Meet Our Staff

La Tonya WATTS (Teacher)

Specialties: Hip Hop, Lyrical Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre

LaTonya has worked with many famous directors and choreographers to pursue her passion. She has directed and choreographed many theatrical performances for some of the Bay Area’s popular theatrical companies. Her work includes: Taming of the Shrew; Romeo & Juliet; The Wiz; Grease; Pippin; Oedipus; Cinderella; Macbeth; Dream Girls; Blackballin; Once on This Island, Chicago (2011 SFBATCC and Shellie Awards nominee for Best Choreographer); West Side Story;  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Hairspray; Life Could be a Dream; 9 to 5; Rent; Hedwig and the Angry Inch; The Robber Bridegroom; Night of January 16th; A Trip Down Broadway (2016 Shellie Award winner for Best Choreographer); Aladdin; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Arsenic and Old Lace; Urinetown, the Musical; Rumors; You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown; Moon Over Buffalo (2018 Shellie Award winner for Best Director); The 1940s Radio Hour; Lend Me a Tenor; Once Upon a Mattress; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Zombie Prom; The Savannah Sipping Society and School House Rock, jr.  Awards: “Woman of Distinction” for 2018 presented by Soroptimist International of Diablo Vista.

shelby HOLTON (DANCE DireCtoR, TEACHER, RUBIES/SAPPHIRES/Onyx DANCE TEAM COACH

Specialties: Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Heels, Ballet,

Shelby began dancing at the age of 8 years old. She was 16 when she started creating award winning competition choreography. She has been trained in numerous styles such as hip hop, tap, jazz, contemporary, ballet and lyrical. She has performed with The Warriors Dance Team, The Raiderettes, and danced as a troupe member in Culture Shock Hip Hop troupe. She is also a Dupree Dance Scholarship recipient, and held the title of Miss Teen I Love Dance in 2012.

ARIEL LITZEY (MUSICAL THEATRE DIRECTOR: KIDS AND MINIS, TeACHER)

Specialties: Musical Theatre, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical

Ariel began dancing and performing at the age of 5! She has a passion for both dance and theater, and she’s been a teacher of both disciplines in the Bay Area for over 10 years. Ariel performs with various dance troupes throughout the Bay Area, and is currently a proud member of an all women’s dance troupe in Oakland. Ariel loves sharing her gift of dance and performance with everyone who seeks it, and her natural enthusiasm and energy make her a favorite among her students.

Jaimee Semsky (MUSICAL THEATRE DIRECTOR: KIDS AND MINIS, VOCAL COACH)

Specialties: Musical Theatre, Vocals, Music

Jaimee Semsky is an award winning Music Director who has been working in children’s educational theatre for over 15 years! She received her BFA from the University of Tennessee in Theatre and Music Performance. After college, she was given the opportunity to move to New York, where she became a trained Bunraku Puppeteer from the “Kids on the Block” for Project Liberty. She performed in the children’s educational puppet program, Troubling Times, for over 10,000 children. The program aided children in dealing with and discussing their issues regarding 9/11. She then received her MA in Educational Theatre from New York University. While at NYU, she worked for the MCC Youth Theatre in New York City, a free program designed specifically for urban youth. Under her direction, the students wrote, performed and produced an original work, UNCENSORED, which was performed Off-Broadway. While in NY, she also worked as a professional singer for 10 years while also finding the time to perform in musicals every chance she could get. Jaimee has taught music and theatre in many venues including college, music conservatories, public schools, and private arts academies, as well as giving private voice and acting lessons. 

KEVIN (MUSICAL DIRECTOR)

Specialties: Music, Vocals

Kevin Weinert (he/him) began working as the Music Director for this Company way back in 2000…two company names and several locations ago when we were called the Youth Theatre Company. As the Music Director for all of the YTC productions, Kevin was also the Sound Designer and Technician. Kevin has a B.A. in Christian Education and a master’s degree in Theatre Arts. Through all our name and location changes Kevin has been the constant in our Theatre family and he is loved by the kids not only as a teacher but as a storyteller and as the person who above all is always looking out for the well-being of our kids.

mAILE rICHARDSON (Project and Logistics Manager)

