Staff


CINNY BEGGS, Director

CINNY BEGGS is a recently retired Instructor of Theatre from St. Andrews University, where she created a curriculum-based theatre program, created a Theatre Minor and produced and directed 3 to 4 productions a year during her 10-year tenure. She has also been active in the Sandhills theatre scene since 2005, when she was instrumental in forming Moore OnStage, a semi-professional company that produced over 35 plays, musicals and dance performances. She has been a great supporter of Imagine Youth Theater and is looking forward to directing  the summer theater workshops.

Her mantra โ€“ there always has to be a tiara, a tutu, and twirling.

IYT CREDITS:

2025-2026 SEASON: Director: “Les Miserables, School Edition”, Director: “The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical, Theatre for Young Audiences”


NICOLE SOMMERS, Music Director

NICOLE SOMMERS

IYT CREDITS:

2025-2026 SEASON: Music Director: “Les Miserables, School Edition”

2020-2021 SEASON: Music Director: “Rock of Ages High School Edition”

2019-2020 SEASON: Music Director: “Les Miserables, School Edition”


MACKENZIE GOMES

MACKENZIE GOMES

IYT CREDITS:

2025-2026 SEASON: Communications: “The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical, Theatre for Young Audiences”, Communications: “Les Miserables, School Edition

AMELIA KACZMAREK, Music Director

AMELIA KACZMAREK

IYT CREDITS:

2025-2026 SEASON: Music Director: “The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical, Theatre for Young Audiences”, Music Director: “The Sound of Music, Youth Edition”, Music Director: “Beetlejuice, Jr.”


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:โ€‚”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”


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 Worldโ€™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, The Sound of Music, Youth Edition


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.”


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 educatorโ€™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:โ€‚”Chicago Teen Edition”, Music Director: “Heathers, Teen Edition”, “Disney’s Aladdin, Jr.”


TV:  “The Blacklist” (NBC), “Younger” (TV Land) , โ€œFriends of the Peopleโ€ (TruTV), “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO) & Web Series “Alphabet Boys” & โ€œOne Degree Of Ms. Dโ€.

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:โ€‚Choreographer:โ€‚”Sweeney Todd, Student Edition”, “Finding Nemo, Jr.”, “Disney’s Aladdin, Jr”, “Heathers, Teen Edition”

CANA STRONG, Lighting, Set Design

IYT/IYT JR. CREDITS:

2025-2026 Season: Props, Set, Lighting: “Beetlejuice, Jr.”, Communications/Coordination: “Hadestown, Teen Edition”, Lighting Design, Set Design & Communication: “SpongeBob The Musical, Youth Edition