Meet the YATC Staff
Ms. Amy Kamarainen
YATC was developed by Amy Kamarainen.
Ms. Kamarainen was involved in theater, speech and debate throughout high school and college. She was accepted into the American Musical and Dramatics Academy in New York - one of the top drama academies in the country. Ms. Kamarainen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Business from St. Cloud State University and has taken coursework towards a Masters degree in Training and Development at the University of Minnesota.
Prior to starting YATC, Ms. Kamarainen was Director of Human Resources for a Fortune 100 company.
Amy lives in Eagan with her husband Tony and twin girls, age 10. She is also a founding member of the Eagan Theater Company.
Ms. Abbie Foster
Abbie discovered a passion for theater at age nine while performing at the Children’s Theatre in New Mexico and she has been consistently involved in theatrical performances and programs ever since.
From acting, to singing, to dancing, from dramas, to comedies, to musicals, she loves it all. She has sung at the Ordway, Minnesota Orchestra Hall, and the Orpheum and has performed in numerous plays and musicals at various theaters throughout the twin cities area.
Abbie graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in Film and a minor in Theatre Arts. She lives in Bloomington with her husband Tim and daughter Ariabellla. Abbie has been working with Young Actors Theatre Company since fall of 2010.
Ms. Andrea Schmidt
Andrea Schmidt has been acting professionally since the age of seven. She received her B.F.A in Theatre with an emphasis in Musical Theatre from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Andrea has taught children in every area of theatre, from acting, singing, dance, theatre history, and her favorite, mask performance. Andrea has also travelled the world exploring different theatre types, and has performed internationally, in film, and on roller skates.
Andrea lives with her fiancé and hamster, Peanut, in St. Paul.
Ms. Beth Adams
Beth Adams began her career in the Arts at age 4 when she did a stint on the TV show "Romper Room". Throughout high school, college and post-college she performed in over a dozen plays.
Starting in college she worked in the radio industry producing local commercials, earning her a Wisconsin Broadcast Association Award for Best Public Service Announcement.
Beth holds a BA degree in Communication Arts and Psychology and a AAS degree in Graphic Arts.
She currently serves on several art boards throughout the south metro and is the founder and current director of the Shamrock Film Festival.
Beth currently lives in Rosemount with her husband, son and two cats.
Mr. Michael Venske
Michael Venske is a Minneapolis-based actor/educator sharing what he’s most passionate about to help make the world a better place to play pretend. As an actor his work has been seen at the Guthrie, Stages Theatre Company, Actor’s Theatre of Minnesota and is currently a touring company member with the National Theatre for Children. As an educator Michael’s worked with the MN Historical Society, Public Art St. Paul, Destination Imagination, NTC, Academy of Cinema & Television, Harmony Theatre Company, a handful of private clients, and is also a certified one-act play judge through the MSHSL. Since the winter of 2011 Michael’s been completely stoked to be involved with YATC! You can find out more about him and stay in the loop at http://michaelvenske.com.
Ms. Shelley Johnson
Shelley has enjoyed and been a part of theater since she was a kid. She participated in full length productions done at her elementary school in Wayzata as well as local theater classes and summer programs. In eighth grade she had her first producing/directing experience.
Shelley's theatrical training includes a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota and a minor in Theater Arts from DePauw University. Shelley has training in special effects makeup and stage combat as well as acting, directing, and play-writing. Shelley has worked with kids of all ages both with theater and with academics. She created and taught a theater class with the YWCA Beacons after school program and has also interned with the Children's Theatre Company.
Shelley is a founding member and the Artistic Director of Coin Purse Theatre Company. She is delighted with the progress that the kids make during a YATC program and loves that she gets to be a part of a company that nurtures the talents and creativity of youth.
Ms. Tracie Fulleton Peters
Tracie has been on stage since before she was even a year old! She always wanted to be an actor from a young age and is happy to be helping kids get on stage at an early age.
She has performed in many plays and small films, including Cabaret, Oklahoma!, As You Like It, Taming of the Shrew to name a few. She attended Inver Hills for theatre. She has also had improv training under Butch Roy and performs regularly at the MN Renaissance Festival.
She has always enjoyed working with kids and used to be a Bible school teacher, camp counselor and Tae Kwon Do instructor. Needless to say, bringing her passion for acting and theatre to kids is hugely exciting!
Aside from theatre, she’s an avid painter and photographer as well as a board member for the Minnesota Society of Costumers.
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