Amelia Kirk

Amelia Kirk was born and raised in Colorado. She started performing in the Douglas County Children's Chorus, and ended up performing all over the world in choirs and bands. She has also performed in many musicals and operas, which instilled in her a love for theater. Amelia was recently a K-12 musical theater teacher at Home School Academy in District 20. Before moving to Colorado Springs she taught choir at Northglenn High School and had a voice and piano lesson studio. Amelia loves seeing children learn and develop new skills. She teaches Cultivate Voice classes, other CYT classes, and enjoys directing CYT musicals throughout the year. Amelia is excited to step into the role of Director of Productions at CYT!

Ashley Newell

Hello, my name is Ashley Newell. I am from Chicago but recently moved to Colorado with my husband, Brenton, and dog Dakota. I work as a freelance artist and specialize in illustration. I love to be outside whenever I have the chance! My husband and I met through CYT in Chicago and have collectively been in over 30 shows

Becca Shoemaker

Born and raised in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado, Becca Shoemaker has been immersed in dance and musical theatre since the age of two. Throughout her formative years, she trained at various dance studios in the valley, honing her skills in competitive poms, competitive dance, and musical theatre. Her passion for movement and performance flourished throughout middle and high school, paving the way for her collegiate dance journey. In the fall of 2015, Becca began her studies at the University of Wyoming (UW), where she pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. During her time at UW, she had the privilege of participating in Pablo Francisco Ruvalcaba’s reconstruction of excerpts from José Limón’s The Winged in the spring of 2016. This powerful work was later selected for performance at the National American Collegiate Dance Association Festival at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 2017, Becca broadened her artistic horizons by studying abroad in London, England, where she refined her technique at Pineapple Dance Studios, The Place, and Danceworks Studio. During this time, she had the opportunity to train under esteemed artists such as David Blake, Stephen Pelton, and Troy Powell of Ailey II. Following her semester abroad, she performed professionally at the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue, sharing the stage with her talented mother. Becca’s final years at UW were filled with remarkable performance opportunities, as well as the chance to work with distinguished guest artists, including Charmaine Hunter, Keith and Kelly Saunders, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Tai Jimenez. She graduated in December of 2018, ready to embark on her professional journey as a dancer and educator. Since earning her degree, Becca has dedicated herself to dance instruction, teaching at numerous studios in Seattle, WA, and the Denver Metro Area. In addition to her dance expertise, she holds certifications in Personal Training and Nutrition Coaching, allowing her to guide dancers toward holistic strength and wellness. Becca’s choreographic works have been recognized at the regional and national level, earning numerous Judges’ Choice Awards, “Most Entertaining” titles, Best Costume accolades, and Top Overall Placements. Her dynamic and theatrical approach to movement consistently captivates both audiences and adjudicators, reflecting her commitment to artistry and excellence. She remains dedicated to fostering a love of dance in her students while continuing to grow as an artist, educator, and mentor in the dance community.

Becca Bishop

Becca Bishop is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. She has nearly 30 years of dance experience, with training in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, theater and contemporary dance. In her youth, she primarily trained, traveled and performed with Birmingham Dance Theater. She continued studying dance throughout college in Virginia. Becca was an active thespian in high school and college, performing in numerous plays and musicals. Her love of choreography and teaching began as a teen, and she had the honor of teaching dance, Pilates and Barre classes for 10+ years before taking a break in 2013 to focus on her growing family. It is her desire to teach the joy of dance with a loving heart, to inspire creativity, to instill confidence and to help students learn what God has called them to do with their gifts and talents on and off stage. Becca has three children and a loving, supportive husband of 14 years. In her downtime, she can be found running, hiking, traveling, spending time with family, reading a good book and sewing.

Brent Kennedy

Brent is a CYT alum from the former KC South program. He started learning swing dancing at 13 in CYT and continued to widen his knowledge of various partner dances from there. During college, he toured with a swing dance performance group. He has taught partner dancing to various classes and in private lessons for over 14 years!

