YOUTH PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLE
Youth Professional Ensemble is an audition-only, educational offering for advanced students who are looking to strengthen their performance skills from top professionals in the industry. Each session includes intensive training in vocal, dance, and acting techniques. Keep an eye out on our mainstage, where many of our Youth Professionals are featured!
YPE Instructors: Adam WIlliams, Sydney Sinclair & Professional Guest Teaching Artists

ALIVIA BROWN
Alivia Brown is a sixteen year old junior. Over the years, she has enjoyed being a student, camper, camp counselor, and actor here at VCT. She has performed in several shows at VCT, including Songs Of The Past, Aladdin, Jr., Mary Poppins, Jr., Peter Pan, Jr., Oz: A Staged Concert, The Addams Family, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Apologies, Madagascar: A Musical Adventure, Brand New Day, Secret Garden, and Lift Every Voice. Her most recent role at VCT was Aunt Spiker in James and the Giant Peach. She was also recently in the vocal ensemble of Mill Mountain Theatre's production of Matilda the Musical and has participated in MMT's Music Theater Conservatory. Alivia is thrilled to be participating in her third year of Virginia Children's Theater's Youth Professional Ensemble!

campbell duff
Campbell is a 9 th grader at Northside High School and is excited to continue her education and development with VCT’s Youth Professional Ensemble. She has participated in a myriad of camps and classes with Virginia Children’s Theatre, as well as numerous mainstage and kids on stage productions. Campbell’s most recent credits include The Secret Garden (May Lennox), Brand New Day (Lead Singer), Madagascar (Zeke, Ship Captain, etc.) and Peter Pan Jr. (Wendy Darling). Campbell is also a student of Mill Mountain Theatre’s Conservatory, PB & J Theatre Company, as well as Brynn Scozzari Studios. Campbell is grateful to VCT for providing a space for her to learn and grow in her love of musical theatre. She would like to thankher friends and family for their endless love and support.

anna locklear
Anna Locklear is a 17 year old homeschooler, who lives on a farm in Franklin County. She has been singing since she was 3 years old and doing theatre since she was 6. Anna is a 2 time recipient of the Sarabeth Hammond Scholarship and has been a member of YPE since 2020. Some of Anna’s favorite credits include Elsa in Frozen jr., Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Mrs.Wormwood in Matilda, Ensemble, Asst. Music Director, Dance Captain in The SpongeBob Musical (P&HCC Patriot Players), Cinderella in Cinderella, Zelda/Candy Hammernose, etc. in Madagascar, Martha/Mrs.Winthrop in The Secret Garden and most recently Lumiere/Silly Girl in Beauty and the Beast (VCT). Anna would like to thank her friends and family for everything they do and the LORD her Savior for the gifts He has given her.

Riley Parks
Riley Parks, an 8th grader at Roanoke Catholic School, has performed in over twenty productions across the Roanoke Valley since starting her theatre journey. Her most recent productions have been James and the Giant Peach (James), Matilda (Dance Ensemble), Willy Wonka Jr (Violet), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Fun Home (Young Allison) and Peter & Wendy (Wendy). She has been a part of the VCT Academy for 7 years. She is a member of the MMT Conservatory and trains with Kevin Jones Performing Arts Studio. She dances with Divine Dance Center and does vocal training with Brynn Scozzari. She enjoys playing the piano and belting show tunes every chance she gets.

Brooklynn Sigmon
Brooklyn Sigmon is 16 years old and attends Franklin County High School. Brooklynn loves to sing and perform. Since age 5, she has been a soloist at her church. She appeared in Brand New Day at VCT last summer. She most recently played Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at her high school. She appeared in VCT’s production of The Secret Garden as a Dreamer. She played Ali in Mamma Mia and has also appeared in the Varsity One Act productions of Gossip and Tracks at her high school. She has been in productions of The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast for Greensboro Community Theatre in NC.

