About Us

Our Mission

Board of Directors

Angela Brooks: President

Lorie Settle: Executive Vice President

Misty Sonnenberg : Treasurer

Tonya Ortega: Secretary

Tara Langerhans: Executive Board Member

Lanna Hubbard: Executive Board Member

Kim Snell: Music Director

Myia Oliver Jones: Director of Ballet/ Resident Choreographer

Mrs. Shanks 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. Shanks 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. Shanks 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 and was named Choreographer of the Year in 2023. 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...think Olympics for tap! She shares her love of the arts with her husband Jimmy Shanks, who is a musician and educator, and their daughter Paisely Grace

Angela Shanks: Founding Executive Director

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.

Wardrobe

Tech Director

Jessica has 36 years of experience in both instrumental and vocal music. She has performed with choral ensembles across the country and overseas. Her music experience ranges from Musicals to Jazz, Classical to Worship. Jessica has a Bachelor of Music Education from Angelo State University and currently teaches at Central High School. She previously attended West Texas A&M University where she studied voice with Dr. Cloyce Kuhnert. Jessica and her husband Josh have been married for 19 years and have three children, Sarah, who will be attending West Texas A&M this fall to study theater education, Hannah, who is in the Central High School Choir, and Jonathan, who is a percussionist in the Lee Middle School Band. Jessica not only teaches voice at SABA, but also serves as the music director for summer camp programs. Jessica is excited to be joining the SABA family and share her love and passion for music with the students of San Angelo.

Tonya Ortega

Sarah is so excited to be returning to SABA to inspire the next generation! She began dancing and singing from the age of 5, and started pursuing the arts more seriously upon reaching high school. She has had the pleasure of training with Broadway professionals such as Sierra Boggess, Kara Lindsay, Andrew Keenan Bolger, and Christy Altomare as well as performing on stages in productions such as Alice In Wonderland, Seussical White Christmas, and Mamma Mia, Newsies to name a few.

Since her time at SABA, Sarah has taught multi-genere acting classes to students age 3-18, directed several productions such as Little Women , Play On, Steel Magnolias, and Finding Nemo Jr., and offers private acting sessions and serves as stage manager for SABAs mainstage productions.

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!

Braden Jowers: 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.

Jessica Olson: Voice Instructor/ Associate Music Director

Alan Hebert

Sarah Dunlap: Assistant Artistic Director

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.

Pamela O'Donnell: 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!

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: Voice Instructor

Bio Coming Soon

Nathan’s love for music started when he was 12 years old. He has played piano for 8 years and won several accolades for his performances in San Angelo and at the Texas Music Teacher Association competition in Waco, Texas. He has had years of vocal training at San Angelo Broadway Academy and then continued his vocal training at Angelo State University. He will graduate from ASU next Spring with a degree in Vocal Music Education.

Though he is well-versed in many musical genres such as Classical, Christian, and Contemporary, he has a special place in his heart for Musical Theatre. Nathan has been a part of Saba since he was 15 years old. He has had the honor of performing in several stage productions such as The Addams Family, The Music Man, Matilda, and Phantom of the Opera. Now he is excited to return to Saba as a voice teacher and pour into the next generation of musicians!

San Angelo Broadway Academy