Billy Walker

Billy Walker works in Lafayette as a Communications Coordinator at AIE(Academy of Interactive Entertainment). Billy had been active in local community theatre organizations for 8 years. Previous stage credits include Emmett Forrest in IPAL’s “Legally Blonde”, Don Lockwood in CCT's "Singin in the Rain", Jesus in "Jesus Christ, Superstar" in productions at both IPAL and Lorna N Company in Houma, El Gallo in CCT's "The Fantasticks", and Billy Flynn in IPAL's "Chicago". Billy also trains and runs many Tough Mudder obstacle course races across the country. Over the last few years he and his wife, Catherine, have become active members of the CYT community through working sets backstage, teaching classes, working at the set shop, and just having a blast getting to know the kids and families that make up this organization. Billy is very much looking forward to teaching for CYT this session!

Brittany Benjamin

Christy Taylor

I have 23 years of teaching experience from elementary to middle school. My goal as an educator has always been to bring arts and movement into the classroom. Dance, movement, and visual arts make learning fun and come alive for children of all ages. I have trained at the Bernstein Arts Academy and also worked as an individual arts teacher for children. I work closely with community programs like ACA through their many PACE artist programs and grant programs. My son Christopher has recently begun attending CYT for his theater classes and has participated in the play Frozen as Sven and currently in The Addams Family Quarantined as Fester. We love CYT and the safe Christ-centered community it gives to our youth. I am excited to teach my first class this Spring Semester.

Emily Roy

Hello! My name is Emily Roy and I love teaching with CYT! I have taught several classes over the years and I can’t wait to get started for this session! I have had the wonderful opportunity to have directed CYT Lafayette’s High School Musical, Guys and Dolls, Lion King Junior, and Cinderella Junior! What I love most about teaching is seeing kids grow from day one to showcase. I love helping kids discover their talents and helping them use their newfound abilities to become over all over better performers. I can’t wait to see you at classes!

Erin Chamberlain

Erin Chamberlain has been teaching for 8 years now in the public school system as an Art Teacher. She is in her 2nd year of teaching at Comeaux High and teaches Drawing, Painting and Art II. Art has been her passion for as long as she can remember! She started out in 2nd grade in the Talented Art program in her school, went on to UL to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Ceramics and then she later went back for certification to teach Art in K-12th grade. She also teaches art in the summers in the community. She loves drawing and sculpting the most! She is a mom to two wonderfully creative kids and has one fur baby and she attends the Pathway Church!

Ian Bonin

Ian is a graduate student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette pursuing his Masters in Mathematics after which he plans to teach high school math. He has been teaching with CYT for the last three years and has been an active member of CCT. He has also spent the past decade of his life performing, directing, music directing, and choreographing on many stages in New Iberia, Abbeville, and Lafayette. His credits include: Next to Normal, Side by Side by Sondheim, Mamma Mia, and Hunchback of Notre Dame. Contact: imbonin99@gmail.com

Jonah Slason

A native of Lafayette, Jonah Slason grew up attending Family Life Christian Academy for 10 years before becoming involved with the arts in the Lafayette public school system. Before earning a Bachelor’s Degree in K-12 Vocal Music Education from UL Lafayette, he starred in numerous operas, musicals, and scenes shows and was the 2012 winner of the Friends of Music Voice Competition. He is currently the Director of Choirs at both North Vermilion High and Middle Schools where he teaches 6 groups in grades 6-12 who have a reputation of earning Superior ratings at both District and State Assessment. His High School Choir surpassed the Parish record in 2019 for having the most students in an All-State group, as 11 members were chosen that Fall to sing with the LMEA All-State Choir in Baton Rouge. He was selected in 2017 as the statewide winner of the LMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator Award and has been a Guest Clinician for both the ACEL High School and Middle School All-State Choir groups. Most recently, Mr. Slason was asked to direct the St. Charles Parish Middle School Honor Choir for their performance at the Lafon Performing Arts Center in Luling, LA. He has led worship at various churches in the Acadiana region since 2012, and has an Associate’s Degree of Christian Theology from In Christ International Bible College. Fall 2019 marked Mr. Slason’s first involvement with CYT Vermilion and he is looking forward to working with CYT Lafayette also!

