ALEXA CIERA ADDERLEY

Administrative Director/Instructor

Like her marvelous sisters before her, Alexa also found her love for the Theatre at a very young age. By age 11, Alexa was cast as Annie in her middle school's production of Annie, and the rest is history. After a few pre-college, collegiate, and professional training programs -- at drama schools like The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), The Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and CAP21-- Alexa graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with Honors, and a BFA in Drama. 

In 2016, Alexa was cast in the CBS Drama Diversity Casting Initiative. Over 10,000 actors around the country auditioned, and CBS chose 12. Since the initiative, Alexa has landed several TV roles, including a Guest Lead on NBC's Chicago PD, guest stars on ABC's Quantico and CBS's Bull, and a leading role on a comedy short called Blank Meets Blank on TruTV--all while still doing Theatre as much as she can.

Alexa is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA, and is repped by Jill Kaplan at Authentic Talent and Literary Management.

LAUREL PETTI

Administrative Consultant

Laurel has been teaching children for the past 15 years and couldn’t think of a better job! She graduated with her BFA in Musical Theater from California State University, Fullerton. She has taught in the LA, Orange County, and Seattle area. She is incredibly passionate about providing a nurturing and educational environment for students. She believes theater skills influence life skills and loves to watch all children transform into happy, respectful, creative, confident young adults! She now works as a Guest Talent Coordinator for Disneyland’s Imagination Campus but loves to still support ADDERLEY and her students when she can!

KRYSTAL von der LIETH

Administrative Director/Instructor

Krystal von der Lieth began acting at age 3 and immediately fell in love with being on stage. A classically trained dancer, she always felt more comfortable as the "dancer" in any ensemble.  At age 11 she joined the Adderley School and truly found her love of being a triple threat, performing in shows such as CATS, FOSSE, CHICAGO, A MY NAME IS ALICE and many more. She continued to study and also began teaching her own classes at Adderley in her early teens and loved sharing her passion with the next generation!

She moved to the Bay Area at age 20 and spent 5 years touring as a Performer Educator at Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theater Programs.  She met her now husband and moved to Colorado where she went back to her love of teaching. At Grand Junction Academy of Dance and Absolute Dance she taught all styles of dance. She also began musical theatre programs at both studios.  She continued performing with multiple performance companies in CO such as Encore Productions, High Desert Opera, and The Cabaret Dinner Theatre, THE WOMEN (Sylvia), ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Columbia), CHICAGO (Velma Kelly).

Now a mom of 3 kiddos, she and her children have worked extensively in the entertainment industry for the past 10 years..  Krystal is so excited to return to her roots and rejoin the Adderley staff teaching yet ANOTHER generation of kids to love the performing arts!

CHELSEA SPACK

Instructor

After receiving her MFA in Acting from the prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Chelsea has appeared in numerous prime time TV shows. A few of the shows she’s worked on are: Fox’s GOTHAM (recurring for 3 seasons), DEAD TO ME (opposite James Marsden, Linda Cardellini, and Christina Applegate), and guest starring on the long running BLUE BLOODS. Chelsea spent many summers teaching and directing at kids’ musical theatre camp at her hometown church, and loves helping kids find their own unique creative expression! Chelsea currently lives in Los Angeles and enjoys cooking, taking Pilates classes, and making her own short films! 

Valeria Johnson

Instructor

Valeria is an accomplished actor and singer with a BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University. As an Argentinian-American, she brings a rich cultural background to her performing and teaching, and is bilingual in Spanish and English! Valeria grew up attending youth theater programs, which inspired her to pursue formal training in college and ultimately make a career out of performing. Throughout her performing arts academic journey, she was honored with the Brian Alfred King Award, given to a performer demonstrating strong work ethic, dedication, and powerful choices while remaining a strong role model, The Miller Scholarship, given to a performer displaying above and beyond ambition, consistent excellence, and promise, as well as a Performing Arts Grant and Talent Scholarship from Syracuse University.