Specialties: Hula (Auana and Kahiko), Tahitian

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Maile provides administrative support so the rest of the team can focus on teaching! Prior to joining the Starlight team she was a leadership development and marketing analyst for Healthforce Center at UCSF; having left to explore new career opportunities. She loves working with children and spent six high school and college summers as a teaching assistant with Ice Cream and Shoe Preschool in San Rafael. She has a BA in psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara, where she concentrated her free time on learning and teaching hula, Tahitian dance, and Tahitian drumming. More recently she spent three years dancing with Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu’ under Director/Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne.

bailey barnard (musical theatre director, teacher, administration)

Specialties: Musical Theatre, Vocals, Tap, Jazz, Ballet

Once a part of the Teen Theatre Company here at Starlight, Bailey Barnard has been performing all over the bay area since she was five years old and teaching since she was fifteen years old. Bailey has trained with companies such as American Conservatory Theatre, Dance Connection Performing Arts Centre, and attended School Of Performing Arts with an emphasis in Theatre. She has also performed in award-winning pieces at Musical Theatre Competitions of America, Sacramento International Music Competition, and San Jose International Music Competition where she placed on an international level in singing, dancing, and musical theatre and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Arty awards in 2019 for piloting the role of Evil Queen in The Mirror’s Revenge.

After the pandemic shut down theaters across the country, she spent a few years working as a veterinary technician when life eventually began to lead her back to performing arts. Bailey has found her passion in teaching and strives to help the next generation to find their voice and home in the arts, just as the arts did for her.

AVERY BAXTER (TEACHER)

Specialties: Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre

Avery has been doing theatre with Starlight since they were 12 years old, and performing with other companies for long before that. Avery has performed in three award winning musical revues with Starlight, competed twice with dance team, and been in countless other productions such as Newsies, Chicago, and Carrie. Their favorite role they’ve ever played is Major General in Pirates of Penzance. During their time on dance team, Avery received two judges choice awards and an all star dancer award. Avery has been choreographing for four years, interned for one year, been the dance team captain for one year, and taught dance for two years. Avery is incredibly passionate about theatre and dance arts, and enjoys teaching kids to express themself through dance and theatre.

ZOEY JONES (Teacher, ADMINISTRATION)

Specialties: Musical Theatre

Zoey has been doing musical theatre with Starlight since she was four years old, and has developed a passion for both the art of theatre and this incredible company. She has been working at Starlight for a year and a half in addition to five years of interning, and directed productions of Snow White and Willy Wonka. Zoey has performed in over fifty productions throughout her life, including three award-winning musical revues with Starlight, and her favorite role she has played was Katherine in Newsies. Zoey feels so lucky to be able to combine her passions of teaching and performing and loves to share her love of theatre with her students.

Antonia reed (teacher)

Specialties: Musical Theatre, Acting

Antonia has been doing her craft for many years. She’s been officially working her craft for about three years after high school and while in college. Some recent shows she has been in were Freaky Friday at Diablo Valley College and the other shows she did were Crowns and A Christmas Carol at Center Rep.
A lot of her training came from many amazing people that helped her in her journey. She started working at Starlight a couple of months back and she is so appreciated how wonderful they are to bring her in. Antonia is extremely excited to start teaching again to these amazing kids by having fun in the hard work, to get messy at times, and be yourself.

Owen loyd (technical director)

Specialties: Show Production

Owen has been acting ever since he was eight. As a kid he would always help out with running the shows at his first theatre company (even when he was in them himself!) He has starred onstage in roles such as: Crutchie in Newsies (Starlight Theatre Company), and Charlie Bucket in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (Stage Right Repertory.) When he first joined this company in 2019 he found an amazing and supportive community, who helped him find his voice and the confidence in himself to go big onstage. A few years later he started interning for the summer show High School Musical, and that is when he found that he loved working with kids. He has performed in 26 Shows and has done tech for 19 shows, with a few of them having multiple casts. He has been interning ever since and joined the team as Technical Director in early 2023. Owen has always had a strong passion for performing, and loves sharing that with the kids! He strives to make every kid feel valued, cared for and safe to have fun and be a little crazy. This company has meant so much to him and helped him grow into a confident adult and someone that the kids look up to.

Christina boothman (teacher)

Specialties: Vocal Performance, Musical Theatre, Acting, Audition Preparation

Christina studied voice at The University of Michigan. She loves singing and helping others find and use their voices. Christina performs occasionally in the Bay Area. Some recent favorite roles include Amandine in Amélie, the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, and Amalia in She Loves Me.

Christina emphasizes vocal health in her work: helping young people build healthy vocal habits that will stay with them for life. Singing, like any art, is deeply personal and expressive. Christina loves creating a safe, inclusive, and healthy space for people of all ages. She is also a Starlight parent!

