Stage Manager

Abby is 17 years old and has been in Strauss’s Cinderella, The Addams Family, Home for the Holidays, and is tech for High School Musical. Her favorite quote is “She’s not a problem. She’s just a girl.”

Sharpay Evans (Wildcats Cast)

Alayna Johnson is 15 years old and a freshman at Sterlington High School! She has been involved at SYAA since she was 8 years old. She is super excited to get to bring her childhood dream role of Sharpay Evans to life on stage, and hopes that everyone enjoys this shows as much as she does!

Sound Board Operator

Skater

Amelia is 12 years old and attends St. Fredrick's High School. This is her fourth show. She enjoys eating, sleeping, screaming, and being prepps. Amelia love pink! She is so excited to be with this amazing cast!

Kelsi (Wildcat Cast)

Anna Beth Ellerman is a 17 year old junior at Ouachita Christian School. She loves to sing and write, as well as be around her friends at school and at the theater. Strauss is like a second home to her, and she loves getting to be around so many wonderful, talented people!

Kelsi (East High Cast)

Annabelle is 16 years old and homeschooled. She enjoys hanging out with her friends, singing, learning K-pop dances, drawing, and playing video games. This will be Annabelle’s 10th show here at SYAA!

Ms. Darbus

Ara Arcilla is 16 years old and is a Junior at Neville High School. She has thoroughly enjoyed playing Ms. Darbus, the deranged drama teacher, and even finds many of her lines inspirational. One of her favorite quotes from Ms. Darbus is: “There’s not a star in heaven that you can’t reach, but you have to allow yourself to risk.” She hopes you also find Ms. Darbus just as inspiring!

Coach Bolton

Austin Matthews is a senior in West Ouachita High School. He has multiple award winning student films under his belt, however this is his first on stage production.

Martha Cox

Tech Crew

Bayles is a 12 year old on the tech crew who loves musicals. One of her past shows (her favorite one so far) is The Music Man Jr. She really enjoys doing theatre and loves all the friends she makes.

Taylor McKessie (East High Cast)

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 High School Musical as it is one of her favorites and she loves playing Taylor McKessie.

Jack Scott

Bridger is a freshman at QuesTech Learning High School. Bridger has won many awards and titles since starting knife & tomahawk throwing. Bridger also enjoys studying Shotokan Karate under Sensei Bob Allen earning his black belt at age 12. Bridger has two older sisters and one young brother. He is so excited that High School Musical will be his debut performance at SYAA!

Assistant Stage Manager

Jock

Sharpay (East High Cast)

Caroline Simmons is a seventeen year-old senior at Ouachita Parish High School. Some of her past roles have been Maria in The Sound of Music and Marian Paroo in The Music Man. Her favorite song in the show is We’re All In This Together because of the fun choreography! She hopes you all enjoy the show.

Zeke

Troy Bolton

Tech- Lighting Operator & Stagehand

Cruse Flowers is 12 years old and a student at Sallie Humble Elementary. He enjoys building legos, playing guitar and enjoys video games! Cruse acted in The Phantom Tollbooth and has been a part of the tech crew for Home for the Holidays and High School Musical.

Skater/Jock

Doxie Walker is 15 years old and is in the 10th grade. In her free time, she enjoys art, swimming, and now theater! This is her first show at SYAA and she’s very happy to be a part of the production. She’s confident that it’ll be a great show.

Taylor McKessie (Wildcat Cast)

Cheerleader

Elli Sheppard is a sophomore at Ouachita Christian School. This is her fourth show at Strauss, and she hopes to keep adding to that number! Elli enjoys playing instruments, reading, and being with friends. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Cheerleader

Eva McDonald is 16 years old and attends River Oaks highschool in the 10th grade. She loves reading, playing guitar, and making art. She’s been in shows at SYAA since she was 8 years old, and the theater is like a second home. Her theater friends are like her family.

