OUR AMAZING STAFF
Alyza Thornson, Junior Stage Director, Little Stars Instructor
Alyza has been involved with Starbound since she was 6 years old and is thrilled to be apart of the staff! She currently attends Solano Community College and is pursuing Early Childhood Education.
Blaze Davis, Media and Film Instructor
As a seasoned creative producer with a profound passion for storytelling, I've dedicated over 12 years to the art of video production and social media marketing. My journey in this dynamic field led me to YouTube, where I have been serving as a live streaming consultant for the past seven years. Simultaneously, I've been at the helm of Just b Media, a company I founded and have been nurturing for the past 12 years.
Originally from the Vacaville and currently residing in Sacramento, CA, my life is enriched by my wonderful family. Sharing adventures with my Wife of 12 years and navigating the joys of raising six vibrant kids keeps life sweet and full.
At the core of my philosophy is a belief that everyone has a story worth sharing. My role, as I see it, is to bring these stories to life, particularly in the digital world where narratives can flourish and reach vast audiences. My experience at YouTube has endowed me with unique insights into the power of live streaming, and through Just B Media, I've been able to leverage this knowledge to help clients, brands, and creators craft and share their stories in the most impactful way.
Bridget Smith, Production Manager
Bridget has over 15 years of theatrical experience, which entails onstage performance (acting in over 50 productions) and technical theatre. Her passion and love for theatre began at the age of 5; making her debut as Gretal in Sound of Music performed by Children's Theatre Network (CTN). After high school, Bridget studied and worked shows for Pacific Conservatory Performing Arts (PCPA). At PCPA, she went beyond the typical student curriculum of technical theatre by working with the production team; assisting with fundraisers to raise funding for productions, scholarships, and grants. She also assisted the casting director, documenting their progress in a how-to manual of planning and scheduling a recruitment casting tour. Her favorite show at PCPA to work on was "Bullshot Crummond" a parady and cross between Rocky and Bullwinkle and Sherlock Holmes. More importantly, her time in children's theatre instilled in her many values such as friendship, teamwork, diversity, responsibility, accountability, and “the show must go on”. Theatre is where she developed a self-identity, self-awareness, and the ability to think on her feet and out of the box. She hopes to bring the same to Starbound Theatre.
Brittany Watson, Associate Artistic Director
Brittany Watson started doing theater when she was 12 years old and by the age of 15, she was choreographing her first show and directing in a young directors program at 16. After high school she pursued theater and dance at Diablo Valley College, during this time she also was in an apprenticeship program with Bay Area Children’s Theater and worked with a few local children’s theater companies and high schools in the Concord/ Martinez Area. In the fall of 2016, she participated in a study abroad program in London, England where she studied art, traveled, joined a ballroom dance team, and saw as many shows as possible. After coming home, she went back to teaching, choreographing, and directing. In the summers of 2017 and 2019 she was given the opportunity to go to New York and do two teaching intensives with ITheatrics. In 2020, Brittany took a break from theater; got married to her best friend and finish cosmetology school and after a two-years, she joined the Starbound Team in 2022 working with them in their after-school programs, teaching dance in the Starbound Academy and choreographing shows. She is so grateful to have found such a wonderful group of people and looks forward to working with them in the future.
Brooke Fox, Music Director, Show Kids Chorus
Brooke is a Vacaville native who enrolled in Youth Theatre programs from age 6-17, sharing stages with Vivian McLaughlin under the direction of the legendary Alex Urban as well as productions at SCC and VHS. Brooke's grandmother, Carol Zadnik, wrote the music for the Val Players (now Gaslighters) Fiesta Days Melodramas, and Brooke would often appear in the show or turn pages for her grandmother at the piano.
Brooke went on to study Songwriting (with Vocal emphasis) at Berklee College of Music before heading to Nashville. then New York City to pursue the arts professionally.
While in NYC, Brooke immersed herself in the writing and production side of musical theatre, most notably as co-creator of "Williamsburg! The Musical" which enjoyed a sold out run at the NYC Fringe Festival. From lyricist, arranger, book writer, producer, music director, pit musician, sound production, publicist - Brooke has worked on many sides of off-broadway theatre production. Broadway stars Jessica Vosk, Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Jen Corella, and Lena Hall have all sung songs written by Brooke.
Before returning to California in 2016 to be closer to family, Brooke served as Executive Director of an innovative nonprofit designed to provide work-readiness skills to musicians and audio professionals with blindness.
