SAN ANGELO BROADWAY ACADEMY - Key Persons


Angela Brooks

Job Titles:
  • President of the Board of Directors

Angela Shanks

Job Titles:
  • Founding Executive Directo R
The San Angelo Broadway Academy Youth Theatre is a non-profit educational performing arts facility that cultivates the minds of students with positive social and self awareness, stimulates imaginations, and gives them the tools they need to reach for their goals and dreams. The academy provides a professional and high level of education to children and youth in theatre arts, dance, and vocal performance by trained professionals in a positive environment.

Braden Jowers

Job Titles:
  • Hip Hop Instructor / Resident Choreographer
Braden Jowers began his dance training at the age of 11 with Hip Hop classes at San Angelo Broadway Academy. After a few years on the competition team, he began also training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Contemporary. At a Dallas day intensive in 2017 he was given a half scholarship by Chehon Wespi-Tschopp to the IAMForce winter intensive 2017 in Los Angeles, California where he then earned a full scholarship to the IAMForce Summer intensive 2018. After being accepted to both UNCSA and UNT Dance Programs, Braden chose to stay close to family and attend UNT to major in Dance. After his Freshman Year he was selected along with 29 other dancers to attend the prestigious Hubbard Street Dance Company Summer Intensive 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Throughout his career he has trained and performed with many top Choreographers and Companies across the nation. After moving back to San Angelo to take care of his health, be with family, and marry the love of his life Braden is excited to begin choreographing and training the students here at San Angelo Broadway Academy.

Genelle Willis

Job Titles:
  • Piano Instructor
GeNelle Willis grew up visiting her grandparents in the San Angelo area and is now proud to call this area her home. She holds a Bachelor of Music in piano from Howard Payne University and a bachelor's degree in flute and music education from Angelo State University. She has taught private piano and flute since 2008 in Fort Worth, Pecos, and San Angelo, and has had several flute students place in the top 10 chairs at All-Region & All-Area band competitions. She is also an experienced accompanist and has been privileged to accompany for the music departments of Howard Payne University, Angelo State University, Southwestern Seminary, the choral departments of Central High School, Lake View High School, Lincoln Middle School, Glenn Middle School, and several local churches. GeNelle enjoys spending time with her family, her dog, and her favorite books and movies.

Jared Capps

Job Titles:
  • Voice Instructor

Jessica Olson

Job Titles:
  • Voice Instructor / Associate Music Director

Kim Abel Snell

Kim Abel Snell, a pianist and vocalist, has been a professional musician for more than 30 years. She has performed as a solo act; as part of numerous ensembles, choirs and bands; and as a studio musician. After living and performing in Austin for twelve years, Kim moved back to San Angelo with her family, taught in SAISD schools for 5 years, and began directing musicals in 2005 with Angelo Civic Theatre, where she was involved in 14 musical productions. She joined San Angelo Broadway Academy in the fall of 2009, first as musical director for "Scrooge the Musical", then as a voice teacher. She strives to help her students develop their own unique voices using proper techniques (and through a variety of musical genres) to become well-rounded performers.

Kim Sn

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Music Directo R

Lanna Hubbard

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Member of the Executive Board

Lorie Settle - EVP

Job Titles:
  • Executive Vice President
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Misty Sonnenberg

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer of the Board of Directors

