PERFORMING ARTS INSTRUCTORS

​April McCandless grew up at DaySpring training in musical theater, dance, and drama. She graduated from Stephens College with a BFA in Theater Arts. During her time at Stephens College, April received training and experience in acting, directing, stage management, and technical theater. During college she spent a summer at a professional summer stock theater in Okoboji, IA working on 9 full productions in 10 weeks. Since graduating, April has found her passion directing musicals for children and teen performers as well as passing on her love of theater to her students. April has directed more than 12 musicals here at Dayspring but some of her favorites have been: Seussical (2013), Little Mermaid (2014), and Jane Eyre (2015)

Grace Erickson has been heavily involved in performing arts since she was six years old. She was a student here at DaySpring for 11 years, and recently graduated this past May. Grace has taken a wide variety of classes during her time at DaySpring, including musical theatre, tap, jazz, ballet, acting, and more. She is beyond excited for her first year of teaching and she cannot wait to share her love of all things theatre with this year’s students!

​Actor, mime and clown. Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He received a B.A in Theater from the University of Puerto Rico. He has over 15 years of experience in professional theater, TV, film and commercials. He studied mime and physical theatre in The School for Mime Theatre in Gambier, Ohio and clown theatre with the former Cirque du Soleil’s clown, Alex Navarro. He was contracted for specialty character work for the Walt Disney Company. His performances have taken him to the USA, Puerto Rico, Spain and Mexico. In St Louis, he has worked with Annoyarts, St Louis Shakespeare and Mustard Seed Theater receiving high reviews for his acting and lighting design work.
He is also the co-founder and executive director of Kinetic Tapestry, a physical theatre company and circus arts studio based in St Louis.

As a former DaySpring student, I was enrolled in the academy and spent most of my time heavily spent with our performing arts and technical theater programs up until my graduation in 2017. In 2018 I attended St Louis Community College, where I studied fine arts along with illustration and animation. However, during those years I was still involved with the performing arts, designing sets and painting for community theater companies, as well as the Terry M Fisher theater located on my campus. Since I was very young, drawing and illustrating has been a major part of my life, which has assisted my skills in scenic painting and design when it came to theater. Since I was introduced to tech theater in 2014, it has been a very passion driven part of my life, and as technical coordinator I hope to help other students learn their own passion and admiration for theater production as well.

Eliana Steele graduated from Missouri Baptist University with a major in Theatre and minors in
Accounting and Business Administration. Currently, she works at MBU in the Accounts Payable office
and as the director of the university’s drama ministry team. She also enjoys directing Take 3 Christian
Theater, a local home school theater company. When not prepping for a rehearsal, Eliana loves
spending time with her family, taking walks (preferably while barefoot), snuggling dogs, and staying
involved at church. She is passionate about storytelling through theatre and the impact it can have on
people’s lives.

Katie is a graduate from Stephens College with a BFA in Acting. While at Stephens, Katie acted, directed, designed, stage managed, and everything in between. Since moving back to St. Louis, she’s worked on multiple productions as a props designer and scenic painter for professional companies as well as high school theatre programs (where she teaches students prop building and painting techniques and how to work with props/scenery on stage). Teaching, especially in the arts, has been a passion of hers since she was in classes herself. Being a quirky kid from a small town, the arts provided her with a sense of belonging, and it was then that she made it her mission to continue to give kids that same opportunity.

Allen Moore is a 1999 graduate of Evangel University in Springfield Missouri and a 2007 graduate of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Allen received his Bachelor of Science in Speech and Theatre Education and his Master of Arts in Theatre Administration. Allen taught Speech and Drama for a few years in St. Louis and St. Charles county public schools then transitioned to Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts Middle School. In his ten years at Carr Lane, Allen taught drama, technical theatre, math and computers; and was the technology liaison for the building. Outside of his employment, Allen has worked extensively with performers of all ages in church dramas in both Springfield, Missouri and the St. Louis area. Throughout his time working in church productions, Allen has written several monologues, scenes, and full productions. In addition, for 5 years, Allen ran Destination Theatre Company in St. Louis including directing 6 mainstage productions, several one acts and acting in several of the productions as well. He is thrilled to be bringing his knowledge into the class and continue to expand upon the foundation that has been laid. Allen is married to Kristy and has three children, one daughter-in-law and one grandson.

Rachel Yarbrough graduated from Missouri Baptist University with a double major in Theatre and Psychology. She has been performing for the past 19 years and has been working professionally in theatre for the past 5 years! Some of her favorite shows she has been a part of have been Little Shop of Horrors, Cinderella, and Songs for a new World! In her free time she enjoys reading, finding new coffee shops, and traveling. She hopes that by the end of this year her students feel empowered, excited, and ready for their next show!