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Teacher Biographies
Gina Milbourn – Artistic Director, CYT KC
Gina received her BFA in Theater from Texas Christian University and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
She was a member of Westport Ballet Theater and has directed at Camp Center Stage for six years and at CYT since its
opening in Kansas City. Gina has directed many CYT productions including Aladdin, Seussical, Joseph, Annie and The Wizard of Oz.
Laurie Brower – Instructor
Laurie has performed professionally for many years. From her appearances in 'The Great Passion Play' in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to singing with a music group which put in 10 years at Silver Dollar City, to playing/singing on the Bluegrass Circuit, Laurie has used her degree in music well. She is now the stay-home mom to 5 children, sings and plays with her church's praise team, and gives voice and piano lessons in her spare time.
Albert Burns – Instructor
Albert Burns is the only brother of five sisters yet he is the lone dancer! He started dancing in third grade. Albert attended performing arts schools from third grade through high school, after which he began performing first with the Coterie Theater and then with a number of community theater organizations. He has taught at the Ibsen Dance Company and Danceworks conservatory as well as with the Culture House. He\'s been doing break dancing since he was 16.
Bethany Chipchase – Instructor
Bethany has been working with CYT for the past 3 years teaching, directing, and learning from her students. She works professionally as an American Sign Language Interpreter, and loves to use her signing and interpreting experience to explain and encourage acting.
Josh Chipchase – Instructor
Joshua has been acting weird (and enjoying it) for many a year. He has taken numerous theater classes at CYT (he is an alum), the Academy of Performing Arts, and Maple Woods community college, and is currently taking classes at the Actors Craft Studio. He has performed in shows for CYT, the Martin City Melodrama, the Academy of Performing Arts, Maple Woods, and Raytown Community Theater. He has also taken private acting and scene study lessons from John Patrick Matthews. His favorite shows he has performed in are "Seussical", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat", 'Bounce", and the CYT Improvathon. Joshua loves kids and has had a blast assisting with classes at the Good Shepherd Academy, Franklin Learning Center, and CYT. He has lots of energy and his favorite words are "non sequitur" and "HUZZAH!"
Nancy Chipchase – Instructor
Nancy graduated from the Grand Rapids School of the Bible & Music (a long time ago!) She has taught kindergarten, third and fourth grades, and homeschooled her five children. In CYT, she started out teaching, moved into music and show directing, flipped over to area-coordinating and is now happy to be starting the cycle all over again! Nancy's passions include music, walking with her husband, reading aloud, writing, gardening, playing football, and kids - to God be the glory!
Toy Coleman – Instructor
Toy Coleman has been dancing and acting on and off stage since he was in elementary school. He now teaches Latin Dance Instruction in Highschools and Colleges locally and is highly involved in building and creating different ways of educating youth. He started teaching Latin dance in 2001 at UMKC to the students for free to build interest in the art; and has continued to study Latin dance to be able to teach it to students everywhere. He is also partial owner of the young company "Urban Cross Arts & Entertainment" which applies Latin dance and song in most of its syllabus. He has performed on stage with major artists such as Toby Mac of DC Talk. and with Gotee Records artists John Rueben and DJ Maj.
Amy Geil – Instructor
Amy's mother taught tap, jazz, and ballet so she grew up dancing. Following high school, at Truman University, she was a member of the High Street Dance Company for four years. They performed various styles of traditional and modern dance in theater productions and shows throughout the years. Since then she has helped with some community theater shows and children's production. Amy also helped to develop a worship dance team where she attended church in Columbia, TN. Recently, she has taught her boys the basics of tap, and Grandma (who still teaches at age 69) is quite proud.
Chris Geil – Instructor
Christopher Geil is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has been writing songs, leading worship, performing as a solo artist and in groups for the past 26 years as well as running a demo studio in Nashville for 13 years. Chris was one of the directors of the Fellowship of Contemporary Christian Ministries in Nashville, an organization dedicated to helping develop artists and songwriters at a "grassroots" level. With a background in education, Chris has helped equip artists, songwriters, and worship leaders in a variety of capacities and settings.
Jennifer Guthrie – Instructor
Jennifer Guthrie has been dancing seriously for the past 5 years, focusing on ballet, modern and jazz. She competed with a dance team for three years, has been cast in four stage productions and recently assisted with choreography for H.E.A.R.T. Theatre Company's production of Romeo and Juliet. She is working toward a degree in dance.
Kelli Hahn – Instructor
Kelli is ecstatic to be making her debut as a CYT instructor. She studied theatre at the University of Nebraska in Omaha and has appeared in many productions both academically and professionally. She has been teaching children for over 10 years and has been performing all her life. Kelli believes in the benefits of studying the performing arts to develop character and instill confidence in young people and that class should be both fun and informative. She loves instilling a passion for theater in her students and looks forward to a wonderful season at CYT!