Alina Duran (teacher)

Specialties: Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Cheer

Alina was born and raised in Martinez! She’s been dancing since she was four years old and trained as well as competed in various dance styles such as ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary for over ten years. She loves to learn and teach fun choreography and dance combos. In high school, she was a member of the varsity cheer squad where she learned how to perform fun and exciting routines and was a back spot in stunting. Her passion for both dance and cheer has allowed her to be versatile and dynamic in her performances and she’s excited to share her love for dance with others!

sophie limtiaco (administration)

Specialties: Musical Theatre

Sophie has been doing dance and theatre since she was 3 years old and has been with Starlight for seven years now. While training at the Contra Costa Ballet Centre, she developed a love for performing onstage, and began to take workshops and classes for musical theater. She has been with Starlight for several years, in which she has participated in various programs and has served as Theater Company Manager for two years, as well as an intern for three years. Sophie has performed in over 60 productions throughout her life, as well as various jazz, ballet, and acting showcases. Because of Starlight, she has developed an immense passion for theater and performing, which she loves to share with those around her.

Emma Wydogen (teacher)

Specialties: Vocals, Music, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop

Emma has been performing and interning with Starlight for nearly a decade and is excited to now be working for them. She has 10 years of vocal training under her belt and has participated in award-winning theatrical productions since age 11, experience which she loves to use to help students shine as best as they can when they sing and perform. Though she’s been dancing different styles throughout her life, she found a love for hip-hop about four years ago. She’s so grateful for the opportunity to share her passion for her art with students!

Lakei Barrientos (Teacher, Music Director)

Specialties: Music, Vocals, Hip Hop

Lakei is a professional vocalist, dancer, and award-winning choreographer. They have an Associate’s degree in music from Diablo Valley College. Lakei is trained in multiple vocal styles, including classical, jazz, musical theater, popular music, and multiple world music genres. As a vocalist, Lakei has received numerous scholarship awards from music organizations, such as Living Jazz and the Generations in Jazz Foundation, as well as a full-tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music. In addition, they have worked with Grammy Award-winning artists such as Tammy Lynne Hall, Sara Gazarek, and Amanda Taylor. As a dancer, Lakei has performed and choreographed everything from hip hop to jazz to salsa to traditional Filipino dance. In 2023, Lakei’s choreography received the Outstanding Choreography Award at the International Competition of Collegiate A Capella. Lakei is also a songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist.

Whether they are working with toddlers or adults, Lakei has an immense passion for teaching. “My goal is for all of my students to feel safe, seen, and motivated.”

Kimberly Johnson-LLoyd (Dance & Performing Arts Teacher)

Specialties: Music, Vocals, Hip Hop

Kimberly Johnson-Lloyd, a professional ballet dancer and performing arts instructor, is a native to Berkeley, California. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Mary’s College High School (Berkley, CA) and eared a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Fordham University in New York City. Kimberly began dancing at the age of 8 years old at Berkeley City Ballet, and now has over 25 years experience in the performing art industry as a dancer, choreographer, and instructor. She has trained with several dance companies including Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, and Joffrey Ballet. She has also performed with a variety of companies including Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, CODA Dance Company, and Washington Reflections.

Kimberly was a dance instructor and choreographer for Berkeley Youth Alternative, Dance Institution of Washington, and Oxford Elementary. She has trained in and taught ballet, jazz, Horton, hip hop, and modern dance to kids of all ages and adults. Dance enables her to dedicate her creative and analytical abilities to an art form that she loves passionately. Kimberly states, “Dance is a tool I use to aid people in self-discovery and to encourage a positive sense of self-worth. While instructing, I employ various techniques to physically condition the body and to encourage self-expression.”

Rachel Nesheim (Dance Teacher)

Specialties: Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz

Rachel began classical dance training in 2004 when she was granted a scholarship to study ballet and modern dance at Moving Arts Dance studio in Walnut Creek, California. In 2011, Rachel was accepted into the School of Dance at Oakland School for the Arts, where she trained extensively in ballet, contemporary and jazz. She has competed and placed in USA Dance collegiate competitions in several dances within the International Standard and International Latin Syllabus. While specializing in contemporary dance choreography, Rachel also enjoys learning ballroom, hip-hop and NFL/NBA Pro style. Rachel holds a dual degree in Dance and Performance Studies and English from the University of California, Berkeley.