JACKIE STEWART HAMMOND | PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Jackie is an ariZoni award-winning Music Director and NYA award winner. She has been teaching music and theatre for over thirty years. Her voice students have garnered high placements in numerous vocal competitions and have been admitted into top colleges in the nation. She graduated with honors from San Jose State University where she majored in Creative Arts and minored in Musical Theatre. Jackie is a graduate of the American Musical Theater Artists’ Institute where she rigorously trained in voice, dance, and acting, as well as Shakespeare, improvisation, and stage combat. She also spent a summer studying opera with the chairman of the music department from Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
Jackie has extensive experience in the performing arts and professional theatre where she has played leading roles in many musical productions, and has also received an ariZoni nomination for her portrayal of Cinderella in Into the Woods. Other favorite roles have included Gino/Harpo Marx (Day in Hollywood/Night in the Ukraine), Lily and Miss Hannigan (Annie), Cathy (Last Five Years), and the Witch (Into the Woods). Jackie has worked with all ages in theatrical performances from age three through adult. She composed original arrangements of many musical theater songs for San Jose State University’s Touring Group, “Company One” where in her college years, she performed with them, as well.

Jackie has vocal directed, directed, and choreographed for many theatres in California and Arizona, including one of the nation’s largest youth theaters in San Jose. Directing and performing experience includes well over 150 shows to her credit with MTA as well as American Musical Theatre of San Jose, Cabrillo Stage, Foothill Music Theatre, This Side of the Hill Players, Second Stage West, University Theater, Desert Foothills Theater, Theaterworks, West Bay Opera, Children’s Musical Theatre of San Jose, Young People’s Theater, and iTheatre Collaborative, Arizona Broadway Theater, and Phoenix Theatre performing in Jeff Kennedy’s Christmas Cabaret.

Jackie has held many titles including Miss Santa Clara County and was third runner-up in Miss California State. She has participated in and judged countless California state scholarship and talent competitions, as well as talent competitions in Arizona. In addition to being involved with theater, Jackie has been a classroom teacher and Reading Specialist. Jackie has also taught music in schools for many years. She teaches private voice lessons, and her students have performed professionally and in national tours. In addition to Jackie’s musical talents, she is married to her husband, Jeff, and they have twin children who are the lights of her life. It has always been Jackie’s dream to open her own theater and she thanks everyone for their wonderful support.

LYNDSIE CLYMER | DIRECTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER

Lyndsie has been dancing since the age of 3 at Dynamic Motion Dance Academy. She has studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Breaking, Modern, Ballroom, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theater, and Acrobatics. Lyndsie is certified in Jazz with Dance Educators of America and Acro with Acrobatics Arts. She shares her love for dance teaching at studios around Arizona. Lyndsie has worked with various levels of dancers ages ranging from 2 to adult. Lynsdie is the proud owner of Powerhouse Dance Studio. Lyndsie has found her home choreographing shows for MTA. She has been involved in many shows with her favorites being Disney’s Moana Jr., Once on this Island, Matilda Jr., Singing in the Rain Jr., and 13 the Musical. Lyndsie was given the Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Award and only a few were awarded in the state of Arizona. Lyndie’s choreography has been awarded and recognized through competitions, NYAs, and district evaluations.

CRIS WO | VOCAL DIRECTOR

A few Chris’ local theatre credits include A New Brain, Myths and Hymns, Forever Plaid, Into the Woods, Songs for a New World, Baby, Lucky Stiff, Chess and Badgers: We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Badgers. Cris is also a composer and alumni of the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project and ASCAP TBC Writers’ Workshops in Chicago.

