Current Teachers:
Abbey Couch
Abbey is college student who has been apart of 26 full productions (mostly CYT) and has had the opportunity to stage manage, work lights and sound, crew, direct, act, sing, dance, and understudy. She loves dancing teaching and she's excited to get to know you an your kids this next session!
Angela Bottini
Angela holds a theater degree with a specialization in sound design and stage management from San Francisco State University. Her professional journey includes working in the sound department at the La Jolla Playhouse and completing fellowship at the Old Globe, where she honed her skills in stage management. With 12 years of experience as a director and sound engineer in talk radio, Angela brings a wealth of knowledge to every role she takes on. A proud wife and mother of two boys, she is now thrilled to share her expertise by teaching tech at CYT.
Cassandra Garcia
Hi! My name is Cassie. I have been teaching with CYT for over 10 years now and it has been the most rewarding experience! I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a young child, and seeing it come to life alongside one of my passions is a dream come true! I long to see kids grow and develop into who they were created to be. I believe theatre plays a huge part assisting kids in developing countless skills and strengths, amongst them are confidence, public speaking, and brain stimulation through memorization and communication. I am honored for the opportunity to be working with this incredible company. I look forward to meeting and working with all your children during our classes! Cassie Jungers
Christine Callaway
Christine Callaway is thrilled to be joining the teaching staff at CYT San Diego and looks forward to all the amazing memories her students will experience. She is no stranger to the classroom as this is her 10th year teaching. She has taught all different age ranges from kindergarten to high school but currently is the Middle School theatre teacher at La Mesa Arts Academy. In addition, Christine once worked at a local theme park where she was a senior producer of shows and events. Some of her favorite productions she has directed have included Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Moana Jr, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Mary Poppins. In her spare time she tries to visit Disneyland as frequently as possible so she is excited to share her joy with students!
Jonathan Albert
Jonny found musical theater and CYT at the age of 17, and he absolutely loves it! He has performed in 3 CYT shows with the role of Gomez Addams being his favorite! But most of all he loves the wonderful friendships and the outstanding community at CYT, and that’s why he is super excited to continue investing in the next generation!
Josie Blackwell
Josie has always had a passion for the performing arts and loves to help kids discover their natural talents that God has given them and glorify them. She has been teaching for 5 years and currently teaches 2nd/3rd graders as well as kindergartners/1st. She has been married for 15 years to her amazing husband and they have 1 daughter ( Who loves to perform), a dog, and a guinea pig. She is excited to be teaching the Wiggles class and Can't wait to meet all the talented kids!
Kara Lee
Kara Lee is a wife, mama, creative, and connector. She graduated with a degree in vocal music from Baylor University and has worked in production most of her life. She is a writer, producer, singer, director, actress, worship leader, founder of The Well Community for Women and owner of Next Door Photos. Kara loves performing as often as she can, but loves directing just as much!
Megs Levi
Megs is a boutique photographer by day and a passionate theatre teacher by night! In both of her fields of expertise, Megs is intensely passionate about bringing out the best in what people have to offer. She earned her degrees in Theatre and Theology with an emphasis in community-based theatre from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, and she falls more in love with theatre-making and her husband Leif, every day. "Theater as an endeavor and an experience teaches us vital attributes of the Christian faith and what it means to be fully human, fully alive, and present, created in the image of God, who is always present." - Performing the Sacred.
Micah Valadez
Micah has been an educator since 2016 and is currently a 6th grade teacher. She has a BS in Child and Family Development with a Theater Arts minor from San Diego State University and MEd from Concordia University - Irvine. She has been with the CYT family since 2018. Her love for music, theatre, and dance started at a very young age and hopes to continue her passions through helping others grow.
Olivia Pietila
Hi I’m Olivia! I have been a part of CYT for many years now, participating in shows, and now teaching for almost 3 years! Theatre has always been a passion of mine- I love seeing and helping children find that same passion, and use it to glorify Jesus! I have always wanted to be a dance teacher, and I absolutely love being able to do so at my most favorite place!! Can’t wait to meet you!🫶🏼
Sarah Larson
Sarah is excited to join CYT, where she can combine her love for the arts with her passion for children. With a rich background in community theater, choir, show choir, dance, and scenic art, she has always been deeply immersed in the performing arts. Sarah has taught in various classroom settings, bringing valuable teaching skills and a love for creativity to her theater classes. Sarah believes that art, music, and theater are gifts from a beautiful and creative God, and through these arts, we get to experience a glimpse of His character. She is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment where all students can more fully step into the creative person God has designed them to be.
Travis Russell
Travis entered the art world 20 years ago as a stage lighting designer. Over the past 17 years Travis has designed over 100 productions in locations such as San Diego, Los Angeles, New York and Puerto Rico. He has directed over 10 fully-staged musical productions including, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Footloose, Oklahoma!, Godspell, Aladdin and Beauty & the Beast. In 2003 he won a San Diego Billie Award for ‘Outstanding Direction’. Travis decided to pursue his dream of painting in October of 1998. Since then, he has painted over 60 paintings and sold over 20 of them at self-promoted art shows. Work experience includes Invisible Children (Technical Director), Old Globe Theatre (Lighting Designer), and Apple (Mac Specialist).