Valeria has performed in many shows across the country, with her favorite roles including Heather Mac in "Heathers: The Musical," Esmeralda in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Mimi in "Rent," Olive in "25th...Spelling Bee," and Maria in "West Side Story." Valeria loves sharing her passion for musical theater with children, encouraging their imagination and instilling confidence through the magic of performing arts. After moving from New York to Los Angeles, she is excited to pursue more TV and film-related work while continuing to inspire young performers.

Check out her website! valeriamariajohnson.com

Benni Ruby

Instructor

Benni grew up immersed in the LA theatre scene, and is so excited to help the next generation of musical theater stars blossom! On stage, some of her favorite SoCal credits include Susan Parks in Billy Elliot at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Nancy in Fancy Nancy at Chance Theater, Tina Denmark in Ruthless at Theater Palisades and Flounder in The Little Mermaid at the Cupcake Theater. Her TV credits include Grace & Frankie (Netflix) and Sam and Cat (Nick). She spends weekends bringing Disney princesses to life at special events, as well as part time assisting Lisa Picotte at The Young Actor Workplace. She’s go grateful for the theatre teachers who instilled in her a lifelong love of this art form.

TIFFANY OGLESBY

Instructor

Tiffany Oglesby is an actor, writer, director, producer, and teaching artist from Atlanta, Georgia. She caught the acting bug at the age of 14 and studied drama at Tri-Cities, a visual and performing arts high school in East Point, Georgia. She received her BFA in Performing Arts from The Savannah College of Art and Design and an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Some of her favorite theatre and tv credits include: Confederates (Rep Theatre of St. Louis), Byhalia, Mississippi (B Street Theatre), Flyin’ West  (American Blues Theatre), The Light (Original Cast - Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Actress - New Colony Theatre), Tyler Perry’s Ruthless (BET+), The Neighborhood (CBS), The Chi (SHOWTIME), Chicago Med (NBC), and Empire (FOX). 

Tiffany has a deep love and appreciation for theatre and arts education. She has spent many summers working with children’s theatre companies in both Atlanta, and Chicago. She currently resides in Los Angeles where she is also a Teaching Artist at Geffen Playhouse.

PEYTON CALHOON

Instructor

Peyton is an Austin Native. She attended Shenandoah Conservatory in 2017-2018 before moving to New York City. Shortly after that, she became a soloist dancer in the Las Vegas Production of “Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show” alongside her boyfriend, Donelvan Thigpen, who headlined as the role of Prince. In November 2020, they welcomed their baby girl, Aliyah! Peyton has always had a love for children and taught dance and musical theater classes since she was in high school. She currently works at Summer Stock Austin as an Associate Producer and Head Marketing Manager. Peyton Calhoon has a deep love for the arts and takes pride in helping to spread the power of creativity and share the impact that the arts have had on her life.

MONIQUE ALTAMIRANO

Choreographer

Monique joined the Adderley Family in 2011! A Boston Conservatory graduate & National Award Winning Choreographer. Most recently choreographed, "Celebrating The Music Footloose!" with Kenny Loggins at The  Adderley School in Santa Barbara.

SABRINA HARPER

Choreographer

Sabrina is excited to be sharing her dance and choreography experience with the students at The Adderley School. After graduating from the School of the Stuttgart Ballet with a Diploma in Classical Dance, her first contract straight out of school was with the Vienna Volksoper. Sabrina spent two years performing at the Opera house before she left to perform as Meg Giry in The Phantom of the Opera. She spent 16 years performing in Europe in Productions of, among others, CHICAGO, 42nd Street, The Producers, The Wild Party, A Chorus Line, and Romeo & Juliet. Sabrina made her Broadway debut in the revival of PIPPIN, performed at the Tony Awards, and then toured the USA and Internationally as Fastrada. Over the course of her three year run with PIPPIN, she is proud to say she has performed every single female role and ensemble position in the company. Sabrina was last seen performing as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO, and on the first national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In between performing, she teaches Dance and Musical Theatre Workshops and Choreographs regularly for No Square Theatre. She choreographed Beauty and The Beast, School of Rock, The Addams Family (Quarantine Version) and most recently, a production of the Musical Cry Baby.