Brenton Newell

Brenton is thrilled to be teaching at CYT, where he and five of his six siblings first started in musical theater, also… where he and his wife Ashley met! First as a student then teaching and directing in CYT Chicago, Brenton moved to Colorado in 2024 and could not wait to get plugged in with CYT Colorado Springs. Brenton graduated from Wheaton College in 2021 with his bachelor’s degree in Media Communication with a minor in music. He currently works as a stewardship advisor and fund manager at Harvest Investment Services, but his passion for improv and theater has never wavered. From his first CYT improv class at age 10 to performing at Improvapalooza with CYT Chicago DuPage, improv has been a constant thread in his life. Brenton performs locally with Colorado Springs’ Oxymorons Comedy, where he shares the joy of the Lord through improvisational comedy. What excites him most about teaching improv is its unique ability to develop theatrical skills that can't be exercised through scripted performances—skills like spontaneity, active listening, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Improv is accessible, fun, and creative, making it an ideal environment for performers to discover and develop their unique strengths. Every improv player brings totally different gifts to the stage, and Brenton is eager to coach and encourage those individual strengths in the classroom. Students can expect an enthusiastic, supportive environment where taking creative risks is celebrated and every voice matters. “….The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Neh. 8:10b

Brett Neilsen

For as long as I can remember, I've been passionate about telling stories that inspire, challenge, and connect people. My journey began in the theatre, where I earned my Associate of Arts from the Community College of Aurora and later a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Throughout college, I had the opportunity to perform in and help produce numerous productions, serving in roles that ranged from actor to technical director, stage designer, prop master, and lighting and sound designer. Those experiences taught me the power of creativity, teamwork, and using the arts to impact others. Today, I bring that same passion for visual storytelling into my career as a professional photographer, videographer, and media creator. As the owner of Raptor Pro Media, I specialize in real estate media, portraits, branding, and video production, helping businesses, families, and individuals tell their stories through compelling imagery and cinematic content. Whether behind a camera or behind the scenes, my goal is to create work that leaves a lasting impression. Above all, my faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of everything I do. I believe every gift and opportunity is meant to glorify God and serve others. Having previously served in youth ministry and church leadership, I have a deep passion for mentoring the next generation, encouraging young people to discover their God-given talents, build strong character, and use their creativity to make a positive impact. Whether through theatre, media, or everyday life, I strive to reflect Christ by leading with integrity, excellence, and a servant's heart. My mission is simple: use storytelling, creativity, and faith to inspire people, strengthen communities, and point others toward hope.

Ellen Swalley

Ellen has been involved with CYT since the Fall of 2021, when her oldest daughter first took a class! She has previously taught a Hair &Wig class, been the Lead on Hair/Wig teams for multiple shows, lead the Photography team for multiple shows and is currently serving as a HYPE advisor along with her husband, Michael. She’s so excited to partner with him in offering this hip-hop class (after all, she taught him everything he knows…just seeing if anyone’s reading this) and get to know even more students at CYT!

Evelyn Gohl

Evelyn Gohl began her dance training at just two years old and quickly developed a passion for dance that would shape much of her life. Growing up in Colorado Springs, she dedicated years to developing her technique and artistry before moving to Washington to pursue a professional ballet career with Olympic Ballet Theatre. During her time with the company, she gained valuable experience training and performing alongside professional dancers. Now teaching at CYT, Evelyn is passionate about sharing her love of dance with the next generation. Having experienced the demanding nature of professional ballet firsthand, she understands the importance of creating a positive, supportive, and healthy learning environment. She believes dancers should be challenged to reach their full potential while still feeling encouraged, confident, and excited to learn. For Evelyn, teaching goes beyond developing strong technique. She hopes to inspire confidence, discipline, and a lasting love for dance in every student she works with. Outside of the studio, Evelyn is pursuing a degree in elementary education at Pikes Peak State College.

Heidi Guzman

Heidi has been involved in theatre since childhood and holds Bachelor’s degrees in both Theatre Performance and Nursing. Acting is her greatest theatrical passion, with experience ranging from Shakespeare and musical theatre to children’s theatre and farce. She has a knack for accents and vocal diction, and she loves the challenge of bringing all kinds of characters to life. Over the years, Heidi has also enjoyed directing, staging, props, set painting, costume construction and just about every other theatrical hat she can find. You may have spotted her painting the many sets at CYT. She was most recently seen in CCT’s Frozen, the Musical as Sven, where she added puppetry to her résumé alongside her life partner Zach! Heidi also enjoys singing and playing piano, and when she’s not doing theatre, she homeschools her three daughters, enjoys tap dancing, and helps her husband run their neurofeedback clinic. She has a special heart for children’s theatre and loves using the arts to help spread the love of Christ.