Chelsea Looy, Acting Instructor
Chelsea is absolutely thrilled to be working with Starbound. Being a lifelong theatre student in addition to performing, she is excited to share what she knows and loves with the next generation. Chelsea is an alum of New York University (BFA in Theatre), Oakland School for the Arts, and American Conservatory Theatre. She’s performed in many genres, from musical theatre to classical plays to new works and more. Her favorite roles have been Kelly in Truck Stop at Crowded Fire Theater and Masha in Sarah Ruhl’s translation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters. Chelsea is a tried and true Californian, natural redhead, and crossword puzzle enthusiast.
Conner Watson, Tech Supervisor
Conner has been doing theatrical stuff both on and off stage for 25 years, mostly in Solano County but also from the Sacramento area down through the Bay Area and across Napa and Sonoma. Conner started as a performer with a love for Shakespeare, then started working behind the scenes as a tech in high school, which led him to the Actor Training Program at Solano Community College. While a part of this conservatory, Conner was hired as a theatre technician at Solano Community College and eventually branched out as a designer and stage manager to the local area. After years spent supporting community shows, he found himself in Martinez, where he met his wife Brittany. After a hiatus spent in the Maintenance department of Six Flags, Conner is excited to be back in the theatrical world and to be a part of the Starbound Staff
Veronica Montemayor, Company Manager
Elizabeth has always had a love for theatre arts, and has been acting since she was five years old. She joined Starbound theatre to play "Mrs. Potts" in Beauty and the Beast, and has also been in productions with Winters Theatre Company, Solano Youth Theatre and Sacramento Theatre Company, where she assisted in theatre outreach.
She’s been a public speaking medalist and loves singing, literature and teaching others! Elizabeth is pursing a degree in education and theatre arts and plans to continue to teach theatre to children of all ages.
Vivian McLaughlin, Musical Director & Academy Instructor
Vivian has a BFA in Musical Theater from New York University. She performed on Broadway and starred in the television show Out of the Box currently streaming on Disney+. She has performed in Russia and Argentina, recorded several children’s audiobooks, and can be heard on Volume I and II of the Playhouse Disney CD Series. Vivian has filmed industrials and commercials for companies such as Western Union, Sun Microsystems, MSN, and Visa.
She is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA and AEA. Vivian was the head of the theater department at Justin-Siena High School where she taught acting and choral classes, and directed their musicals and plays. A multiple Arty Award winner/nominee for her music direction, Vivian has also taught at several other schools including: Fairfield High, Benicia High, Will C. Wood, American Canyon High, Rodriguez High, Sun and Stars Montessori, Stone Bridge School, St. John’s Catholic, St. John’s Lutheran, Pueblo Vista Elementary, Northwood Elementary, Matthew Turner Elementary, and Oakbrook Elementary.
In addition to Starbound Theatre, Vivian currently works with Cafeteria Kids Theater and Musical Mayhem Productions, and offers private voice/piano lessons. While some of her students can now be heard singing on Broadway, Vivian hopes to impart an appreciation for musical theatre and the art of singing, regardless of whether or not her students choose to pursue the arts as a career. She feels extremely lucky to be part of the Starbound Theatre family and to have landed the roles of “wife” to Bret and “Mommy” to daughter Julien.
David Rodgers Jr, Managing Artistic Director
David, a multifaceted force in the Bay Area theater community, boasts an extensive career spanning over two decades as a playwright, director, teacher, and performer. His journey began at Solano College Theatre, where he immersed himself in the Actor Training Program, graduating with degrees in Liberal Arts and Theatre Arts. Fueling his passion for the arts, David pursued further education at the University of San Francisco, delving into Arts Management and Art History.
David's artistic footprint shines brightly through his work with Starbound Theatre, where he has directed an impressive array of over forty productions, created a Performing Arts Academy within Starbound Theatre, and lead the company to impact thousands of students across Solano and Napa counties.
Expanding his leadership roles, David serves as the Chief Creative Officer of Creative ArtReach and holds the prestigious position of Artistic Director at Creative Arts Solano. Additionally, his expertise enriches the educational landscape as he imparts knowledge and passion through teaching theater, acting, and film classes throughout the Bay Area. David's influence extends even further as he contributes his talents to Oakbrook Academy of the Arts, where he teaches the magic of theatre to grades TK-8th grade.
