Team 2008

under the leadership of Professor  Jeralyn Talia Refeld

Director and Book

Gisela Maria Schmitz holds a Masters degree in Philosophy, German and Theater from the LMU Munich

. She received her practical training as assistant director for various productions in Vienna, at the Residenztheater Munich, and the Thalia Theater, Hamburg. She has made a name for herself directing over 40 productions in Germany and Switzerland including Munich, Aachen, Ulm, Stuttgart, Ingolstadt and Luzern. In addition to her directing career, Gisela Maria Schmitz has been a much sought after acting teacher and coach for the past 10 years. From 1998-2005 she was Director of the State Professional School for the Performing Arts "Schauspiel München" which places special emphasis in Improvisation, Expression, Scenic and Role study.

“kids4kids World Foundation gives me the possibility to work on developing the whole personality of a young artist, away from the pressure of achievements and materialistic thinking, to challenge and accompany the children in an intense, creative and artistic process. The worth of such a process cannot be underestimated in todays world. The great thing is the fact that other children will be helped by this process and effort.”

Composer and Musical Director

Christoph Weinhart, received his musical education in Würzburg and Paris.

He teaches at the Conservatory of Music in Würzburg and at the Bavarian  Theater Academy August Everding in Munich. Equally at home in classical music as well as jazz and musical theater, he is in demand as an accompanist, conductor and composer. He has written three Operas, Orchestra pieces, Chamber music, as well as  music for film,   theater and Chansons. He composes in the areas of Multimedia, and Dance as well as  Commercials and Industrials.

“It is really a blast to work with talented and motivated young people, helping increase their musical knowledge, their ability to work in ensembles, and supporting them in the growth of their musical skills, especially with our goal of helping other children.”

Choreographer

Lena Vieweg has been dancing since she is 12 and gave her first professional performance at age 16.

In 1998 at age 15, she founded a dance group which she has since developed and today boasts 20 members. In 2007, Lena graduated with honors from the renowned Iwanson School of Dance in Munich as a Dance pedagogue.  Since 2007, she is in charge of training teachers to teach Ballet at the Iwanson School.

“The emphasis of my teaching work and choreography with children and youth is Ballet, Modern and Jazz. The children bring spontaneity, excitement und elan to the rehearsals. It is fun to observe their abilities grow and how they challenge themselves to be better. I am conscious of leading them firmly on their way, knowing that through their artistic efforts, they are helping others.”

Scenic and  Costume Design

Hannah Albrecht gathered her first professional theater experience as an apprentice in the State Theater of Saarbrucken. 

From 2001 - 2006 she studied Scenic Design with Professor Colin Walker at Kurt Schwitters Forum of the Conservatory Hannover.

During her studies, she assisted Jens Kilian at the German Theater in Berlin and at the Staatsoper unter den Linden. Her first scenic design was for the Conservatory of Music and Theater in Hannover for „Fortunios Lied“ by J. Offenbach. In 2006-2007, Hannah Albrecht was chosen to work as design assistant at the Munich Folks Theater where she worked under Hans Neuenfels, and Christoph Hetzer, and designed her own projects with Philipp Jescheck, including the youth project „Leonce und Lena“ by G. Büchner, for which she created the set and costume designs. In summer 2007 Hannah Albrecht began freelancing with great success. She created the set and costumes for  „Macbeth“  directed by Philipp Jescheck at the Munich Folks Theater and worked as guest assistant at the Schaubühne in Berlin. Since January 2008 she is employed by the Bavarian Radio as a staff set designer.

"in a very wonderful way, kids4kids World Foundation shows how despite their youth, children can use their talents to significantly help others. It always fascinates  me to create theater with young people and bring their abilities and talents to sparkle and shine. Their excitement and innocence is the best requirement for a satisfying evening of theater which remains a long time in the memory of both children and adults.

Production Director

Thomas Hofmann is employed at the Schauburg - the State Theater for Children and Youth in Munich,

where he has worked as assistant director and for the dramaturg office. Currently, he is responsible for all the aspects of the Co-production between Schauburg Theater and kids4kids World Foundation in the position of Production Director. In addition to these duties, he is studying Philosophy at the Conservatory for Philosophy SJ and Theology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich.

For me, kids4kids is a wonderful project in which children can use their own talents to help children who are experiencing a difficult time in their lives. I am really happy to support the kids4kids children in this process!"