Justin McDermott

Justin is VACT’s Education and Summer Camp Director! His passion lies in empowering young individuals through the art of theater, music, and dance. Justin is a graduate from the University of Northern Iowa where he received his degree in Theatre for Youth. After graduating from UNI, Justin has performed and choreographed for several companies and schools throughout the Midwest. His most memorable performance opportunity was sailing the seas while performing on board Disney Cruise Line. Justin is thrilled to be spending another summer sharing his passion for theatre and dance with such talented students at VACT. He is looking forward to seeing each kid learn, grow, and shine throughout the weeks of camp!

Emma Vogel

Emma is so excited to be directing at VACT this summer! She has a degree in Secondary Education with concentrations in both English and Communications from Grove City College, and has been a middle school English teacher and high school theater director and worked with students of all ages. She got involved at VACT during the summer of 2019 and has since been a part of multiple productions and the VACT education program. She can't wait to get to know each and every kid at camp and have an awesome theater filled summer!

Heather Felker

Heather is excited to be involved in VACT’s Summer Camps again this year! She has her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, and has spent the last fifteen years either teaching music at local elementary schools, giving private music lessons, singing in the UW Choral Union, volunteering & directing various youth shows for VACT, and performing on stage for VACT! She has two kids that have been in many VACT youth productions for the last eight years. Singing and hanging out with kids are two of Heather’s favorite activities, so she is looking forward to a fun summer at VACT!

Daniel Christian

Daniel has been involved at VACT in productions since he was in grade school! He has worked the past three years at the VACT summer camps as well as music directing VACT’s middle school productions. Daniel loves helping kids find their voice and learn to sing confidently. He is currently a sophomore at UW Madison, studying elementary education, and can’t wait to sing with you!

Sarah Strube

Sarah is very excited to be working at VACT again this summer! She's been dancing since she could walk, and has been involved with VACT for over a decade. Sarah is currently a student at UW Stevens Point where she is studying elementary education. While she's at school she's still immersed in theater by taking dance classes whenever she can and performing and choreographing for local theater groups in the Stevens Point area. Sarah cannot wait to work with the performers in Verona, and hopes to create tons of memories this summer with you!

Aaliyah Johnson

Aaliyah is very excited to be a part of this year’s summer camp! after spending the school year teaching dance at VACT and choreographing for the middle school productions. She has been teaching dance classes at VACT for 5+ years now but has been involved with VACT since she was in Elementary School. Aaliyah cannot wait to see everyone for summer camp this year and for all of the fun that gets to come with it!

Denali Kraemer

Denali has been involved in VACT longer than she can remember. From being in shows, to doing lighting, to choreographing, to directing, Denali is head deep in VACT’s productions. Denali loves being in shows but if you pull her aside she’ll tell you her true love is working with kids. Whether that means teaching them dances, blocking a show, or just playing duck duck goose, Denali will never be found not smiling when she’s working with VACT’s youth programs.

Aria Johnson

Aria is ecstatic to be a part of summer camp at VACT! She is a junior at Verona Area High School and has been with VACT for over a decade, having appeared onstage in more than 25 productions, as well as working as staff on multiple youth productions and backstage as an assistant stage manager. Aria cannot wait to teach students all the amazing skills she has learned in her time at VACT.

Maya Buffomante

Maya is currently in her senior year completing her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre/Drama as an Honors Acting Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison alongside a double major in Psychology and a minor in Educational Policies and Services. She has previously worked at BAM Theatre Company in her home state Illinois, as well as Children's Theatre of Madison as an emerging teaching artist. Maya has worked on 30+ theatrical productions both educationally and professionally. She is thrilled to use her passion for the performing arts to inspire and support the next generation of artists!