Meet the Teachers
ANGELYN RHODE
Youth Academy Director/Voice/Improvisation
Angelyn Rhode 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, 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 for summer camp since 2017 and, in 2019, launched the After School Program 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 Ragtime, 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
Voice/Acting/Music & Drama/Kids Music Time
Samantha Rodriguez 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 student’s 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.
CHRISTIE YOUNG
Musical Theatre/Voice/Acting
Christie is a musical theatre performer, puppeteer, director, and teaching artist from Lexington, KY. She holds an MFA in Musical Theatre Performance from the University of Central Florida and can be found most days performing as an actor and puppeteer at Universal Orlando Resort.
In addition to performing, Christie teaches private voice at Daytona State College and is a licensed Estill Certified Voice Instructor. At the Athens, she directs the MainStage youth productions, and audiences have enjoyed her performances in Young Frankenstein, Beauty and the Beast, Rock of Ages, and many more.
In Central Florida, Christie has performed for Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World, Odd-O-T’s Entertainment, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, and the former Capone’s Dinner and Show. She believes art is an act of service and that training the next generation is the best way to give back.
SarahRae Jackson
Acting & Public Speaking / Creative Drama / Improvisation / Acting
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. In addition, she has a background in classical music as a decorated mezzo-soprano. Her performance credits include productions such as Into the Woods, Annie, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and many more. She also serves 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, as well as directing youth productions in California and New York.
Since moving to Florida, she has shared her talents on the Athens Theatre stage in Beauty and the Beast, Dracula, Grease, and Sweeney Todd.
D’Montrae Harris
Musical Theatre / Kids Dance / Voice / Dance
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 Athens, D’Montrae is Theatre Head of Creative U with Orlando Family Stage and 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, Grover Underwood in The Lightning Thief, 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
Kids Dance 1/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.
Lexi Dares
Voice/Acting
Lexi is so excited to be sharing her love of music with her students! Having grown up surrounded by music, she began singing in children’s choir at the age of 4. Eventually, she started performing in musicals and never looked back! Lexi graduated Summa Cum Laude from Jacksonville University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. She served as the student director of the JU RiverTones, an all-female auditioned vocal jazz ensemble for three of her four years there. Along with this, she was nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship at the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival, as well as placing in the top 6 of their Musical Theatre Intensive competition. When she is not teaching, Lexi can be seen performing at Orlando’s Theme Parks, including Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, and at theaters around Central Florida!
As an educator, Lexi focuses predominately on students building healthy habits that will allow them to have a long, successful career. She also emphasizes students having fun, because loving what you do is what makes it all worth it! Lexi is very thankful for this opportunity and truly can’t wait to watch her students grow through music!
Noah Clark
Voice/Acting
Originally from Nashville, TN, Noah Clark is an actor and musician located in Orlando, Florida. Noah has worked with various theaters in the area including the Athens Theatre, Bay Street Players, and Theater West End. Noah has been a teaching artist at the Athens Theatre Youth Academy with their summer camps since 2024 and has worked with varying ages from middle to high school for the duration of that time.
Noah has been acting in various community and professional productions for over a decade and has extensive vocal experience in both mainstream and musical theatre music, as well as music directing experience at both the Athens Theatre Youth Academy as well as in Nashville, TN in college and at community theaters. In college, Noah studied Commercial Entertainment with a specialized focus in Musical Theatre and Music production.
Noah wants to foster a safe environment for children by providing a safe and effective lesson plan, alongside helping the youth academy students feel like they can accomplish their goals with both acting and voice.
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 OCPS.
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 and assists as Stage Manager during Showcases and special events. She enjoys working with all of the staff at the Athens Theatre and building relationships with students and their families.