BEN GINSBERG

Musical Director

Ben has worked with the Adderley School for the Performing Arts and Santa Barbara Youth Ensemble Theatre since 2013, including their 2014 production of Les Misérables, numerous other smaller shows, as well as two performances for Ms. Oprah Winfrey. He is an LA-based pianist and composer who has music directed and/or accompanied over 125 musical theatre productions across Southern California, Seattle and New York City, for many theatre companies, including 5 Star Theatricals (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles), the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (Beverly Hills), and the AfterWorks Theatre Project (NYC). He is associate accompanist for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. In 2013 he was nominated for a BroadwayWorld Award for Best Musical Direction for the Southern California premiere of Carrie at Out of the Box Theatre (Santa Barbara). His song "Heaven" premiered on American Idol Season 17. He earned his B.F.A. in Piano from CalArts — where he gave the Wild Beast Music Pavilion concerto premiere with Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 — and his M.A. (with distinction) in Music Industry Administration from California State University, Northridge. His 15-minute musical, A View From The Moon, premiered in August 2020 at the Academy for New Musicals. He is currently pursuing his M.F.A. in Musical Theatre Songwriting at NYU Tisch School for the Arts.

AUSTIN KIMBLE

Music Director/Pianist

Austin is a B. Iden Payne and Central Texas Excellence in Theatre Award nominee and a two-time recipient of the BroadwayWorld Austin Award for "Best Musical Direction". Music direction credits include Ghost Quartet (Penfold Theatre); Nunsense and Ruthless (City Theatre); Evita, Rock of Ages, Man of La Mancha, Shrek, My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, Spamalot, Smokey Joe’s Café, Damn Yankees, and Tarzan (Georgetown Palace Theatre); and numerous youth productions throughout the Austin metroplex. Mr. Kimble has traveled across the country with The Adderley School, rehearsing and performing with their productions of A... My Name is Alice, Pippin, Oliver, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. He holds a bachelor’s of music degree in jazz piano performance from the University of Texas at Austin and has performed worldwide. In 2022, Mr. Kimble accepted a position as Lecturer and Associate Music Director for Texas State University's Department of Theatre & Dance. He also teaches a studio of private students in the areas of piano, trumpet, voice, music theory, improvisation, and audition technique.

MATTHEW LOWY

Pianist

Matthew Lowy is an NYC-based composer, music director, arranger, and pianist. He spent several years touring with musicals nationally and internationally, including An American in Paris (music supervision, orchestrations), A Chorus Line (U.S., Japan, and Shanghai; music director/conductor/orchestrations), and 42nd Street (U.S.; music director/conductor). Matt also worked as a keyboard sub at Beetlejuice on Broadway, and as a rehearsal pianist for the 2018 production of A Chorus Line at City Center. Matt has been working on the New Voices summer conservatory at the Paper Mill Playhouse in NJ for eleven years, as a music director, conductor, arranger, and accompanist. He is currently a composer in the Advanced BMI Lehman Engel Advanced Musical Theater Workshop, where he received the First Year Jerry Harrigan Musical Theatre Award in 2019. His original musicals have been performed at the New York International Fringe Festival (Fallen Skies, Overall Excellence Award in Music Composition), NYTF Winterfest (These Walls; winner, best short), and Sound Bites. Matt holds a B.M. in Music Composition from The Boston Conservatory. matthewlowy.com

ERIK TELFORD

Orchestrator

Erik Telford is an award-winner composer and trumpeter based in Austin, TX and a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. He has performed as a leader or sideman on four continents with artists such as Bill Berry, George Bohannan, Maria Schneider, Joshua Redman, James Williams, Elias Haslanger, Jon Faddis, Wynton Marsalis, and Louie Bellson. He has been an artist at the Monterey, Montreux, North Sea, Melbourne, and Yokohama Honmoku jazz festivals.

Erik has been working with Santa Barbara Youth Ensemble Theatre and THE ADDERLEY SCHOOL for over 5 years.