Audra Anderson
Audra Anderson (they/them) is an award-winning music educator, as well as an accomplished performer. They frequently sing at Hill Auditorium with the UMS Choral Union, and perform madrigals at the Michigan Renaissance Festival with the Arbor Consort. Audra currently lives and works as a substitute teacher in Ann Arbor and supports band, orchestra, choir, and theatre programs across the district. Throughout their career, Audra has directed and performed with concert bands, orchestras, marching bands, jazz bands, drum lines, percussion ensembles, saxophone quartets, choirs, and pit orchestras in both Michigan and Washington State.
Audra grew up participating in community theater and drama in the Upper Peninsula on both the production and performance sides of the stage. Their first YPT experience was with Shrek in May of 2025 as a member of the pit orchestra. Audra is now stepping into a familiar role as one of the musical directors of Finding Nemo, and is excited to bring their enthusiasm and passion for music to the excellent cast and crew of YPT!
Archie Bracegirdle – Coming
Burke Brickner
Burke Brickner is a performer, dancer, actor, singer, and choreographer from New York City. He currently attends the University of Michigan for a BFA degree in Musical Theatre. A few of Burke’s favorite credits include: choreographing the most recent production of NEWSIES for Pioneer Theatre Guild; Nickelodeon’s “Lip Sync Battle Shorties”; “Impractical Jokers” on TruTV; 100+ performances and three productions nationwide of “Billy Elliot” as Michael Caffrey. Burke has over a decade of dance experience and is trained in all styles. Prior to coming to UMich, he spent five years working as a professional dancer for Kanyok Arts Initiative (KAI) – an elite dance training and performance company based in NYC.
Burke is so stoked to be choreographing YPT’s summer production, 101 DALMATIANS. Major congratulations to everyone involved in this process!
Stay up to date with Burke on his Instagram: @burkebrickner
Cooper Bush
Cooper is so excited to be returning as a YPT Camp Leader this summer! He is a rising senior at Saline High School, and is looking forward to an awesome life of performing! YPT has always been a special place to him, which helped unlock his love for being onstage. You may recognize him from past YPT shows, including Mamma Mia! (Pepper), School of Rock (Ned), The Little Mermaid (Prince Eric), and Seussical (Horton). Cooper fondly remembers his first YPT camps that started him on his theater-journey, including Seussical and Shrek! He hopes each young actor finds the thrilling magic of YPT, and has a blast this summer!
Kaitlyn Dolan
Kaitlyn is a sophomore studying Vocal Performance at the University of Michigan. You may know her from playing Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Donna in Mamma Mia! and Miss Honey in Matilda. She also had a fantastic time playing Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Hope Cladwell in Urinetown with Skyline High School Theatre. Kaitlyn loves to perform! She is continuing her performance career at UofM, and is the current ticket manager at the University of Michigan’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society. She owes much of her love for theatre to Ane, Jenn and the entirety of Young People’s Theater.
Margaret Ellis
Hey Everyone! Margaret is excited to be a Camp Leader for 101 Dalmatians Tech this summer. They’ve spent many shows helping bring the magic of theater to life, from lights and props to building sets and making sure everything runs smoothly backstage. Get ready to discover how every part of a production comes together to create an unforgettable performance!
Caroline Huntoon
Over the past 8 years, Caroline has directed 15 shows at Young People’s Theater, and they are so excited to be joining the camp staff at YPT for Shrek The Musical! Prior to this summer, Caroline has worked with musical theater camps at YPT and The Encore Musical Theater Company. Caroline has also directed and performed in shows with Burns Park Players, The Encore, PTD Productions, Chelsea Area Players, Dexter Community Players, and more! They have a B.A. in theater with a concentration in directing from Barnard College and an M.A. from the Bread Loaf School of English.
Eve Kaplan
Eve Dahlia Kaplan is a rising junior pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Miami. As an Ann Arbor native, Eve discovered her love for theatre here at YPT, where she performed, assistant choreographed, and participated in tech team. Eve had a blast directing Willy Wonka and Aristocats last summer, and she is so excited to be back for 101 Dalmatians. When not at the theatre, Eve is usually spending time with friends and family, playing her favorite songs on guitar, reading new books, or dancing in costume as a party princess entertainer! She is passionate about inspiring young people to share their creativity and is thrilled to be part of this wonderful experience with the team and campers.
Anika Lindstrom
Anika is going into her senior year at Saline High School. She is so thrilled to be helping with YPT’s summer camps this year! She has been in the 2022 Shrek Jr. summer camp and four shows, with Mamma Mia! (Dancing Queen) and Suessical (Mrs. Mayor) holding a special place in her heart. After high school, she is hoping to go into Music Education. In the rare moments she’s not in a theater, you can find her singing in choir, writing, and baking. Looking forward to a great summer!
Morgan Minger-Szyniszewski
Morgan is a YPT alumni herself, and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue her work with Young People’s Theater while also pursuing her master’s degree in Social Work at The University of Michigan. She has her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Gender Studies, with a special focus in child & adolescent development. Following her final performance as a student with YPT in 2009, she spent the next handful of years choreographing a number MainStage shows and camp productions with YPT, including, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Oliver. Most recently, she had the pleasure of choreographing YPT’s Legally Blonde, and Willy Wonka and The Little Mermaid. Outside of the world of theater, Morgan spent many years in the hospitality industry, serving as the General Manager at Slurping Turtle before recently returning to academia and Young People’s Theater in the Summer of 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, traveling, reading, singing, and dancing. Morgan is a strong believer in the empowering capabilities of the performing arts, and is grateful to work with a team of such talented, supportive, and wonderful individuals!
