Alexa Herring is 10 years old and is a 3rd grader at Claiborne Elementary. When not hanging out with her family and pets, you can find her playing soccer! She loves anything art and music and Disney! Her favorite part of Christmas is her dance parties outside her Papaw's house with all the lights and music he plays.

Alyssa Nobles is a seventeen year old senior. Her first christmas show was “Hollywood Holidays” and she’s so happy that the tradition was brought back for her final year at SYAA. Other than theatre, Alyssa can be found hanging out with friends, working diligently on her schoolwork, and baking with her mom. A favorite christmas tradition is the family gingerbread house competition.

Microphone Tech

Anna Beth Ellerman is a Junior at Ouachita Christian School. She enjoys playing guitar, piano, and writing songs. Her favorite holiday is Christmas because she likes the lights and the decorations, as well as being out of school for two weeks. She is so thankful to be a part of such an amazing community, and to be able to do the things she loves with so many wonderful people!

Ashlyn Underwood is 17 years old and loves dancing at DBK, hanging out with friends, taking naps, and of course… performing for people!! She is a junior at West Monroe high school and is currently playing Ariel in the WMHS production of Little Mermaid. She is so excited for everyone to see and enjoy the Christmas spirit in Home for the Holidays.

Brianna Cobin is a 14yo homeschooled freshman who loves to perform. She started in theatre at age 8 and has been in several shows at SYAA. When not performing, Brianna loves to travel with family, play basketball & volleyball and hang out with friends. She hopes you’ll enjoy Home for the Holidays as much as she enjoys performing for you.

Brynlyn is 12 years old and loves the stage and all the amazing friends and opportunities it has afforded her. She is homeschooled, loves singing and acting. Her favorite SYAA Christmas tradition is Secret Santa. Brynlyn hopes you enjoy the show and tell all your friends, family and coworkers to come experience the amazing talent at Strauss Youth Academy of the Arts.

Cade Olinger is 13 years old and attends West Ridge Middle School as an 8th grader. He is a member of the Junior National Honor Society and plays trombone for the West Ridge band. Cade wants to be a robotics engineer when he “grows up.” He loves all aspects of the theater, especially performing!

Caroline Simmons is seventeen years old and a senior at Ouachita Parish High School. She has been in many productions at SYAA, her favorite roles being Maria in The Sound of Music and Marian in The Music Man. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Daniel is 10 years old and a 5th grader at Kiroli Elementary. He most recently played Winthrop in Music Man Jr. He was also in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Peter Pan Jr., and Shriek. His favorite part of this show is the song Hot Chocolate.

Ellie Pittard is 8 years old and attends Highland Elementary. She is active in her Girl Scout Troop- 1290. In her spare time, she enjoys up cycling any and every kind of material to create unique art! This is Ellie’s very first production at SYAA, and she’s been overwhelmed at the kindness everyone has shown her.

Spotlight Operator

Emily is 10 years old and attends George Welch Elementary and is the Vice President of student council. She has participated in 9 shows including this show both as a performer and tech. She has interests in tv shows especially Friends and NCIS. Her favorite Christmas tradition is to do Secret Santa with her family.

Emma Baker is 8 years old and in the 3rd grade at Kiroli. She loves playing softball and her favorite animal is a chinchilla. This is her first show and is having a blast. Her favorite thing about Christmas is that it’s Christ’s birthday.

Eva Kate is a 16 year old sophomore at River Oaks. She loves music, acting, and spending time with friends and family. She’s been involved in theatre productions for about 8 years now, her most recent being Big Fish. Eva enjoys playing guitar and making art, especially watercolor paintings.

Evan Wilkes is 13 years old and enjoys reading, singing, and playing video games. He is in 8th Grade at Good Hope Middle School and enjoys participating in choir and in Student Council. This is his third show at SYAA and he is excited to sing all of the classic Christmas songs in Home for the Holidays.

Soundboard Operator

Gianna is 8 years old and is in the 3rd grade at Jesus the Good Shepherd School. This is her second show at SYAA and she is still having a blast! Her favorite part of this show is the 12 Days of Christmas and getting to make more great memories with all the friends that she has made!

Microphone Tech

Jacob is 17 years old and has been homeschooled since third grade. His past shows include Big Fish, Aladdin Jr., and Sound of Music. He enjoys cars and video games. Jacob's favorite part of Home for the Holidays is how SYAA is bringing back original holiday scripts.

Jonathan is 10 years old and is a 4th grader at Boley Elementary. He is on Student Council but calls SYAA home. He has been in Elf Jr., Lightning Thief, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and Princess and the Pea. When he is not at Strauss you can find him telling jokes, doing voices, dancing and singing. His favorite part about this show is just being around his family.

Spotlight Operator

Landon is 12 years old and is in the 6th grade at Sallie Humble. When he’s not participating in SYAA he can be found on the tennis courts, playing the saxophone, or participating in the Art Club. His favorite thing about Christmas is of course the presents & decorating cookies. His favorite Christmas song is Jingle Bell Rock.

Leah Michener is 12 year old girl who attends Neville Jr high. She enjoys thrifting, fashion, theatre, and reading in her free time. Leah is also a huge fan of Kermit the frog and her cat. Funny enough, this show marks her 5 year anniversary of doing Strauss and she originally started with a written Christmas show like this. She wishes you a happy holiday and to be kind towards all!

Lily is 11 years old and in the 5th grade in the Sallie Humble homebound program. She performed in the Christmas Carol last year and is happy to be back again this year. She is very excited about singing a song that she loves with her sister Olivia!

