Current Teachers:
Chanler Landon
Chanler has been doing musical theater for nine years and is a CYT alumni. Some of her favorite roles include Maria in CYT's The Sound of Music, a dancer in CYT's Tuck Everlasting, Esmeralda in CCT's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Katherine in CCT's Newsies. Over the past two years, she has also had the honor of co-directing CCT’s concert performances. Outside of theater, Chanler works as a mother/baby nurse- something she is deeply passionate about. She is overjoyed to be teaching something she loves, alongside people she loves, while serving the One she loves. Chanler is excited to share and grow this passion with others.
David Louviere
David is an Emergency/Critical Care Registered Nurse with a passion for the arts. While studying Vocal Performance at Southeastern Louisiana University, he performed regularly in community theatre and in Southeastern’s Opera and Musical Theatre Department, where he met his wife, Mandy. David is committed to fostering the love of music and theatre in others; he is a CYT Teaching Artist, teaches voice at a homeschool co-op and serves as one of the worship leaders at his church. David counts it an abundant blessing to have his wife and his four children flourishing in the CYT community and is thankful for the opportunity to serve the cast of Narnia as Music Director.
Donna Iverstine
Donna loves theater and has worked and performed with various theater companies since college. She has directed CCT's Godspell, as well as CYT’s Lion King, Jr., Tuck Everlasting, Tarzan, Peter Pan, Shrek the Musical, Mary Poppins, and Beauty & the Beast. Donna has also worked as assistant director, choreographer and set designer for several shows. She also serves as a CYT instructor teaching Acting, Dance, Improv, ASL, Stunts/Combat, etc. She is the Improv Team coach. For her day job, Donna is an acting and improv coach which she enjoys seeing actors and dancers, young and old, grow in their God-given talents and giftings.
Jeff Elliott
With a background in Industrial Design, Graphic Design, and 3D Animation, Jeff’s largest role at CYT has been creating sets and working backstage during CYT productions. Over the years his involvement has expanded to include teaching several CYT classes, assistant directing High School Musical, and directing show such as Rapunzel & Mary Poppins. He was blessed to perform in the CCT production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and is thrilled to be directing his first CCT production. His prayer is that God will be glorified and you will be blessed by this performance.
Maegan Croskrey
Maegan is a passionate artist who began dancing and performing in musical theater shows in junior high. She continued her dance training for 3 years at Belhaven University. She loves teaching and watching her students grow in confidence and joy as they perform for God's glory. She and her husband, Daniel, have one son named Thomas and they are expecting their second child summer of 2026! They enjoy sports, reading, exploring the outdoors and cooking together.
Mandy Louviere
As a former stage manager and skilled technical hand in the Opera/Musical Theatre Department at Southeastern Louisiana University, Mandy has a true passion for theatre. Mandy also enjoys homesteading adventures with her husband of 20 years, David, and their 4 children as well as bringing creative visions to life whether in baking, crafting or event planning in her church and community. Mandy is overjoyed to be on staff with CYT Baton Rouge as Show Coordinator and as a teaching artist.
Melissa Beatty
Melissa has a passion for teaching youth theatre. She grew up doing theatre with The Drama Room and with DSACT in her hometown of Denham Springs. She has directed and assistant directed multiple musicals over the years. She joined the CYT family 5 years ago and has taught CYT youth acting classes and youth musical theatre classes. She was the assistant director for CYT's The Lion King Jr and Anastasia YE she made her CYT director's debut with Charlotte’s Web. She is so excited to be the director of CYT’s Seussical this season. She loves sharing her passion for theatre with the youth of CYT. She believes that God had gifted each child with special and unique gifts and loves helping children discover and grow those gifts. She is so honored, humbled and grateful to God for allowing her the opportunity to share the gifts He has given her with CYT!
Stephanie McCandless
Stephanie has been involved with CYT for the past five years as a dance teacher and choreographer. She previously owned a dance studio in Baton Rouge and taught at Tari’s School of Dance. After relocating, she taught at several dance schools in Maryland. Her professional credits include performing as a Radio City Rockette in the Radio City Music Spectacular and dancing in numerous Equity theatre musicals across the United States. She currently serves as choreographer for University Lab School’s high school musical theatre productions and is thrilled to be part of CYT’s production of Shrek!
Tadd Swart
Tadd was born in California, and moved to Louisiana in 2008, where he lives with his wife, Elaine, and their two children, Asher and Primrose. His love for theater started with skits while on mission trips but grew in high school, where some of his favorite roles were the Bishop and Enjolras (Les Miserables), and Samuel (Pirates of Penzance). He has been a teacher in classical schools for 18 years.
