The Studio for Music and Theatre Arts LLC

We could not be more proud of our amazing students that performed in The Studio’s Class of 2026 Senior Cabaret this evening! All of you are so talented and hardworking, and we are so glad that we still have all of you for the rest of the summer! We added this second picture because it perfectly captures the chaos of Ms. Elena when she is trying to run these events! 🤣

Today we honor and remember those who fought for our freedom. In their memory, we will continue to fight for our freedom. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

About four years ago, while we were getting things set up and ready to open, a trucker pulled over in front of The Studio after a low hanging branch broke his window and spooked his pup that was siting in the front seat with him. He was cleaning up the front seat and checking on his dog when he let us know that he thought there was a frog that had hitched a ride on his truck. Sure enough, this was the first time we saw our first Studio Frog. Ms. Elena started a March Madness style contest to choose the frog’s name, and the students voted for Orlando. Shortly after, we were able to add two more friends to the tank, Oliver and Kermit! These lovable frogs were a staple at The Studio for three years, singing along during lessons and being generally adorable. We took the home when we started preparing for construction, and have not brought them back since. This weekend, we released Orlando and Kermit, (RIP Oliver ❤️), back into the wilderness, and Ms. Elena may have gotten glassy eyed as she watched them happily hop off into the brush and the leaves along side a creek. As we say to our students when they start their next chapter, the Studio Frogs will always be a part of the Studio Family! We love you boys! ❤️🐸❤️

2026 Senior Spotlight : Ella Gibbons

Ella Gibbons, an incredibly talented and passionate actress, started studying at The Studio in June of 2025. She started in Ms. Elena’s summer acting class, “Summer with Stanislavski,” and then continued coming in for coaching sessions through the year. Ella is an incredibly talented, thoughtful, and polished actress, but she wanted to make sure her best foot was forward and that she was presenting the best work she could in any given moment! Throughout our time together, we’ve had the absolute pleasure to witness Ella’s success, cast in the following productions: Romeo and Juliet (Juliet Capulet) and The Crucible (Susanna Walcott). We are so very proud of all of her accomplishments, including the many she had preceding her time at The Studio! We could not be more excited to see what she accomplishes next and we are looking forward to following her journey at the University of Alabama in Birmingham where she’ll be pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with Concentration in Performance and Secondary Education.

2026 Senior Spotlight : Riley McDonald

Riley McDonald, a girl who always wears a beaming smile, started lessons with Ms. Elena at The Studio in June of 2025. She came to us a talented actress and dancer with an equally beautiful voice. She worked to help her build her confidence in her singing voice, so she was ready to take on her senior musical audition! Throughout our time together, we’ve had the absolute pleasure to witness Riley’s success, cast in multiple productions: Perpetual Care (Haint Ensemble), Almost, Maine (Glory), and 42nd Street (Gladys/Tapper/Featured Dancer). We are so very proud of all of her accomplishments, including the many she had preceding her time at The Studio! We could not be more excited to see what she accomplishes next and we are looking forward to following her journey at the University of Alabama, where she’ll be pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.

2026 Senior Spotlight : Clara Mae Bass

Clara Mae Bass, a powerhouse vocalist, started lessons with Ms. Elena at The Studio in June of 2025. Clara came to us with so much natural talent, and the desire to expand upon her vocal chops and become an even stronger singer and performer! Though our time together hasn’t been too long, Clara has the chops and work ethic to have grown so much in the past year! In our time together, we’ve had the absolute pleasure to witness Clara’s success, cast in You Can’t Take It With You (Penny Sycamore) and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical (Joshie/High School Ensemble). We are so very proud of all of her accomplishments, including the many she had preceding her time at The Studio! We are looking forward to following her journey at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where she’ll be pursuing a Bachelors Arts in Theatre, with a concentration in Performance.

2026 Senior Spotlight : Ava Cahue

Ava Cahue, a rising star, started lessons with Ms. Elena at The Studio in June of 2024. Ava came in nervous about starting something new, but quickly opened up and took on the challenge of being vulnerable, and rose to grow into the star she is today! Ava is a beautiful, caring, bright, warm young woman, and we are so proud of her growth. Over the years, we’ve had the absolute pleasure to witness Ava’s success, cast in multiple productions: Badger (Worker/Dancer/Soldier), Little Shop of Horrors (Ensemble), Ernest and the Pale Moon (Gwendoline Bertram), and Frozen: The Musical (Elsa). Ava was also a Huntsville All-City Choir Outstanding Choral Student Representative for Grissom High School’s Chamber Choir. We are so very proud of all of her accomplishments! We could not be more excited to see what she accomplish next and we are looking forward to following her journey at Mississippi State University, where she’ll be pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

2026 Senior Spotlight: Lena Racelis

Lena Racelis, a young woman with a golden heart, started lessons with Ms. Elena at The Studio in January of 2025. When Lena started lessons, she came in with a mission, and she had the work ethic and drive to excel grow just within a year of lessons! Lena is an incredibly accomplished young woman, but what we adore about her is her humility, her drive, and her grace. Throughout our time together, we’ve had the absolute pleasure to witness Lena’s success, cast in multiple productions: Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Natasha), Romeo & Juliet (Balthazar), and The Crucible (Abigail Williams). We are so very proud of all of her accomplishments, including the many she had preceding her time at The Studio! We could not be more excited to see what she accomplish next and we are looking forward to following her journey at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where she’ll be pursuing a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.

2026 Senior Spotlight : Juliet Carr

Juliet Carr, a gorgeously authentic performer, started lessons with Ms. Elena at The Studio in July of 2024. Juliet came into lesson full of warmth, and an eagerness to learn and grow as both a singer and an actress. Since joining The Studio, she has shown a great strength in script analysis and allowing herself to let her own walls down, and full emotionally connect with the character, a difficult feat for someone as young as she. Over the years, we’ve had the absolute pleasure to witness Juliet’s success, cast in multiple productions: Failure: A Love Story (Jenny June Fail), Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Opera Singer/Ensemble), Romeo & Juliet (Lady Capulet), and The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor). We are so very proud of all of her accomplishments! We could not be more excited to see what she accomplish next and we are looking forward to following her journey at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where she’ll be pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Engineering.