Sara received her BA in Theatre Arts at Southern Oregon University. She is a singer, actress, educator, director, wife and a mother of two daughters. Prior to the Principal role, Sara served as Assistant Principal at Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy 2014-2019, and for 6 years prior, was Center Stage Drama Coach. Sara has been an educator/director for 20 years; directing nearly 50 musicals, plays and talent shows, training thousands of youth at Spotlight MTA, Lakewood Theatre Company, Oregon Children's Theatre, New Moon Productions, Portland Parks & Rec, plus a handful of public schools in the Portland area. Sara has been the lead vocalist in several bands/album recordings and served on the Board of Directors at Stumptown Stages for 5 years. She believes that theatre training can expand children's self-confidence and imagination; improve their vocalization, physicality, creativity, and ability to improvise and work with others; and it inspires them to use these skills in their day-to-day lives.

Lisa Mitchell received her BA in Education from Western Oregon University and her MA in Teaching from Pacific University. Lisa's life long teaching career began with the Beaverton School District and took her as far as the Singapore American School in Singapore. She has always loved working with children and has had a passion for the arts since she was young. Lisa has performed in local theatre and as a child in television commercials. Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy is the perfect way to fulfill both interests while sharing the performing arts with a new generation of students.  Lisa's father and grandfather both enjoyed lifelong careers in the film industry, so she was raised visiting film sets around the globe. Lisa has 3 children, and they love to travel and have lived in many different countries together.

(He/Him) received his Master of Fine Arts degree in theater direction from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in directing from the University of Puget Sound. He is a Theatre Generalist with a specialty of Musical Theatre at Ohio University, Shepherd University, Penn State University and most recently created the BFA of Musical Theatre at West Virginia University. His extensive professional credits include Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT, Village Theatre, Lyric Theatre and Contemporary American Theatre Festival. With a passion for Original Theatre, he has worked on numerous new works with the Village Originals Festival and the Seaberry Quinn Playwriting Festival. He is an active member of Actor's Equity Association, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, was the recipient of the Milo Cline Award and was Volunteer of the Year at Hazelton Federal Penitentiary for his work with lifetime inmates creating a re-imagining rock opera version of Macbeth. Some of his favorite directorial credits include West Side Story, Pippin, Into the Woods, Extremities, Sleuth, The Dumb Waiter, The Grapes of Wrath, Humperdinck’s opera version of Hansel and Gretel, An Actor’s Nightmare, Sweet Charity, Spamalot, Kiss Me Kate, Eurydice, and Kurt Weil's opera Street Scene. Bryce has been the Conservatory Drama Coach for Spotlight since 2019 and Travel Troupe Director since 2021.

(She/Her) received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with a Dance minor at Western Oregon University (WOU). As a Portland native, Chynna found her ground in gymnastics at OMEGA, received extensive dance training with New Vision Dance Center and participated in musical theatre plus cheerleading at Lincoln High School. With over 15 years of dance experience, Chynna has developed vast skills and techniques in Ballet including Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, and specifically Musical Theatre dance. During her time as a student at WOU, Chynna not only performed in multiple musicals and as Dance Captain (Best Little Whorehouse in Texas & Urinetown) but also simultaneously choreographed the musicals & combat scenes at Dallas High School (DHS) - Pippin, Hello Dolly!, She Kills Monsters. She has experience with devising and creating storytelling movement pieces that have been used in plays such as DHS's Romeo and Juliet and as part of the cast in WOU's Les Vampires (Why Cross Chaos), and This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, and This Girl does Nothing. Chynna is trained in Meisner, Shakespeare, Leban Movement, and Stage Combat including Hand-to-Hand, Single Sword, and Rapier & Dagger.   Some of her favorite stage credits include Cha Cha/Dance Captain in Grease (Lincoln), Executive/Dance Captain in Urinetown (dir: Michael Phillips), and Rosencrantz in Hamlet and Mariane in Tartuffe (dir: David Janoviak). Currently, Chynna is Assistant Directing and Directing for independent film companies in Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA, and continuing to pursue her career in acting both in film and on stage.

(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.

