MEET OUR STAFF
SHAWN RYAN
Co-Founding Director
Recently seen on the Freeform show, Famous in Love, and Hit Fox Show Bones. Other TV Credits include: The Mentalist, Women’s Murder Club, Life, and America’s Got Talent. Shawn’s career as an Actor, Producer, Singer, Writer, and all around artist serves him well at camp. He’ll be more than happy to work with you on making that Monologue memorable or Selling your 32 bars so that you GET THE PART! Shawn most recently wrote and directed the CampYATC short “Henry” which made its debut at The Cannes Film Festival marking Shawn’s 8th film in 5 years at this prestigious festival. In addition to “Henry”, Shawn has recently completed writing YATC’s Summer Musical and new feature entitled “Feels Like Home” to be produced later this year. “YATC is the place that I wished I had when I was a kid. It is my honor to have worked with over 5,000 students in almost 20 years and I aspire to inspire and know that I will be inspired by each and every one of you at The Young Actors’ Theatre Camp.”
LIZ POPOV
Activities Coordinator
Liz has been with YATC since
2014, first as a camper, then as a
counselor, then as associate
producer at Winter Camp and,
now, she's been directing and
writing films for camp for 3
years! She's been passionate
about filmmaking, writing, and
acting since she was just three
years old. Some of her works at
camp include "Never Alone" and
"Hidden Dark". Liz is a recent
graduate of San Jose State
University, holding a degree in
Business Marketing, and is
currently pursuing her MBA!
Camp is her home and her family
and she can't wait to give out
hugs left and right! (Also... if you
need someone to talk to about
the different varieties of gummy
worms, she's your gal!)
Valerie Dohrer
Associate Director
Valerie lives her true passion as the Associate Director of the Young Actors’ Theatre Camp. Through YATC she has gained experience in Directing, Producing, Stage Management, Screenwriting, Costume Design, and becoming a stage mom to the YATC Mascot, Gazpacho.
She has been with YATC since 2006 and is proud to nurture the safe and supportive environment it provides. She can’t imagine doing anything else than working for YATC!
As YATC's Resident Meryl Streep, she spends her days opening malls and spreading the YATC spirit.
Contact her with any Camp or Meryl Streep related questions! Valerie@campyatc.com
AJ HAMILTON
Technical Director
AJ has been with YATC since 2008 and he is thrilled to be teaching the next generation about the performing arts! AJ is an actor/voice actor in Los Angeles, appearing in TV, Movies, Video Games and Commercials. He also hosts multiple podcasts and interviewing famous folk on the Red Carpet. He graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Theater Arts and has studied at A.C.T..
“Watching children find the magic in pretending, performing and realizing their own potential is the most rewarding thing about this camp!”
GAZPACHO
YATC Mascot
Gazpacho has been the YATC Mascot since 2014 when her first attended at the age of 4 months old. He can be seen in such YATC Films as "Jurassic Bark," "Monoceros Lex," "It's Your Doody," and in various posts on Instagram @CampYATC.
GABRIEL ROWLAND
Tech Department
Gabriel has been going to YATC since 2018 at the age of 16, and can’t wait to see everyone at camp!
ACTING DEPARTMENT
*Teachers are subject to change depending on session*
JEANETTE PENLEY-MARKER
Monologues and Classical
Theater Instructor
Jeanette Penley-Marker has been with YATC since 2012 as a Monologue and Classical Theater teacher. She has an extensive background in theatre – both on stage and behind-the-scenes, with experience in directing and casting. She has performed locally in the Bay Area as well as theatres around the world. She also has credits in films for Pixar and starred as a leading role in a web series. Her favorite role is being mom to two beautiful girls and one handsome son.
SARAH GABOURY
Acting Instructor
Sarah Gaboury is a working on-set acting coach in Los Angeles,
recently wrapping Season 6 of
NBC's This Is Us. Sarah has worked with actors across the country on film and tv sets, at camps, schools and theatre companies ranging from LAByrinth Theater Company’s Master Class to hit network tv shows. She owns and operates LA acting studio Real Actor’s Lab where she teaches classes and workshops, coaches actors for auditions and helps working actors prepare for challenging scenes and roles on film and tv. Sarah is known best for helping actors get out of their heads so they can stop pretending and truly live the story on the page.
