Who We Are
Our Story
Co-founders: Crystal Gulley & Cindy David
Our journey together began in 2008. We were both music teachers at Encino Park Elementary where we loved doing grade level PTA shows. We realized we shared a passion for children and musical theatre, so we embarked on a new idea of directing a Broadway Jr. show complete with auditions and open to all students in the school. We decided on Beauty and the Beast Jr. and after auditioning many students we had a cast of 40. These children ranged in age from Kinder through Fifth grade. The performances were magical and we knew we had to continue directing a musical each year. The students involved grew into confident, young artists and the blessings abounded.
After three years together Crystal moved to New York where she continued to teach music and direct musical theatre. Cindy continued to do the same at Encino Park Elementary. We both felt confident that we would be back together someday and start our own theatre. Crystal moved back to San Antonio and our dream became a reality in 2019.
Collectively we have produced over 10 musical theatre productions in the San Antonio and New York Areas with all grade levels, K-12. Our goal is to provide rigorous instruction with opportunities to learn and build acting, singing and dancing skills. It is a privilege to work with students and provide an outlet for them to grow and realize their creative potential. We hope to impact the lives of those we create theatre with from the material chosen to the actor, to audience members.
Crystal Gulley
CO-FOUNDER + DIRECTOR
Crystal Gulley earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University and has taught in the North East Independent School District for 11 years as a Music teacher. While in San Antonio she has performed in several community theatre shows at the Public and the Vexler, as well as sung with the San Antonio Master singers for 5 seasons.
Her love of theatre and creating theatre moved her to New York in 2012. Miss Gulley lived there for six years where she was trained in the Meisner Acting Technique and earned her Master of Arts for Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities from the NYU Steinhardt School for Culture, Education and Human Development before coming back to Texas to teach and start a children's theatre.
While in NY she was involved in several collaborative theatre projects as well as creating a few of her own. She received training in physical theatre, devised theatre and directing. She worked as a high school vocal music teacher, an elementary music teacher in the Bronx, and a teaching artist for music and theatre. She has also been a Director, Assistant Director, and Music Director for several New York and Texas children’s theatre productions.
She is currently a Music Education Specialist at Serna Elementary. She believes music and theatre go hand-in-hand, and loves to provide opportunities for students to tap into their creative potential and explore the arts.
Cindy David
CO-FOUNDER
After performing theatre in high school, Cindy went on to earn a Bachelor of Music Education from McMurry University. She moved to Mississippi after marrying Tom and earned her Elementary Education certification from Mississippi University for Women.
After moving back to San Antonio, Cindy began her career in Northside ISD where she taught Elementary music for 3 years. She then taught second grade in Judson ISD for four years until she chose to stay home to spend time with her three children. She returned to the classroom in 2001 and taught first and second grade classes until 2008 where she was drawn back into the music classroom at Encino Park Elementary.
She was thrilled when she and her teaching partner Crystal, decided to co-direct Beauty and the Beast Jr. with Fiddler on the Roof Jr. and The Wizard of Oz soon to follow. After Crystal moved to New York, Cindy went on to direct You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Little Mermaid Jr., Tarzan, Lion King Jr. and Peter Pan Jr. at Encino Park Elementary.
After retiring from teaching, she furthered her theater experience as the music director for the youth production of The Music Man at the STAGE Theater in Bulverde, Texas where she co-directed James and the Giant Peach the following year.
Staff
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Jonah Shelton, Sound/Lighting Assistant Director
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Morgan Winter, Stage Manager