Ashley Waldron
Dance Teacher / Stage Manager / Assistant Director
Ashley has been a dancer for as long as she could walk, she specializes in hip hop but teaches all forms of dance. She has been a dance teacher for over 10 years, and you may have seen her at the Central School Dance program located in Glen Rock NJ. When Ashley isn't working as a dance teacher, she is working in the technical theatre world as a New Jersey based Stage Manager. Having always been involved in the arts, she takes pride in being able to not only work while doing what she loves, but to watch each performer reach their full potential!
Mackenzie Cavagnaro
Director / Costume Manager
Mackenzie is a recent graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where she earned her BFA in Drama at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the Experimental Theatre Wing. She spent this past Summer teaching Improv and serving as the Assistant Director for the Comedy Ensemble at Traveling Players Ensemble in Tysons, Virginia. With a passion for bringing theatre education to kids of all ages and backgrounds, she has also worked as an assistant drama teacher at the High School of Economics and Finance in New York City, as well as a Music Theatre Teacher at the Summer Onstage Camp at Ady Art Center in Livingston, New Jersey. In addition to teaching she is a stage and screen performer whose recent credits include Gina in The Duck at Tisch Drama Stage, Tara in Siblings at the Gene Frankel Theatre, and Annie in Silent Sky at the Stella Adler Studio. She loves all things comedy and improv and is very excited to be working with Curtain Up Studios to share her love of theatre with all of you!
Sarah Barbi
Director
With over 25 years of experience in education and school administration, Sarah brings her love of the theater and her expertise in directing musicals, stage plays and junior productions to our studio. Having worked with students from ages 4 to ages 18 in over 20 different productions, Sarah has a BA in English Literature with a concentration in Dramatic Literature and MA in Education/Supervision, and holds teaching certification on the K-5 and 9-12 levels as well as NJ Principal’s certification.
A lover of theater and musical theater, Sarah has worked as a theatrical fundraiser, Assistant Director and Director of varied productions, including Moana, Chicago, School of Rock, The King and I, Arsenic and Old Lace, Rumors, and most recently, Into the Woods and West Side Story both named Rising Star Productions by the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. Students who have performed on her stage have been awarded over 70k in scholarships to performing arts schools and programs and she currently directs two mainstage productions each year at Hudson Catholic Regional High School as well as a summer production for students across all grade levels. In addition Sarah serves as Assistant Principal of Hudson Catholic, teaches an upper level Acting elective and oversees the Fine and Performing Arts Department. She is excited to work with Curtains Up and inspire more and more children to find their theatrical talents!
Alondra Uriarte
Director / Assistant
Alondra Uriarte is a Director and Assistant at Curtains Up Studios, where she is passionate about fostering creativity, confidence, and a love for performance in young artists.
Outside of Curtains Up, she serves as the Assistant Artistic Director of Galen Mae Productions, an independent theatre company based in NYC. She is an active director, actress, and acting coach who holds a BFA in Acting from Montclair State University (‘24). Having performed throughout the New York and New Jersey area, she has been involved in theatre since the age of 10 and absolutely loves the magic of storytelling.
She finds her greatest fulfillment in helping young performers build confidence, strengthen their craft, and discover their unique artistic voices. She believes theatre is not just about performance — it’s about community, courage, and joy!
