Staff
Sarah Hope: DIRECTOR/FOUNDER
Hi, I’m Miss “Happy” Hope! I created Hope Musical Theatre in 2000 when I moved back to the Bay Area from New York City. For over 25 years, I’ve had the incredible joy of watching young lives transform through the power of music, theatre, and a little bit of “hope”. A little of my background before starting HMT: I graduated from New York University – TISCH School of the Arts. In New York, I conceived my own one woman cabaret show performing in New York, Palm Springs, and the local Fox Theatre in Redwood City. I also performed in the long running show Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco!
For over 25 years, Sarah Hope Ames has been a beacon of creativity, passion, and inspiration in the world of youth theatre. As the founder and director of Hope Musical Theatre Camp, Sarah has dedicated her life to nurturing the talents and dreams of children through the magic of musical theater. Her unwavering commitment to the arts and her belief in its transformative power have made a lasting impact on the community and the countless young lives she has touched.
Under Sarah’s leadership, Hope Musical Theatre Camp has grown from a small summer program into a prominent and highly respected institution, known for its excellence in performance, dazzling creativity, and childhood character development! The camp offers children of all backgrounds the opportunity to explore their artistic potential, build confidence, and form lifelong friendships. Through her unique approach, Sarah has created a safe, inclusive, and encouraging environment where children can shine, both on and off the stage.
Over the years, Sarah has witnessed firsthand the incredible transformation that theatre can bring to a child’s life. Whether it’s overcoming shyness, discovering a passion for the arts, or simply finding a sense of belonging, Hope Musical Theatre Camp has been a catalyst for growth, empowerment, and joy for its participants. Sarah’s leadership and her deep connection with the campers and their families have earned her a well-deserved place as a prominent and beloved member of the community.
As a director, Sarah believes that theater is more than just entertainment; it’s a powerful tool for personal development, teaching resilience, teamwork, and the value of hard work. Each year, she and her dedicated team create an unforgettable experience that not only celebrates the beauty of musical theatre but also leaves a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of the young performers. Through the success of the camp, Sarah has shown that the arts have the power to change lives, instill confidence, and inspire the next generation of artists, leaders, and change-makers.
Whether it’s a standing ovation at the end of a show or a quiet moment of growth behind the scenes, Sarah Hope Ames continues to change lives through the inspiring work she does at Hope Musical Theatre Camp. Her legacy is one of creativity, passion, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Matt Ames: Camp Manager, “The Glue”
For 25 years, Matt Ames has been the steady heartbeat of Hope Musical Theatre Camp. Before co-founding HMT, Matt ran his own successful painting business, an experience that gave him the hands-on skills and strong work ethic he brings to camp every day. Whether he’s building sets, handing out snacks, or quietly keeping daily operations running smoothly, Matt does it all with a calm presence, a reliable spirit, and a great sense of fun!
As camp manager, Matt is the behind-the-scenes hero who makes the magic happen. Known for his ability to turn big ideas into reality, Matt has a special gift for bringing the dreams of HMT’s founder and director, Sarah Hope, to life- one set piece, schedule, and snack bin at a time!
Jessica Chesbro: Associate Choreographer and Assistant Director
Jessica Chesbro is excited to be joining Hope Musical Theatre this summer having just moved to the Bay Area from New York City where she has spent the last decade! Originally from Oklahoma where she attended University of Central Oklahoma, Jessica began performing at age four and began teaching dance and theatre at age 14. Jessica has been seen as a performer throughout the United States and her favorite roles include: “Jo March” in Little Women (Mt. Gretna Theatre), “Fantine” in Les Miserables (Music Theatre Wichita), “Maysie” in Seussical (Bucks County Playhouse), “Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun (Open Air Theatre), “Glinda” in The Wizard of Oz (Music Theatre Wichita), and “Silly Girl” in Beauty and the Beast (Alabama Shakespeare Festival). She has always had a passion for teaching and passing along the joy of theatre and the arts to children. She has taught voice, acting, and music theatre at The Studio of Performing Arts in New Canaan, CT and Acting Out! in New York City. She is currently getting her master’s in San Francisco in Expressive Arts Therapy so she can further use her passion for the arts to help and inspire children to be happy, healthy, and to explore their creativity! Because she has been teaching since a young age, she has seen her first students go on to do amazing things and nothing gives her more joy than seeing the impact the spark from performing can do in people’s lives and in the world!
