Meet the Teachers
ANGELYN RHODE
Youth Academy Director, Voice
Angelyn began her teaching career in 2001 at First Stage Theatre Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She moved to Orlando in 2003 and spent ten years creating magic with Walt Disney World Entertainment, as well as serving as a facilitator and trainer for Disney’s Youth Education Series. It was during this time that she rediscovered her love of teaching.
After “hanging up her crown,” Ms. Rhode taught at Lochwood Academy for the Performing Arts from 2014 – 2017, where she led classes in voice, musical theatre, drama, and choir for elementary, middle, and high school students. She has also served as a Music Director, Choreographer, and Teaching Artist for many local theaters, including Orlando Shakes, Hagerty High School, Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park, and Wekiva River Players. In addition, from 2013 to 2021 she worked as a licensed Kindermusik Instructor with Grow and Sing Studios, teaching music and movement classes to babies and toddlers.
Ms. Rhode has been a Teaching Artist at the Athens since 2017 launched the After School Program in 2019 for the Athens Theatre Youth Academy. Her mainstage music director credits include Annie, The Lion King JR., and Aladdin JR. As a performer, audiences may have seen her in The Sound of Music, Ragtime, Scrooge, Elf, Shrek TYA, Singin’ in the Rain, and Into the Woods.
Through all of these experiences, Angelyn treasures the opportunity to share her love of music and the arts with students of all ages.
SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ
Administrative Assistant, Voice, Acting, Mini Musicians
Samantha is a mezzo-soprano vocalist and a devoted vocal coach with a passion for music. She holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal music from Oakland University in MI. With years of experience as an elementary music educator and private vocal coach, she is devoted to empowering students of all ages to learn music! Music is a universal language that Samantha believes can be fun and enjoyable to learn for anyone regardless of their background or experience level. Whether it be to further pursue a musical endeavor, or for personal enjoyment, she will help any student reach their fullest vocal potential.
As a vocal coach, Samantha will teach her students healthy vocal technique and performance skills for the stage or studio. Samantha crafts each lesson according to her students’ individual needs, passing her love of music to her students in an engaging and inspiring manner.
Samantha herself has experience in theatre and chorus performances, where she has starred in numerous roles including Cinderella in Into the Woods, Katrina in Sleepy Hollow, Rogers and Hammerstein – Musical Revue, as well as performing in the Disney Candlelight processional and other various chorus and vocal performances. She recently seen on the Athens Stage creating stunning music with Nun Ensemble in The Sound of Music.
CHRISTIE YOUNG
Voice, Acting, Musical Theatre, Puppeteering
SARAHRAE JACKSON
Acting & Scene Study, Creative Drama, Improvisation
SarahRae is a professional actor and performer originally from Southern California. She holds degrees in both Child Development and Theatre Arts from the University of La Verne. Additionally, she has a background in classical music in which she is a decorated Mezzo-Soprano. She has performed in multiple productions, from Into the Woods to Annie to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, among many more. She also currently sits on the board of directors for the New York Chamber Choirs.
SarahRae has a passion for working with young minds and teaching them empathy and self-confidence through the arts. She has experience teaching both music and acting classes to all ages and has directed youth productions in both California and New York.
Since moving to Florida, she has enjoyed sharing her talents on the Athens Theatre stage in shows like Beauty and the Beast, Dracula, Grease, Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music and Sister Act.
D’MONTRAE HARRIS
Voice, Dance, Acting, Musical Theatre
D’Montrae Harris is proud to return to the Athens Theatre Youth Academy, where his own journey as a performer began. A former Youth Academy student and mainstage performer since 2018, D’Montrae now serves as the Athens’ Talent Outreach Coordinator, working to foster diverse representation and empower artists in the community.
Beyond the stage, D’Montrae works as a choreographer across Central Florida, with credits at the Athens Theatre, Orlando Family Stage, Orlando Shakes, and many other performance venues. As both a performer and educator, he is passionate about cultivating spaces where students can explore identity, artistry, and collaboration through theatre.
Trained as a dancer under the Alvin Ailey Dance Conservatory in Jacksonville, D’Montrae specializes in Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tap, Musical Theatre, Acro, and Lyrical/Modern. As a vocalist, he is trained in Classical, Jazz, Commercial/Pop, and Musical Theatre styles.
Onstage, his performance credits include being a dance swing for the national tour of The Thorn, Grandmaster Chad/Nikos Argitakos in Legally Blonde, Angel in RENT, Damien Hubbard in Mean Girls, and one of seven original narrators for the world premiere of Seventeen with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.
As both a performer and teacher, D’Montrae is committed to inspiring the next generation of artists with the same passion, creativity, and dedication that shaped his own path.
EMMA PIERSON
Dance
Emma Pierson has been dancing for over 15 years, including 10 years as a competitive dancer. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre, and contemporary. Emma has been teaching dancers ages 3–18 for the past three years, sharing her passion, technique, and creativity with each class she leads.
She has choreographed a wide range of pieces across all styles, with her choreography traveling and being performed throughout Florida. Emma’s work has earned multiple choreography awards and numerous first-place titles, reflecting her dedication to artistic excellence and her ability to inspire young dancers. She is excited to bring her experience and enthusiasm to Athens Theatre and to continue helping dancers grow both technically and artistically.
MARISOL LABOY
Music & Drama
Marisol is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has a background in Elementary Education. She taught Kindergarten and 1st Grade ELL in Nashville for 5 years. She then took a hiatus from teaching in 2012, moved to Florida and became an Equity performer at Disney where she worked for eight years. In 2016, she became a Kindermusik Educator and worked with Grow & Sing Studios for six years. In 2017, she became the Children’s Worship Producer at Northland Church in Longwood, FL and fulfilled that role for six years, as well. She went back to teaching in the Public Schools in 2021 and is currently an Elementary Music Teacher for Seminole County Schools.
Marisol has been a teaching artist for summer camp at ATYA since 2022 and has worked with students in grades K – 12. During the school year, she teaches the weekend Music and Drama classes for grades K-2 and assists with special events. She enjoys working with all of the staff at the Athens Theatre and building relationships with students and their families.