Chad Danforth

Evan Wilkes is 14 years old and loves being a part of SYAA. He’s an eighth grader at Good Hope Middle School, and enjoys reading and exploring the world of pop culture. His favorite quote from High School Musical is “I love it when you speak German.” His favorite song from the show is “Counting on You.”

Stagehand

Stagehand

Thespian/Brainiac

Georgie Kielwasser is 12 years old. She attends St. Frederick high school. She has been in many shows at SYAA. She has loved working with her cast mates and directors for this show.

Lighting Operator/Stagehand

I have had such a good time doing tech for HSM. It is a great show with great numbers. Now anyways, facts about me is I can play some guitar, my favorite movie is Grease, and I am 11 years old. My past shows include Music Man, Christmas Carol etc. Favorite HSM Song is I can’t take my eyes off you.

Ryan

Hudson Oram is 17 years old and enjoys spending his time in the choir. He goes to Ouachita Christian School. He is in the 10th grade. This is his first show and he’s really excited to be participating in this with so many wonderful people!

Skater kid

Isabel Blocker is 16 years old and a homeschooled sophomore. She has been doing theater for almost 2 years. Other than theater she enjoys art commissions and training dogs. As well as sharing her so called terrible puns with friends.

Cyndra/Brainiac

Julia is a sophomore at River Oaks High School . She is 16 years old and enjoys singing and performing. This is her second show, and she hopes everyone will enjoy the show!

Spotlight/Usher

Kira is a 7th grader at QuesTech learning . She is 13 yeas old and enjoys being a part of the tech crew. This is her first musical and she is absolutely loving it! “Keep your head in the game!”

Tech

Leah is 12 years and is in 7th grade at Neville Jr High. Leah loves clothing, theatre, thrifting, and comedy. Leah has been doing theatre for 5 years and some of her favorite roles include PIP from Princess and the Pea, Smee from Peter Pan, Nellie from Annie Get Your Gun and many more. Leah enjoys teaching for SYAA and hopes everyone who visits Strauss enjoys their visit!

Spotlight Operator/Usher

Mallorie is 12 years old and a homeschooled 7th grader. She enjoys reading and spending time with her siblings. This is her first musical at SYAA, and she really loves it! Everyone is super nice and welcoming.

Allen/Cheerleader

Marcus Powell is a 16 year old junior at Neville High School. He's mostly been into dance for the past 11 years, but has recently gotten into theater. He's been in Big Fish, Music Man, and Home for the Holidays at SYAA and Bright Star at Strauss Main Stage. His favorite song from HSM is Stick to the Status Quo.

Kratnoff

Brainac

Mary Grace is 14 years old and this is her 7th show. She goes to Ouachita High School and plays the trumpet in the band. Her first role was Sally Jackson in The Lightning Thief!

Cheerleader

Mila is a 12 year old homeschooled 6th grader. This is her 13th show with SYAA!! Her favorite quote from HSM is, "Ahhh! Someone's going to pay for this!" -- Sharpay Evans. Enjoy the show!!

Brainiac

Monica Torres is a senior at Neville Highschool where she is a part of the school's Orchestra and Varsity Speech & Debate Team. She enjoys theatre, anime, and reading. She hopes that everyone enjoys the show :D

Prop Coordinator/Tech

Nola Grigson is in the 6th grade at Sallie Humble Elementary. She enjoys hanging out with her friends and singing. Her favorite High School Musical song is “Bop to the Top” She loves being a part of the SYAA community.

Brainiac

Olivia is 14 years old and homeschools. Olivia enjoys skateboarding, swimming, and singing. She has played the violin for 7 years and has been in Monroe Symphony Youth Orchestra for several seasons. This is Olivia's 3rd production with SYAA.

Spotlight/Stagehand

Rayn is a 13-year-old 7th grader at Woodlawn Jr. High. He loves to play video games, play the drums, read, and write. He has been in multiple shows at syaa, including The Princess and the Pea and The Phantom Tollbooth. He loves to be on stage, but is enjoying the chance to experience a different perspective for this show!

