Nina Noelle Russell, CYT Student
Artistic Director & Co-Founder
Wendy Hoover has worked professionally as a singer, actor, and violinist for more than 20 years. A proud member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actors’ Equity Association, Wendy’s love for the theater was sparked when she first took to the stage as one of the original students in the founding years of CYT San Diego. She co-founded CYT Sacramento in 2012 and has enjoyed directing, music directing, teaching classes and choreographing in CYT’s Roseville and Auburn Chapters.
Beyond CYT, Wendy studied at the University of New Mexico, where she earned a degree in Music with an emphasis in voice. After gaining experience in dinner theater, cabaret, musical theater and opera, Wendy returned to Southern California and went on to play lead and supporting roles in theater, television, and film. Some highlights of Wendy's career include roles in the Hallmark Movie, Santa Jr., the world premiere of Current Nobody at the La Jolla Playhouse, Alice in Alice in Modernland at Sledgehammer Theater and Christine in The Phantom in Concert, at the Santa Fe Music Hall. She starred in the one woman show, Marilyn...Sleepless Nights, playing Marilyn Monroe, at the American Theater in Kansas City. She has also worked as a principal actor in a number of national, regional, and local commercials. As a violinist, Wendy played for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change for productions at San Diego Repertory Theatre and Starlight, and also for several productions of A Christmas Carol at The Rep.
Wendy moved to the Sacramento area in 2010 and is excited to bring her love of the stage and passion for developing character to a new generation of aspiring actors.
Managing Director
Rosemarie is passionate about theatre. From community to professional stages, no matter the title or role, she will work tirelessly to ensure that the show will go on. Rosemarie earned her associate degree in Theatre Arts from Brookdale Community College, New Jersey, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management with honors, summa cum laude, from California Coast University. Rosemarie’s theatre & film productions includes producer, director, writer, and performer. She’s also a director, writer, performer of sketch comedy & improv. Rosemarie is a graduate of The Second City, Director’s Program & Improv. Additionally, she has served as the Program Director for ARTSPark and school concert series, founding member, promoter, artistic, executive, and managing director of North County Coalition for the Arts (NoCCA). Rosemarie has been appointed as cities’ Arts Commissioner, and the Imperial County’s Arts Commissioner, together with the state-local partnership with California Arts Council. Her professional background includes management positions in theatre art organizations, non-profits, banking, transportation, and retail management. Rosemarie has consulting experience for large corporations and non-profit organizations in strategic planning, fundraising, DEI & sensitivity training, HR, structural organization, budget, conflict resolution, customer service, marketing, and revenue. She is known for volunteering countless hours in the community, church, public education, and for the arts. Rosemarie is thrilled to be appointed the Managing Director of CYT Sacramento, as the position combines her passion for performance, arts education, a safe space for children, community, and the business of theater. Rosemarie has a connection with CYT. It is because of CYT San Diego she was able to engage and inspire young actors by means of renting professional costumes. She is forever grateful. And it is by the same kindness she received from CYT San Diego, alongside Commitment to Character, Rosemarie is dedicated to lead with kindness as CYT Sacramento's Managing Director.
Controller
Leah Neuenschwander earned her BS in Business Administration at UC Berkeley and later went on to receive her Masters in Theological Studies. Her background includes bookkeeping, banking, administration, ministry, and teaching. Leah has enjoyed numerous CYT performances over the years and appreciates the high quality of the program and the character and confidence it builds in students. Leah thrives in the storytelling of numbers and is grateful to bring her varied experiences on board to support and sustain the mission of CYT.
Director of Marketing and Development
Jennifer Esparza was born in Roseville, CA and still resides in her hometown with her husband and their two children. From a very small age, Jennifer could be found writing skits and performing shows for family that developed into a love for performing on stage throughout high school.