Myia Oliver

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Director of Ballet / Resident Choreographer
Mrs. Brooks founded Camp Broadway Kids in March of 2006 in order to provide a musical theatre summer camp to 35 students. In just a few months, the summer camp had grown into a full youth performing arts program, and in August 2007, CBK was renamed San Angelo Broadway Academy Youth Theatre. In its history, she has had the pleasure of directing large companies in over 65 musicals such as Les Miserables, School of Rock, Spongebob , Hairspray, Tarzan, and Mary Poppins to name a few. Catching the acting bug from her great grandmother who performed with Sophie Tucker and Mae West on the Vaudeville circuit in New York, Mrs. Brooks has been dancing for 40 years, studying and training with top artists such as Joe Tremaine, Susan Stroman, Mia Michaels, Kathy Marshall, Jared Grimes, Debbie Allen, Gremaine Salsberg, Jason Samuel Smith, Jackie Sleight, Finis Jhung, Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey, STEPS On Broadway, The Edge and Millinium Dance Complex in LA, and workshopped and danced with the Broadway revival cast from A Chorus Line. Having been an actress for over 38 years, she has worked on various voiceovers and major films, including the motion picture short, Texas America, Legally Blonde 2, The Manchurian Candidate, Man of the House, and 3 seasons in the NBC drama series, Friday Night Lights. Some of her favorite stage credits include Velma in Chicago, Nellie in South Pacific, and Roberta in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. Mrs. Brooks holds a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology from Angelo State University and a Masters in Theatre Arts from Texas Women's University. She is also a graduate of the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and is the 2019 Woman of Distinction recipient for Central Texas. She is a national award winning choreographer whose students have won multiple regional and national titles in jazz, tap, contemporary, and musical theatre dance and was recently recognized by the Broadway Community in NYC for her original production choreography with Continuum Dance Company. Her work can be seen across the country, and she continues to perform, study and teach dance, theatre, and film, as well as guest direct and choreograph for various programs and institutions. Her students are working professionally in New York, Los Angeles, Texas, and Florida, and have recently been seen on Broadway National Tours, Disney World, and TV and Film. Most recently, serveral of her tap students were selected to compete at the World Tap Festival in Germany... Myia is a classically trained ballet dancer from Fort Worth and a senior dance major at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Myia is extensively trained in Cecchetti, Vaganova, and Balanchine Methods as well as Modern and Contemporary techniques such as Graham, Dunham, Limón, and Horton. While at Grand Canyon University, Myia studied partnering in both ballet and contemporary dance. Myia has taught ballet and other dance genres at the The Phoenix Dance Studio and Arazando Dance as well as pointe at the Juice Box Dance Academy. She has also had the privilege of choreographing for the Dallas Academy of Music and Performing Arts and the Lake Country Christian School fine arts department. Along with her infectious personality and energy, Along with her infectious personality and energy, Myia brings a vast knowledge of not only technical ballet, but other dance generes as well to the dance program at SABA!

Pamela O'Donnell

Job Titles:
  • Voice Instructor
Pam has over 40 years experience teaching private voice lessons with 35 years experience teaching in the public schools. She holds a Bachelor of Vocal Performance Degree and a Masters in Music Education as well as a Certification in Music K-12. While teaching in the public school setting, Mrs. O'Donnell has had the pleasure of directing musicals and operettas and worked with students in vocal and ensemble competitions. She has directed Children's Choirs in churches as well as the State levels and taught at Children's Choir Teacher Workshops for over 40 years in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico , Washington and Texas. In 2018, Mrs O'Donnell retired and has been continuing to share her love of music by substitute teaching and teaching group choir classes. Her and her husband Mike, who also shares her love of music having a Music Degree and often assisting her by accompanying students on piano and organ, have been married for 46 years and have 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren. Mrs Pam is excited to be a part of SABA and can't wait to share her love of music with others!

Sarah Dunlap

Job Titles:
  • Artistic Director
  • Assistant
Kim Abel Snell, a pianist and vocalist, has been a professional musician for more than 30 years. She has performed as a solo act; as part of numerous ensembles, choirs and bands; and as a studio musician. After living and performing in Austin for twelve years, Kim moved back to San Angelo with her family, taught in SAISD schools for 5 years, and began directing musicals in 2005 with Angelo Civic Theatre, where she was involved in 14 musical productions. She joined San Angelo Broadway Academy in the fall of 2009, first as musical director for "Scrooge the Musical", then as a voice teacher. She strives to help her students develop their own unique voices using proper techniques (and through a variety of musical genres) to become well-rounded performers.

Tara Langerhans

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Executive Board Memb Er

Tonya Ortega

Job Titles:
  • Secretary of the Board of Directors