Our Mission

LIVE Kids Theater Company was founded by three licensed arts educators, Roberto Velarde (drama), Lacy Lowder (dance) and Danny Yancey (music). With a combined total of 47 years of experience, the three envisioned a musical theater camp designed for upper elementary kids (rising 3rd - rising  6th graders) with a three-pronged mission: (1) To give kids top-notch musical theater experiences in a safe, fun environment. (2) To provide opportunities for kids to "find their voice" on the stage and in life by building self-confidence and improving self-esteem. (3) To provide an environment for kids to meet other kids who share their love of the arts.

Roberto Velarde Artistic Director 
roberto@livekidstheater.com

​Roberto Velarde is a graduate from the Theatre Education program at East Carolina University, and has over eight years of experience as the primary acting coach at the Garner Parks and Rec, Garner Towne Players summer drama camps. As the Theatre Arts Instructor at Martin Middle School, Roberto is also able to bring his personal major production experience to the classroom. For the last twelve years, Roberto has had the opportunity to teach hundreds of students the knowledge, art and skills of play production, acting, the nuts and bolts of scene design, technical design, and prop making, which ultimately lead to school wide performances that these students can be proud of. Roberto believes in inspiring kids to “think big” no matter how impossible it may seem to achieve their creative idea. Furthermore, it is through the fun and creativity of theater education that students gain the inner confidence, passion and valuable skills that carry them through their lifetime.  Roberto is married to his wife Katie and the two of them are the proud parents of Isabella and Wyatt.

Lacy Frye Choreographer
lacy@livekidstheater.com

Lacy Frye is a dedicated choreographer, artist, and teacher of dance. She studied dance for 13 years at Asheville Center of the Performing Arts and continued her studies at Meredith College with a degree in K-12 Dance education in 2011. She has taught dance in Wake County Public Schools for the last 10 years and has guest taught at local studios in the Raleigh area as well. She has choreographed a number of musical productions in her high school, college, and teaching careers including Guys and Dolls, Sound of Music, Tea for Two, Aladdin Jr, Music Man Jr, Alice in Wonderland Jr, The Lion King Jr, Beauty and the Beast Jr, Once Upon a Mattress Jr, Mary Poppins Jr., Shrek Jr, and more. In her personal life, Lacy is recently married to her wonderful husband John W. Frye IV. Lacy is incredibly excited to share her love of dance with camp kids and help them to discover a new skill and confidence in dancing for musicals.  

Danny Yancey Music Director
danny@livekidstheater.com

Danny Yancey is a pianist, singer, songwriter and GRAMMY-nominated music educator. He has taught music at the elementary, middle and high school levels in North Carolina public and private schools for 20 years. He is a summa cum laude graduate of North Carolina Central University with a B.A. in Music Education and an M.M. degree  in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  He currently teaches at St. David's Episcopal School where he is the Director of Music Curriculum and Choir and serves as Worship Director at Christ the King Church in Raleigh. He has been the music/vocal director for numerous musicals throughout the triangle area and has worked with a number of theater companies including Burning Coals Theatre, Garner Towne Players and more. He is married and lives in Durham with his wife Deidre and four kids: Christopher, Olivia, Cameron & Weston.