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Grades K-6
The Youth After School (YAS!) program is for students currently in kindergarten through sixth grade.
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Performing & Visual Arts Training
YAS! offers an incredible daily program led by passionate teaching artists—and your tuition also includes access to optional enrichment classes, or “electives,” from DMR Adventures at no extra cost!
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Financial Aid/Scholarships
Immediate scholarship options are available for all families as well as the option to apply for a scholarship.
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Transportation
Transportation is available for an additional fee for the following schools: Sunrise, Jackson-Via, Tall Oaks, Trailblazer, Summit, Mt. View, Charlottesville Middle, Village School, and ONCDC. We are considering transportation from STAB.
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Schedule Options
You may choose the discounted Full Time option (5 days a week) or register for one or more days for the year.
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Apply Now!
Registration starts in April 2026 for the 2026-27 Academic School Year. Applications are now open.
DMR Youth After School
YAS! Faculty and Staff
Joe Vena
YAS! Coordinator / YAS! Teaching Artist
Joe Vena holds a BFA in acting from University of the Arts, in Philadelphia. Upon graduation in 1999, he moved to New York City, made theatre with friends and took on a role as teaching artist at Children’s Museum of the Arts. There he developed and directed the CMA Media Lab, leading a staff of 15 teaching artists
Read more about Joe
Mark Williams
YAS! Acting Teacher/ Adventure 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!
Molly Bettiga
YAS! Assistant Team Manager
Molly Bettiga is an East Coast / West Coast nomad whose love of theater began as early as grade school, when she had a part in Really Rosie. In middle school, she participated in, and excelled at, speech and drama festivals. Molly holds a bachelor of arts in media studies from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, specializing in journalism.
Read more about Molly
Chris Morley
YAS! Teaching Artist
Chris' bio is coming soon, but the YAS! kids will tell you how creative and fun he is! Chris has spearheaded one of our most beloved YAS! classes...juggling! He's also the creator of the all new YAScast! The World's Best Podcast!
Matt does a variety of jobs for DMR, but is most known in YAS! as a bus driver. Matt also holds a doctorate in Public Administration, and is a member of SAG-AFTRA with many years of experience acting on camera. He is also a media and communications expert with a resume too long for this page.
Read more about Matt
Matt Charles
YAS! Driver/DMR Consultant
Karen Schlicht
Office Manager/Costume Designer/YAS! Driver
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.
Read more about Karen
Chloe Anderson
Teaching Artist/Music Director
Chloe Anderson is a recent graduate from The Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She also attended the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University in 2025. She has worked regionally as an actor and singer, and is excited to work with DMR and Venture Stage Company.
Julie Minor
Teaching Assistant/Office Assistant
Julie Minor started performing musical theatre in the summer of 2024 and has been performing non-stop since then. She has always been devoted to learning and helping others with musical theatre both on and off stage. She also has a history in daycare work. Her favorite part of assisting is getting to help...
Read more about Julie
Melissa Charles
Guest Teaching Artist/Driver
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.
Read more about Melissa
Claire Chandler
Guest Teaching Artist/Driver
Claire Chandler is an educator and artist based in Charlottesville, VA. She has worked onstage and off at many local theaters and has degrees in both fine arts and education. As a longtime theater teaching artist, Claire has taught many different classes, camps, workshops, and has directed multiple youth shows.
Read more about Claire