In college Jennifer pursued her creativity by earning her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at Sacramento State. Jennifer continued to build her experience in the creative industry as a newspaper editor and editorial assistant in book publishing. Jennifer has appeared in a handful of commercial advertisements and looks forward to what the Lord asks her to do next. Jennifer currently maintains a lifestyle blog, is an editor of a local magazine, and passionately working as the marketing director for CYT Sacramento.
Thriving on a healthy balance between work and play, she can be found curled up with a book, enjoying time at the gym, planning the next family vacation or cheering on her kids at their many sporting events.
Roseville Show Coordinator
Rhianna Rowe loves the theater arts, especially the confidence and skills they provide. Her children joined CYT classes in 2015, and Rhianna joined the teaching staff shortly after. She has taught tap dance, Beginning Drama, Wiggles, and Our Gang at CYT. In 2019, Rhianna became the Camp Coordinator and Class Coordinator for CYT Sacramento’s Auburn chapter. Rhianna revisited her Camp Coordinator role in 2020 at the Roseville chapter and continued as the Class Coordinator in Auburn. In 2021, Rhianna became the Roseville Show Coordinator after serving as a volunteer on several parent teams in eight CYT productions in Auburn. Her family is so appreciative of the values, quality, and lasting friendships CYT provides. It is her delight to serve the surrounding communities as the Show Coordinator for CYT Sacramento’s Roseville chapter.
Folsom Chapter Coordinator
As the daughter of a Naval officer, Bonny grew up all over the world beginning in Southern California then London, England, Virginia, Rhode Island, Santiago, Chile and finally back to Northern California where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of the Pacific. Bonny met her husband Don while attending a layman's program at Faith Bible College and after graduation they moved to the Sacramento area where they have enjoyed living for over 30 years! Bonny worked as a lobbyist for Traditional Values Coalition, Concerned Women for America and as a legislative aide for a California State Assemblyman until transitioning to the role of "homeschool mom". In addition to leading various homeschool co-ops, that season of life was rich with supporting her children's activities. While her older boys were young, Bonny served as Children's Ministry Director for Christian Life Ministries. She volunteered as team mom through the little league and soccer years and then served on the Board of Directors for the 200 swimmer strong El Dorado Hills Tazmanian Devils Swim Team where she was tasked with team communications and the annual fundraiser, Laps for Taz. When her boys transitioned to high school, Bonny served as the President of the Oak Ridge High School Parent Teacher Organization, coordinating parent volunteers. She also supported the ORHS Jr and Varsity Swim and Water Polo teams by organizing annual awards banquets, game and tournament volunteers, and booster events. When her youngest daughter departed from the family sports obsession and turned her passion to theater, the news was met with "joy unspeakable" because it was Bonny's passion too growing up! The Verner family found a lovely home at CYT with friendly, supportive, safe community who balance striving for excellence with grace. Over the course of 11 shows at the Roseville Chapter, Bonny learned "all things CYT" by serving as Greenroom lead and then Show Chair where she worked alongside the Area Coordinator to support all the production teams. Bonny could not be happier that CYT is coming to Folsom and is honored to bring the blessing of wholesome theater-arts to a new group of CYT-ers!
Box Office Coordinator
Roseville Class Coordinator
Micky Velebit has been a part of the CYT family since 2013 when her oldest kids stepped onto the stage in Aladdin, Jr. As a former public educator, she holds a BS in Human Development with a minor in Education from UC Davis. For the last 15 years, she has been educating her own children at home, and reports that she loves being a part of the "a-ha" moments and the experiences where her kids step out and grow. She is very involved in her local church where she teaches Sunday School, organizes Bible Day Camp, and serves on the Children’s Ministry team. In her free time you will find her running the trails and streets of Roseville, cheering on her 5 active children in their sports and theater endeavors, or curled up reading a good book. Micky began working for CYT in 2019 as the Box Office Coordinator, scheduling school, senior and community groups for our amazing productions. She is excited to add Roseville’s Class Coordinator to her roles, where she can partner with families and children ensuring they experience quality theater arts classes in a wholesome and safe environment.
