Nina Noelle Russell, CYT Student
Artistic Director
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
Leah Neuenschwander has lived all over the Bay Area, but was born and raised in Sacramento. She earned her BS in Business Administration at UC Berkeley and later went on to receive her MA in Theological Studies. Her background includes banking, administration, ministry, and most recently before joining CYT she was teaching at the elementary level. 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. She is grateful to bring her varied experiences on board to support 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
A born and bred native of Sacramento, Heather Mader has spent her life bringing stories to life in the forms of acting, Reader’s Theater, teaching public speaking, voice over and writing. As a parent volunteer she was able to use her love of sewing and design to help bring CYT’s stories to life in the costumes of Fiddler on the Roof, Crazy for You and Into the Woods.
Heather is honored to be the Roseville Show Coordinator and loves serving the families of CYT. She is thrilled to help provide an opportunity for every child to have access to the Arts so they bring their own stories to life!
Roseville Class Coordinator
Born in Southern California and transplanted to Texas for 20+ years, Anna Christiansen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Edward’s University in Austin. After several years of working in the field of child welfare and crisis counseling as a social worker, Anna made the choice to stay home to raise her two children, Daniel and Bianca. Anna, her husband Alex and two children, moved to the Sacramento area in 2009. Being fluent in Spanish, she returned to the work force and taught Spanish to elementary and middle school students in a private school setting. Anna is active in her church serving in children's ministry and as a translator for many years on the youth missions trips to Ensenada, Mexico. With the participation of her daughter in CYT, she fell in love with theater arts and with CYT in particular. She has been class coordinator in Roseville since 2015 and has felt very blessed to be able to serve the CYT community.
Auburn Show Coordinator
Originally from San Jose, Lara moved to the Auburn area in 2005 with her husband and children. Her youngest daughter joined the CYT family back in 2012 with Annie Jr. and became hooked! During that same time, Lara had the opportunity to witness the CYT families grow, bond and build community. She too, desired to play a part in what God was doing through CYT. Through different circumstances, their family had the privilege of raising a combination of 8 kids and teens at one time, which required excessive organization. When the opportunity arose for her to put those "directorial" skills to use and dive deeper into CYT, she jumped at the chance. With a gifting of encouragement, she enjoys loving on and praying for the youth and their families. Lara is overjoyed that CYT is now in Auburn and is humbled to be a part of it.
Auburn Class Coordinator
Rhianna Rowe loves the theater arts, especially the confidence and skills they provide. Her daughters joined CYT classes in 2015 and Rhianna joined the teaching staff shortly after. She has taught tap dance, beginning drama, and the Wiggles and Our Gang. Her children made their production premiere in CYT Sacramento’s inaugural season in Auburn in 2017. 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 CYT Class Coordinator for the Auburn chapter.
Box Office Coordinator
Micky Velebit has been a part of the CYT family since 2013, and is now blessed to become part of the staff coordinating group sales and field trips. As a former public educator, she holds a BS in Human Development with a minor in Education from UC Davis. For the last 13 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, Vacation Bible School, and helps to lead MOPS. In her free time, you will find her running the trails and streets of Roseville, cheering on her 5 active children in their sports & theater endeavors, or curled up reading a good book. She is excited to become a part of the Box Office team where she can ensure that children experience healthy, family-friendly live theater.