THE STAFF
Here at MTT, we are a creative community that is inclusive of everyone!
Our mission is to create a safe and fun environment for our students to explore their creativity and imagination. We meet students where they are, and then help them build skills and gain confidence in themselves. This transformation extends beyond the classroom and stage and continues to give them skills and confidence in the arena of life for years to come.
Catherine Colby
Founder and Teacher
Graduated San Diego State University with a BA in Music, Dance, Theatre. She has taught classes in music, theater, musical theatre, improv, vocal production, preschool and creative movement to kids ages 3 to 18. She sang in choirs from elementary school through college and has been in numerous shows. She began teaching in Solana Beach as "Rising Stars Studio." She was hired as the music teacher for Park Dale Lane Elementary School and was then hired as the theatre teacher at Encinitas Country Day School. She left the school system when her kids were toddlers and created "Mini Theatre Troupe." (Later changing the name to Music & Theatre Troupe.) She has directed hundreds of musicals & plays from mini preschool shows performing in a corner of the preschool classroom to big Broadway musicals performed on the big stage with lights, sound, backdrops, set changes, rotating stages, costumes, props, and live music. With years of teaching experience, she knows how to teach while keeping it fun and how to set her students up for success. It’s her mission of meeting kids where they are and keeping it meaningful and fun (& onstage) that sets the climate for MTT.
Julie Greathouse-Suazo
Casting Director
Julie started her musical theatre career in the Cleveland theatrical community as a child performer in the sixties and has been working steadily since. A lifelong musician and veteran performer of numerous local productions, regional theatre, and national touring, she also works independently as a musical director, vocal director, theatrical script doctor, casting consultant, private audition and vocal coach, and as a music curriculum consultant. Julie has also worked in San Diego and La Jolla school districts teaching general music, recorders, K-3 percussion band, musical theatre, and theatre arts since 1987. She has been working with several local school districts, providing site-embedded staff development for general music to classroom teachers in the primary grades.
Brittany May
Choreographer & Dance Teacher
Brittany grew up dancing in Encinitas under the Direction of Leslie Craig. She received her BA in dance from CA State University, Fullerton. She has attended summer intensives at State Street Ballet, Santa Barbara, and taken summer classes from Larry Rosenburg. She began her modern training under the direction of Gladys Kares. She has trained in Limon, Horton, and Graham from instructors Debra Noble, Alvin Rangel, and Lisa D Long and kept her ballet training with Muriel Joyce. She graduated with Magma Cum Laude from the University Honors Program.
Julia Giolzetti
Guest Teacher
Julia Giolzetti was lucky enough to begin her theatre journey in the classroom at age 8. She holds a BFA in Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. For 2 years and almost 400 shows she performed Off-Broadway with the New York Times Critic’s Pick Drunk Shakespeare. Other New York theatre credits include over 15 Shakespeare plays, originating roles in 3 world premieres, and ad campaigns for Bank of America. She taught youth theatre workshops in NYC for many years and also worked as a one-on-one monologue coach. In addition, she led classes as supplements to performances with the all-female ensemble the Tempest Ladies in Istanbul, Turkey. Here in San Diego, she has taught at San Diego Junior Theatre, North Coast Rep, in many county classrooms with Playwrights Project, and toured multiple Shakespeare productions in local schools. During the lockdowns of 2020, Julia created Sofa Shakespeare, a global project where anyone can perform 1 minute of a Shakespeare play from home.
Matthew Rechen
Acting Teacher
Matthew Rechen joins us from Louisiana. When he isn’t onstage in a show, he is at JPC University working on his bachelor's in acting. His passion is to help make scenes come alive by helping students understand objectives, subtext, and tactics. We are excited to have him as a guest teacher this semester!
Cindy Cribbins
Music Coach
Cindy Cribbins earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from California State University, San Marcos, and her Master of Arts in Music & Music Education from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Cindy’s skill set is varied. She teaches music basics in preschools and general music & theatre in elementary schools. She also conducts choirs of varying ages (children through adult), composes her own works, arranges music, and creates music programs (especially around the holidays). She enjoys teaching music theory, beginning voice, and beginning piano.
In addition to her musical endeavors, Cindy writes scripts; from mini plays to full length productions, her scripts have found their way to the stage. Cindy’s first produced play, Who Stole the Cookie and the Cookie Jar?, premiered in Houston, Texas, in April 2022.
Cindy believes that learning should and can be fun! Because of this philosophy, she has created several products to help music students learn in an engaging way, including Flip Notes Music and Clip Notes Music, along with a corresponding manual.
Cindy also maintains that music, and indeed all the arts, should be accessible to all. This is the ideology that has guided her teaching opportunities over the last decade and that continues to guide her vision today.
Grace Taylor
Social Media
Grace Taylor is a marketing intern with a foundation in business management and leadership. Currently pursuing her degree at John Paul the Great University, Grace brings hands-on experience from her roles in project management and finance at Pacific Equity Management. She has successfully coordinated high-profile events, including a charity bowling event with the Los Angeles Angels, where she focused on gaining sponsorships. Grace is committed to a community-based approach and is dedicated to serving children and their families.
Linda Eng
Vocal Coach
Linda Eng is an accomplished vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and private voice and piano instructor based in Poway. With over 20 years of experience in show choir performance, choreography, and music direction, Linda has successfully led choirs and musical theater productions at both secondary and elementary levels. Her extensive performance background includes lead vocals and keyboard with various bands, such as Arrow Head (Classic Rock and Pop), Royal Heat, and The Legends Showband (Rock and Roll, Motown, Blues, Country), as well as a range of classical soprano solo work and professional choral singing with the Concert Chorale of Nashville. Additionally, she has played key roles in numerous youth musical theater productions and performs music in church settings.
Linda has had the privilege of working with over 2,000 students across all age groups. She is a credentialed K-12 music educator with a current teaching position at Poway Unified Schools. A native of Nashville, TN, Linda holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Belmont University and a Master of Education degree from Vanderbilt University. She also serves on the Board of Directors for NATS San Diego (National Association of Teachers of Singing) an organization that hosts frequent singing competitions and adjudications. Passionate about crafting great performances, Linda is excited to join the Musical Theater Troupe as Vocal Coach. For more information about private coaching with Linda at Great Performances Studio, please visit GPSPoway.com.
Donna
The woman behind the curtain!
Meet Donna the “left brain” counterpart to all the “right brain” creative types floating around MTT! She is organized and logical and is excited to help you get the info you need in a timely manner. What are the costume requirements? I can’t remember my parent portal password! How do I access the choreography videos? I need a copy of the script… Whatever your questions may be, Donna will get you the answers! So glad to have her as a part of our team!