uac theatre faculty

  • UAC Staff - Black and white photo of a person in a garden

    elise kelson

    • Received her Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University

    • Classical trained voice teacher

    • 25 years of teaching experience, and has been with WDC+MDT, now Utah Arts Collective, since 2016

    • Has performed all over the world

    • Has six children, one grandchild, and lives in Midway with her husband

  • UAC Staff - Black and white portrait of a woman with long, wavy hair, wearing a dark top, and smiling slightly while looking at the camera.

    Giuliana Willis

    • Trained at Jacqueline’s School of Ballet and danced on company with URB known today as Utah Metropolitan Ballet

    • Found a love for choreography at a young age winning her scholarships and featuring her works at the Pacific Northwest Regional Dance Festival

    • Received her BFA from the University of Utah while on the Willam F. Christensen scholarship 

    • Played the violin with the University of Utah symphony 

    • Taught ballet and character dance at Utah Valley University

    • Has choreographed shows for High Valley Arts and WDC including: Annie Get Your Gun, The Addams Family, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Mary Poppins Jr and Frozen Jr 

    • Has spent numerous years either performing in or directing WDC’s The Nutcracker 

    • Is a huge fan of the theatre, a wife and a mother of 4 living in Midway

  • UAC Staff - Woman with long blonde hair, wearing a black top, smiling, black and white photo

    Kristen Hughes

    • Holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Brigham Young University

    • Has worked many years as an actor, director, costume, hair and make-up designer for theatre and film productions

    • Recently directed It’s a Wonderful Life–a Live Radio Play, Coraline, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for TVT, and Peter Pan Jr for HVA

    • Founded Ethos Acting Studio, actor training programs for teens, and has coached actors as well as taught acting workshops

    • Has lived all over the US, she is married and the proud mom of three kids

    • She feels honored to be part of the “dream team” and work with the wonderful people at the Utah Arts Collective, and is so excited to direct “Annie Jr”

  • UAC Staff - Smiling woman in front of a stone wall, black and white portrait.

    mary eckersley

    • Received a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from BYU and a Masters in Writing Children’s Literature from Kingston University, London

    • Has privately trained in classical vocal performance

    • Has been teaching school in the elementary grades for 20 years

    • Performed, directed and assisted in community theater productions for 10 years through High Valley Arts, WDC MDT, and Timpanogos Valley Theater

    • Assisted in the development of youth theater programs throughout her community

  • UAC Staff - Smiling woman with long hair in black and white photo

    mindy mcmaster

    • Trained with Mikal Cassalino School of Creative Arts for 6 years

    • University of Utah Ballroom Dance team

    • Pilates Instructor

    • Choreographed/Directed shows 10+ years for High Valley Arts

    • Has taught for the WDC theater program 4+ years