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ARTISTIC INSTRUCTORS

Sydney Sinclair

Theatre Academy Manager, Teaching Artist
Sydney Sinclair is ecstatic to start her first year at VCT! She is a performing artist (Actor, Director, Educator, Singer, Dancer, and Intimacy Choreographer) with a B.F.A. in Acting and minor in Directing from Oklahoma City University. She has worked as a director and actor in Oklahoma City as well as a children’s educator, choreographer, and intimacy director for children's theatre’s in the DFW area. Some of her favorite directing credits include SHAKESPEARE’S OTHER WOMEN by Scott Kaiser (Oklahoma City University), choreography of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST by Alan Menken (Arise Acting Studio), and assistant direction of THE SCHOOL FOR LIES by David Ives (Oklahoma City University). Some of her favorite acting credits include Evil Gabbi in SHE KILLS MONSTERS, Jen in ALL THIS INTIMACY, and Ariel in THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Kari Sullivan

Teaching Artist
Kari Sullivan is no stranger to Virginia Children's Theatre as she has been involved with VCT since its inception. She has taken on many roles during her time with VCT; as an actor, teaching artist, director, assistant stage manager and more. Sullivan is the founder of Kaleidoscope Summer Camp, which is a camp that VCT offers each summer to children of all ages with special needs, free of charge. When the pandemic hit and many VCT Academy classes had to move to a virtual platform, Sullivan was able to step in to teach Kaleidoscope Summer Camp both in person and virtually. She is looking forward to returning to VCT for another summer of fun!

Mandy Masching

Teaching Artist
Mandy Masching is a teaching artist/director/choreographer/dancer/actor with a B.A. in Dance from Roehampton University, London. After moving from Wales in the UK in 2005, Mandy has enjoyed exploring Virginia and was excited to find a vibrant theatre scene. She has enjoyed working with local professional and community theatre groups to bring dance and theatre to life including City Modern Ensemble, Attic Productions and the Virginia Children’s Theatre. Mandy’s goal is to pour confidence into each performer while stretching their technique and instill in them a desire for a strong work ethic with fellow performers. Recent favorite productions include directing an original play Dear Nannie (2023) at Attic Productions and choreography for Attic’s Wizard of Oz youth production (2022).

Adam Williams

Teaching Artist
Adam Williams is a passionate vocalist, teacher, guitarist, conductor, & songwriter based in Roanoke, VA. Adam completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education at James Madison University. While at JMU, Adam was Music Director for the Madison Project, JMU’s premiere a cappella group. He was also a Student Conductor for the University Chorus Tenor/Bass ensemble. Adam completed courses in Advanced Conducting, Vocal Pedagogy, High School Choral Methods, Vocal Arranging, and Advanced Piano.
Adam has also been a very prominent musician & director in Roanoke ever since he started college. Adam was a Young Artist and intern for Opera Roanoke for two years. He’s been the Director of Contemporary Worship Music for Cave Spring United Methodist since September of 2021, and he also was the Interim Director of Music Ministries at Thrasher Memorial United Methodist in 2022.
Since graduating, Adam has started his own private voice & guitar studio, as well as building up a freelance performing career. You can hear Adam’s original song “Healing” on Spotify, his guitar playing on Drifter’s debut album,  Malik Anthony’s song “Paralyzed”, and Aidan Everett’s EP “My Way Out”.

Sadie Koopman

Teaching Artist
Sadie Koopman (she/her) is excited to be joining the VCT team this fall! She is a recent graduate of Oklahoma City University where she earned her Bachelor of Music in both Music Theatre and Vocal Performance. In her undergrad, she got the chance to perform in plays, musicals, and operas while assistant directing and teaching as well. This past year she made her professional debut playing Janet in The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Recently, she moved into the DMV area to pursue her MFA in Classical Acting from George Washington University under the guidance of the Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Brandon Duncan

Education Associate
Brandon Duncan is a teaching artist, actor, and musician from Floyd, Virginia. Trained at Radford University (BA in Theatre and Music), he has taught with Richmond Performing Arts Alliance as a Wolf Trap teaching artist, and has instructed for Virginia Repertory Theatre summer programs. First moving to Richmond to perform in the Virginia Repertory Theatre national tour, he has also performed with Richmond Triangle Players, Richmond Shakes, and the University of Richmond. His favorite artistic credits include: The Inheritance, The Rivals, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Cymbeline, The Diary of Anne Frank, Twelfth Night, The Frog Prince, The Taming of the Shrew, and Buffalo Soldier. Brandon is overjoyed to be returning to Virginia Children’s Theatre as the education associate and resident teaching artist since first performing here in 2016. He yearns to share his love of classical, didactic, and musical theatre through performing arts integrated education with the Roanoke community that he cares benevolently for.

Elisabeth Anne Hughes

Teaching Artist
Lisa moved to Roanoke 7 years ago, coming from Boston, Massachusetts. She owned and was the artistic director of a performing arts school for almost 20 years outside of Boston, where it featured classes in theatre, dance, music, and voice. She has taught dance and theatre at Hanover Theatre’s Performing Arts Conservatory, Performing Arts School of Worcester, Foothills Theatre, Worcester Children’s Theatre, and many more. Her professional credits include film and commercial work, and she has choreographed and performed in several musicals outside the Boston area. She holds a BS in Theatre from Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts, and is certified to teach Theatre, grades K-12
in both MA and VA public schools.

Carolan Deacon

Teaching Artist
A little on me… I help people create, launch and grow their passion-fueled biz, making money doing what they love to do.As an artist over the years, I’ve worked with artists such as Martina McBride, Aaron Tippin and other artists. On the daily, when I’m not chasing after my 12 year old and her non stop schedule, I write and perform for my band and create original music that has been used in sync licensing for film and TV. I also work privately with all ages in singing and voice over acting.

Noelle Watson

Teaching Artist
Hi, my name is Noelle Watson! I am a communication and dance major at Radford University. I grew up dancing at Studio Bleu Dance Center as seen on Dance Moms. I hold multiple national titles and have been working and mentoring students for the past 4 years. I specialize in jazz technique, contemporary, hip hop, ballet, and any competition training. I am so excited to be a part of this stuff, let's dance!

Richie Cannaday

Teaching Artist
Richie Cannaday is a Roanoke, VA native and an MFA student in Hollins Playwright’s Lab. He was a member of Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble from 2007 to 2020, where he was a resident director, actor, designer, playwright and co-artistic director. Richie’s touring adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a 2015 recipient of the NEA’s Shakespeare in American Communities award. He is the founder of the drama club inside North Central Secure Treatment Unit for incarcerated teens. Two of his original family plays (The Dragon Butcher, Mudsummer) have been featured in Hollins’ Summer/Winter Festivals. He currently serves as the chair of The Southeastern Theatre Conference’s Charles M. Getchell new play award. Richie is a proud recipient of an Arts Matter Grant in Roanoke City, where he lives with his wife, Syreeta, their three kids, and two cats. He writes grownup plays for children and childish plays for grownups.

Main Office

PHONE: 540-400-7795
ADDRESS: 1321 3rd Street SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
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Roanoke, VA 24015

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ADDRESS: 541 Luck Ave. SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
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Roanoke, VA 24018
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PHONE: 540-400-7795
ADDRESS: 402 Second St. SW
Roanoke, VA 24011

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