KIMBERLY FIELDER-JONES, Director/Stage Manager
KIMBERLY FIELDER-JONES is director for IYT 2025 Summer Workshops and a frequent director during the season. A native of Moore County, she is the former director of The Playhouse (2010-2014).
Kimberly studied theatre performance and directing at Valdosta State University in South Georgia. She has worked with multiple summer stock programs and professional theatre throughout the southeast as a performer, stage manager, and director.
Kimberly is the current Theatre Director at North Moore High School. Since being at North Moore High, she has been honored with five Excellence in Directing awards at the regional North Carolina Theatre Conference Play Festival.
IYT CREDITS:
2024-2025 SEASON: Director: “Into The Woods”, Director: “Spongebob, The Musical, Teen Edition”, Director: “Hadestown, Teen Edition”
2023-2024 SEASON: Director: “Sweeney Todd, Student Edition”, Co-Director: ”Chicago Teen Edition”, Director: “Heathers, Teen Edition”
2022-2023 SEASON: Director: “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Shrek Jr. The Musical”, “Disney’s Lion King, Jr”, “Mean Girls, High School Version”
2021-2022 SEASON: Director: “Jekyll and Hyde”, “Pippin” One Acts: “The Diviners”, “Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Jr.”, “Grease”
COLLIN CONWAY, Director
COLLIN CONWAY, with over a decade of theater experience, Collin is happy to step into the role of Director for Imagine Youth Theater Jr. He endeavors to give each and every cast member their time to shine, and looks to reward all who seek the stage as an avenue for expression. Working as a team to build something greater is a truly meaningful experience, and he hopes that he can help create a space where the cast, crew, and their families can craft countless cherished memories.
IYT CREDITS:
2025-2026 SEASON: Director: “Beetlejuice, Jr.
2024-2025 SEASON: Director: “The Addams Family, Young@Part”, “Descendants, The Musical”, “Secret Garden, Spring Version”, Assistant to the DIrector: “Hadestown, Teen Edition”
2023-2024 SEASON: Director: “Moana, Jr.”, “Disney’s Finding Nemo, Jr.”
NIKKI HENDRICKS, Director
NIKKI HENDRICKS holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, English, and Psychology from Hofstra University. A lifelong educator and performing artist, she has spent more than two decades inspiring young people through dance, theater, and storytelling. As co-founder of All The World’s A Stage theater company, Nikki choreographed and co-directed over 30 youth productions and taught dance, acting, and improvisation for more than 15 years. She brings her passion for creativity, collaboration, and character development to her role as Director with Imagine Youth Theater, where she continues to nurture confidence and imagination in every performer.
IYT CREDITS:
2025-2026 SEASON: Director “Anastasia, The Musical, Youth Edition
LIZ COX, Music Director
Elizabeth (Liz) Cox is a professional performing and teaching artist currently based in The Sandhills of NC. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC and a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. Liz frequents the stage as a musical theatre performer, with recent credits including Marmee in Little Women and Elsa in The Sound of Music. Liz also works as a private voice and piano teacher in Southern Pines and serves as the Instructor of Voice for the Music Department here at Sandhills. For more info on her teaching and performing services, please visit lizcoxvoice.com.
IYT CREDITS:
2025-2026 SEASON: Music Director “Little Shop of Horrors”
2024-2025 SEASON: Music Director “Secret Garden, Spring Version”, Music Director: “SpongeBob the Musical, Youth Edition”
LINDSEY ALLEN, Music Director
Lindsey Allen, Soprano, received a Bachelors in Music Performance fron the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and attended Indiana University for her Masters and Performers Diploma at the Indiana University – Jacobs School of Music. Her most recent performance was as Flora in La Traviata, and previous roles include Street Singer in Bernstein’s Mass, Mrs. Thompson in the Collegiate premiere of Jake Heggie’s It’s a Wonderful Life, and Mrs. Paroo in the Music Man.
In 2018 she was awarded the Georgina Joshi International Scholarship to perform with Opera Tel Aviv, where she sang Erste Dame in The Magic Flute. Other roles include Adrianna (Adrianna Lecoucreur), Magda Sorel (The Consul), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Susanna Walcott (The Crucible), Veronique (Doctor Miracle) Lia (L’enfant prodigue) and Dido (Dido and Aeneas). She has also performed with the Kansas City Lyric Opera, Piedmont Opera, and the A.J. Fletcher Opera.
Lindsey most recently performed and co-produced with Piedmont Opera a Celebration of Black Composers. Since the pandemic this Michigan native has found herself in an educator’s role, teaching voice privately, and working as Director of Operations & Director of Education and Outreach at Piedmont Opera. Recently she has relocated to the area, and founded Break a Leg Studios, a performing arts enrichment nonprofit organization here in Moore County.