Ilias Chrissochoidis: Pianist/Orchestra
Ilias is a composer and a research associate at Stanford where he also teaches music courses (http://www.stanford.edu/~ichriss). Working with Miss Hope and her talented students since 2004 has offered him just the right dose of excitement an academic needs in his life. He is HMT’s own music man for this and every other season! http://www.youtube.com/chrissochoidis
Lyla Meece: Choreographer
Lyla Meece is an incoming senior at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, but calls Dallas home! She could not be more excited to spend the summer at Hope Musical Theater for the first time! At Baylor you can find Lyla in the dance studio, running errands for the front office or heading to a Kappa sorority event!! she is excited to appear in Baylor theater’s production of Alice By Heart next spring where she will also be Dance Captain! Other hobbies include frozen yogurt runs, Pickle Ball and completing the New York Times Crossword! She can’t wait to meet everyone and is ready for a great summer at HMT!
Evie Atwell: Head of Junior Department
Evie Atwell is a recent graduate of Baylor University with BFA Theatre Performance, concentration Musical Theatre. She has been Head of the Junior Department for the past two summers, and is ecstatic to join for a third! A Dallas native, post-grad she has relocated back home and begun working in the Dallas theatre scene! Her most recent credit is “The Wedding Singer” with Firehouse Theatre. Evie directs and choreographs the junior program and is blessed to work with the littlest HMT stars!
Lauren Meece: Executive Assistant
Lauren Meece is overjoyed to return to Hope Musical Theatre for a second summer! She is an NYC based teaching artist, singer, actor, and writer. She recently moved to Brooklyn, NY from Dallas, TX, and she currently works with Treasure Trunk Children’s Theatre in NYC. Lauren graduated from Baylor University with a BFA in Theatre Performance, concentration in Musical Theatre. She has been performing professionally since she was 6 years old, and her most recent credits include “Elf” with the Historic Savannah Theatre in Georgia, and “Diss Tracks” with the Reverie Room in NYC. Lauren brings with her over 10 years of experience in youth leadership and children’s theatre programs across the country, where she has directed, taught, and mentored young performers of all ages. She is passionate about creating joyful, empowering spaces for kids to grow through the arts, and she is thrilled to share another magical, SPARKLY summer of theatre with the HMT community!
Lizzy Leonard: Head Counselor
Lizzy is a rising senior at Design Tech High School and has been at Hope Musical Theatre since 2016! In her free time she loves spending her time at the studio: training in ballet, contemporary, jazz and lyrical dance. She loved HMT as a camper and is so thrilled to continue the magic and sparkle as a counselor!
Emma Messerian: Head Counselor
Hi! I’m Emma, and I am currently a rising junior at Gunn High School. I first came to Hope Musical Theater as a camper when I was 8 years old, and have returned every summer since. I have been a Counselor-In-Training at HMT for a few years, and am very excited to come back as a counselor! Over the years, I have always looked forward to spending my summers at HMT, where I knew I would have the opportunity to make new friends and meet so many interesting, amazing, and hardworking people who make this camp possible. They all made HMT so exciting and memorable for me, and I hope to do the same!
Gracie Easton: Head Counselor, Photographer
Hi I am Gracie! This will be my 10th year at HMT and my 5th year being a staff member. I currently study Film and TV production in LA. I love musical theater and HMT has cultivated that love. I have enjoyed capturing, editing, and curating all the photos and videos for HMT throughout the years.
Audrey Meece: Head Counselor, Props Coordinator
Meredith Villarrial: Head Counselor, Social Media Assistant
Meredith Villarrial is thrilled to join Hope Musical Theatre staff this summer! She graduated Baylor University in the spring with a BFA in Theatre Performance, concentration in Musical Theatre. A recent transplant to Houston, she currently works with Stretch and Grow Preschool as the Head Social Media Manager and Music Teacher! Her most recent credits include Rock of Ages and The Marvelous Wonderettes at Clinton Area Showboat Theatre!
Layne McCalmont: HMT Marketing Coordinator
Layne is a recent graduate from Baylor University. She grew up dancing, and participated in a variety of musicals and theatre performances throughout her high school career. One of her favorite theatre memories was being a chimney sweep tap dancer in Mary Poppins. She worked at Pine Cove Towers for the past two summers but is so excited to meet the new campers this summer and explore California!
