YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL
YAS! applications are opening soon!
DMR is now offering transportation to many schools. Click here to inquire about YAS!
Registration for the 2024-25 Academic Year is now open
Click here for the application.
Grades K-6
The Youth After School (YAS!) program is for students currently in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Performing Arts Training
Enrolled students receive an award winning education from local professional teaching artists.
Schedule Options
You choose between 1-5 days per week, based on your after-school needs.
Bus Transportation
Transportation is available for an additional fee. New this year is a 2nd bus option as well as some car transportation.
DMR Youth After School
YAS! Faculty
More faculty to be announced soon!
Mark Williams
YAS Artistic Director
Mark grew up in Charlottesville and was often seen starring onstage in every musical at CHS. He has been involved in DMR since 2018, when he assisted with our first Beauty and the Beast production. He is a vocalist for the band ‘Viberiot’ and recently worked as an outreach teaching artist with The Front Porch. You may have seen him bringing down the house in our recent Broadway and Beyond!
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Crystal Johnson
Office & Production Manager
Crystal joined the DMR and YAS team last season as an educational assistant and worked with us as a camp manager over the summer. She is a wonderful mom of six kids, and has two daughters enrolled in DMR programs. Crystal works at Venable Elementary School.
Camila Nolte
YAS Teaching Artist/Interim Choreographer
Camila is a Peruvian actress, dancer, performing arts teacher for children, director, and scriptwriter of plays. At the age of 19 she moved to New York City and graduated from the Integrated Program of Musical Theater at AMDA NY "American Musical and Dramatic Academy." She is happy to be a part of DMR Adventures and continue to inspire children with art.
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Read more about Camila
Catherine Gilbert
YAS Teaching Artist
Catherine Anne Gilbert is a graduate (summa cum laude) from George Mason University, where she received her BFA in Theater Performance. She is so excited and inspired by all of the talent at DMR. She can’t wait to watch all of these students hone their craft and have a blast!
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Read more about Catherine
Katie Wall
Associate Artistic Director
Katie Wall is a recent graduate of the Viterbo University BFA Music Theatre program with a minor in Dance. She is a DMR alum, having performed in shows here as well as an alum of the YLP program.
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Read more about Katie
Melissa Charles
Producing Artistic Director
Melissa Charles is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of DMR Adventures. She is a professional actor, director, choreographer, and educator, and has produced, directed and choreographed over 100 productions. A member of the Actors Equity Association (AEA) and SAG-AFTRA, she has worked as an actor in theatre, film, and television in NYC, LA and in regional theaters throughout the country.
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Read more about Melissa
Xavier Taylor
Resident Music Director/Voice Instructor
Xavier Taylor is a local performer and singing teacher of everything from classical to rock. He is originally from Maryland and studied voice at New England Conservatory.
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Read more about Xavier
Karen Schlicht
Volunteer
Karen Schlicht started out costuming her daughter when she was younger and then helping out other moms. She loved it so much that she had to teach herself how to use a sewing machine. Her favorite part about costume design is trying to create that little extra special for each child. Recent theater credits in costume design was Dear Edwina at Four County Players and Frozen KIDS with DMR.
Belle LaMonica
YAS Assistant
Isabella (Belle) LaMonica has been doing theater since the age of four. Her first show was with DMR Adventures, 101 Dalmatians. Some of her favorite roles have been The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy) with Halifax County Little Theater, Little Mermaid (Mersister) with Prizery Players, and Annie (Annie) with the Patriot Players. She has trained for several summers in the Vocal Arts program at Belmont University.