Staff
CHUCK LONG Producer/CEO/Founder
Chuck Long made his debut with musical theatre in 1976 in The Sound of Music. Other credits include Camelot, Guys and Dolls, The King and I, Mandy Lou, The Velveteen Rabbit, Jack and the Beanstalk, and numerous school productions. He toured Europe with the Madrigalians (a group he chartered) from Newberry College. Credits with Charleston Youth Company include founding and directing for thirty-five years, musical director & producer for Grease, and five Summer Musical Spectaculars. In his spare time he does vocal coaching, production work for the Daniel Island Community Foundation and musical arrangements for different talent organizations and students. He was selected South Carolina Teacher of the Year in 1986 and was named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He is a member of National State Teacher’s of the Year, Blue Key National Honor Leadership Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa National Educational Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity. Chuck holds a Business Degree from Newberry College, and Masters Degrees from the Citadel and the College of Charleston. He retired from teaching after thirty-four years. He complete his 6 years on the St. Johannes Lutheran Church Council and continues to serve as Co-Property Chairman. He has three beautiful children- Charles, Amanda and son-in-law, Brandon, five “grandchildren” – Stella, Aidan, Emma Mae, Piper, & Lachlan, and “adopted sons,” Brian, Justin & January. He thanks God for all his talent and credits his wife, Judy, for his successes!
Emily Romer: Junior & Senior Company Choreographer for CYC
Emily has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She advanced to competitive dancing where she competed until she was 18 years old. She teaches all styles of dancing including tap. Emily also works at Metro North School where she teaches the two-year-old class, and absolutely loves it! She and her husband, Casey, have a daughter named Riley who will be turning two this summer.
Kelsey Ashy: Choreographer for Senior Company
Kelsey Ashy is a recent graduate from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance with a concentration in Modern. Throughout her college career, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Israel where she trained in Gaga and learned Batsheva Dance Company’s repertoire. She also had the opportunity to be part of the Kennesaw State University Dance Company for four semesters. During her time in the company, she was part of Dr. Ivan Pulinakla’s work “RoadKill” and Thang Dao’s work “Roked”. Kelsey also had the opportunity to perform in three different student works while in the company. At college, not only did she spend her time performing but also explored several other aspects of the dance world. Kelsey learned about production elements and was on the Production crew for two semesters at KSU. While on the Production crew she was the lightboard operator and video operator. Kelsey enjoyed the chance to see and be involved in all aspects of the production of dance.
Over Kelsey ’s nineteen years of training, she has had the opportunity to train in several different genres. Kelsey spent ten years at The Charleston Youth Company, where she trained in musical theatre. Kelsey also trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Hip Hop at the Charleston Dance Institute until she arrived at Kennesaw State University. While at KSU she trained with a variety of faculty members such as Sean Nguyen-Hilton, Andrea Knowlton, and Lisa K. Lock and found a passion for modern dance.
While in college, Kelsey decided to further her education by getting a 200hr RYT yoga certification at Peachtree Yoga Center through the yoga alliance. This certification not only broadens her education for yoga, but allows her to look at dance through a different lens. Throughout her certification, she learned Asana poses, breathing techniques, and anatomy. With this new-found knowledge, she was able to explore her own movement language of dance with the focus on how the body moves anatomically and the effects different breaths have on her movement. Kelsey hopes to take the positive effects yoga has on the mind and educate other dancers on how to use yoga to improve their mental health while using it as a means of cross-training for dance.
Sara Gamble: Co-Vocal Director for all companies & Choreographer for Sophomore Company
Sara joined CYC in 1999 and became an alumni of the company when she graduated in 2008. She has her BS degree in Elementary Education from C of C and has been teaching 4th grade at the art infused Jennie Moore Elementary School. Sara studied voice at College of Charleston as well as privately, has served as a camp counselor at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and Children’s Choir Leader since 2006 at John Wesley United Methodist Church. Sara is so excited to be a part of her “CYC Family.”
MAURIN DUFFY Assistant Sophomore Company Choreographer and Social Media Manager/Content Creator
Maurin is a CYC alumni and has been volunteering with the company since graduating high school. Maurin majored in Fashion and Costume Design at CCSD’s School of the Arts. She is currently pursuing a dual major in Graphic Design and Multi-Media Design.
BETH HYAMS Costume Mistress/Designer
Beth graduated from Winthrop University with a BS in Business Administration. She studied dance with Trudy’s School of Dance and was a member of CYC in the Summer of 1983, performing in our Musical Spectacular. She worked in the banking industry and now operates a home day care business. Beth has been a leader in the Boy Scouts of America for 12 years. She is a CYC BOD member, an Elder, Sunday School Teacher, and on the Finance Committee at Harbor View Presbyterian Church. Beth and her husband, Andy, have 5 children. Their oldest, Drew, was in CYC for 3 years.
HARVEY ROGERS TD Head Carpenter
A Mt. Pleasant native, Harvey attended the University of South Carolina. He served as a Communications Specialist in the Army and worked as a Clinical Counselor at both Richland County Community Mental Health and at MUSC in the Department of Psychiatry. Harvey is the owner of Follywood Construction and does small renovations and repairs. In his spare time, he helps his wife, Sherry Browne, in her studio Open Art Gallery. They have one son, Xan, who graduated from AMDA and performs locally
ZACARY (ZAC) EIMERS Assistant TD
Zac graduated from Hanahan High School in 2018. He was in the CYC Technical Company for 5 years. Today he is employed with Orkin Pest Control , is an Administrator at Airsoft Charleston, and Captain of the Holy City Raiders. Zac has a passion for music and loves building sets for CYC!
TRACY DUFFY Executive Assistant
Tracy and her family relocated to Charleston in 2007. Her daughter, Maurin, joined CYC in 2009 as a 3rd grader. Tracy’s involvement in CYC has been in serving on the Parent Advisory Board and also as the Executive Assistant to the Producer. Tracy has been an educator since 1997 and is currently a teacher in the Deaf Program at School of the Arts. In addition, Tracy is a SC Teacher Mentor and serves as Exceptional Children's Department Head at SOA. Her past involvement in the arts included being a majorette, being in school theater productions, concert band, and dancing.