, and so much more.

Before traveling, he embarked on an audition tour to a few conservatories in NYC and landed a spot at Circle in the Square’s 2 year intensive program. There he gathered innumerable tools for mastering the craft of acting. Being a family man, the stage has missed him, but over the past few years, Dalen has been able to help local community theatre members by coaching auditions. “These skills are teachable!”

Ashley Gunn

Ashley D’Lyn Gunn got her start in performing as a toddler with baton twirling. Under the instruction of her mother, Rhena Cooper, she won 1st Place at Texas State in her age division in 1989 at the age of 5. Upon moving to Idaho and switching from NBTA style to the USTA style, her mother passed the "baton" as teacher to Internationally renowned coach Kathy Forsythe in Seattle, WA for the next several years. "This girl should actually be in Musical Theater, not twirling.” Stated Kathy in practice one afternoon.

Ashley’s classical ballet training began with Neil and Camielle Hess at the Lone Star Ballet Academy in Amarillo, TX and transferred to Ceci Klein at The Ballet School of Coeur d'Alene. Ashley attended Pacific Northwest Ballet's (PNB) Summer Intensive in Seattle on a full ride scholarship from 1997-2001 and was groomed to join the Corps d'Ballet in PNB's company under the Artistic Director's Francia Russell and Kent Stole and School Director Denise Bolstad. She also attend the Ballet Intensive from Moscow at Northern Illinois University under Demitri Roundnev on full scholarship in 2001 and was awarded the title of Elite Dancer with an article about her in Pointe Magazine 2001. At age 16, she received her first professional ballet experience as she rehearsed and toured Swan Lake with Ballet Idaho during her sophmomore year of high school.

Ashley was first chair flute in High School. She lead a youth woodwind quintet, played at weddings and was in her first musical as a musician in the pit sparking a passion for theatre. Ashley soon joined choir and was cast as the lead in her senior year musical. She was awarded 1st Place in Solo Audition at Districts and Idaho State Drama. Later she joined Resident Director Dave Jensen on the PNB Summer Dorm Staff for three summers living on-site to ensure a safe, congenial atmosphere and provided individual attention to 200 ballet students, ages 12-19, from all over the world while nurturing students occasional injuries, illnesses, and homesickness.

Ashley’s first higher education degree is a BFA in Musical Theatre from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. She worked as choreographer for her undergraduate peers. The variety of experiences strengthened her for the challenges of real world Musical Theatre. Upon graduation, she volunteered as a Dance Captain for Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre's under choreographer Christopher Moll.

Ashley’s role as a founder of the Spokane Valley Summer Theatre Director of Education included preparing students to step into their perspective career field with the appropriate resources, fundamental tools, and decision making abilities to continue their interests and passions on their own during the school year. Each individual student received training in specific technical skills to set them above the bar in a competitive environment. Through routine practice of physical and mental discipline, they developed awareness as they learned from each others’ strengths and weaknesses while setting aside differences and learning by my example to come together to achieve a common goal.

Ashley’s Graduate Degree is an MFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN. Under the direction of Dr. Paul Hustoles, Ashley lead Box Office staff and front of house in the PR department, obtained multiple leading roles, taught multiple levels of Ballet, Tap and Speech, along with choreographing productions, and gaining invaluable teaching tools.

Ashley has coached multiple finalists in Idaho's District and State Drama Competitions as well as finalists in the Vienna International Ballet Experience - VIBE. She has taught private lessons in Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, and New York and has guest taught at CYT Spokane, Ballet School of Coeur d’Alene under the direction of Ceci Klein, and Northern Dance Academy.