(She/Her) recently graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a dual degree in Theatre Performance with Honors and Psychology, where she also served as a Resident Advisor and a Leader for Lewis & Clark ARTS- PDX New Student Trip. She also worked as an Intern at Silver Tree Summer Camp leading groups of kids in outdoor adventures and games. Born and raised in San Francisco, Emma began participating in theatre camps and choir, quickly developing a love for performing. While in high school, she participated in the WorldStrides Heritage and Chanticleer Youth Choral Festivals and an Acting and Vocal Summer Intensive with Young People’s Teen Musical Theatre Company. During her Sophomore year, Emma began directing, earning a 2nd Place award at the Ohlone Theatre Festival for Tartuffe. Recent directing credits include a cut of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit at Lewis & Clark College and Much Ado About Nothing and For the Love of Three Oranges with MoveAbout Theatre in San Francisco. In 2023, Emma participated in a four-month internship in Ireland with Dublin Youth Theatre. Some of Emma’s favorite roles are Jenna in her thesis production of Waitress: the Musical, Texas in Cabaret, and Juliet in Romeo & Juliet. In her last decade working with kids, her favorite part is getting to know each young person and their unique passions to help them shine. Emma is overjoyed to join Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy and is focused on providing the same joyful experience to a new group of young performers.

(She/Her) is a dance educator and choreographer in Portland, OR. She received her B.A. from Linfield College. Eve has been teaching dance for over 10 years to youth and adults in the styles of ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, musical theatre and tap in various studios and schools. She is a dance instructor for both Conservatory and Center Stage at Spotlight Musical Theatre Academy and has been teaching for Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation for the last seven years. She directed the dance ensemble at Linfield College for four years where she taught courses in modern, ballet, tap, jazz, choreography and performance. Her choreography has been seen in many shows at Linfield and has been recognized with Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for her choreography in their production of Cabaret. Her most recent work has been seen at Lakewood Theater in junior productions of Elf the Musical and Shrek. Aside from teaching, Eve has served as a staff volunteer for Portland’s Dance Wire and is active in the Portland dance community. With over twenty years of dance training and performance, she now focuses her passion for the arts on dance education, encouraging students to use dance to convey purpose and expression.

(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 a proud graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Flute Performance and Musical Theater. Performance credits include; Eponine in Les Miserables with Broadway Rose Theatre, Erzulie in Once on This Island with Stumptown Stages, Fantine in Les Miserables with Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy, Julie LaVerne in Showboat with Lakewood Theatre Company (OTAS Award for Best Supporting Musical Actress), Signora Naccarelli in Light in the Piazza. She has also performed with The Portland Opera, Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland Playhouse, Stumptown Stages, and Anonymous Theater. She won first place for the National Association of Teachers of Singing, National Music Theater Competition in 2011. As a flutist Laila has performed with the Oregon Symphony, Portland Opera, Broadway Across America, and continues to play in pit orchestras. She has been teaching voice, flute, and piano in the Greater Portland area for over 15 years and was Spotlight MTA's Center Stage Singing Teacher for 9 years.

(She/Her) is a Grammy Award winning singer, stage performer, recording artist, actor and teacher, who is a classically trained, international opera singer, soprano. She is highly knowledgeable in vocal technique, breathing, and repertoire in classic literature as well as musical theatre, pop, rock, standards, and jazz. Past students have performed world-wide, on Broadway, Opera and Symphonic stages, in concert with bands and numerous recording studios. Lori Ann works with students to help them understand their instrument, build a healthy vocal technique that works within the style of singing they are interested in. Originally from Longview, Texas, Lori Ann grew up in Shreveport/Bossier, Louisiana. She went to college at Stetson Univ in DeLand, Florida, and did her Master of Music degree at DePaul Univ in Chicago. She grew up singing from age 4 at church and in musical theatre shows, playing piano from age 5, performing recitals and accompanying choirs and singers throughout her high school and college career. Lori Ann started singing professionally in college and made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut at age 26. After singing in Europe numerous times and across the US, Lori Ann eventually landed in Los Angeles, where she worked with LA Opera from 2007-2016.. **It is with LA Opera that she won a Grammy Award for her performance in the opera Ghosts of Versailles.** Singing, performing and teaching has always been her way of life! After teaching privately and in acting schools and colleges in the Los Angeles area for over 25 years, Lori Ann started Voice Academy LA in 2019 and began her online teaching. She is experienced, very knowledgeable, and has a fun personality! She takes time to explain everything to her students so they can grasp healthy, vocal technique, and duplicate it on their own. Lori Ann demonstrates what she teaches and will create a unique vocal plan for each student so that they can achieve the best results.

