(She/Her) has been working as an actor and theater educator in the Portland area since graduating from PSU Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Theater Arts. Her studies emphasized movement, acting, and voice. Acting has been Gabrielle's passion since she was young, and she has done several short films and professional productions since graduating. She was most recently seen as a Fairy in Theatre Berk’s Production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has been teaching after-school acting and musical theater through New Moon Productions at Llewelyn and Cottonwood schools. She teaches Theater, Musical Theater, Vocal Technique, Improvisation and Acting with ages 6-16 at The Music Box. She loves to dance and study movement, focusing on modern techniques and growing her classical skill. Gabrielle has worked two summers with Spotlight and is excited to continue!

(She/Her) is an Oregon native and has been dancing since a very young age. She has been dancing, teaching, choreographing, and performing professionally in the Portland area for close to 10 years, and is thrilled to bring her passion and love of dance to her students. Some of Melody’s favorite choreography credits are Choreographer for Pete the Cat (Northwest Children’s Theater) and Bright Star (George Fox University), Co-Choreographer for 9 to 5 (Lakewood), and Assistant Choreographer for Grease (Broadway Rose), Holiday Inn (Lakewood), and Elephant & Piggie’s: “We Are in a Play” (NWCT). Melody has taught at Riverdale Grade School since the 2020-2021 school year, as the Director and Choreographer for Alice in Wonderland Jr., Co-Director and Choreographer for The Little Mermaid Jr., and Assistant Director and Choreographer for Frozen Jr. and Beauty and the Beast Jr. Melody’s favorite onstage roles include Dance Captain/Ensemble in 9 to 5, Ensemble for Holiday Inn, Dance Captain/Ensemble in Elf, Something Rotten! and A Christmas Story (Lakewood), Dance Ensemble of Cinderella and Anything Goes (Broadway Rose), Frieda in Mijita Friedita (Teatro Milagro), Louisa Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (Clackamas Rep), and Dance Ensemble in Mary Poppins and Seussical (NWCT). Melody is thrilled to be joining the team of teachers at Spotlight Musical Theater Academy. When not dancing or rehearsing you might find her curled up with a good book, planning a trip to Disneyland, playing with her dog Jovie, or perhaps working on homework to finish her degree, a double major of Elementary Education and Special Education from Grand Canyon University.

(She/They) recently graduated with Honors with a BA in Music Composition from Lewis and Clark College. Emily is a musician, composer, singer, musical theatre performer and has been playing piano since before they can remember. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area they discovered their passion for the arts as a teen and acted in many musicals at Youth Musical Theatre Company in Berkeley with such highlight roles as Mark Cohen in Rent, Tom Watson in Parade, as well as Joly in Les Miserables. Emily also worked as a swim coach for youth, led private piano lessons and participated in advanced acting and choral training throughout high school. While attending Lewis and Clark College, Emily started to fall deeper in love with music while not forgetting their roots in theater. They continued performing as Ron Weasley in A Very Potter Musical and as the Lead Guitarist for their production of Rent plus made their Music Director debut in a thesis production of Fun Home. Throughout their undergraduate experience they participated in many musical ensembles such as Jazz Combos, Ghanaian Drumming Ensemble, and the Capella Nova Chamber Choir, as well as worked as section leader and a peer tutor helping other students develop their music theory skills. Most recently, Emily composed music for 21Ten Theatre's production of 52 Pick-Up. ​Spreading the magic that music and theater bring to children of all ages, as well as, the world at large, has always been one of Emily's greatest passions. They are excited to bring that passion to Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy!