Mary Lechter
Founder/Artistic Director

Mary founded Acting for Young People (AFYP) in 1997 and serves as Artistic Director. She has watched the company grow from being its only teacher with a sporadic program schedule in rented spaces to where it is today: an award-winning, year-round program with a full staff, working in conjunction with Mason Community Arts Academy (MCAA).

Mary became Executive Director of Mason Community Arts Academy in 2022, and served as MCAA’s Associate Director for 10 years. She is a longtime member of Mason’s School of Theater faculty in the areas of Performance and Theater Education. She was named a 2013 “Teacher of Distinction” and was a 2014 TEDxGeorgeMasonU speaker (“Magic Moments: the Transformative Power of  Theater“). She previously taught at the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

A graduate of University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Speech Communications, Mary has worked professionally as an actor on stage, screen and radio in the Metropolitan Washington area, Los Angeles, and New York. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association.

Mary has directed several of AFYP’s student showcase productions; the Mason Players’ productions of An Experiment With an Air Pump and Shakespeare in Hollywood, and several staged readings. She is also a casting consultant and co-producer of independent films.

Kaity Cookson Ormesher
Director of Outreach and Programs

Kaity holds a B.A. in Theater and an M.A. in Arts Management from George Mason University.  Kaity has been a part of the Acting for Young People team since 2008, working as a teaching artist in after school, summer camp, and showcase programs, as well as stage managing for AFYP’s Musical and Advanced Showcase programs. As of 2022, Kaity has moved out of the classroom to focus on the day-to-day operations of the organization as the Director of Outreach and Programs. 

Kaity has an extensive background in the arts and education. She has taught children ranging from early childhood through high school levels since 2008. In her time as a student at GMU, she participated in many stage productions as an actor, stage manager, and technician. Kaity served on the board for GMU's producing group, the Mason Players, for three years, and co-founded GMU's chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the theater honor fraternity. She received the Chris Parsons Achievement Award for her work with the theater department in 2010. Kaity has also worked professionally as a stage manager in the DC Metro Area.

Adam Lemos
Showcase Teaching Artist, Administrative Assistant, & Senior Teaching Artist

Adam holds a BFA in Performance from George Mason University. He has worked with Acting For Young People since 2014 as a teaching artist, administrative assistant, director, stage manager, and lighting designer for our after school, summer camp, and showcase programs. In addition to his time with AFYP, Adam has worked locally in the D.C. area at Shakespeare Theater Company and the Torpedo Factory Art Center. AFYP Directing credits include Seussical JR, Beauty and the Beast JR, Newsies JR, and currently SpongeBob Youth Edition.

Past performing credits include Antonio in Ilyria, Armstrong in An Experiment with an Air Pump and Frank (u/s) in Melancholy Play. Past technical credits include The Fantasticks (Costume Design), Gogol's Nose (Master Electrician) and The Three-Penny Opera (Assistant Lighting Designer).

Adam is currently pursuing an MFA in Games and Interactive Media at American University.

Hayley Dandreaux
Showcase Teaching Artist, Acting Coach, Senior Teaching Artist

Rebecca Wahls
Artistic Associate, Senior Teaching Artist, Acting Coach

Rebecca has worked with AFYP since Fall 2012 teaching for after school, summer camp, and showcase programs and in various administrative capacities. Her favorite AFYP project was Puffs in Summer 2022. Currently, her focus with AFYP is on private coaching, creative writing, and graphic design. AFYP writing credits include Rockin’ Robin Hood (Fall 2021), Cinderella 101 (Fall 2018), Billy Shakes and the Big Screen (Fall 2016), A Midwinter Eve’s Dream (Fall 2015), and the Mini and Adventures scripts for Fall 2023 & Spring 2024 .

Outside of AFYP, Rebecca develops new musicals and film. Her first independent feature film, Him, premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival in 2024. She is a TEDx speaker (“Yes, And: The Power of Improv in Everyday Life”) and offers custom improv workshops for corporate organizations. Through AFYP, she has also taught Improv with the Veterans in the Arts Initiative. Recent directing credits include Pippin (4-time Helen Hayes nominated production with Monumental Theatre Company) and The Play That Goes Wrong (Cumberland Theatre). MFA Directing (John Wells Fellow), Carnegie Mellon University; BFA Theatre, George Mason University. (rebeccawahls.com)  

Dawn Matthews
Administrative Consultant

Dawn Matthews has been a part of the AFYP family since 2010 when her son first attended summer camp.  Initially an audience member, Dawn began volunteering on performance days before joining the Artistic Team as their Administrative Consultant.  She has a special interest in fundraising and welcoming new families to the AFYP community. Dawn has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics.  Her favorite projects have included developing submarine software for the U.S. Navy and the Australian Navy, and managing the development of the first handheld trading device for the New York Stock Exchange.  Dawn also works as a transaction coordinator in residential real estate.  

Kathleen West
Senior Teaching Artist, Acting Coach

Kathleen West has been a teaching artist with Acting for Young People since 2017. She has previously been the Vocal Director and Choreographer for our Musical and Advanced Showcase programs, and teaches musical theatre in our Weekly Acting Camps. Kathleen has also taught voice classes with Mason Community Arts Academy and is a voice and acting coach for AFYP.

Throughout her teaching career, Kathleen has had the opportunity to direct her students in many plays, musicals, and musical theatre showcases. When she is not teaching, Kathleen proudly works as a professional actor in the DC area. Her recent acting credits include Escape to Margaritaville at Toby's Dinner Theater, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Art of Murder, and Xanadu at Workhouse Performing Arts Center.

Kathleen graduated Summa Cum Laude from George Mason University, receiving a BFA in Theatre with a concentration in Musical Theatre, and awards of excellence in both academics and performance. 

Senior Teaching Artists