Meet the Staff

 Angela has been producing large scale musicals and plays for over 20 years.  Her love for theater started as a  child when she went to the theater with her parents and fell in love with the experience.  Growing up she didn't have any opportunities to be on stage until her senior year of high school - thus fueling her passion to ensure her own children had this opportunity!  Her goal has always been to offer high quality performing arts experiences for students and encourage the growth of the arts in her community.  Lockport Homer Youth Theater holds a special place in her heart and she is excited to be able to bring this program to her community and encourage the next generation of actors, dancers, singers, and stage technicians.  She is most proud of the two actors she raised, as both her boys grew up in theaters and share her love for the arts.  

Debra is an accomplished musician and director.  She has been working with Angela since 2009.  Her dedication to the beauty of music is inspiring. She teaches music lessons to students, is an accomplished accompanist with local colleges and at LTHS.  She's the proud mom of 3 amazing musicians and brings her passion for the arts to this program.  LHYT is thrilled to have Debra leading the young singers and help them grow and learn.

 Jessica Connors has been involved with theater in some capacity since the 5th grade, through her BA in Theatre. She has directed and choreographed for Fox Country Players summer program in the past and also directed with LHYT from 2015-2020.  After helping with the theater programs at her children’s high school and middle school, She is thrilled to work with this dedicated and talented team again to help bring youth theater to the community! Jessica earned her MSW with a focus on child welfare in 2023 and works as a clinical social worker at Hagemaster Empowerment Center in Lockport. She is the proud mom of four past LHYT actors and stage crew members: Sam, Amelia, Evelyn and Roldan! 

 After a childhood of dancing, Shannon graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Arts.   Fortunate to have studied with amazing teachers, Bea Rashid, Evon Freund, Laurie Merriman, and Gayle   Kassing, she developed progressive programs in both Ballet and Early Childhood for many studios around   the South Suburbs. Finally in 2010, Shannon opened Wings Dance Studio with the goal of creating a   training ground for both concert and competitive dancers in the suburbs. Along with realizing her dream of elevating the dance presence in the South Suburbs of Chicago, Shannon is an Associate member of the   Cecchetti Council of America, a member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, co-director of Soar Dance Company, and resident choreographer for Lockport Homer Youth Theater. Shannon's students have been cast in professional productions such as Ballet West's The Sleeping Beauty, Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker, Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker, and performances at Drury Lane. Students have also gone on to dance in college programs, both as dance majors and as athletes on their collegiate dance teams. Shannon is very proud for Wings to have been awarded ADCC Studio of Excellence in 2017. Since 2023, Shannon has also been the Artistic Director of Dance Theater of Will County. Shannon's greatest accomplishment is to have raised 3 amazing kids who all dance to their own beat and amaze her every day.