STAFF
Emily Calasopa
Executive Artistic Director
Emily Calasopa is a facilitator, director, musical director, arts advocate, lifelong learner and believer that all things are possible!
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she has had the privilege of working with many amazing theater organizations, both non-profit and professional, over the past 20 years. Emily has been the Artistic Director for three non-profit theater arts organizations and held management positions with Triple L Talent, Tom Burke Voice Studio, CYT & CDA Summer Theater, just to name a few. Emily also taught theater in both public and private schools.
In her late teens, Emily toured, North America and internationally, with The Continental Singers. During this time, she found a real passion in working with youth and exploring other cultures. Since then, Emily has worked to become as educated as possible and embrace ALL walks of life. Everyone has a place to shine! It’s Emily’s goal to help each person believe and achieve.
Emily had the privilege of working under Laura Little, Broadway Producer, at both CYT-Spokane and Triple L Talent (now MAM), for several years. During this time, she learned incredible lessons in leadership and was given endless opportunities to discover and create! This was when she truly found the passion for leadership. Laura believed in Emily and that is all Emily needed to succeed and find her sparkle! She now believes it is her turn to help YOU find YOUR SPARKLE!
For the past 15 years, Emily has been a private voice and acting coach. She has certifications in Cabaret (Story Thru Song), SLS, CVT and is working towards becoming an Estill Master Trainer. Several of the students she has coached have gone on to work at Disney, on Broadway, acted in SAG films and become signed recording artists. Emily fully believes that EVERYONE can sing! You just have to have awareness, listen to yourself and have a great facilitator who believes in you!
Emily currently resides in Austin, TX, where she moved with her husband, Clifford, and daughters, Ellyette and Edessyn in 2017. Her daughters enjoy the arts just as much as she does and take all opportunity to put on their own little “living room musicals”.
Emily is so excited to lead SHINE ON PERFORMING ARTS as the Executive Artistic Director. She knows God has amazing things in store!
Jacki Morgan
Business Manager
Bringing Experience in the World of Business and Financial Management: 20+ years as a Small Business Management Consultant providing services in bookkeeping, payroll, accounts receivable, records keeping, handling and organizing real estate, estate, legal, and corporate financial matters;
Bringing Education from the World of Academia: B.S. Psychology, Masters & PhD in Education Administration with 40+ years and continuing in teaching, writing, editing, tutoring, visual processing therapy (Certified), student advocacy, and parent/teacher education as a Reading/Writing Specialist and Diagnostician (working in public, private Christian, & home schools for students with dyslexia, ADHD, & other learning difficulties);
Bringing Training in the World of the Field of Law: 10+ years as a paralegal;
Bringing Creativity in the World of Event Planning: 3+ years as a small business owner;
my skills and God-given talents and gifts are now offered to help YOU SHINE ON in the World of Theatre,
as Business Manager, with SOPA!
Jacob Horton
Technical Director
Jacob Horton has been involved in theater since he was seven years old. Through classes and productions with TCU, CYT, Arts Avenue, CAPA, and others, he is excited to have served in every possible role in the theater: actor, director, assitant director, stage manager, music director, light designer, light/sound board operator, set/prop designer, choreographer, pit musician, etc. He will graduate in May 2023 with a BFA in Theater with an emphasis in Design and Production from Texas Christian University, and cannot wait to be a part of the SOPA Family!
Amy Hall
Costume Director
Amy Hall is a sewing facilitator, vision developer and skill discoverer. She is so thankful for her Creator who is the giver of creativity. She has a wonderful husband and 4 very talented children. She loves discovering the strengths in others and walking along side them to grow and build their confidence as they discover how to shine in their own talents.
Amy has had many favorite experiences innovating dramatic design for theater. She enjoyed designing many costumes for The Little Mermaid for CYT, especially Ursula, with her big long tentacles, and taking donated dance costumes and making them into sea creatures. Another show stopper was fashioning the very long Fruma-Sarah costume for CYT’s Fiddler on the Roof onto a tall moveable wooden structure. An interesting challenge was taking a student’s mother’s wedding dress and transforming it into a shining Ghost of Christmas Past costume in CYT’s Christmas Carol. For Arts Avenue she enjoyed making the Fairy Godmother dress for Cinderella. She has had different titles over the years such as Costume Designer, Specialty Costume Designer and Costume Coordinator. She has had the privilege of working with the amazing people at Austin’s CYT and CAPA and some with Arts Avenue as well.
She is honored to take on the role as Costume Director for Shine On Performing Arts and looks forward to meeting and working along side each of you!
Katy Reilly
Coordinator
Katy Reilly is a Christian mom of two children, who both love creating and performing. A native Texan, Katy has worked as a physical therapist for over 16 years, specialized in working with patients with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. In her free time, she likes to read, watch football, two step and take on home projects.
Katy has served in 7+ theater shows, helping with front of house, ticket sales, costumes, and hair and makeup. She loves stepping back to support those around her, encouraging students backstage, and creating an environment for each show to SHINE.
She is excited to serve as Coordinator with SOPA and see God continue to work.