YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL
YAS! applications are opening soon!
DMR is now offering transportation to many schools. Click here to inquire about YAS!
Registration for the 2024-25 Academic Year is now open
Click here for the application.
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Grades K-6
The Youth After School (YAS!) program is for students currently in kindergarten through sixth grade.
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Financial Aid/Scholarships
A sliding scale is available for all families as well as the option to apply for a scholarship.
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Performing Arts Training
Enrolled students receive an award winning education from local professional teaching artists.
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Schedule Options
You choose between 1-5 days per week, based on your after-school needs.
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Bus Transportation
Transportation is available for an additional fee. New this year is a 2nd bus option as well as some car transportation.
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Get Registered!
Registration starts in May 2024 for the 2024-25 Academic School Year.
DMR Youth After School
YAS! Faculty
More faculty to be announced soon!
Mark Williams
YAS! Artistic Director
Mark grew up in Charlottesville and was often seen starring onstage in every musical at CHS. He has been involved in DMR since 2018, when he assisted with our first Beauty and the Beast production. He is a vocalist for the band ‘Viberiot’ and recently worked as an outreach teaching artist with The Front Porch. You may have seen him bringing down the house in our recent Broadway and Beyond!
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Joe Vena
YAS Teaching Artist/YAS! Team Manager
Joe Vena holds a BFA in acting from University of the Arts, in Philadelphia. Upon graduation in 1999, he moved to New York City, made theatre with friends and took on a role as teaching artist at Children’s Museum of the Arts. There he developed and directed the CMA Media Lab, leading a staff of 15 teaching artists
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Read more about Joe
August Applewhite
YAS! Teaching Artist
A versatile and accomplished scenic painter, scenic and costume designer, freelance artist, and photographer: August brings a unique blend of creativity and expertise to every project. Hailing from the picturesque landscapes of the Rural Midwest, August's passion for art and design has been nurtured and honed throughout their journey.​
Read more about August
Gwyneth Fahy
YAS! Assistant/Teaching Artist
Gwyneth Fahy is a second-year student at the University of Virginia, pursuing a degree in Nursing and Drama. With a lifelong background in theater and dance, she has participated in numerous regional productions, and choreographed several children's theater productions​.​​
Read more about Gwyneth
Melissa Charles
Producing Artistic Director
Melissa Charles is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of DMR Adventures. She is a professional actor, director, choreographer, and educator, and has produced, directed and choreographed over 100 productions. A member of the Actors Equity Association (AEA) and SAG-AFTRA, she has worked as an actor in theatre, film, and television in NYC, LA and in regional theaters throughout the country.
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Read more about Melissa
Clarissa Russo
YAS! Assistant/Teaching Artist
We are so excited to have Clarissa, a 2nd year UVA student, join our YAS! Team, teaching songwriting.
Bio Coming Soon!
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Listen to her music here
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Read more about Clarissa
Chloe Rogers
Office Manager
Chloe Rogers is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia with a BA in Drama. She is a Charlottesville native who has performed in local, university, and regional theatre and film.
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Read more about Chloe
Katie Wall
Associate Artistic Director
Katie Wall is a recent graduate of the Viterbo University BFA Music Theatre program with a minor in Dance. She is a DMR alum, having performed in shows here as well as an alum of the YLP program.
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Read more about Katie
Izaiah Richardson
YAS! Assistant
Izaiah joined DMR after many of his siblings chose it as second home. He loves greeting our students every day and can frequently be seen supporting our teachers or aiding students during transitions.
Cooper Charles
YAS! Assistant
Cooper has been an assistant on the YAS! team for several years, and loves working with the YAS! students and supporting the teaching artists. Cooper has studied acting with DMR, Jon Emm, and now at PVCC. He just played Hades in Hadestown and looks forward to his first UVA show, As You Like It, in the spring. He is a black belt in Taw Kwon Do.
Matt Charles
YAS! Driver/DMR Consultant
Matt does a variety of jobs for DMR, but is most known is YAS! as a bus driver. Matt also holds a doctorate in Public Administration, and is a member of SAG-AFTRA with many years of experience acting on camera. He is also a media and communications expert with a resume too long for this page.
Kolby Kindle
Fall Broadway Guest Artist
An Oklahoma City native. Kolby just finished his Broadway debut in The Wiz (Ensemble u/s Lion and Wiz). Some of Kolby's Off-Broadway credits include: The Play That Goes Wrong (Trevor) and Harmony (Swing). Kolby was also a part of the Original Australian Company of Come From Away (Bob and Others).
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Read more about Kolby here.
Elsa Coffey
YAS! Assistant
Elsa Coffey is a senior at Charlottesville High School. She has been making music her whole life, and acted in her first DMR production at age 7. Now, her main focus is voice, which she studies with Christina Fleming. She is a member of multiple choirs both at CHS and the Oratorio Society of Virginia. Elsa loves working with kids, and started volunteering at YAS in 2023. She also plays guitar and violin, writes her own songs, and blows glass in her free time. ​