Lava grew up in Hawaii. She was taken to see her first play, To Kill a Mockingbird, with her third grade class. She didn’t understand that the actors were live people until the curtain call when she turned to her teacher and asked, “Can I do something like that?” Yes you can. She started in talent shows, moved to after school theatre classes and ultimately received an MFA at the California Institute of the Arts. Along the way Lava became proficient at puppetry. She finished a puppetry tour in Portland Maine, went home to Hawaii and applied for another job in Portland. She got the job and only then discovered she was going to Portland Oregon instead. Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre brought her here and she hasn’t left. Locally Lava has performed for Stumptown Stages (most recently as the lead in Rent), Portland Playhouse, Defunct Theatre, Portland Center Stage and Many Hats Collaboration. Lava just completed directing Locomotion for the Oregon Children’s Theatre. Lava’s recurring dream is more of a nightmare. She’s in a maze at a public bathroom searching for a useable bathroom but all options are extremely dirty. Thank God it’s a dream. Macaroni and cheese please!