Directors, Instructors, Faculty

Allyson Lewis (Founding Owner, Ballet & Jazz Instructor) began Once Upon a Ballet in 2004 as a true labor of love. Combining her passions for ballet, theatre, and costumes studied dance at the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, where she danced for the Greenville Ballet and attended the SC Governor’s School for the Arts. She received a talent scholarship to attend New York University’s prestigious Tisch of the Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. In New York, she danced professionally and performed works by nationally acclaimed artists such as Twyla Tharp, Ronald K. Brown, and Doug Varone. Skilled in ballet, jazz, modern, musical theatre, and tap dance styles, Allyson danced professionally in New York and Japan. She was among the last of the American casts featured at Seagaia’s Ocean Dome in Miyazaki, Japan where she performed in over 900 shows and danced the feature role of the Fish Queen. She has traveled as far as Portici, Italy to teach ballet as a volunteer at Casa Materna Orphanage for children ages 3 – 16. Allyson has been teaching for 14 years, specializing in pre-ballet, creative dance and jazz for musical theatre. Allyson formed Once Upon a Ballet in 2004 upon her return to SC. Over the last 10 years, since 2011, Allyson has produced 32 titles for MTC, and with repeat performances 50 musicals to date.

Shelby Magers (Director, Acting Instructor, Office Manager) Shelby Magers is a graduate from the College of Charleston with a B.A. in Theatre for Youth. She has worked with kids of all ages for twelve years, including Assistant Teaching at N.E. Miles Early Childhood Education Center and Spann Elementary School. Shelby has worked with Once Upon a Ballet and The Musical Theatre Center for over seven years and has loved every minute of it. Among directing the Player’s Troupe, Shelby is also the Operations and Studio Manager. When she’s not working, she is the Children’s Coordinator at Life Community Church and enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Todd and Tucker, cat, Lucy her husband of seven years, Patrick, and their four-year-old Anderson and baby Benjamin.
Shelby was the director of Winnie the Pooh, KIDS, the 2018 Holiday Gala, the Jr. Company/ Players performance in Disney, Aladdin, KIDS, Aristocats, KIDS, Dear Edwina, JR, Frozen, KIDS, and Madagascar, JR. She has taught several acting classes at MTC and has also played a role of organizing Showstoppers over the years.

 

 

Emily Gracie Miller (Choreographer, Tap Instructor, Director) Emily enjoys performing with her sister, Lacy in the national touring act, “The Gracie & Lacy Show.”  She has traveled with the sister act for 20+ years and specializes in tight harmonies, singing the songs of Audrey Hepburn, impersonating Comedienne, Gracie Allen and of course tap dancing the choreography of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers!  She has performed at venues ranging from Broadway’s Supper Club at Feinstein’s 54Below in NYC to the Winter White House Mar-a-Lago In Palm Beach, FL. She has appeared on ABC, NBC and has worked with HBO. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Emily and her sister co-directed & produced over 50 productions for their theatre company, Broadway on the Driveway, which ran for 18 years in St. Louis. Favorite directing credits include: “Singin’ in The Rain,” “White Christmas,” and “The Sound of Music.”  Emily studied voice under the direction of Diane Huber (President of Sweet Adelines International) and received instruction in dance from Kim Miller (instructor at Washington University).  She now resides in Charleston, SC, the home of her ancestors.  When she is not performing, Emily loves reading, dancing and baking all things chocolate!  She is currently making revisions to an original musical she wrote with her sister, “The Four Freedoms – A Tribute To Norman Rockwell.”