Eryn Hamer – Instructor
Eryn has been performing in professional and community theatre for over 15 years. She has worked with the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, the Lyric Opera, the Kansas City Ballet, Starlight Theatre, the Missouri Repertory Theatre, the New Theatre Restaurant and the Kansas City Symphony. In community theatre Eryn has appeared with Meistersinger's Civic Opera, Theatre for Young America, Theatre in the Park and most recently principal roles with the Barn Players that have earned her critic's praise in the Pitch and Sun newspapers. Eryn earned her bachelor\'s degree in theatre and vocal performance from the University of Kansas in 2002. She received scholarships from the theatre and music departments as well as finalist recognitions in the Glen Miller Festival and Shooting Stars Competition. Eryn is very blessed to share her enthusiasm for theatre with the students at CYT.
Amy Loethen – Instructor
David Loethen – Instructor
Barb Manning – Instructor
Barb Manning has taught several CYT summer camps and classes including Our Gang and Stand Up and Sing. She and her husband, Alan, have been in full-time ministry in worship arts for over fifteen years and are currently serving at Legacy Christian Church. Her love is working with kids and youth. "It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to work with the kids at CYT!"
Kendrick Martin – Instructor
Kendrick Martin has been participating in Improv for over 4 years, including two trips to CYT\'s national Improvathon competition. He is currently coaching a group of 5 students, heading to the national Improvathon in Denver this summer. Kendrick is a senior at Devry University, graduating this June with a B. S. in Computer Information Systems. He is presently working at DST Technology as a System Install Specialist. He lives with his wife in Kansas City, MO.
Adam McAdoo – Instructor
Adam has been involved with CYT since 2003. He has appeared in several CYT productions, including Joseph at the Folly, Seussical, Aladdin and Oliver! He has also been seen on the stages of The Theater in the Park and Manhattan Arts Center. Adam has taught CYT summer camps and choreographed fight scenes for CYT North's Treasure Island and CYT South's Pocahontas. His future plans include a career in film and television, and he is excited by the opportunity to share his love for theater and CYT with the next generation of CYT students.
Rachel Mears – Instructor
Rachel earned her BA in Theatre with Dance Minor from Missouri State University. She has appeared in numerous community and professional theatre productions, worked with Raven Software as a motion capture actor and temporary voice-over actor, as well as performed in various commercials as a child actor earning her an Aftra membership. Rachel currently directs the theatre and dance program at Dave's Gymnastics Factory in Lee's Summit. She loves teaching and sharing her passion for theatre and dance with all the kids at CYT!
John Park – Instructor
John says his life began in January, 2005 when he first enrolled in CYT at age 17. His first class was Improv. Overall John took five semesters of studies, including two improv classes. He performed in three shows and attended three summer camps, all with CYT. Including the 3 in CYT, John has performed in 11 major productions, and in a variety of different venues including dinner theaters and a short stint in NYC. John has continued to stay as involved as possible with CYT by helping out with whatever he can in shows following his graduation, including intern director. Since it opened in April, 2007; John has been a part of an improv troupe that performs regularly. John hopes to one day be an actor and use his popularity and wealth to witness to people throughout the nation, and the world; mostly targeting depressed teens. He wants all teens who are just like he was, to see how life can change for the better; and for everyone to know God is good. He wants everyone to be happy in life and enjoy it to the fullest. John's other future plans include earning a black belt in martial arts and opening his own dojo, and being involved in CYT until the day he dies.
RJ Stafos – Instructor
RJ is incredibly excited about working with CYT. With over 15 years experience in theatre ranging from street performance, musicals, and dramatic plays he has developed a love for performance that he is eager to share with youth. RJ has performed in and written many short comedy and drama sketches as well as performing in improvisational comedy. He has played the role of Jesus in Godspell, Leo Katz in Pentecost and multiple roles in a six year run with the passion Behold the Lamb. He has worked as the youth drama leader for Zoë House ministries and as a youth acting coach for high school plays. He was assistant director for Maranatha Academy's production of You Can't Take it With You, and orchestra for their production of The King and I. RJ currently performs with the improvisational comedy troupe 'The Argon Ship'. He attends Life Church in Olathe Kansas and spends his weekends with his two beautiful, amazing, talented, smart, and wonderful daughters. When he was asked about this opportunity to work with the wonderful teachers, parents and students of CYT and help provide a positive impact on today's youth he was only able to jump up and down excitedly and squeal out around his smile, "yyeeeaaaAAHHH!!!!".
Lana Taylor – Director
Lana was one of the founders of CYT-KC and has worked as an area coordinator, vocal instructor, camp director, music director and show director. She has loved pouring her heart and soul into CYT and watching God bless this ministry with so many wonderful students and staff members. She graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University. She is married to Dan, "a CYT widower," and has two teenagers who have grown up in CYT. Lana's theme song is "Walkin' on Sunshine" and it is her joy to spread that sunshine at CYT!