Jennifer Monk-Reising: Technical Camp Director
Jennifer Monk-Reising proudly serves as the Creative Director for Young People’s Theater (YPT), where she leads the Tech Team with creativity, expertise, and enthusiasm. Over the past decade, Jennifer has taken on many roles at YPT—from set design and costumes to props and technical direction—while also spearheading nine years of Behind-the-Scenes tech camps each summer.
Jennifer is dedicated to inspiring young minds through the art of theater production. She passionately designs and oversees costumes, hair and makeup, sets, and props, guiding campers through hands-on learning in all aspects of behind-the-scenes magic. Her work emphasizes creative storytelling, teamwork, and the power of transformation through design.
Recent productions including Shrek, Seussical, The Little Mermaid, School of Rock, Mamma Mia, Into the Woods, Matilda, and SpongeBob, have showcased the growing impact of YPT’s Tech Team program. This is where young artists take on real production roles—from scenic construction and prop creation to sound, lights, and costume design—gaining valuable experience and confidence along the way.
Outside of YPT, Jennifer is the Artist Coordinator for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original; owns JMR Events, an event planning business; and has contributed her design talents to productions at Pioneer Theatre Guild and Greenhills School. She also serves as the president of the Community High School Jazz Band Booster Club, supporting young musicians in the community.
Jennifer is excited to head into the new summer season with an incredible creative team. She extends heartfelt thanks to Ane for her unwavering support, and to her fellow 2205 YPT Camp team for helping bring the YPT magic to life. Enjoy the summer!
Mary Roderique
Mary Roderique is a beloved Kindergarten teacher and literacy educator in Ann Arbor. She enjoys sharing stories, songs, and drama in her classroom and also performing with community theater organizations. Her new hobby is transforming picture books into musicals! She enjoys many pursuits, such as reading, playing board games, singing, training therapy dogs, and tap dancing. Her dogs Ferris and Daisy are also skilled actors always offering their services to Ane! These dog actors are ready for the stage! Mary enjoys summers filled with root beer and holidays in Cabot Cove and YPT Camps. She looks forward to returning for the 2025 Camp Season.
Simon Schroeder
Simon is a passionate theater artist returning for his second year as a YPT Camp Counselor! He has performed in 16 main stage productionsand 9 summer camp shows with Young People’s Theater over the past eight years. He’s also worked with Pioneer Theatre Guild, gaining experience both onstage and behind the scenes.
A student at Pioneer and Community High Schools, Simon plays the saxophone, flute, guitar, and piano, and has studied both dance and voice. This summer, he’s taking the next step in his artistic journey by attending The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Outside of performing, Simon enjoys event planning and babysitting, bringing creativity, responsibility, and a love of working with kids. He can’t wait to return to camp and help young performers shine!
Viola Schroeder
Viola Schroeder, a talented and passionate freshman studying pre-med at the University of Arizona, has seamlessly transitioned from the captivating world of theater at Young People’s Theater (YPT) to the dynamic realm of designing. As a proud YPT alumna, Viola has an impressive portfolio of 24 shows, where she has left her artistic mark on each production.
Viola’s expertise shines particularly bright in her role as a Hair and Makeup Designer for YPT shows. Her creative touch has graced productions such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, SpongeBob, Matilda, Into The Woods, MAMMA MIA, and School Of Rock. With each show, Viola has demonstrated a keen eye for detail and a unique ability to enhance the visual storytelling through her makeup and hair designs.
A lover of dance, makeup, costume design, art, music, Shakespeare, and synchronized swimming, Viola is thrilled to once again lend her creative skills backstage with the Hair & Makeup team for a YPT main stage production. She expresses excitement about collaborating with the talented team of Ane, Caroline, Kayleigh, Morgan, and Jenn, recognizing the synergy that results from their combined efforts.
Beyond her theater endeavors, Viola has garnered additional recognition as one of the five University of Arizona fashion designers chosen to be showcased in this year’s Fashion Week. This accomplishment underscores her versatility and creative prowess, extending beyond the theatrical stage.
Viola’s journey from the YPT stage to the University of Arizona reflects her commitment to both artistic expression and academic pursuits. As she embarks on this exciting chapter of her life, Viola brings with her a wealth of experience, a passion for design, and a dedication to excellence. Her presence on the Hair and Makeup team for The Little Mermaid promises to add a touch of magic to the production, and the audience can anticipate a visual feast crafted by Viola’s artistic vision and skillful design.
Eddie VanRiper – Coming
Johni Weidner
Johni Weidner is a rising junior at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance studying Theatre Arts with a concentration in Performing Arts Management. Music Director credits include Side Man, Once, 101 Dalmatians Kids, Finding Nemo Kids, High School Musical, Legally Blonde Jr., Willy Wonka Kids, and The Aristocats KIDS. Assistant Music Director credits include Vanities, Bat Boy the Musical, Titanic, and Heathers. She is so excited to be music directing her second Summer with YPT!