She has a passion for opera and looks forward to sharing her love of music with the Moore County community. mgdirectoriyt@taylordance.org
IYT CREDITS:
2024-2025 SEASON: Music Director: “Into the Woods”, Director, Music Director: “Best of Broadway”, Music Director: “Hadestown, Teen Edition”
2023-2024 SEASON: Co-Music Director: ”Chicago Teen Edition”, Music Director: “Heathers, Teen Edition”, “Disney’s Aladdin, Jr.”
CAROLANNE MARANO, Director/Choreographer
CAROLANNE MARANO has been a professional dancer/actor for the past 30 years. She is also an accomplished and sought-after director, choreographer, and teacher. A member of Actors Equity, she has performed in countless productions and tours nationally and internationally.
As a director/choreographer, Carolanne has choreographed for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, UNC Pembroke Theatre Program, The Rubicon Theatre Company, as well as “A Night in Paris A Go-Go” with Belinda Carlisle and Rufus Wainwright, New Year’s Eve show for the LA Philharmonic, George Cadbury Hall (UK), Downey Civic Light Opera, Ashland High School, and the film, “The Ghastly Love of Johnny X”.
Currently a Guest Director/Choreographer/Stage Dance Instructor at UNC Pembroke, Carolanne previously taught Musical Theatre at The University of Southern Oregon, University of Worcester (UK), and Pineapple Dance Studio in London, England. Carolanne and her husband founded the Uprising Theatre Company in 1999 and The Shakespeare in the Pines Festival in 2017. They make their home in the Village of Pinehurst.
IYT CREDITS:
2023-2024 SEASON: Co-Director/Choreographer: “Chicago Teen Edition”
2022-2023 SEASON: Director/Choreographer: “Sweet Charity”
CLIFTON SAMUELS, Director/Choreographer
CLIFTON SAMUELS is “stoked” to be back this summer as the Choreographer for “Mean Girls’ High School Version”. Originally from Swansea, SC he has appeared on Broadway in the multi Tony/Grammy nominated Revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies (w/Bernadette Peters) and most recently in the original Broadway company of Amazing Grace at the Nederlander Theatre. He is a proud member of Actors Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA and is a graduate of Oklahoma City University.
Clifton has a great passion for teaching young artists. He has taught master classes in all mediums of dance & acting throughout the country. cliftonsamuels.com
Credits:
Broadway: Mrs. Doubtfire
Broadway Tours: A Chorus Line, Urban Cowboy-The Musical.
Off Broadway: The Beast in the Jungle (Vineyard Theatre-Dir: Susan Stroman), The Crusade Of Connor Stephens (Jerry Orbach Theatre), STIFF (Barrow Group), Storyville (York Theatre Company, Nomination 2014 Outer Critics Circle for Best New Off-Broadway Musical),Twilight-The Unauthorized Parody (New World Stages).
Selected Theatre: World Premiere of Beaches-A New Musical (Signature Theatre) & Amazing Grace (CIBC Theatre, Chicago). Also multiple shows at The Kennedy Center (Follies), Ahmanson (A Chorus Line), Northshore Music Theatre (Guys & Dolls), Theatre Under The Stars (How to Succeed…./A Chorus Line), Papermill Playhouse (Holiday Inn), Gateway Playhouse (Urban Cowboy), Goodspeed Opera House (Carnival).
Principal Singer: Radio City Christmas Spectacular & The Omaha Symphony.
Film: Upcoming- WORTH (opposite Michael Keaton-Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2020), Coen Bros., Hail, Caesar! (opposite Channing Tatum), Annie (2014), The Unborn, I Fell in Love with the World & Giving Birth to a Butterfly.
TV: “The Blacklist” (NBC), “Younger” (TV Land) , “Friends of the People” (TruTV), “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO) & Web Series “Alphabet Boys” & “One Degree Of Ms. D”.
IYT CREDITS:
2022-2023 SEASON: Choreographer: “Mean Girls, High School Version”
2021-2022 SEASON: Choreographer: “Jekyl and Hyde”, “Pippin”, “Grease”
GARY TAYLOR, Choreographer
GARY TAYLOR takes a very active interest in the school. A graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts, he visits classrooms and consistently teaches master classes to upper level ensemble students. Gary is considered a premiere expert in classical ballet, pointe, and partnering training. Students also receive the mastery of his choreography in his works, The Nutcracker, along with Imagine Youth Theater performances, and special events.
IYT/IYT JR. CREDITS:
2024-2025 Season: Choreographer: “Disney’s Descendants, The Musical”, “Best of Broadway”, Choreographer: “SpongeBob The Musical, Youth Edition, Choreographer: “Hadestown, Teen Edition”
2023-2024 Season: Choreographer: ”Sweeney Todd, Student Edition”, “Finding Nemo, Jr.”, “Disney’s Aladdin, Jr”, “Heathers, Teen Edition”
CANA STRONG, Communications
IYT/IYT JR. CREDITS:
2024-2025 Season: Communications/Coordination: “Hadestown, Teen Edition” and “SpongeBob The Musical, Youth Edition
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