(He/Him) holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Otterbein University and brings over 12 years of professional performance experience across regional theatres and cruise ships. With comprehensive training in acting, voice, and dance—including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, musical theatre, and partnering—Luke offers a well-rounded and versatile skill set that translates real-world experience into dynamic onstage storytelling. Originally from Marion, Ohio, Luke began his theatre journey at the age of five through local theatre camps. His early involvement in community theatre and private instruction with industry professionals fostered a deep passion for the craft. Today, he continues to give back, returning to Ohio to support friends and mentor young artists in performance, college preparation, and direction. Most recently, Luke portrayed Joe Pesci (understudy for Frankie Valli) in Jersey Boys aboard the Norwegian Bliss. He also appeared as George Bailey in Stumptown Stage’s 2023 production of It’s a Wonderful Life. Luke is currently continuing his training as an acting student at The Studio Northwest.

Megan received her BFA in Theatre Performance with specialization in Musical Theatre from Central Washington University. She was a member of the Orchesis Dance Company in Ellensburg, WA and Ballet Northwest in Olympia, WA. She has taught dance, theatrical movement, and physical fitness classes for students of all ages throughout the Pacific Northwest including as one of Spotlight's Conservatory Dance Instructors and Choreographer for Summer Camp productions of Beetlejuice Jr and Mean Girls Jr. This will be Megan's fourth summer with Spotlight! Her choreography credits also include Cinderella (Broadway version), West Side Story, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Chicago, and excerpts from & Juliet, Hairspray, Matilda, The Prom, and Footloose. When she’s not choreographing or instructing classes Megan is spending time with her partner and cats - Finley, Sage, Wesley, and JP. She also enjoys adventuring outdoors, caring for her many plants, and taking every opportunity to indulge in creative pursuits - like re-learning how to sew! Megan is thrilled to be joining Spotlight again this summer and can’t wait to get started!

(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.

(They/He) is a performer, musician, director, and writer/composer from San Jose, CA. He moved to Portland, OR to attend Reed College where he studied Anthropology with a focus in Performance Studies. Teague has recently performed with Fuse Theatre Ensemble, Lakewood Theater Co., Bridgetown Conservatory, and the broadway-bound Rosetta Project - along with several independently produced shows such as Wager All: A Decemberists Rock Opera. They are the founder and director of the PDX chapter of the Trans Voices Cabaret. In addition to performing/directing, this past year Teague composed the choral ensemble of Wager All and are currently workshopping their new original musical, “The First”. When not doing formal theater, Teague is a painter, church accompanist, costumer, and drag king. Teague started teaching the arts to youth at Young Art USA in 2016 and has since taught with programs such as The Children’s Healing Art Project, School of Rock, and The International School of Portland. Teague knows firsthand how the arts change lives. They consider it an honor to bring joy, self-efficacy, and life-changing tools to young people!

(She/Her) is a multidisciplinary artist who’s passion for theatre sparked in summer camps, after school drama programs and acting classes in her hometown - Portland, Oregon! She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut and then returned to Portland to join the Season 13 Portland Playhouse Acting Apprentice Company.  On stage, Voni has appeared as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Nicola in Kinky Boots, Daisy in Great Gatsby’s Daisy, among others. She wrote, directed and performed her one-woman musical, “Space Girl” at Portland Playhouse.  ​Voni is passionate about teaching acting and creative expression and has taught theatre classes and camps for all ages. She can often be found with a ukulele in her hands sharing her love of music, silliness, and imagination with budding artists. Voni is delighted to be working at Spotlight. She is eager to share her experience, knowledge and passion for theatre with the next generation of artists.