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VIKKI KELLEHER
Acting Instructor
Victoria Kelleher
(She/Her)moved to Los Angeles to follow her passion for acting. In no time, she landed her first guest appearance opposite Jennifer Aniston on the hit NBC show “Friends”. She has worked with such powerhouses as Steven Spielberg , Sally Field and Chris Evans. She continued to hone her skills through the ever- challenging craft of improvisation at the renowned ImprovOlympic West UCB and the Groundlings , and teaching with her amazing acting teacher Lesly Kahn. Most recently, she done THE OFFER, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT and the Apple TV+ movie GHOSTED. She has been blessed as well with a wonderful commercial career, most recently working with Charles Barkley.
KAREN MOORE
Monologues and Classical
Theater Instructor
Karen Moore is an actor and director who specializes in and has a particular love for classical theatre! As a performer she has graced the stages of the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Theatre Rhinoceros and Teatra Bella, and has directed for such companies as Highlands Children's Theatre and Shady Shakespeare Theatre Company. Recently Karen has been developing an original play based on Shakespeare's most memorable characters. She is proud to be a member of the YATC Family !
LOGAN THOMASON
Acting Instructor
Logan Thomason (He/Him) is an actor,
writer, and director who has been part of the YATC family for 12 years! Logan is an alumni of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied acting at the Atlantic Acting School and Stonestreet Studios. Logan has originated theatrical roles across the country and has worked internationally on camera, but is most proud of his work as a writer/director with the incredible actors at YATC. His most recent short films August and Royalty screened at the Cannes Film Festival's American Pavilion. His most recent acting credits include Amazon Prime's Harlem and The History Channel's Food That Built America.
CAITLYN GORMAN
Acting Instructor
Caitlyn Gorman (She/Her) is a
counselor and instructor at Camp
YATC. She earned her
Theatre Education and
Performance BFA with a minor in
Psychology at Emerson College
in Boston MA. She has so much love for acting and directing and getting to
know other people and being at
camp!! GOOOO YATC
KAPOW!! Caitlyn leads our
Acting Track Showcases and
works on one with our campers
to make sure that their talents
are presented in a spectacular
spotlight.
MUSICAL THEATRE DEPARTMENT
NATALIE BRICE
Head of Musical Theater Vocal Department
Natalie is a piano/voice coach and composer in LA, and she's here to work with you on all things musical theatre! She'll be leading a fun workshop on acting a specific song at YATC this summer, and available for private coaching on your musical theatre songs as well. She wants to grant you access to the truth behind your song's story, as well as make it feel beautifully comfortable on your voice. Can't wait to see you all very soon!
JILLIAN BUTLER
Musical Theatre Instructor
Jillian Butler is a professional actor who has toured the country with several National tours including WICKED, Cinderella and was most recently seen as Cosette in Les Misérables. As a Boston Conservatory graduate, she knows first-hand how the college audition process works and is passionate about helping young artists with tools to cultivate their full potential for future auditions and projects. She is excited to bring her knowledge from working professionally back to her roots in the Bay Area!
Head of Dance Department/ Choreographer
EMMY FREVELE
Emmy Frevele is a Dancer, Creator, Director, Choreographer, and all-encompassing Performer. She can be seen dancing alongside Paula Abdul, Green Day, Cher Lloyd, Bella Thorne, and many others. A professional dancer for 10 years, Emmy shares her experiences in the industry and tips and tricks for how to succeed. A dance instructor at some of most elite kids & teens studios in Los Angeles, Emmy is thrilled to be teaching with CampYATC again. Students will learn to tune the instrument that is their body, through means of amplifying their strengths, picking up and performing choreography, and enhancing their dance technique. Her students are comfortable, confident, and consistently challenged in a fun and positive environment. Emmy’s teaching style cultivates confidence, derived from the idea that working hard pays off, and the outcome is well worth the effort.
Musical Theatre Instructor
MATT MOCCOY
Matthew McCoy is an actor, singer, and dancer who just moved to New York City. He has been coming to YATC since 2014 and is excited to spend his 6th New Years at the place he loves most! As camp’s resident musical theatre encyclopedia, he loves to talk all things Broadway (especially the divas who have graced its stages!), film and television, and pop music! He can’t wait to meet you all!
FILM DEPARTMENT
Cinematographer
CONNOR TREES
Connor majored in film production at San Diego State University. He is incredibly excited to be working at YATC and to spend time in the community of passionate and enthusiastic people that come to the camp each year. He has an undying appreciation for anything involving penguins and cried on his fourth viewing of Endgame. (That'll be our little secret) He may act a little shy at first but you can break him out of that easily with a funny accent and a joke.
