"Theatre has always been an integral part of my life. I have been educating and directing young people in theatre for more than 25 years.  I love what I do and love to share that joy with my students.  My favorite part of teaching and directing is watching young people find out more about themselves, and gain a new personal confidence as they experience the magic of theatre." 
​~ Kelly Willis

Kelly Willis
​Artistic Director / Teacher

Kelly has been teaching Acting, Voice, Dance, and Musical Theatre for more than 25 years.  She received her BA in Theatre and Dance from the University of Missouri, and her Graduate work was in Acting and Directing at SIU in Carbondale Illinois where she taught Voice and Diction for the Stage, Stage Dialect, Movement for the Actor, Stage Combat, and served as Assistant Choreographer for all the main stage musicals. 

​As a professional, Ms. Willis has performed extensively on the East Coast, in the Midwest, and toured nationally.  Locally, she has performed with the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Eastside Musical Theatre, and Leavenworth Summer Music Theatre.  In addition to performing, Ms. Willis was the Artistic Director of the Musical Theatre Department at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts for seven years.  She has directed and choreographed productions at Redmond High School, Redmond Jr. High, Evergreen Jr. High, Civic Light Opera in Seattle, as well as SecondStory Repertory in Redmond. 

Lyndee White
​Academy Music Director

Lyndee received her Bachelor of Music from Illinois Wesleyan University and her Master of Music at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. Professional Lyndee has performed with organizations that include The Minnesota Opera, Berkshire Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy. As featured soloist and recitalist, she has sung with Minnesota Orchestra and Chautauqua Symphony, as well as recital venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Celle dei Puccini in the Roggio Valley of Italy. 

​Lyndee has music directed for Bellevue Youth Theatre, Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre, Second Story Repertory, Evergreen and Redmond Junior Highs. Currently, Lyndee operates a private voice studio in Fall City, Washington, and is the proud mommy of Marybella. She is overjoyed to be reunited with Kelly Willis!

Sarah Bordenet Engeln
​Academy Music Director / Teacher

Sarah is an alumna of Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Musical Theatre. Sarah has worked as an Actor, Theatre and Dance Instructor and Vocal/Music Director in the Seattle Area at Village Theatre, Renton Civic Theatre, Redmond Academy of Theatre Arts, Village KIDSTAGE, and The Dance School of Everett. She has worked in the Chicago area with Quest Theatre Ensemble as both an Actor and Music Director for world premier musicals.

Sarah is currently on staff at both Redmond Academy and Cascade Dance Academy, and is thrilled to be working with one of her long-time mentors, Kelly Willis.​

Bethanie Willis
Academy Teacher / Choreographer

Bethanie ​is a graduate from Northwestern University where she earned a double major in Psychology and Neurobiology. Bethanie has taught for many different performing arts organizations such as The Redmond Academy of Theatre Arts, Village Theatre’s Kidstage, SecondStory Repertory, and Broadway Bound in Seattle.

​Additionally, she has been the Choreographer or Assistant Choreographer for shows such as Oliver!, Mulan Jr., Footloose, and A Chorus Line. Recent credits: Porgy and Bess at the Seattle Opera (Featured Chorus), Crowns at Taproot Theatre (Yolanda), and SHOWTUNES' The Bridges of Madison County at ACT Theatre (Carolyn). Favorite Village Theatre Mainstage credits: "Dreamgirls," “Aida”, and “Show Boat." Previous readings: 5th Avenue Theatre's Pump Up The Volume and Village Theatre's My Heart Is The Drum.

Madison Willis
​Academy Teacher / Choreographer

Madison has been choreographing for the past four years in productions at her school (Skyline High School) for shows such as Pippin and Mary Poppins. In 2014, Madison was awarded the 5th Avenue Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in Pippin as the Leading Player. Madison has also received a nomination for her choreography at the 5th Avenue Theatre Awards in 2015 for her work on Mary Poppins. 
 
Madison has been teaching at The Redmond Academy of Theatre Arts for 4 years as well as other organizations. She has choreographed two Redmond Academy productions: “High School Musical” and “Willy Wonka Jr.” Madison is a graduating senior and this Fall will be attending Pacific Lutheran University working towards a degree in communications and a minor in Musical Theatre. 

Rebecca Cort
Academy Teacher/Staff

Rebecca graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in acting and public relations/videography experience, including being the publicity officer for Student Theatre Productions for two years. She has acting training in Linklater, Grotowski, Stanislavsky, Shakespeare, Suzuki, viewpoints, Checkov/period, Commedia Dell'arte, comic combat, and devising, alongside studying dance, singing, and puppetry. Previously, she has assistant taught several WWU classes, including Grotowski and the Commedia Dell'arte summer intensive, as well as puppetry workshops for RATA during Little Shop of Horrors. You may have seen Rebecca around the Seattle theatre area in various musicals, plays, or cabarets, or perhaps struggling in a Westlake Dance Center class. You can also catch her performing in the Tweenland trio for Naomi Morgan Entertainment.

Rebecca started doing RATA's official promotional videos several years ago after Kelly's support. You also may sometimes see her at reception, checking people into classes and answering phone calls, probably with three planners open in front of her. Kelly was Rebecca's first director in ninth grade, and she was in the first RATA show ever, A Chorus Line (and also 13!), so this organization is truly a home for her. She is thrilled to be teaching acting and dance and loves establishing strong work ethics and passion into her students.

Rachel Wu
​Academy Teacher

Rachel Wu graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BS in Mathematics with Honors, cum laude. She grew up training in ballet and performed in The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Giselle, Coppelia, 
Chopiniana, and Paquita. At UC Irvine, Rachel trained and performed extensively in ballet, modern, and jazz in original choreography by faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students, and had the honor of working with dance legend Mr. Donald McKayle in his Etude Ensemble. Rachel has also trained with Ballet West, Hubbard Street Chicago, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, BODYTRAFFIC, and Spectrum Dance Theater. In 2018 she received the ASTAIREAWARDS™ Scholarship and Award for Excellence in Dance Performance. Rachel is thrilled to have the opportunity to share the joy of dancing at Redmond Academy!