Meet Our Camp Staff

Award-Winning Instructors Await your Children

Spotlight Camp Director

Mr. Rob Tessier

A former Ringling Brothers Clown and stage & TV actor, Rob is founder/director of Upper Room Theatre Ministry and Director of Youth Ministry at All Saints Church. He holds a Miami University Theatre degree, a Professional Clown Diploma from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, a Virginia Teaching License for K-12 Theatre, and a Masters in Catechetics & Evangelization from Franciscan University.

Recently named Best Director of the Decade in the DC/MD/VA area by BroadwayWorld, Rob has been directing & teaching theatre for well over 30 years. With a passion for helping young people to develop their own talents and discover their own artistic voice, Rob always sets the bar high and looks to encourage and teach in a way that brings out the best in his students.

Broadway Spotlight

Mr. Jack Tessier

Mr. Jack Tessier

Acting

Jack was named “Best Actor in a Play” in the DC Area in 2023 by BroadwayWorld.  He has directed young performers at Fauquier Community Theatre, Kettle Run High School, St. John Bosco School, and Upper Room.  A regular FOOLS Improv performer, Jack was also seen recently on local stages as Larry in Larry, the Big Time Producer and as Buddy in Elf the Musical.   This will be his 6th year with Spotlight!

Mrs. Cathy Drummond

Mrs. Cathy Drummond

Singing, Broadway Spotlight Director

Cathy has received a Grammy Music Educator Award nomination, the 2021 UUAW Excellence Award, was the 2014 Teacher of the Year from Round Elementary, and has been named a Star Teacher by Hal Leonard Corporation. She is Music Director for Nativity Players and has music directed for Upper Room & Fauquier Theatres.  Cathy plays with the band “Undercover” and delights in introducing the joy of Broadway music to future performers!

MariaDavis-2024

Ms. Maria Davis

Dance

Maria has danced and choreographed for over 20 years. She holds a BA in Dance and an MA in Library Information Sciences. Maria has worked with children for over a decade teaching dance classes, theater camps, and working at an elementary school. She choreographed Upper Room’s Into the Woods and performed all over, including Upper Room and as an independent dance artist in Pennsylvania.

Drama Bootcamp

Mrs. Kirstin Weber

Mrs. Kirstin Weber

Acting

Kirstin is graduate of Franciscan University with a B.A. in Theatre & English.  She was the theatre director at Aquinas in Woodbridge before becoming a full time mom. Kirstin still performs onstage with Fools! Comedy Improv Troupe and has worked on- and off-stage at Upper Room Theatre, Rooftop Theatre and Fauquier Community Theatre. 

Mrs. Esther Wells

Mrs. Esther Wells

Improvisational Comedy,
Drama Bootcamp Camp Director

 Esther has over a dozen years experience as Theatre Director at Potomac High School. When she’s not teaching theatre, she performs comedy improvisations with Fools! and works on- and off-stage in local community theatres, including Upper Room Theatre, Fauquier Community Theatre, and Prince William Little Theatre.

Mrs. Gabrielle Tessier

Mrs. Gabrielle Tessier

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Gabrielle has a love for creating characters for the stage with children, and the art of pantomime. She has taught musical theatre at Spotlight Studio and Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre. Choreography credits include James and the Giant Peach, Once Upon a Mattress, and Tuck Everlasting at Fauquier Community Theatre.

Arts and Crafts Fun & Art Explorer

Mrs. Annie Giammatteo Whifield

Mrs. Annie
Giammatteo Whifield

Art Explorer

Annie has been a Diocesan teacher for 15 years, currently at Saint Theresa in Ashburn, but previously taught K-8 Art at Saint Veronica in Chantilly. She holds a VCEA license and is pursuing her Master’s in Art Education. When not teaching, she enjoys creating all forms of art, flipping furniture, attending craft fairs, baking, and cheering for the New York Yankees and the New England Patriots.

Mrs. Jasmine Shumway

Mrs. Jasmine
Shumway

ARTS & CRAFTS FUN

Jasmine holds her Master’s in Art Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Corcoran College of Art and Design and has over 10 years of teaching experience. She has a passion for teaching Art and believes that all children have an innate ability to create. She enjoys teaching with various mediums and gives her students the opportunity to explore and find their own unique style.

All “Spotlight on the Arts” staff are approved to work with young people through the Child Protection & Safety Program sponsored by the Arlington Diocese.

Our camps are fully licensed and insured.