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, and a Virginia Teaching License for K-12 Theatre.

Recently named Best Director of the Decade in the DC/MD/VA area by BroadwayWorld, Rob has been directing & teaching theatre nearly 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

Jack has over five years of experience directing theatre in the community, including Upper Room Theatre, Fauquier Community Theatre, and Kettle Run High School, and is the Dramatic Arts Teacher at St. John Bosco School. Jack has also been performing for over 9 years, playing roles such as Buddy the Elf and Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. This will be his sixth year working with us.

Cathy has over 30 years of teaching experience, recently received a Grammy Music Educator Award nomination, was the 2014 Teacher of the Year from Round Elementary, and has been named a Star Teacher by Hal Leonard Corporation. Cathy has music directed for Upper Room Theatre, and holds a degree in Music Therapy.

Marianna began as a choreographer at age 16 before earning a minor in Dance from George Mason University. For over 10 years she has taught kids and adults of all ages at numerous musical theatre camps, performed in dozens of local productions, and choreographed over 30 musical theatre shows including Beauty and the Beast, Hello, Dolly! and Mary Poppins.

Drama Bootcamp

Kirstin is graduate of Franciscan University with a B.A. in Theatre & English. She performs onstage with Fools! Comedy Improv Troupe and has worked on- and off-stage in local theatres, including Upper Room Theatre and Fauquier Community Theatre. While not performing she is a mommy to her two-year-old son and a teacher at Aquinas Learning.

Esther has 10 years experience as after school 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 and Prince William Little Theatre.

Gabrielle has a passion for sharing the arts with youth. She has taught theatre through Spotlight Dance Studio and Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre. Directing credits include Willy, Wonka, Tom Sawyer, The Inspector General, and Mary Poppins (Assistant Director). She has performed leading roles with Upper Room Theatre and most recently with Fauquier Community Theatre.

Arts and Crafts Fun & 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.

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 in the classroom.

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.