Jennifer Scheck

Jenn Scheck is a CYT mom with a deep love for the theater arts and a heart for helping students discover and use their God-given voice. Her passion for performance began early, including participation in the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale and the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. She later competed in forensics, participated in high school theater, and performed with a musical theater variety group. Jenn began college as a theater major before graduating with a double major in Communication and Psychology. As an adult, Jenn has stayed connected to the performing arts by judging speech, debate, and forensics competitions. In her professional career in Human Resources, she regularly presents and teaches in front of both large and small groups, drawing on the skills she developed through performance to communicate with clarity, confidence, and engaging storytelling. Jenn is passionate about encouraging students to grow not only as performers, but also as confident communicators who can share stories with authenticity, courage, and integrity. She is excited to create a positive, Christ-centered environment where students can build their skills, support one another, and shine the light they’ve been given.

Laura Kennedy

Laura was first introduced to partner dance at a swing dance in high school. In college she had opportunities to study it more and began branching out into other styles including waltz, foxtrot, salsa, and polka. Since then she’s been able to use them in several productions, helping her cast members learn them in the process. Now she’s excited to share these with the CYT students so they can approach the shows that call for them with competence and confidence.

Matthew Newell

Matthew is grateful to teach at CYT and loves working alongside such a talented and inspiring group of artists. Originally from Chicago, Matthew grew up in CYT Chicago before relocating to Colorado in 2020. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Dance and Psychology from Colorado Christian University. He is currently a company member with Messengerz Dance Co., a Denver-based professional Christian contemporary dance company directed by Greta Sugai. As both a performer and choreographer, Matthew continues to explore new ways of connecting movement, emotion, and storytelling through contemporary dance. Some of his dance credits include performances such as Collections, Convergence, The Nutcracker, The Comeback, Aspirations Dance Co., Heartbeat, The Hideout, Creation Cries Out, Magnificent Obsession, Let Go, and World of Dance. Beyond his work with CYT Colorado Springs, Matthew has enjoyed teaching with Castle Rock Dance Academy, Starstruck Academy of Dance, Broadway to Africa (in partnership with Young Life), CYT Chicago, Audience of One Youth Theatre, Rise Christian Performing Arts, and Colorado Christian University. In addition to teaching, Matthew enjoys performing. Some of his favorite stage credits include SpongeBob (SpongeBob the Musical), Racetrack (Newsies), Turk (Tarzan), Young Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Jack (Into the Woods), Reuben (Joseph), Lumière (Beauty and the Beast), Telly (Godspell), Daryl (Bright Star), Captain Hook (Peter Pan), and Jesse (Tuck Everlasting). Matthew has enjoyed being on directing teams for CYT Colorado Springs such as Tuck Everlasting, A Christmas Carol, Shrek The Musical, and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. As a CYT alumnus, Matthew is deeply grateful to be part of the CYT community and especially cherishes the opportunity to work in a discipleship-oriented organization such as CYT.

Michael Swalley

Michael is a born-again son of God, saved at a young age and is passionate to see both the church and nuclear family strengthened. Michael has been married to Ellen for fifteen years. They have four kids, all involved in CYT: Emmy (13); Shay (12), Jovie (10) and Eli (8). Michael is the Executive Director of a ministry called Break Free. They seek to fuel generational healing through gospel identity in urban areas. They work within the global Hip-Hop community. Michael loves spending time with his family, and if he has the chance, he enjoys reading with a good cup of coffee.

Renee Davis

Renee Davis is a founding member of Village Arts and creative director of more than 57 shows in the Colorado Springs area from Shakespeare with children, drama, comedy, musicals, murder mystery dinner theater and one acts to original works. Her production of Beauty and the Beast won Best of the Springs Gold for 2019 and her Little Women the Musical won Silver in Best of the Springs 2020. Other favorites have been directing Into the Woods, West Side Story with shadow interpreters on stage and Abandon the musical she wrote with Andrew Friedricks about the harrowing life of Gladys Aylward. Teaching freshmen English, traveling the world, and painting photo realistic landscapes are passions only eclipsed by her love of husband, daughters, sons by marriage and the growing pride of grandkids! God has blessed abundantly!

Stephanie Bercedoni

Stephanie Bercedoni has been a CYT Mom since 2023. She has been on many different parent teams and assisted with rehearsals and performances. With a Bachelors in Communication Arts from Black Hills State University, she is currently using her gifts and skills to teach art classes at High Country Home Educators and owning/working her family’s catering and food truck business, Tito’s Burritos. Along with homeschooling, she has had a life long love of music and acting that has led her to be on the church worship team, Compassion International’s choir, and in short films. She looks forward to helping her students know more about musical theater and grow closer to God.

Sydney Akridge