Joni Hebert

Kaedron Hall

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, I moved to Lafayette in August of 2015. I am currently the Middle School vocal teacher at Ascension Episcopal School downtown. I sing tenor in a local community choir, and I serve as music director and worship leader at Harvest Center Church. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. I went on to complete a Master of Music in conducting at Georgia State University. Music is my passion, and I am so blessed do what I love everyday. I love to laugh and have fun, but I can be a bit of a workaholic. In my off time I enjoy reading, journaling, and composing music. I find a great deal of joy teaching kids, and I’m so excited to be a part of the CYT family.

Kaleigh Lay

Kaleigh Lay is excited to be working with the talented people at CYT Central. Kaleigh began directing in college & has since directed all over the country. Professionally, she worked with Peterborough Players Regional Theatre under Broadway director, Gus Kaikkonen. Kaleigh is on the board at IPAL, and is also involved at Abbey Players. She has a BA in Communication Arts & Media Communications with an emphasis & certification in theatre /speech education & a MS in Gifted Education.

Kaylon Khamphilavong

Kaylon Khamphilavong is a 20 year old junior at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her major is early childhood education and she plans on becoming a special education teacher. She has been in 17 musical productions. She was last seen as Crystal in CCT’s Little Shop of Horrors.

Lindsey Duhon

Hi! My name is Lindsey Duhon. I am a senior at North Vermillion High School and I have a strong passion for dance. I have been dancing for 15 years at Dance with Liz and student teaching for the past 3 years. Throughout my years at DWL, I have taken classes in Jazz, Tap, Pre-Point, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Contemporary, and this past year I received my solo. I have also been on my school's Danceline for the past 3 years where I currently hold the position of Section Leader/Captain. Dancing has always been a big part of my life and I love sharing that with CYT!

Maria Williams

Maria was born in Lafayette Louisiana, and she has always had a love for the dramatics. She has been teaching for CYT for the last 9 years and has loved it more than anything else she has ever been a part of. Maria is a graduate from ULL with a bachelors degree in Spanish and Criminal justice. In 2017 she started a non profit to fight against human trafficking. She has been a music teacher for the last 19 years. She feels it is a beautiful opportunity to be able to teach children instruments, acting and vocals, and then to watch them as they grow and develop in their skill.

Maria Kimball

My name is Maria Kimball and I have been involved with CYT for 5 years through my daughter who began with ‪the Wiggles‬ at 5 years old. I have been a teacher in St. Landry Parish for 24 years with the last 15 years in Pre-K. I am looking forward to fostering the development of a lifelong love of music, theatre, and the arts through this class!

Michael Ivan Carrier

Michael Ivan Carrier: Michael Ivan Carrier was born and raised here in Lafayette, Louisiana. He grew up competing in gymnastics, his first creative outlet, for eight years and eventually went on to win a Gold medal at the Junior Olympics. In high school, he found his love for acting while competing in Speech and Debate. Senior year he earned the title of National Champion in Duo Interpretation. Michael Ivan has a Bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University with double concentrations in Musical Theatre and Dance. He has since traveled the world singing and dancing on Norwegian Cruise Lines and is now a professional actor, based out of NYC (pre-COVID). A few of his favorite credits include: Paul, A Chorus line, (Cortland Repertory, Sierra Repertory, & Palace Theatre), Ambrose Kemper, Hello Dolly, (Maine State Music Theatre), and seen most recently as Storyteller/Daniel understudy on the 1st National Broadway Tour of Once on this Island."Remember, if you can't love yourself, how in the world you gonna love anybody else? Can I get an Amen up in here?"- Rupaul Charles

Michelle Flott

I’m a homeschooling mom to 4 kids between the ages of 12 & 7. I’ve been a “CYT mom” for 8 years since my oldest started CYT classes in Lafayette at age 4. I have a bachelor's degree from UL Lafayette in Child & Family Studies and a Children's Ministry degree from Christ for the Nations in Dallas, TX. I'm the owner of Happy Little Trees Acadiana which offers art classes and parties for kids. This will be my 3rd session teaching the 4-7 year olds in Vermilion. I have so much fun with this age group and I'm looking forward to another great session!