Susan

Reighanne is 17 years old and a home school junior. This is her seventh show at Strauss Youth Academy for the arts. She is super excited for the show and can’t wait for everyone to see it!

Ryan Evans (Wildcat Cast)

Cheerleader

Gabriella Montez (Wildcat Cast)

Tech

Solace is a 15 year old sophmore. He likes theater, video games, card games, and D&D. His favorite quotes from the show are “Yo Doggie! Troy, my hoops boy” and, “Hey, just call me freaky callback boy.”

Skater Kid

Sophia is 14 years old, homeschooled. Sophia enjoys art, including drawing, painting, and digital art. She plays the flute and ukulele. Her favorite color electric pink. This is Sophia's 3rd production with SYAA.

Cheerleader

T’Meriunna is 14 years old and attends Ouachita Junior High as an 8th grader. This is her first show with plans of joining more shows with SYAA. She is apart of multiple organizations outside of the Theater such as Student Council president, National Junior Honors Society president and various sports in school. Accompanied by being a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar and Monroe Chapter Top Teen outside of school.

Skater/Jock

Tanner Ellerman is a 14 year old that attends Ouachita Christian School. He enjoys throwing in track, playing football for OCS, and singing in the school choir. He is so excited for everyone to come see this amazing show.

James

Thatcher Bell is fifteen years old and a freshman at West Monroe High School. This is his second year performing at SYAA. In his spare time, Thatcher enjoys playing video games, painting, and reading manga. He hopes everyone enjoys the show.

Jock

Thomas Hayes is 16 years old and attends Neville high school. He plays tennis and is currently trying out mock trial. He loves the theatre community and is excited for the show!

Gabriella Montez (East High)

Thomasyn Kamm is a senior at West Monroe High School and has been doing productions at SYAA for eight years! She’s so excited to perform such a fun and lighthearted show with an important message for one of her last shows.

Director/Choreographer

Megan has been involved in theatre for the past 15 years performing both onstage and offstage. She has a number of credits for choreography, some of which includes Cinderella, Shrek Jr., Elf, Bright Star, Sister Act, Godspell, Mamma Mia, Peter Pan, and many more. Her recent work was at Strauss MainStage, where she directed and choreographed Bright Star. Some of her on stage work includes CATS, Rumors, The Producers, Hairspray, Oklahoma, and All Shook Up, along with many others. Megan works as a Clinical Accreditation Specialist at Affinity Heath Group and resides in West Monroe with her husband Matt, their twin girls Piper and Meridian and twin toddlers Forest and Ella.

Musical Director

Lynette Murphy is no stranger to the Ruston/Monroe area or SYAA. Lynette has taught voice and piano students for 20+ years along with over 16 years experience musical directing shows such as Magic Flute, Footloose, Beauty and the Beast, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Schoolhouse Rock, Willy Wonka Jr, Aladdin, Music Man Jr and many more at Strauss Main Stage, Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts (SYAA), and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She currently holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Louisiana Tech University along with 30+ graduate hours in Music from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Lynette is Director of Choirs at Ruston High School, Worship Leader at First Baptist Church - Choudrant and a member of local Barbershop chorus, Piney Hills Harmony Chorus in Ruston.

Assistant Director

"Nicole Morris has been involved with SYAA for the past 11 years. She started out as a parent volunteer when her daughter, Sydney, joined the cast of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the age of 8. During Sydney’s years at SYAA, Nicole became prop master for most shows, taught the Creative Kids class for several years and worked as a teacher for the summer camps. She is also a member of SYAA’s Board of Directors. She directed her first show this past December, Home for the Holidays and found a new passion!

Nicole is a Kindergarten teacher at River Oaks School. She is also currently a graduate student at ULM. When she gets a chance to relax she loves to read, do puzzles, and spend time with her family. "