Current Teachers:
Allison Barraco
Born and raised in New Orleans, Allison's love of the arts started early in life. She began formal dancing at age three. The stage soon called for her and at age 7 she began theater. Her involvement in the arts continued through high school where she had the opportunity to do high school plays and during her Senior Year was asked to be a part of National Art Honor Society. She is a mother of 4 and has been married to her high school sweetheart for 30 years. Allison and her family have been a part of CYT since it began in 2013.
Ally Holloway
Ally is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University and a CYT alum, and is currently a Talented Theatre teacher in Livingston Parish. Ally has performed in numerous productions with a variety of local theatres over the last two decades, and has also toured as an actor/emcee with GENERATE camps. In the last few years, she has discovered a love for directing and teaching theatre, and is so excited to share her passion of the stage with the next generation of theatre kids!
Caroline Collins 1
Caroline is thrilled to return to the stage after a four year hiatus. Caroline has performed in two CYT shows and numerous productions across the Baton Rouge area. Her favorite roles include Annie, Annie Jr, Molly Brown, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Queen Sabor, Tarzan. She trained in dance at PGDC, LSU, and Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. Caroline will be graduating in May from LSU majoring in Construction Management. She hopes to use her knowledge in construction to make the world a better place, one brick at a time.
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 teaches voice at a homeschool co-op and serves as one of the worship leaders at his church. He is especially thrilled to see all four of his children learning and growing in the CYT community and counts it a true honor to be serving on CYT’s team of Teaching Artists this year.
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.
Hope Carline
I am an elementary school teacher with 3 beautiful children who were all once involved in theatre. I was involved in theatre as a singer and dancer through high school and college. After college, I began teaching dance, primarily jazz and musical theatre, although I also taught ballet and tap for 11 years. This is when my love for musical theatre grew even more and I began choreographing and performing in musicals again which is what I have been doing for the last 5 years. I have choreographed Tuck Everlasting, Seussical, Wizard of Oz, Matilda, Spongebob, Percy Jackson, and Newsies, along with other exciting musicals. This show has been a blast to share with these amazing talented kiddos, I can not wait for you to see them shine.
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.
Leigh Ann Landon
This is Leigh Ann Landon’s second stage production with CCT- the first being last summer’s production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Leigh Ann loves to work with CYT students as a teacher in voice and music classes and was the Music Director for the Winter 2024 CYT production of Anastasia. Leigh Ann would love to thank the directors for letting her be a part of such an amazingly talented cast and her Father in Heaven for allowing the blessing of CYT/CCT into her life.
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 is grateful to be a part of CCT's Singin' in the Rain Artistic Team! She has been a tap teacher at CYT for 5 years now. This is her choreography debut for a CCT musical. Her favorite professional credit is performing as a Radio City Rockette in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular! She was also a professional dancer in Equity Theater musicals in several U.S. cities. Stephanie owned a dance school with her sister and taught dance for many years. As a college student Stephanie was an LSU Golden Girl...Geaux Tigers! She is currently the musical theater choreographer at University Lab School for the high school and middle school musicals and performances. Stephanie wants to thank her daughter, Emery for encouragement to always keep dancing!
Teresa Whitaker
Teresa is thrilled to serve as co-choreographer for this production. She has choreographed several productions for CCT, including Godspell and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as CYT’s Mary Poppins. A former LSU Golden Girl, Teresa also danced professionally with Merv Griffin Enterprises. She co-owned Elite Dance School with her sister and continues to share her passion by choreographing musicals, a local Mardi Gras Ball, and teaching Musical Theater Dance classes. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." — Philippians 4:13
