ALI BEAN is a local performer and educator with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education from BYU-Idaho and a Masters of Science degree in Business from Linfield University. Her love and passion for learning is only matched by her devotion to the arts. Prior to teaching voice at Spotlight, she spent many years coaching students in voice, audition preparation, and acting as well as teaching beginner and intermediate level piano. She also spent time working in the Oregon public schools as both a 4th grade teacher and 6th grade math teacher. As a performer, Ali has been featured in over 25 plays and musicals in a variety of roles. She also regularly performs professionally as a pianist and soloist at a variety of retirement communities throughout Oregon. As teaching artist Ali has been a guest instructor, music director, and assistant director of a handful of student productions throughout Oregon most recently music directing Tumwater Middle School’s 2026 production of Legally Blonde Jr. Ali celebrates the empowerment that comes from studying and pursuing the arts, and believes that everyone deserves the chance to explore their potential as artists.

(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.