Sophia Sears: Costuming Assistant
Hi! My name is Sophia Sears, and I am an undergraduate at Sonoma State University, where I am majoring in English with a concentration in Secondary Teaching. I started Hope Musical Theatre as a camper when I was 7 years old, and I came back each summer as a camper for as long as I could! Performing every summer in the Broadway style productions with HMT were some of the best moments in my childhood! When I entered seventh grade, I became a Counselor In Training (CIT), and volunteered at HMT for four years. I was then invited to work full time as Staff, when I became a Junior in high school. In total, I have been with Hope Musical Theatre for 11 years, and I have loved every minute of it! I also enjoy reading, creative writing, horseback riding, and spontaneity!
Katya Kuykendall: Head Counselor
Nate Young: Head Counselor
Nate is an incoming freshman at New York University, but they’re a Bay Area native who’s been at Hope since they were 9. They’ve done a ton of theatre since then. Their most recent role was playing Edward Rochester in You On The Moors Now. Other specific highlights have been assistant directing an improv showcase, performing original stand-up comedy, and assistant directing an original immersive play based on the Brothers’ Grimm fairytales. They’re excited to help bring this show together this summer!
Cassie Nordgren: Choreographer
Cassie is thrilled to return to California from NYC to join the Hope Musical Theater staff for summer 2010. She recently finished a run of GREASE! in Istanbul, Turkey playing the role of Patty Simcox. Other favorite performance credits include Sierra Repertory Theater’s Hello Dolly! and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Alice/dance captain), a dancer on Celebrity Cruise line’s CONSTELLATION, and the title role and dance captain in the national tour of Arthur, LIVE! Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy! Cassie is also an accomplished choreographer with regional credits such as Cabrillo Stage’s Jesus Christ Superstar and Sierra Rep’s Paint Your Wagon. A bay area native, Cassie grew up training at her mom’s dance studio, Castro Valley Performing Arts in Castro Valley, studying tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and lyrical. She has been teaching dance and musical theater since the age of 14 and LOVES working with children.www.cassienordgren.com
Sarah Liebowitz: Set Designer
Sarah Liebowitz has been working in Theatre for nearly 20 years. She has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from San Jose State University with a concentration in Makeup and Costume Design. Her past credits include work in costume, makeup, set construction and painting for: American Musical Theatre, Opera San Jose, San Francisco Opera, Mark Morris Dance Company, Hayward Little Theatre, The Aurora Theatre Company, Theatre Works, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, California Shakespeare Theater Chautauqua Opera, Spoleto Festival Opera, New Orleans Opera, Golden State Theatre Productions, as well as various high school and college productions throughout the Bay Area. She has also interned at the Museum of Costume in Bath, England. Sarah is excited to be returning to theatre after taking time off to work in the cosmetics industry and have her two beautiful sons. She is especially happy to have tackled her first landscape painting.
Sierra Madigan: Counselor
Hi! I’m Sierra, and I am just graduated Woodside High School. Over the last four years I’ve had a continuously amazing experience working there. Getting to watch the kids perform on the HMT stage at the end of the week is so special and it always makes me realize how much the work that goes into the shows pays off. The HMT staff have always been an accepting, loving community to me and I am so exited that this summer I can consider myself a part of them!
Chloe Geist: Counselor
I’m Chloe, a starting senior at Mountain View High School, and a (very happy) former camper at HMT for 6 years! I am a Varsity cheer captain and choreographer/dance teacher for elementary school musicals, an active volunteer for children with physical and cognitive disabilities, and love live concerts, reading, and tutoring. Fun fact, I have received the Presidential Service Award for my volunteer work!
Addison Parenti: Head Counselor
Addison is a rising sophomore at Pinewood School. She has been doing HMT since she was 6 years old as a camper and a counselor in training (2022), and is thrilled to be a counselor this summer. Addison has participated in various theater productions over the past 10 years. Some of her more recent productions include Wizard of Oz, Something Rotten, Beauty & the Beast, and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Additionally, she has trained in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, and Musical Theatre dance. Addison enjoys teaching younger actors and has experience working with youth outside of HMT including baby-sitting and being a camp counselor at Pinewood and the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre. She looks forward to working with your children and bringing magic to the stage!
