Rachel Ribeiro
Executive Director
Rachel was named Executive Director of New Mexico Young Actors in December of 2022, and has worked for NMYA since 2015. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, and a Master’s degree in Teaching English from New Mexico State University.
As a teacher of reading, writing, and theater, Rachel has worked with children for over two decades, and her work has always focused on “the three Rs”: Relationships, Rigor, and Relevance. Her own passion for the performing arts was first nurtured as a child with church, school, and community theater productions. As an adult, she has performed comedy improv with The Sweaty-Toothed Madmen (Wenham, MA) and community theater with the No Strings Theatre Company (Las Cruces, NM). When she first began directing youth theater in 2010, she instantly recognized it as uniquely satisfying and engaging work. It combines her love of working with children with her belief in the importance of being fully present in the moment.
Under her leadership, NMYA has shown remarkable growth and vitality: In June of 2023, she launched the NMYA Summer Shakespeare Fest, with the fifth festival in the works for the summer of 2027. In the fall of 2024, NMYA expanded its age range to include classes for younger children, with a play-based program for 5-8 year olds. Annual student enrollment in NMYA has increased by 33% since 2022, allowing us to add two additional touring productions each school year. She continues to focus on growing NMYA’s impact as a local leader in arts education, and aspires to lead NMYA with an emphasis on excellence in everything we do.
In her free time, Rachel loves to read fiction, sing in church, bike in the Rio Grande bosque, snorkel the Caribbean, hike in the Sandias and Manzanos, and cook good food for her family. As Executive Director of New Mexico Young Actors, her door is always open. The very best part of the job, she says, is growing relationships with all of the young actors and their families.
Cash Martinez
Teaching Artist
Cash’s love for theater began at New Mexico Young Actors when he joined the program at just nine years old. Years later, returning to NMYA as a director and teaching artist has brought that journey full circle. Passionate about helping young performers discover confidence, creativity, and a genuine love for the stage, Cash strives to bring creativity, enthusiasm, and heart to every project he leads.
At NMYA, Cash has directed Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Hansel and Gretel, and Dickens Christmas Carol. He also teaches Drama I and Stage Stunts and especially enjoys helping students take creative risks, build memorable characters, and discover what they are capable of onstage.
Cash’s theater leadership began early. At La Cueva High School, he served as President of Thespian Troupe #4156 and spent three years as a New Mexico State Thespian Officer. After graduating, he continued serving the local arts community as Treasurer for an Albuquerque theater company. Those experiences helped shape his love of leadership, collaboration, mentorship, and creating opportunities for young artists.
You may have spotted Cash around Albuquerque’s theater scene—onstage as Gabe in Next to Normal, Wadsworth in CLUE: On Stage, or Paul in Company, or behind the scenes music directing Mary Poppins JR and directing Dinner with the MacGuffins
.
While pursuing his BBA at the University of New Mexico, Cash has found another home for the skills theater taught him: business. He draws on performance, improvisation, storytelling, listening, and audience awareness in his coursework, professional development, and sales competitions. He has also led an improv workshop for UNM sales students, using theater exercises to strengthen confidence, adaptability, communication, and presence.
In his free time, Cash enjoys singing, cooking, playing piano, and spending time with the people he loves. Above all, he is grateful to God for His continued blessings and for the opportunity to give back to the organization that first helped him fall in love with theater.
Lisa Fenstermacher
Teaching Artist
Inspired by her experiences as a child performer with Albuquerque Children’s Theatre, Lisa earned a BFA in Theatre Education with a Minor in Special Education from UNM. As an actor, she has performed with the Vortex Theatre, Desert Rose Playhouse, Aux Dog Theatre, Fusion Theatre Company, Musical Theatre Southwest, as well as film acting with Siren 13 Media.
She has collaborated as a teaching artist in the Albuquerque community for 30 years including UNM Children’s Theatre Program, Play Conservatory, The Growing Stage, Aux Dog Children’s Theatre Company, but most notably with NMYA founder Rick Nickerson who hired her to house manage the KiMo Theatre, which she has been cheerfully doing for 20 years.
Lisa has formed a magical approach to children’s theater involving her rich roots in storytelling, puppetry, and creative movement, ensuring that every child experiences the joy of self-expression with an emphasis on the importance of play. She encourages children to discover that we all have stories to tell, and Storybook Theater or Young Players is the perfect place to begin
Carlos Antonio Baca
Resident Music Director
Carlos rejoined the NMYA team as Music Director in the Fall 2024. He has been teaching in New Mexico schools for five years and has been directing music in churches for over a decade. While teaching he has taught almost every kind of music class out there from elementary music to conducting full fledged performances at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, South Broadway Cultural Center, and the KiMo Theater.