Braelyn skelton
Braelyn Skelton is 14 years old and is a rising freshman. She is thrilled to be participating in Youth Professional Ensemble! Her favorite performances with Virginia Children’s Theatre include James and The Giant peach (Violet Funkschmeller) and Oz: a staged Concert (Munchkin). Other favorite Performances include The Surprising Story of The Three Little Pigs, The Wizard of Oz (Attic Productions),and several performances with her school. She has been going to Miss Mona’s Drama Camp for three years and takes voice lessons with Brynn Scozzari Studios. She would like to thank her friends and Family for encouraging her to continue doing what she loves!
YOUTH PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLE: Rising
YPE:R Instructors: Baylee Witter , Sydney Sinclair, Carolan Deacon & Professional Guest Teaching Artists

carter cecil
Carter Cecil is a rising 7th grader at Read Mountain Middle school. He most recently appeared in James and the Giant Peach. Other performances include Willy Wonka (Phineas Trout), Neleus/ Von Hussler (Mary Poppins Jr), Horse/ Townsperson (Cinderella), and John Darling (Peter Pan Jr). Carter participated in Kevin Jones Performing Arts Studio Summer Intensive in 2022. He was in the Spring 2023 cast of Youth Performance Ensemble: Rising at VCT. Carter thanks his family for their support and encouragement.

megan corbett
Megan Corbett is a 7th grader at Roanoke Catholic School and is excited to be a part of VCT's YPE:R. She has performed in the following VCT productions: James and the Giant Peach, Secret Garden, Madagascar, Cinderella, Addams Family, and Velveteen Rabbit. When not busy with rehearsals and classes, Megan enjoys doing crafts and hanging out with her friends.

Drew D'Alessandro
Drew is 13 years old and an 8th grader at Cave Spring Middle. His most recent stage performance was Matilda (Tommy) with MMT. Other favorite performances have been: James and the Giant Peach (James), Willy Wonka Jr. (Charlie), Shrek Jr. (Lord Farquaad), Secret Garden (Colin Craven), Madagascar (Rico/Lars), A Christmas Story (Schwartz), Peter and Wendy (Slightly), The Addams Family The Musical (Pugsley) and Mary Poppins Jr. (Michael Banks). Drew loves musical theatre, singing, dancing and playing the drums.

belle mcnamara
Belle McNamara is honored to be part of Virginia Children’s Theatre Youth Professional Ensemble. Belle is a 6th grader at North Cross School. Belle has been involved in local productions for Virginia Children’s Theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre, and Showtimers. Favorite roles include: Amanda Thripp in Matilda, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Anna in Frozen, Jr., Esther Jane in A Christmas Story, Chip in Beauty and the Beast, Young Mary in The Women and Matilda in Willy Wonka, Jr.Belle loves singing and performing is magical to her! A day with theatre is “the best day”!Belle is thankful for the opportunity to study theatre with her VCT mentors and cannot wait for what the future holds!

emily mower
Emily is an 8th grader at Roanoke Catholic School and has been performing for the last six years. Some of her favorite credits include Annie Jr (Annie), Matilda (Alice), Peter Pan Jr (Tiger Lily), A Christmas Story (Helen), High School Musical (Cyndra) and Charlotte's Web (Fern). In her free time she enjoys being at the lake wakeboarding and surfing, playing volleyball and reading graphic novels. She would like to thank her parents for their support in doing what she loves!

Brent Saunders
Brent Saunders is an 8th grader at Read Mountain Middle School. Some of his favorite theatre credits include Matilda the Musical (Eric), Willy Wonka Jr. (Mike Teavee), Write Stuff 2023, Peter and Wendy (Tootles), Peter Pan Jr. (Twin 2), and Aladdin Jr. (Ensemble). Brent has vocal training with Susan Lewis Music Studio, dance training with Floyd Ward School of Dance, and acting training with Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory. In his free time, he enjoys writing songs, playing with animals, and spending time with family. Brent would like to thank his family, friends, and VCT for always encouraging him to follow his dreams!