Mitchell Prudhomme

Mitchell gained a love for singing and acting while performing in church productions as a young boy. He eventually became involved with several community theatres around Acadiana. He has directed productions at IPAL (New Iberia), Abbey Players (Abbeville), New Iberia Senior High, and Teche Theatre (Franklin), and performed at many more. Theatre is a huge part of his family as he met his now-wife while working backstage on a production at IPAL. Now, he is the father of two young children who also share a love for the stage. Mitchell is currently the President of Abbey Players and a member of the IPAL Board of Directors.

Natalie Connor

Natalie currently holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance, as well as a master’s degree in Vocal Performance/Pedagogy from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette under Dr. Kristen Marchiafava. Natalie has performed in fabled venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, and the National Opera Center. She has been the featured artist of “Modern Singer Magazine” as well as the featured artist in the August 2018 edition of “The Advertiser”. Natalie has placed 3rd in the 2014, 2015, and 2017 Tri-State National Association of Teachers of Singing competition, and was a 2017 and 2019 finalist in the Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser competition. Natalie enjoys teaching a wide age range of students in both a large classroom setting and in private lessons. In the past, she has been the Children’s Music Teacher for Community Baptist Church’s summer camp, and currently teaches Class Voice I and II at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Ronni High

Ronni High, is a freshman at UL majoring in Organizational Communications. Ronni has always had a passion for theatre since she was a child. When she moved to Lafayette from Bettendorf, Iowa a little over 7 years ago, she found CYT and instantly fell in love. She has been heavily involved in CYT since she first joined in the show The Little Mermaid. She knew she had found where she belonged. Ronni has also been a part of almost every Ascension theatre production from 7th grade through senior year. Some of her favorite roles include Boris the Spy in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Gertrude in Seussical, Glinda in Wizard of Oz, Katherine in Freaky Friday, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Newsie Dancer #12 in Newsies. Now she is moving from the stage to being a CYT leader! Ronni hopes to stay involved with CYT for as long as she can. She loves doing her favorite thing with her favorite people.

Rylie Denais

I just recently graduated from North Vermilion High School. I was part of the quarantined, graduating class of 2020. This fall, I will start taking classes at LSUE, where I will be majoring in Elementary Education! I found my love for teaching at a little dance studio in Maurice, called Dance With Liz. Here, I studied and practiced Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Hip Hop for 15 years. And, eventually, I got to assistant teach a jazz and tap class for three years. I have truly been blessed to teach my own dance classes at CYT! It's more than younger me could have ever hoped or dreamed for, as a dancer! I am so excited to share my dance experience and journey with others!

Samantha Lasater

Sarah Isaacs

Sarah has just earned her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She specializes in classical, musical theater, and jazz styles of singing. Well versed in both private lessons and classroom settings, she thrives seeing children learn and love music. In addition, she is an eager performer and has been in community and University productions in both Arkansas and Louisiana. She is currently a cantor and staff singer at Our Lady of Fatima in Lafayette and St. Anne’s in Youngsville.

Tiffany Poirrier

Tiffany Poirrier is an IPAL Board Member and theater teacher at Southside High School. She was last seen as Serena in Legally Blonde the Musical. She also enjoys spending time with her family, Billy and Chase.

Victoria Harrelson

Victoria is a Secondary English Education major at UL and is planning on getting her add on certification in Theatre education. Victoria was in the LPSS talented theatre program for 11 years, and was an extremely active CYT student for 10 years! She has recently gotten involved with other community theatres like I PAL and Abby Players where she has played the roles  Miss.Hannigan in “Annie”, Adult Winnie in “Tuck Everlasting”, Susan in “The Death and Life of Larry Benson”, and Ethel Toffelmier in “The Music Man”! Victoria can also be seen in the Emmy nominated Netflix documentary “The Mars Generation”! Being a theatre teacher has been Victoria’s dream job since she was 8 years old and she absolutely can not wait to get started on this journey and to see where God takes her on this path!

Victoria Manning

Victoria is so excited to be back where her love of theater first blossomed. Victoria had the privilege of being a student of CYT Lafayette back in 2009 when it first began. Then when she moved to Baton Rouge she had the privilege of teaching classes when that CYT branch first began. She has taught classes, assistant directed shows, and stage managed shows for CYT over the past 8 years. Victoria is currently in seminary for Christian Ministry.