Carlos has taken pride in developing programs of all kinds and sometimes tripling their size in just a few years’ time. Carlos studied Music Education at the University of New Mexico (2015-2019). He has wanted to do nothing more than to bring music to life on stage and to have others join him for the journey.
Carlos’s mission is to bring unparalleled music education and vocal development within these young actors for many years to come.
Michelle Eiland
Resident Choreographer
Michelle began training in dance at the age of two, holding three cumulative decades of experience. She is trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, Celtic, Latin dance, and character movement. She performs, choreographs, teaches, and assists for many theaters and companies in town.
In addition to performing, Michelle loves both teaching and learning and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Spanish, as well as a Dual License in Special and General Education, K-12. She teaches Spanish to grades 8-12 at The Public Academy for Performing Arts (PAPA). She also has professional and academic experience with Portuguese and American Sign Language. Michelle is dedicated to accessibility and equity of education. She is a childhood cancer survivor and celebrates diversity through her work.
In her spare time, Michelle runs the non-profit “Find Your Light”. She is honored to have roots in such a deeply devoted arts community here in The Land of Enchantment.
Christopher Nelson
Teaching Artist
Chris is a designer, director, and the co-teacher for NMYA’s annual Summer Shakespeare Fest. He has worked in New York City and Los Angeles in theater, film and television. He has been the Technical Director of the Actor’s Studio in New York City and president of the Company of Angels in Los Angeles. Chris is excited to be a part of the NMYA community of fantastic artists, and wonderful young performers.
Dejah Padon
Teaching Artist
Dejah is a passionate educator and seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry, bringing over 30 years of experience in choreography, performance, and production management. A native of Maui, she spent 16 years as a professional dancer, dance captain, and company manager, performing internationally in Japan, Reno, and Las
Vegas.
Her career reached new heights as Executive Dance Director and Head
Choreographer for Sin City Comedy and Burlesque aboard five Celebrity Cruise Line ships, where she traveled the globe leading dynamic, high-caliber productions. Upon returning to Maui, Dejah rekindled her love for youth theater, spending six years with the Maui OnStage Education and Youth Program at the Historic Iao Theatre, as well as King Kekaulike and Baldwin High Schools. She embraced a variety of roles—including choreographer, director, costume designer, coordinator, and teacher.
For the past three years, Dejah has brought her creativity and leadership
to Albuquerque Little Theatre, serving as Education and Youth Program Co-Coordinator. In this role, she has directed, choreographed, and taught dance, acting, and musical theater, nurturing the talents of countless young performers.
Now, Dejah is thrilled to join New Mexico Young Actors, where she is eager to share her experience, ignite a passion for the arts, and inspire the next generation of performers. She believes deeply in the transformative power of theater and is committed to cultivating confidence, creativity, and community in every student she teaches.
Aba Ortiz
Resident Costume Designer
Aba is a New Mexico native and has lived in both Albuquerque and Las Vegas, NM. He started sewing when he was five. He would sit next to his mother while she sewed costumes for their family’s annual Christmas show, sister’s dance recitals, or just making clothes for their family. He currently works at Alterations by Kathy, where he continues to learn the art of tailoring and custom alterations.
Aba joined NMYA in 2023 and loves being part of the NMYA family. In addition to designing the costumes for all of the NMYA musicals, he also spearheads the summer Costume and Prop Design Workshop, training the next generation of textile designers.
Kathy Gomez
Costume Designer
Kathy is an Albuquerque native, and the proprietor of Alterations by Kathy for over 30 years. In addition to tailoring and alterations, she also designs bespoke costumes for several film, production, and theater companies. She is known for her artistry and attention to detail.
Kathy has been designing costumes with NMYA since January of 2023.
John Craig
Production Assistant
John has worked on over fifty productions at seven theater companies in Albuquerque since retiring from The University of New Mexico ten years ago. From deck chief to fly captain, to stage and house manager, John has been involved in all backstage aspects of community theater; he even had a cameo in Landmark Musicals production of The Pirates of Penzance.
John also worked as a crisis intervention counselor for The Trevor Project. Recently elected vice-president of The Albuquerque Theatre Guild and chair of the Youth Programs committee, John now represents youth interests in all aspects of theater across the entire region as the ATG Drama Fairy. New Mexico Young Actors combines his love for children and theater into a magical alchemy.
