SCT/MHI
Sonora Children's Theatre 501(c)3 and Meyer Hideout, Inc. 501(c)3, are working together to provide more opportunities for children and youth in our community to become involved in theatre, music and dance. United we bring the county together in exciting classes, recitals and full performances.
Current Board Members:
Ed Oakes
Jody Kellerman
Jody Perry
Kim Davis
Sandra Smith
Sonora Children’s Theatre Mission Statement
Sonora Children’s Theatre is committed to offering a high standard of theatre instruction and providing a source for all children to experience performing in front of a live audience.
Meyer Hideout, Inc. Mission Statement
We are focused on teamwork, character-building and increasing self-confidence of those involved, as well as instilling an understanding of the performing arts. The program provides a safe and healthy environment for youth in our community, as well as creating a strong base of confident, knowledgeable, receptive, and supportive young community members. Students will have a thorough knowledge of music, theatre and dance where drawn in. Our productions are high-quality, organized and professional. Our classes are interesting, informative, ordered and beneficial to all involved. Above all, Meyer Hideout, Inc. is a fun, exciting, accepting and loving performing family.
About Us!
Cyndi Owens has been involved in theater since high school where she attended a performing arts high school in Fresno. She moved to sonora in 1989 and has performed in numerous plays at the theaters throughout the foothills. She played Helena in Midsummers Night Dream when the Fallon House in Columbia was Columbia Actors Repratory. She is on the wall at Stage Three for her role in Three Tall Woman and American Plan. She ran the mountain actors childrens conservatory for 5 years, changing the name to Foothill Academy for the Perfoming arts. Cyndi is a credential teacher and taught Theater Arts at Calveras High School and Summerville Connections.
Cyndi Owens
Drama, Acting, Improvisation,
Costume Make-up
Spring Break Camp Leader
My name is Caitlin Powers and i am a bubbly, bright and excited instuctor! I began taking dance classes at age four and fell in love with the art of movement. I graduated from Connections Performing Arts Academy in 2008, with 4 years high school dance under my belt, including show chior, hip hop, musical theater dance, and ballet. In my senior year I stepped up to the challenge of creating and choreographing a dance team for my senior project to help raise money and awareness of hearing impaired children. Not only did this grow my love for dance it made me realise I wanted to teach as my career. I started teaching dance in local studios at the age of fourteen. I have continued teaching dance in studio and private classes and am now returning for my second year to be apart of the SCT/MHI family. I am looking foward to helping the students excell in their classes with a fun and safe environment for them to learn in. Anyone can dance, if they have fun in their hearts!
Caitlin Powers
Pre-Ballet, Ballet Substitute,
Dance Fun
YOUR TEACHERS!!!
Kyla Meyer received her BA in Theatre Arts from Sonoma State in 2003 and her AA in Music from Columbia College in 2009. While at SSU she worked in the Person Theatre as a set-builder, lighting operator and costumer, as well as in the Center for Performing Arts as an assistant. Her theatre focus was in musical theatre performance, production, directing and working with children. Kyla also performed in Krank: a Kurt Weill review, Candide, The Magic Flute, Quantum Opera Scenes, Freedom Project, numerous choirs and musical theatre workshops.
Prior to SSU, Kyla was in Anaheim performing with the Young Americans, a well-known Youth Performing Arts Outreach group that tours internationally. As an alumni of Sonora High, Kyla returned to Tuolumne County to spread her love of the arts to the youth in her hometown.
Most recently, Kyla was seen an Shipwrecked! at Sierra Repertory Theatre, as well as Hucklebee at Murphy’s Black Bart’s production of The Fantasticks. The Columbia College Community Chorus is her current outlet for singing in Tuolumne County.
Her arts teaching experience ranges from teaching music to the K—5 at Black Oak Elementary School to musical theatre and choir after school and in-class music to 3—5 graders at Sonora Elementary School. For two years she ran the Community Children’s Chorus through Central Sierra Arts Council.
Kyla created the structure of Meyer Hideout, Inc. from the ground up and keeps it smoothly running from day today. Her dream for Hideout includes a year-round offering of classes ranging from music theory to improvisation and building sets, which has now come to life with the cooperation of Sonora Children's Theatre. Future goals flow around a permanent theatre and offering overnight programs.
Kyla Meyer - Artistic Director
Musical Theatre, Theatre Production, Substitute for choirs, voice classes and music theory.
Summer Hideout Director
Raymond Bamber, a native of Tuolumne County, has been playing and writing music for 14 years. Besides composing, he plays guitar, piano/keyboard, bass, drums, and a few other assorted instruments. He believes the creation of music is one of the greatest gifts in life, and tries to inspire this belief in others.
Raymond Bamber
Music, Music theory, Guitar
Substitute for music classes
Being fascinated with theatre since she was quite young, Phoebe Minick, because of her own experiences as a child and young adult, has an overwhelming desire to see all children have the opportunity to excel in performing arts and every form of art that accompanies it. Phoebe, with her husband Dwayne, has raised 4 boys and has experienced the busyness that goes with having an active family. Along with her active family she has been involved in Bible studies, sports, worked as a volunteer pretty much everywhere and had a myriad of odd jobs. Of her life she says, “There is not a time when I can remember being bored.” Considering the busyness and having been involved in drama teams, many church related dramatic and other performances, some community performances and teaching children drama, acting and theatre, she knows, “There are precious few things that bring me more joy than to see the light go on in a child’s eyes when you have taught them some little gem of a thing, and too see that they truly understand the difference it will mean to their performance. Having taught them that thing, you understand that it could possibly make a difference in the direction of their life …awesome.” Phoebe counts it a privilege to work with your children and you to provide just one more avenue for each child to reach his or her full potential.
Phoebe Minick
Administrative Director
Drumming and Acting Substitute