Cinematographer
JAY BUNGAY
Jay is a filmmaker based in New York City with extensive experience in broadcast television and documentary filmmaking. Jay began his career working on CBS's Guiding Light which jump-started his career in Television. As a cinematographer, his experience is vast, working for companies like NBC, Financial Times, Showtime and Fox Sports. In the commercial world he has created content for Amazon, Fedex, and the Coca-Cola Company. He's worked on previous Winter Film Camp films and joined YATC at the Cannes Film Festival.
Applied Improv Coach
COLBY LOESCH
Colby Loesch (He/Him) works as an improv instructor in Reno, NV. Colby is the lead instructor and program director for multiple after-school programs. Dungeons and Dragons is Colby’s favorite creative outlet, extending his love for performance and storytelling into working with kids to help them create lasting connections within their community. Colby attends the University of Nevada, Reno where he is pursuing a degree in psychology and political science. Last summer Colby led the Creative Track in their final shows at Camp and put on
fantastic and unique shows for everyone! Thinking outside the box and "yes and-ing"is where he lives!
Film Department
MORGAN GIBSON
Morgan is a lover of all things that can possibly be considered art and an avid movie nerd, and they love spending their time finding creative ways to practice those interests within their current work— a climbing gym, farmer’s market, and plant nursery! She’s previously worked several years as a nanny, and is stoked to combine a love of working with children and serving their community, with creative growth and self expression. YATC is something they wish they could’ve been a part of as a camper, so they’re absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to work as a counselor, to inspire— and be inspired by the campers.
Film Department
DANNY PINTAURO
Danny (He/Him) is best known for his impressive eight-year run as the precocious and spunky
Jonathan Bower on the popular ABC sitcom, “Who’s The Boss?” starring Judith Light, Tony Danza and Alyssa Milano. Pintauro began his professional career at the age of 2 as a model and commercial actor. By the time he was 3, he had a five-year contract role on CBS’s daytime drama, “As The World Turns.” This was followed by his acclaimed film debut playing Tad in Stephen King’s legendary Cujo. Other film and television credits include “The Benniker Gang”, CBS’s “Timestalkers,” and a two-part season opener on “Highway To Heaven” with Michael Landon.
JIMMY MOLINA
Sound Engineer
Jimmy Molina is a Production Sound Mixer and Boom Operator. He has worked on feature films, short films, music videos, and more! Jimmy is a YATC fan favorite and will be there to answer any of your sound and industry questions about film!
Max Coddington
Cinematographer
Max is a passionate filmmaker. He considers filmmaking to be the most democratic of art forms, film is an art form that people can relate to the most out of any medium. It's hard to relate to a painting until you really know the artist's intent, but in film, you can relate to a character or scenario for an hour and thirty minutes. And within that hour and thirty minutes, you can change someone's life or viewpoint on reality.
JORDAN EICHORN
Cinematographer
Jordan is beyond excited to be back at YATC this winter! She is in her third year at San Diego State University where she majors in Television, Film, and New Media Production and is interested in pursuing a minor in dance. Jordan attended her first YATC session during the winter of 2013 and has returned each year ever since. Camp has been the best place to further develop her passion for dancing, singing, acting, and filmmaking. She can not wait to spend this winter with all of you!
FX Makeup Expert
FRANCES CAPEL
Frances (she/they) has been with
YATC since 2008! When she’s not teaching, hosting our ICONIC drag show, or lifeguarding at the pool, she works as a makeup artist and actor in Los Angeles and North Carolina. Most recently she’s worked on projects such as Nickelodeon's 'All That', Freeform's
New Years Eve Special, Tinder's Youtube channel, a few music videos including Awolnation's 'The Best', and a slew of feature films and shorts. Frances has many passions including singing, psychology, history, wearing tacky outfits, doing too much, and of course YATC! It is such a treat for her to be able to collaborate with these talented students & encourage their interests during the process!
Headshot Photographer
JOHN BRANTLEY COLE
John Brantley Cole is an established actor as well as a phenomenal headshot photographer. He's first film was Mystery Men, with Janeane Garafalo and Eddie Izzard and was most recently seen as Dr.Vu, in the Netflix series, Boo B*tch, playing Lana Condor's father from To All the Boys I've Loved Before. John is excited to be returning to YATC for another fabulous session!