Isha Funnell Vázquez
Production Assistant
Isha is a Mexico City native who turned a lifelong love for the arts into a creative career. For nearly a decade, she has trained in performing arts, fueled by a deep passion for musical theater. With a degree in Entertainment and Communication Business and a natural eye for fashion, she found her perfect match in costume design and alterations, working alongside Kathy Gomez. Isha loves sharing the magic of the stage, having taught ballet to young girls and now theater.
Looking ahead, one of her biggest dreams is to work on a theater project with her husband and brother, both of whom have been major inspirations in the arts for her.
David McCreary
Musician
David, born and raised in Albuquerque, started playing trombone in the fourth grade. He picked up the bass guitar at age 19 and has never looked back! In addition to playing guitar in a band and in the NMYA pit, he enjoys the local restaurant scene, hunting for treasures at thrift stores, and spending time in the mountains with friends!
Sean Umstead
Musician
Sean is a musician, educator, and arts administrator with extensive experience in music education and performance. As Program Coordinator for the UNM Music Prep School and Department of Music, he plays a key role in shaping community music education. He has taught in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho Public Schools, the New Mexico Philharmonic’s Young Musician’s Initiative (YMI), Albuquerque Youth Symphony, the UNM Music Prep School, and the Santa Fe Opera.
He currently teaches for YMI as well as the Santa Fe Opera’s Active Learning Through Opera (ALTO) and Opera Storytellers programs.
An active percussionist, Sean performs with the New Mexico Philharmonic, Santa Fe Symphony, musical theatre productions, and various chamber, rock, and jazz ensembles. His passion for teaching and performance enriches both his life and the musical journeys of the students and families he supports.
William W. Williams
Musician
William spent thirty years in New York where he was the Artistic Director of The Reimann Opera Company, Adjunct Faculty at NYU, ChorusMaster for Bel Canto Opera, and began his career in Musical Theater with his partner of 34 years, HollyBeth Williams.
After moving to Albuquerque in 2010, he made his local debut as music director of Albuquerque Little Theatre’s production of Fame and then Young Frankenstein, The Producers, La Cage aux Folles, 9 to 5, Hairspray, and Singing in the Rain with his partner. Locally, he has also worked with Landmark Theater.
He is honored to be the Organist and Accompanist at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, and has worked as the rehearsal accompanist and a musician for NMYA since the fall of 2025.
Jacqueline Chavez
Hair & Makeup Designer
In a career spanning decades, Jacqueline has collaborated with impressive clients such as Vanity Fair, Chanel, National Geographic, Robert Redford and many others. Jacqueline leads a team of 10 talented hair and makeup artists who assist in weddings, film, and theater productions. Her love for theater started in 2013, and she has grown to become the Head of Department for Wigs & Makeup Design for Opera Southwest, NMYA & UNM Opera.
Jacqueline is a native New Mexican. She and her husband have two amazing children, a pup, two turtles and a jumping spider.
Vicki Marie Singer
Stage Manager
Vicki received her training from NYC director Gary John LaRosa from 1999-2004. She attended the University of Pittsburgh and studied filmmaking at Carnegie Mellon. She is the president of the Albuquerque Theatre Guild; resident stage manager for the NM Ballet Company who performs The Nutcracker at Popejoy Hall annually with the NM Philharmonic as well as their spring show. She loves stage managing for NMYA’s musicals.
Vicki launched her graphic design firm in 1991 and accepted the position of art director for American Archaeology magazine in 2001. She enjoys agility courses on weekends with her yellow lab, Ladybug.
Clarissa Anello
Company Photographer
Web Designer
Clarissa is a professional portrait photographer specializing in individual portraits, engagement, family, fine art, and weddings. She has worked with a variety of creative artists throughout the state of New Mexico as well as some local galleries. She loves being able to capture emotions, special moments and helping people tell their stories, even if that requires going waist-deep into a river or lying face-down on a sand dune. She has also gotten to surround herself in tea being the staff photographer for the St. James Tearoom.
Clarissa has worked with NMYA since 2013, while she was studying Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico. She has loved getting to grow her skills as a photographer along with the company. She loves getting to work with the students documenting as they bring all their hard work together, and then getting to show off for their final performances.
NMYA Board of Directors
| President | Stephanie Dhonau |
| Vice-President | Hayley Taylor |
| Treasurer | Jerilyn Cheney |
| Secretary | Sarah Gallegos |
| Member | Robert Wright |
| Member | Jennifer Hensley |