Our Team

  • Myrlin Valerio

  • Founder & Executive Director

    Myrlin is a theatre director, producer, and costumer working in the Hudson Valley for over 25 years. She has been director of Croton Academy of Arts since its formation in 2003.  Myrlin works with people of all ages teaching drama and comedy improvisation. She is a professionally trained actress, director, and community arts activist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from SUNY Albany.

  • Meaghan Willimann

    After School Program Director

    Meaghan recently accepted the position of Director for the CAA After School program after years of working at our CET program as a teacher.  Meaghan is also the Director of Circle School, a pre-k program in Croton, where she has taught since 2005. She has a BS from St. Mary’s College and an MS in Special Education N-6, 7&8 non-departmental, from Fordham University. Previously, Meaghan taught both Nursery School and Elementary school. With her family, she was also a founder of Croton Young Children’s Theatre and directed plays for young children for many years. 

  • Ollie Asch-Mei

    Producer

    Ollie first started attending classes at CAA when he was just 8 years old. Over the years, Ollie’s CAA life expanded off the stage as well, working as crew for many years. Ollie has worked at both the after school program and CAA’s summer camps, serving as Stage Manager for the CAST summer productions for several years and taking over as Camp CACA’s improv teacher. After graduating from the University of Hartford with a BSBA in accounting, Ollie joined CAA full-time as a producer and improv teacher.

  • Janice Paganelli

    CET Site Supervisor

    Janice has many years of experience working with children. She is the Resident Choreographer for Actors Conservatory Theatre (ACT). Janice has been an Ossining Girl Scout leader for 24 years as well as the Community Director for 8 years. She has also worked as a Child Behavior Specialist for Andrus Children's Home. Before taking on the after school program at CET Elementary School, Janice served as Director of CAA’s after school Connections Program at the studio.


  • Jovonna Smith-Simmons

    PVC Site Supervisor

    Jovonna Smith-Simmons is a dedicated afterschool professional with over 10 years of experience working with children. She leads the program while creating a safe, structured, and supportive environment for students. Jovonna is passionate about STEM education and enjoys engaging children in hands-on learning that encourages curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity. With her leadership, patience, and genuine care for each child, she strives to make the afterschool program a place where students feel valued, inspired, and excited to learn.

In The Studio

  • Joseph Riedel

    Improv, Sketch Comedy, C.A.S.T. Director

    Joseph is a CAA alumn, Writer, Director, Performer, and Teacher who returned to New York after spending six years in Chicago. During his time there, Joseph performed on improv teams at the IO Theatre and worked as a writer, director, and producer on a number of Transmedia productions for web, television, commercials, and live theatrical events. Joseph has also dedicated a lot of time working with publications such as the online scholarly resource "The Watercooler Journal" where he wrote journalistic articles on television studies. The creation of his autobiographical web series “A Good Sense of Tumor” was featured on NPR’s Studio 360 with Kurt Anderson.  Joseph has an MA from Temple University in Theatre Education,.


  • Natalie Arneson

    Theatre Director

    Natalie graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in England with a BA in Musical Theatre. While overseas, she played Princess Jasmine opposite Britt Eklund and Issy van Randwick in the pantomime Aladdin, toured in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Candide. She has worked extensively in her native Houston at the Alley Theatre, Houston Grand Opera, Arneson Productions, Houston Shakespeare Festival, and Main Street Theater. She performed her original show “Mama Drama” at The Metropolitan Room, The Duplex, and Don’t Tell Mama, subsequently winning the 2016 Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets Award for “Best Female Debut.” Natalie has extensive experience in several teaching disciplines, including ballet, tap, jazz, singing, acting, and stage combat. Her career as an actress has expanded into that of director and choreographer.

  • Susannah Johnston

    Yoga for Strong Bones

    Susannah Johnston, 500 hour CYT,  taught locally for many years at NYSC, Premier Athletic Club and Yoga Sol. In 2018, she moved to Canada and started her popular YouTube channel “Forever Yoga with Susannah.” Passionate about safely addressing the needs of women with low bone density, she is the founder of the 32K member private Facebook group “The Strong Bones Challenge”; a support group for women with osteoporosis. She is certified by BoneFitTM Osteoporosis CA. She's so happy to be back and sharing yoga "live" in her hometown!

  • Dillon O'Keefe

    Muralist

    Dillon is an award-winning mural artist, CAA and Croton-Harmon schools alum, and graduate of FIT with a BFA in animation. Many of Dillon's murals can be found in the Village of Croton on Hudson. His newest mural was commissioned by Barclays Center. He won a National award from Essentia Water to design a billboard mural which was displayed in NYC. Essentia featured him in this video.  Watch a video of Dillon creating a mural for Pampered Pets in Croton on Hudson. Dillon collaborated with PVC students to make their creative ideas and visions a reality with a mural created in the school.

  • Nicolas Coccaro

    Stage Combat

    Nic is a CAA alumni, stuntman, combat choreographer, actor,  SAG-AFTRA member, certified with the Society of American Fight Directors, and studied at the British Academy of Stage & Screen Combat.  He has fight directed numerous comedic and dramatic works here and abroad for professional and community theatres, colleges, and high schools.  Nicolas has worked with both children and adult actors. as a director and stunt coordinator.  He is happy to educate young actors on how to act out violence on stage in a safe and clear manner.