Sandra Cavanaugh

Throughout a professional career of more than 30 years, Sandra Cavanaugh has worked extensively as a writer, director, producer, actress, speaker, singer/songwriter, coach, filmmaker, entrepreneur, consultant and educator. She has directed more that 100 professional theatrical productions from Shakespeare to Neil Simon. She has also written and directed numerous projects for youth, including award winning interactive touring productions and unique large-scale theatrical experiences for audiences of up to 10,000 people. After decades of directing for the stage, in recent years Sandra has begun directing independent film. Her first independent feature film "AVATARA" is currently in post production and she has begun pre-production on her feature length documentary on the foster care system entitled "BROKEN". Sandra's screenplay Fault Line is currently in development with Olympia Dukakis. She has three short films "Fairchild", "Acting Up", and "Inside Out" scheduled to shoot in June, July, and August of 2015 and a documentary short "Faces of Sacrifice" about Birth Mothers in the adoption process scheduled to shoot in June and July. Sandra has written thirty-five plays (full-length, one acts, educational, and children's plays) that have been produced in regional, university, and community theatres, across the country. Sandra's innovative and interactive "RESPONSE" plays, toured Idaho school's for 7 years through the State Dept of Ed. and won the Idaho Governor's Brightest Stars Award in 2006. A collection of her children's plays 'The Ohana Plays' are being published in 2015. She also writes scripts for film, TV, video, and radio. Sandra is a member of both the Writers Guild of America West and the Dramatists Guild. For 28 years, Sandra has taught, Acting, Voice, Movement, Improvisation, Shakespeare, Playwriting, Screenwriting, Arts Management and Directing at universities and conservatories across the country. She has served on the faculty of The University of Utah - Professional Actor Training Program, Portland Actors Conservatory, Clackamas College, The University of Iowa, The New Heritage Studio, The National Shakespeare Conservatory, Boise State University, and Portland State University, among others. She has served as an administrator, developed and written curriculum, and coached teachers on the art of teaching. In addition Sandra has worked extensively with at-risk children and children with disabilities and has done numerous residencies in grade schools, jr. highs and high schools in the Idaho State Dept of Ed, as well as MESD in Oregon, Iowa City public schools, and school districts in Utah, California, and New York as well as many others. Sandra currently teaches acting, playwriting and screen writing to private coaching clients as well as holding residencies working with children with cognitive and emotional disabilities. A singer/songwriter, Sandra performs regularly throughout the Treasure Valley and beyond in a Jazz and Blues duo with her partner Rex Miller. Rex and Sandra released an album of original inspirational songs called "Let Go" in 2013 " which is available on iTunes & Amazon. They are set to release a CD of meditations in 2015. They are currently working together on the score for Sandra's independent feature film "AVATARA. Currently the CEO of Miracle Film Group, Sandra served as the founding artistic director of The New Heritage Theatre Co (Idaho's Premiere Resident Professional Rep Company) from 1997-2007 during which time she received multiple educational, community service, and artistic awards. In 2007 Sandra was a founding partner in Dramatic Entertainment which later became Silverdraft Studios, where she helped create Mobileviz, a visualization and virtual production suite, providing some of the most advanced film technology ever introduced to the entertainment industry. Additionally Sandra was an Executive Producer at All Spirit Media, as well as the Executive Artistic Director of The Open Space event venue in Eagle, Idaho. As a non profit development consultant Sandra works with boards and staff to develop creative and strategic solutions for, marketing and branding, fundraising, mission/vision development, and strategic goal setting. Sandra also consults with public and private agencies to develop scenario based training solutions for social workers, medical professionals, lawyers, and law enforcement officers and others. As a coach, Sandra uses techniques and strategies developed over 3 decades of teaching acting, writing, and improv to help clients unlock their creativity. Sandra has coached CEO's and entertainment professionals, as well as children with special needs, all with remarkable success. Sandra is passionate in her belief that everyone is a creative genius when given the necessary support to free that genius and unlock the potential of their particular gifts. Sandra is a popular inspirational speaker on a variety of topics including freeing your creative genius, imagination and spontaneity, children's mental health, parenting, adoption, foster care, FASD, and a variety of spiritual topics including Finding your Bliss, as well as a series based on her upcoming book - "The Art Of Unconditional Commitment". The single mom of three daughters with special needs, Sandra has become an outspoken advocate for children, parenting, adoption, and creative education. Sandra also coaches parents who have adopted children with special needs and/or difficult behaviors, in the Art of Unconditional Commitment. In 2011 Sandra was named one of the Idaho Business Review's, Business Women of the Year. She currently serves on the Board of A New Beginning Adoption Agency, and The Artist's Advisory Board or Idaho Parents Unlimited Creative Access Art Center. She has also served on the Meridian Arts Commission, the Meridian Mayor's Anti Drug Coalition, Community Youth Development, The board of Aquarium of Boise, and The Regional Council on Children's Mental Health. Sandra is a graduate of The National Shakespeare Conservatory as well as The National Theatre Of Great Britain's Pilot Acting Program. She has an MFA in Directing from the University of Iowa, where she was an Iowa Center for the Arts Fellow and a member of the prestigious Iowa Playwrights Workshop. She received her bachelor's degree from BSU.