Our Instructors & Staff

Juliet Yaques is the co-founder and Executive Director of Making Light Productions, an inclusive arts education nonprofit in Tallahassee. Since founding the organization in 2016, she has led its growth into a comprehensive arts center offering theatre, music, dance, visual art, film, technical theatre, private lessons, camps, and fully produced performances for children, teens, and adults of all abilities. Juliet holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Flor

Emily Geyer serves as Program Director at Making Light Productions, where she oversees class scheduling, enrollment, instructor coordination, family communication, and the day-to-day operation of group classes, private lessons, camps, workshops, and productions. With a background in dance and extensive experience supporting arts education programs, Emily helps students, families, and instructors navigate schedules, registration, program requirements, and ongoing participation

Janae Easton serves as Creative Director at Making Light Productions, where she helps shape the visual and technical identity of productions through set design, costume design, color, texture, production planning, and technical theatre. She has been part of the Making Light community since 2017 and plays a major role in the organization’s technical theatre and production programs. Janae is an artist and former adjunct professor at Florida State University, where she taught pa

Joe Svisco serves as Technical Director at Making Light Productions, where he oversees lighting, sound, stage management, technical systems, and production coordination for fully produced plays and musicals. He also directs productions and helps guide students and volunteers through the technical work required to bring each show to the stage. Joe recently directed Making Light Productions’ Pete the Cat. A longtime member of the Tallahassee theatre community, he has performed,

Erica J. Dowling serves as Director of Music at Making Light Productions and teaches voice, piano, acting, and musical theatre. A classically trained vocalist and music educator, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Florida State University and an Associate of Arts in Education from Tallahassee State College. She is also beginning graduate study to continue developing her work in music and education. Originally from Kissimmee, Florida, Erica graduated from Osceola Count

Cameron Garrett, an experienced dance and musical theatre instructor, brings 24 years of teaching performing arts in Tallahassee to Making Light Productions. Former owner of The Edge Dance & Fitness and a member of Dance Masters of America, Cameron has directed dance programs for various organizations and her own company, DancEffects, and has been with Making Light since 2017. With a passion for nurturing young talents, many of Cameron's students have pursued teaching or prof

Tonya John serves as Director of Art at Making Light Productions and teaches sewing, costuming, stagecraft, and visual art. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pensacola Christian College and has more than 30 years of experience in sewing, costume design, alterations, pattern work, custom construction, and hands-on production work. At Making Light, Tonya creates costumes, props, scenic elements, character pieces, and original sewing projects for fully produced plays and

Taylor Petty serves as Director of Acting at Making Light Productions and teaches acting, stagecraft, visual art, improvisation, and other theatre disciplines. She is a graduate of Florida State University’s theatre program. Taylor has experience in acting, directing, carpentry, costuming, theatrical makeup, stage management, lighting, improvisation, stage combat, world theatre, and performance theory. She also spent several years working with touring Broadway productions at

Vanessa Wray serves as Director of Musical Theatre at Making Light Productions. A director, choreographer, stage manager, intimacy coordinator, and educator with more than 25 years of theatre experience, she leads musical theatre classes and fully produced theatrical productions for children and teens in Tallahassee. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Vanessa teaches a wide range of dance and theatre disciplines. Since joining Making Light Productions in 2024, s

Jack Jammer serves as Scenic Director at Making Light Productions. He is a scenic designer, master carpenter, architectural designer, and performer who creates functional theatrical environments for student and community productions. Jack holds a master’s degree in Architecture from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and spent five years working as an architectural designer for BKJ Architecture before moving into full-time theatrical work in 2021. He now provides

Erin John is the Office Assistant at Making Light Productions as well as a Tallahassee performer, teaching artist, and theatrical makeup designer. A former Making Light student, Erin has grown within the organization from participant and performer to instructor and staff member. They received a Thespian Critics’ Choice award in makeup design and have developed extensive experience in acting, character makeup, makeup design, and theatre production. At Making Light, Erin suppor

Hope Mallari serves as Virtual Assistant for Making Light Productions, supporting registration, scheduling, digital communications, marketing, and day-to-day administrative systems. She works with Opus1 registration and scheduling, shared files and calendars, Canva graphics and flyers, social media content, email newsletters, and other digital projects that support classes, private lessons, camps, workshops, productions, and family communication. Hope’s work helps keep inform

Julia Blagodir is an acting and voice instructor at Making Light Productions with experience in theatre, film, songwriting, and recorded music. Originally from Moscow, Russia, she has worked and trained in Los Angeles and Tallahassee. Julia has studied physical theatre and Fitzmaurice Voicework, which inform her approach to helping students connect voice, movement, breath, and acting choices. Her stage credits include Almost, Maine and Eurydice, and her screen credits include

McKenzie Carlson is a singer, songwriter, musician, performer, and instructor in voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, acting, and musical theatre. She began studying piano at age four and later expanded into guitar, ukulele, songwriting, choir, ballet, and theatre. Her performance credits include Little Red in Into the Woods, Wednesday in The Addams Family, Claire in Rumors, Celeste #2 in Sunday in the Park with George, and a recent appearance in New Stage Theatreworks’ production

Lillian Deans is a special education teacher and musical theatre instructor at Making Light Productions. She holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Special Education from Florida State University and teaches high school students at Gretchen Everhart School. Lillian has training and experience in acting, music, makeup, costuming, and stage management. Her performance credits include Jo in Little Women, Ilona understudy in She Loves Me, and Cindy Lou in The

Danelle Eckhart is a music educator, choral director, performer, and private instructor in voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele. She serves as Choral Director at Florida State University Schools and co-sponsors the school’s Thespian program. Danelle holds an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from Florida State University, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois State University. She also holds an asso

Margaret Giles is an acting, voice, and musical theatre instructor at Making Light Productions. A Tallahassee native and graduate of Leon High School, she is currently completing her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at Florida State University, where she studies performance, production, and storytelling. Her stage credits include Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Florence in The Curious Savage, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Emma Carew in Jekyll and Hyde,

Rosemary Hoitt is a music educator, performer, private instructor, and arts administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Arts Administration at Florida State University. Before moving to Tallahassee, Rosemary taught middle school band in Spencer, New York, where she also taught Adaptive Music, produced high school musicals, and performed in pit orchestras. Her performance experience includes

Alden Hutchison is an educator, media specialist, actor, and film production instructor at Making Light Productions. She holds a degree in Communication from Florida State University with a focus in broadcasting, as well as a master’s degree in Library Science. Alden has nearly 20 years of experience in education and media, including theatre workshops, student-run newscasts, digital media production, journalism, and production work with WFSU Public Media. She also directs stu

Briana Lightbourn is a vocalist, composer, music educator, and summer theatre music director at Making Light Productions. She holds degrees in Music Composition and Choral Music Education from Florida State University and brings experience in vocal instruction, ensemble music, composition, and musical theatre. With a multicultural music education background from her upbringing in Miami, Briana has a deep passion for sharing the gift of music and believes it unifies and empowe