JESSICA KISHBAUGH | ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, OUTREACH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MINIS DIRECTOR, LIGHT AND SOUND DESIGNER, HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN

Jessica recently graduated from Southwest Institute of Natural Aesthetics and obtained her Esthetics license. Jessica enjoys working at MTA year-round as the Assistant to the Producing Artistic Director. In addition to Stage Managing throughout the season she also had her directorial debut with A Year with Frog and Toad KIDS earlier this season. Jessica has been performing with MTA since its inception and is now enjoying working on the production side of things. She appreciates all of the opportunities Jackie Hammond and MTA has given her the past 15 years. Aside from MTA, Jessica is embarking on a new business endeavor as she opened her esthetics business, Skin Esteem. Check out her website and social medias for more information! SkinEsteemAZ.com/@SkinEsteemAZ

SHAWNA WEITEKAMP | DIRECTOR, VOCAL DIRECTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER

Shawna is so happy to be back at MTA where she has received many awards and nominations for her work as Director, Choreographer, and Music Director. Her very first show at MTA was You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and she was very excited to revisit it. Some of the other shows she has worked on are The Addams Family Young@Part (D/C),The Secret Garden (D/C), Seussical Jr. (MD), Legally Blonde Jr. (D/C/MD), Les Mis�rables (C), Cats (co- MD), Carrie the Musical (Co-D, C), Into the Woods (C), Freckleface Strawberry (D/C/MD), Shrek Jr. the Musical (C) and Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. (D/MD) just to name a few. Thank you, Jackie, for continually giving me opportunities to expand and rediscover my creativity. 

ELLEIA CARTER | PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

Elleia is an honors and AP student at Boulder Creek High School. She has worked on numerous shows at MTA including Shrek the Musical JR, Winnie the Pooh KIDS, Be More Chill, Spongebob the Musical, My Son Pinocho JR, Willy Wonka JR, Aristocats KIDS, and Finding Nemo JR with her favorite being Spongebob the Musical. She loves working behind the scenes to help make the show run and is so grateful for the opportunity MTA has provided for her these past few years. In her free time, Elleia enjoys reading, drawing and watching movies.

LENNON HAMMOND | LIGHTING DESIGNER

Lennon played John in the first national broadway tour of the Tony Award winning musical Fun Home. His favorite roles at MTA include Damian (Mean Girls), Leaf Coneybear (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Squidward (Spongebob the Musical). Lennon is a section leader for Musical Theatre of Anthem’s Outreach Group. Also, he has designed lights for several shows, including Finding Nemo Jr., Pinocchio Jr., Little Women, Matilda Jr., 101 Dalmatians KIDS, and Frog and Toad KIDS. Lennon is looking forward to continuing teaching Improv Games during the next season.

ALEXIS ROSENBAUM | VOCAL DIRECTOR, STAGE MANAGER

Alexis is so excited to be returning to the incredible MTA staff after three years of working in the television industry in Los Angeles. During that time, she worked in casting, development, and production on reality shows including Vanderpump Villa, Bar Rescue, and June Farms. Alexis has been performing, working, and training at MTA since she was 7 years-old and has received vocal coaching in different genres for over 17 years. Alexis brings knowledge and experience in stage management, vocal directing, music theory, and private vocal lessons. Alexis is the recipient of three National Youth Arts Awards for “Mayzie LaBird” in Seussical, Jr., “Alice” in Alice in Wonderland, Jr., and “Beggar-woman/ Pirelli” in Sweeney Todd. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona, where she served as the music director of an a capella group and directed several music videos. Alexis continues to perform in musical theatre, as well as in cabarets given her love of singing and creativity. She is grateful to theatre and her teachers for helping her grow and develop as a person. She is deeply passionate and thrilled about teaching and working with the MTA youth, helping them blossom in confidence and artistry as young performers and individuals.

SAMANTHA LEWAN | CO-CHOREOGRAPHER

Sam is a dedicated and accomplished dancer with more than 20 years of training and performance experience, primarily in the competitive dance world. Originally from Chicago, she moved to Colorado at age 14 before relocating to Arizona in May 2023. Sam earned her degree in Marketing from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she was a member of the CU Boulder Dance Team. Professionally, she works in Business Development for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. In addition to her full-time career, Sam remains deeply involved in the dance community. She is entering her fourth year as a dance instructor at Powerhouse Dance and her third year as Head Pom Coach at Boulder Creek High School, where she is committed to developing athletes both on and off the floor.