Meet The Team
Ashley Dana Pines
Founder & Executive Director
Ever since Ashley saw her first musical at the age of five, she knew that she would pursue a career in theatre. She is a 2009 graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a BA in Theatre Production. Take A Bow was launched during Ashley's senior year of college. Classes began in New York City before finding their permanent home on Long Island in Ashley's hometown of Plainview. For her work at Take A Bow, which combines her love of musical theatre with her passion for working with children, Ashley received Marymount's first ever "Young Alumni Award" in 2014. In 2019, Ashley had her son Landon who loves going to work with his mom and watching the kids perform.
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We employ experienced staff in the field of dance, voice and acting. Our teachers are chosen not only for their talent, but also their love of working with children. Introducing our students to the wonderful world of musical theatre is the motivation behind our success.
Brii Russo
Manager & Sr. Dance Instructor
Brii is a professional Stuntwoman who works primarily on shows in New York. Some of her television credits include, Elementary, Madam Secretary, Blacklist Redemption, Orange is the New Black, Gotham, and Blue Bloods, to name a few. She loves being active in a variety of ways but has always had a special passion for dance! Brii has training in hip-hop, jazz, modern, contemporary, ballet, pointe, tap, palm, kickline and flags. She danced throughout her middle school, high school, and college career, being her Dance team's Color Guard captain in grades 11 and 12. Brii believes that kids can become whatever they want to be, but they might as well dance along the way!
Cody LeRoy Wilson
Assistant Manager & Sr. Acting Instructor
Cody LeRoy Wilson graduated from West Virginia University in 2014 with a BFA in Acting with an emphasis in classical drama. He has been professionally working since 2013 and has worked throughout the country since moving to New York City in 2014. His acting career has taken him to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York, Washington DC, Maryland, Missouri, Arkansas, and Ohio. In 2019 he made his Off-Broadway debut during the New York City's Brits Off Broadway Festival in the award winning show Handbagged transferred from the West End in London. Throughout his career Cody has had the opportunity to coach, teach, perform with, and mentor young actors enrolled in after school and community outreach programs and looks forward to bringing his experiences to the classrooms at Take A Bow.
Trevor Alberts-Pearson
Sr. Voice Instructor
Trevor began at Take A Bow as a music and acting teacher in Fall 2018. He possesses a decade of experience in providing private lessons to students of various ages. Since 2020, he has also served as the music teacher at Crestwood Country Day School. Trevor earned an Associate's Degree in Music from Suffolk County Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from SUNY Fredonia. His dedication to theater and music is reflected in his approach to teaching.
Isabel Camacho
Isabel is a Performer, Teaching Artist and Social Media Marketing Manager from Lindenhurst. She recently graduated with her B.F.A in Musical Theatre from Manhattanville University and is now enrolled in the Masters program at Adelphi University pursuing her degree in Educational Theatre P-12. She is an assistant teacher at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for incarcerated women, helping them prepare productions as well as teaching them about acting. The program, Rehabilitation Through The Arts, aims to develop empathy and was featured in the movie "Sing Sing" in late 2024. Some roles in the Take A Bow College + program include: Warren(Ordinary Days), Henrietta Leavitt (Silent Sky), Queen Of Hearts (Alice By Heart), Kyle (Exit, Pursued By A Bear). As an educator, Isabel's goal is to be the teacher she always needed: encouraging, patient and uplifting. She is excited to bring her upbeat energy to the students of Take A Bow and to work with a great group of people who share her passion.
Niyah Cobb
Niyah has always had a love for musical theater ever since she was young. Her favorite shows are Grease, Hairspray, Rent and Heathers: the musical. Music has always played a huge part in her life and she's excited to work with others that have the same passion.
Jenna Halvorsen
Jenna has multiple years of teaching experience including private lessons, summer programs and coaching a variety of skills at local theatres. In addition to being a strong vocalist, she plays a number of musical instruments including piano, guitar, and ukulele. Jenna is a two-time Roger Rees award finalist for her roles as Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors) and The Witch (Into The Woods). She has loved performing ever since she was a mouse in Cinderella when she was eight years old. She hopes to spread her joy and passion for the arts to the students at Take A Bow.
Jessica Hancock
Jess Hancock is a certified Theatre Education P–12 teacher with a passion for inspiring creativity and confidence in young performers. She earned her Master’s degree in Theatre Education from Adelphi University and graduated as Salutatorian from Five Towns College in 2019 with a BFA in Theatre Arts, concentrating in Musical Theatre. Some of her favorite performance credits include Tabatha/Cheshire Cat (Alice by Heart), Nan (Exit, Pursued by a Bear), and Emily (Disgraced), for which she received an Irene Ryan Acting Award nomination from KCACTF. Jess believes deeply in the transformative power of theatre to change lives, build community, and empower students through artistic expression.
Elena Kimick
Elena is proudly born and raised in Mexico and has a Bachelors Degree in Performing Arts. One of her biggest projects was working as a Production Assistant and Translator (English to Spanish) for the Chinese dance team “Tjimur Dance Theatre” in 2016 for their Mexico Tour. She has also participated in many High School and College plays such as The Wizard Of Oz, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Christmas Carol, Cats and Rent. Elena continues to refine her acting and singing skills and has also taken classes in ballet and contemporary dance while in college. A fun fact about her: she is a two- time former Au Pair (nanny) which is what led her to permanently move to the U.S. By merging her passion for theatre and children here at Take A Bow, Elena hopes to make a lasting impact on her students.
Kayla Kirchenberg
Kayla fell in love with musical theater as a student at Take A Bow at just seven years old and is so excited to be back teaching music! She got her bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware in music education and is currently pursuing a masters degree in theater education from Adelphi University. Kayla has experience teaching all genres of music such as classical, choral, pop, a cappella, and her favorite, theater! She also plays guitar and piano and enjoys performing whenever she can. She can't wait to create a positive environment for her students to sing and explore the magic of theater!
Molly Meyerson
Molly was a student of the Take A Bow program for more than ten years. Her passion for musical theater also drove her to perform with the South Shore Theatricals and Patio Players’ theater troupes. Some of her favorite roles include: Ursula Merkle (Bye Bye Birdie), Pepper (Annie) & Eve (Meet Me In St. Louis). In her role at Take A Bow Playhouse, Molly combines two of her passions: musical theater and teaching. Molly is currently studying at the University of Connecticut where she was accepted into the Integrated Bachelors/Masters program for Elementary Education with a concentration in English. She is getting a duel degree with a second major in American Sign Language studies with a concentration in interpreting. She is excited to bring her enthusiasm and creativity to work with all the students at Take A Bow showing helping them to find their love for theater and express themselves on stage!
Kayla Pyle
Kayla has always had a passion for performing and loves being a part of the Take A Bow team! She found her admiration for theatre at the age of 11 and has been hooked ever since. Some of her past credits include Paulette (Legally Blonde), Martha (Spring Awakening) and Tabatha/ Cheshire Cat (Alice By Heart). Along with her love of theatre, she also has a passion for teaching, and is currently in school to become a high school english teacher! She feels so lucky that she is not only able to combine both her passions in class here at Take A Bow but can also watch the students fall in love with theatre the same way she did!