Instructors
Ellen Dyer Smith
Owner; Musical Theatre & Dance Instructor
ELLEN DYER SMITH started Student Stars of River Oaks back in June 2021 after the pandemic. She believes that the performative arts foster confidence in students like no other art form and is thrilled to get to reach so many students in this way. It has truly been one of the greatest joys of her life! Ellen has taught musical theatre, jazz, tap, and ballet for 18 years. She previously taught for A.D. Players Academy, Wildfish Theatre, TUTS Humphreys School, Main Street Theater, HITS, River Oaks Dance, and Stageworks. Regionally, Ellen has performed as a professional actress at A.D. Players at The George, The Alley Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, Main Street Theater, Unity Theatre, Bayou City Concert Musicals, Island ETC, UH Children’s Festival, The Match Theatre, and with Broadway producer Stuart Ostrow and composer Jerry Bock. Favorite Roles include: Charity in Sweet Charity, Kate Monster in Avenue Q, Audrey in Little Shop, Sally in A Lie of the Mind, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Abigail in The Crucible. Recently, Ellen has been involved in some pre-Broadway projects that have been very exciting! When not teaching or performing, Ellen enjoys hanging out with her husband and family, cooking, gardening, and knitting for her Etsy Shop- BackStageByEllen! Ellen holds a B.A. from the University of Houston. You can catch Ellen on stage this fall in her Classical Theatre Company debut in the newly re-envisioned production of Dracula!
Kaitlin Kennedy
Musical Theatre Instructor
KAITLIN KENNEDY is so excited to be teaching once again with Student Stars of River Oaks! She has been teaching and performing for over 10 years all over the country with some of her favorite time being spent in River Oaks. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Shorter University and has performed professionally with Main Street Theater, A.D. Players, Mercury Chamber Orchestra, Old Creamery Theatre, Great Plains Theatre, and Blue Gate Musicals. Some of her more recent roles in Houston include The Sound of Music (Sister Margaretta), Charlotte’s Web (Charlotte), and Cinderella (Fairy Godmother). She feels so blessed to be able to share her love of musical theatre with the next generation of actors and looks forward to another amazing year with Student Stars of River Oaks.
Laurel Burrer
Dance & Musical Theatre Instructor
LAUREL BURRER (she/her/hers) is originally from Carrollton, Texas. She started studying music and dance at age three and participated in band (French horn) and choir in high school where she discovered her love for musical theatre. Laurel recently graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Musical Theater from Sam Houston State University. She works as a choreographer, performer, teacher, and director in the greater Houston area. She loves teaching dance, musical theater, voice, and beginning piano. Credits include: It’s a Wonderful Life: Live Radio Play (AD Players); The Lightning Thief (Main Street YT); Footloose (Choreographer- Lone Star Montgomery); Miss Nelson Goes Missing (Choreographer- Main street YT); Godspell (Raven Rep); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Raven Rep); Assassins (SHSU); and Actually (SHSU). She is currently a member of The Studio Space on YouTube as a part of the Ryan’s World channels. Find Laurel at www.laurelburrer.wordpress.com
Natalie Nassar Kaplun
Dance & Musical Theatre Assistant Instructor
NATALIE NASSAR KAPLUN is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas- Houston with a degree in Drama. Prior to that, Natalie studied dance/musical theatre for fourteen years at Royal Academy of Fine Arts. She has studied theatre, improvisation and film in Chicago and Los Angeles. Natalie works as a performer, director, and teacher in the greater Houston area. Natalie has performed with Main Street Theater for Youth in productions such as Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Alexander and the No Good Day and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Other favorite roles include: Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Beth in Little Women, Kathy Seldon in Singin’ in the Rain, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and most recently Alice Murphy in Bright Star the Musical. She also has enjoyed doing numerous cartoon voiceovers! Natalie is ecstatic to continue working for Student Stars of River Oaks!
Daniel Lopez
Musical Theater Assistant Instructor
DANIEL LOPEZ is a recent transplant to Houston, originally from Tucson, Arizona. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Arizona. Recent Houston credits include: Main Street Theater’s Cinderella (The Prince) and the Texas tour of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus! (The Pigeon); new work reading of 619 Hendricks at Stages Theatre's "Sin Muros: A Borderless Teatro Festival”. He is also a resident vocalist of Houston Musical Theater Company performing in Broadway Revue style concerts across the city of Houston. Regional Credits: Oklahoma! (Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort, UT), Native Gardens, The Merchant of Venice, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Evita, The Addams Family and Forever Plaid. Daniel is so excited to begin teaching the next generation of Stars! Follow him on socials! @DanielJames9619.
Delaney Brittingham
Dance & Musical Theater Assistant Instructor
DELANEY BRITTINGHAM is an actor and singer born and raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated in 2020 with a BA in Theatre with a minor in vocal performance from Stephen F. Austin State University, and has since performed for 3 years at the Texas Renaissance Festival. She most recently performed in James and the Giant Peach with Main Street Theater. When she's not onstage, she enjoys swimming, costuming, and works as a children's character performer throughout the Greater Houston area. You can find Delaney at https://delaneybrittingham.wixsite.com/acting/.
Lindsey Steel
Dance & Musical Theater Substitute Instructor
LINDSEY STEEL is elated to be returning for another amazing year with Student Stars! She hails from Tyler, TX and has over 8 years teaching experience. She has taught ASL, acting, dance, piano, voice, and swimming. She has her BA in American Sign Language from Lamar University and her speciality is teaching and interpreting ASL. Lindsey loves working in children's theatre! Regional technical credits include: Stageworks Theatre Academy- Peter Pan Jr. (Stage Manager), Mary Poppins Jr. (Stage Manager/ Choreographer), Peter and the Starcatcher (Lights/ Sound Booth Operator). She also teaches acting at Inspiration Stage and performs with Books Alive! Children's Theatre. When not teaching, Lindsey is a professional stage/film actor and is represented by Pastorini-Bobsy Talent Agency. Favorite theatre credits include: Mary Poppins (Mary), The King and I (Anna), It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Mary), Robin Hood (Maid Marian) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Helena). Favorite film Credits: Ripple Cut (Stacey) releasing Fall 2023 and Bailey's Voice (Yoga Instructor).