Maggie Rocconi is a junior at St. Frederick High School where she is on the dance line, and in many clubs. Maggie has also been at SYAA for 9 years! She has recently appeared as Wednesday in the Addams Family, The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, and Liesl VonTrap in the Sound of Music! She is so happy you’re here to enjoy Home for the Holidays!

Mara is 8 years old and in second grade at Sterlington Elementary. She loves spending time with her family, taking trips and making memories together. This is her first year at Strauss and can’t wait for the first production. Mara loves all things holiday! She has an elf named Mistletoe and enjoys seeing what she is into every morning.

Marcus Powell is 16 years old and a junior at Neville High School. He has been a part of Big Fish and Music Man Jr at SYAA and part of Bright Star at Strauss Theatre Center. Marcus is all into performance, so he loves acting, dancing and singing.. His favorite part of being in this show is that he is getting to make more memories with some of his favorite people in the world!

Marion Armstrong is a sophomore at OCS where he has played guitar for the band for four years. He’s participated in Big Fish, Bright Star and Cinderella at SYAA. In his free time he enjoys watching movies, playing video games and listening to music. His favorite part of this show is performing for the schools and his favorite Christmas tradition is fireworks on Christmas Eve.

Maya Davis is 10 years old and this is her sixth production with SYAA. She is in the 5th Grade and has been selected as Student of the Year for Boley Elementary. Her favorite Christmas memory is the saran wrap gift game that our family did a few years ago and she can't stop singing the Hippopotamus song from this production. She hopes you enjoy it too!

Lightboard operator

Nola Grigson is in the 6th Grade at Sallie Humble. The Christmas Cabarets are always her favorite shows to be in. She enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, and of course be at the theater. She loves being a part of the SYAA community.

Olivia Ouchley is 14 years old and is homeschooled. Olivia has been a violin student since she was 7 years old, and a member of the Monroe Symphony Youth Orchestra. This is Olivia’s second play performance and loves to sing.

Perry Bendily is 10 years old and attends Highland Elementary in WestMonroe. The theater is her favorite place to be. This is her second show and she is happy to be here. Perry enjoys drawing and listening to audio books in her free time.

Sapphire Davis is 9 years old and this is her third production with SYAA. She and her twin Jade are in the 3rd Grade at Boley Elementary and love to practice jiu jitsu. Her favorite Christmas memory is running around and screaming with joy at the Christmas lights displays in West Monroe. She really she can get a hippopotamus for Christmas!

Savannah is a WMHS Sophomore where she is on the Varsity Tennis team, in both Rebel and Chamber Choirs, on student council, and in FCS and Biology Club. She was honored to be chosen as second chair Alto 1 for district 1 All State choir. This is Savannah‘s 11th SYAA production. She loves her pets, painting and Lululemon.

Stage Manager

Sophia Ouchley is 14 years old and is homeschooled. She enjoys art and loves to draw, paint, and uses digital art mediums as well. She also loves her dogs Jasper, Mia, and Oliver. This is Sophias first play she is performing in but has been on the tech team earlier this year. She has also played the flute for over 5 years.

Tanner Ellerman is 14 years old and attends Ouachita Christian School. He loves playing piano, listening to music, and reading. Tanner also loves Christmas and is excited for everyone to see this show.

Thatcher is a 15 year old freshman at West Monroe High School. This is his second year performing at SYAA. His favorite part about theater is being able to bring characters to life. In his spare time, Thatcher enjoys painting, listening to music, and playing video games. He hopes everyone enjoys the show.

Thomas Hayes is 15 years old and enjoys hanging out with friends, playing tennis, napping, improving his voice and most of all, putting shoes on for the community! He attends Neville high and is in the tenth grade. He hopes everyone enjoys the Christmas show!

Valerie Slavant is 10 years old and this is her first show at SYAA. She is in 4th grade at River Oaks school. Valerie played soccer for River Oaks and earned a 3rd level blue belt in taekwondo at Tiger Rock Martial Arts. She likes to play video games with her friends and practice fashion.

Director

Nicole Morris is a Kindergarten teacher at River Oaks School. She has worked with SYAA for the past 11 years designing props for shows, teaching classes, teaching workshops, and volunteering wherever she is needed. After working closely with several directors, she is so excited to have this opportunity to direct her first show! SYAA’s Christmas cabarets have always been one of her favorite parts of celebrating the Christmas season with her family. This show has a special place in her heart. The cast and crew have become an extension of her family and she is so excited to share this show with everyone.

Musical Director

Jeanne Dickson Patterson is a full time piano teacher from Ruston, where she teaches piano at Cedar Creek School, A. E. Phillips Lab School, and right here at Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts. She has several competitive students who enter piano competitions as well as several who have won talent awards and the titles of Miss Louisiana as well as Miss Louisiana’s Teen. She has been musical director for several shows here at SYAA including all of the previous Christmas Cabarets like Home for the Holidays. She most recently was musical director for Bright Star at Strauss Little Theatre.

Jeanne is the pianist at First Baptist Arcadia and is a member of the SYAA Board. She is married to Charles Patterson, and they have one child, Chanley, who literally grew up on the SYAA stage!

Choreographer

Originally from Alabama, Rachel has traveled all over the US competing with the Lynn Robinson Dancers based out of Mobile, AL. When she first moved to Monroe, LA in 2010, she continued her dance training with Debbie’s School of Dance in West Monroe, LA. Having taken classes from many professionals in the dance industry, Rachel is well-versed in many styles of dance including jazz, tap, ballet, hiphop, musical theatre and baton twirling. Rachel has performed at the main stage of Strauss in The Producers and The Wedding Singer. She is very excited for her debut as a theatre choreographer in Home For the Holidays!