Production Staff
MTA hires a number of highly experienced professionals to be part of their production staff. Here are some of our production staff members:
Jackie Stewart Hammond (Producing Artistic Director)
is a two-time ariZoni award-winning Music Director (eleven-time nominated) and National Youth Arts award-winning Music Director (four times nominated as Director and Vocal Director). She has been teaching music and theatre for over 30 years, graduated with honors from San José State University (Creative Arts and Musical Theatre) and is also 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 of Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Jackie has extensive experience in the performing arts and professional theatre. Favorite roles have included Gino/Harpo Marx in Day in Hollywood/Night in the Ukraine, Annie (twice) as Lily and Miss Hannigan, Cathy in The Last Five Years, Into the Woods (twice) as The Witch and Cinderella, and Fantine in Les Misérables alongside her daughter Noelle Hammond who played the role of Little Cosette. She composed original arrangements of songs for San José State'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 CA and AZ, including one of the nation's largest youth theaters in San José. Directing and performing experience includes close to 200 shows to her credit. She really enjoys her job as Producing Artistic Director and Founder of MTA and very much appreciates the hard work from her production staff, the dedicated parent volunteers, and the incredible performers. Much love to her supportive husband, Jeff and wonderful twin children, Lennon and Noelle.
Lyndsie Clymer (Co-Director, choreographer)
Lyndsie Clymer 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 Acrobatic Arts. She shares her love for dance teaching at studios around Arizona. Lyndsie has worked with various levels of dancers ages ranging form 2 to Adult. Lyndsie teaches at Dynamic Motion Dance Academy and Dancers Domain. She is a Guest Choreographer at Boulder Creek High School with the Choir and Dance Program. Lyndsie has found her home choreographing shows for Musical Theatre of Anthem. She has done many shows here, her favorites being Disney's Mary Poppins, Once On This Island, and 13. Lyndsie was given the Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Award which only a few were awarded in the state of Arizona. Lyndsie's choreography has be awarded and recognizes through Competitions, NYAs and district evaluations. She is incredibly grateful to be able to do what she loves every single day. Lyndsie truly just loves to share her passion with her students!
Tracy Brown (Choreographer)
started dancing at the age of three. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theatre. She graduated from NAU with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. She has always loved working with children and watching them grow. She has been choreographing with Ridgeline Academy Drama Club since 2020. She is so grateful to be part of the MTA family!
Elleia Carter (Production Stage Manager)
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.
Melissa Davis (Director, Vocal Director)
Melissa is a director, singer, and actor. She is the Music and Drama teacher at Ridgeline Academy. She graduated from the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts 2 year conservatory program in 2010. There she was immersed in rigorous acting, movement, dance, and vocal training. In 2011, she completed a Casting internship at PCPA. She later went on to complete her BA in Child and Adolescent Psychology at Argosy University. She has performed in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (PCPA), Distracted (PCPA), The Importance of Being Earnest (Brelby), Crimes of the Heart (GCC), and Godspell (GCC). With Ridgeline Academy Drama Club, she has directed Elf Jr., The Lion King Jr., Seussical Jr., Peter Pan Jr., James and the Giant Peach Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., and High School Musical Jr. She has vocal directed Annie Jr. and James and the Giant Peach Jr. at MTA.
Karen Gallagher (Grant Writer/Office Coordinator)
has been with MTA since 2018. She represents MTA at the Anthem Area Chamber of Commerce meetings and works to get local business and community support for the theatre. Karen has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University. Karen taught elementary school technology classes for 10 years before joining MTA. Karen works from home and loves spending time with her husband Eric and their three little ones Liam, Cora, Patrick!
Jim Gradillas (Director)
has been teaching/directing youth theatre for 26 years. He has been a professional actor, teacher, director and writer all over Arizona during this time. Jim has won fourteen AriZoni Awards for Theatre Excellence, which includes five for original writing. He has also won several National Arts Awards and Child Empowerment Awards. In addition, he was a teaching artist for Arizona Commission on the Arts. He has directed and taught for Mesa Arts Center, Valley Youth Theatre, Theater Works, East Valley Children's Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, Greasepaint Youth Theatre, and has directed and wrote for Scottsdale Christian Academy, Musical Theatre of Anthem, Montessori Kingdom of Learning and Mesa Arts Academy. He currently produces, directs and writes for a youth theatre, Acting Zone in Goodyear, AZ. Jim is thrilled to be back to be a part of Musical Theatre of Anthem, a place that is near and dear to his heart. Jim lives with his lovely wife, Michelle (and writing partner) in west valley.
Casen Halpin (Improv Games Instructor)
is a Junior at Boulder Creek. He has been performing at MTA since he was 7 and has student assisted and worked with tech staff for many shows prior. Casen is also one of MTA’s Gold Group Ambassadors and enjoys representing MTA throughout the community. With this group, he competed in MTCA in California and has traveled to New York City to learn great theatre skills at places such as Broadway Dance Center and Open Jar Studios. He's excited to share these skills he learned with his students!
Lennon Hammond (Improv Games Instructor)
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.
Noelle Hammond (Minis Instructor)
Professional Credits: Chess at The Muny (Ensemble), Fun Home (Stage Reading in NYC - Small Alison), Matilda (Regional Premiere - u/s/perf Matilda/Ensemble), The Prince of Egypt (Young Miriam) with Stephen Schwartz, and Atlantis (Alexa) all at Tuacahn Ampitheater. Favorite Regional Credits: Little Women (Jo), Mean Girls (Cady), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), A Chorus Line (Cassie), Cats Young Actors Edition (Demeter), Secret Garden (Mary - NYA Award), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy - NYA Award), and The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy - NYA Award).
Sherry Henderson (Director/Choreographer)
has been a dance educator for over 25 years. She and her family relocated to Roswell, Ga. 7 years ago where she is currently on staff at RISPA in Milton , Ga teaching Musical Theatre , acrobatics jazz and tap , as well as directing and Choreographing. Sherry has performed on Broadway and toured the world as a dancer and performer. She is an ariZoni award winner for Best Choreography for several musicals. Sherry is also proud to have been a part of choreographing and/or directing over 20 productions at Musical Theatre of Anthem over the last 15 years. Sherry is very grateful for her husband Jim and two beautiful children Jaden, 21 and Molly ,17.
Jessica Kishbaugh (ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER, 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
Laura O'Meara (Director)
Laura began her theatrical production career as a drama teacher at a private Christian school in Chicago where she produced and directed musicals with 120+ students, ages 6-14. She also served on and eventually led the drama team at her church, where she acted in and/or directed weekly dramas and full-scale adult and children's musical productions. Giving children the opportunity to experience the thrills and benefits of theatre is truly Laura's passion, and she thanks Jackie and Jeff Hammond for allowing her to share that passion with the children and teens of MTA. Laura also wants to thank her husband, Dean, and her daughter, Kelsey, for always supporting her and believing in her.
Cash Pettit (Minis Instructor)
is a junior. Cash has worked on a few shows at Mta, including My Son Pinocchio Jr, and Finding Nemo Jr. He also ran lights for the 2024 Spring Minis. Cash is also in MTA’s outreach group and had the opportunity to travel to California to compete at MTCA, and traveled to New York to take classes at Open Jar Studios, and Broadway Dance Center. He enjoys basketball, playing piano and playing guitar.
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 Misérables (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.
