Enrollment NOW OPEN for FALL 2026 classes and July 27-30 Dance Camp!
Family Weekly Class Discounts (automatically apply)
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Take $5 per month off each 45 minute class in your immediate family when you sign up for 2 or more.
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UNLIMITED CLASSES - $250/month for Unlimited weekly classes in your immediate family! *does not include the musical
Seussical Jr. Discounts!
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Enroll in both a weekly class and Seussical Jr. to get $50 off! Use promo code FALLSTUDENT
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20% off 2nd sibling, 40% off additional siblings (automatically apply)
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Please email us if more than one sibling wishes to enroll in both the musical and a weekly class to apply both discounts.
PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY
JEVIN MCWITHEY
Instructor
Jevin is from Mulvane, Kansas. Jevin was involved in show choir and theatre shows in high school but now Jevin is involved in Mulvane WildActs Community Theater, recently with Wichita Signature Theater, Set Free Dance Studios, and of course Derby Children's Theatre. Jevin does the marketing for the Mulvance WildActs Theater. If Jevin is not acting, he's usually the makeup and hair guru. In addition to acting, Jevin hopes that he can inspire kids so they can experience the joy and fun that comes with theatre. To quote one of Jevin's favorite teachers, "Life is about taking chances, make mistakes and get messy."
PATTY KIRKPATRICK
Executive Director/Instructor
Patty Kirkpatrick is overjoyed to be able to share her love of performance with the students of DCT!
Patty holds a M.A. in Teaching from Southwestern College and a B.A. in Music Theatre and B.A. in Communications from Friends University. She also holds full Kodaly Music Educator graduate level certification from Wichita State University.
Much of Patty's career has been spent in the K-8 Music classroom. While teaching in Andale, she taught many "mini-musicals" to the elementary students and led the Middle School choir to top, "1" ratings at league festival. She also taught in Maize and Wichita school districts.
Patty's love for theatre came from her many years at the Wichita Children's Theatre and Dance Center, where she performed, taught, and managed their touring company across Kansas. Patty is also an expert in Walt Disney World. While there, she worked in Entertainment and Communications while taking courses at Disney University. She continues to work part time with Kingdom and Cruise Travel as well as teach classes at DCT.
Patty is wife to Paul and together they have three children, Paxton, Pacey and Paige. Her number one goal for DCT is that our students not only grow in their skills and confidence, but also feel loved, supported, and like they belong.
ADDISYN MUMMA
Instructor
Addisyn is currently a student at Lawrence Virtual High School. Addy hopes to attend Wichita State University to obtain a degree in the fine arts. Addy also hopes to continue to teach kids, and have a future in film, Broadway, and voice over work. Addy is passionate about performing, having been in over 12 theater productions and multiple dance recitals so far. When Addy isn’t teaching, you can find her taking classes at DCT-she loves taking theater and dance lessons! Addy has always had a love for the arts and she absolutely loves teaching kids, so she is very excited to have this opportunity to teach kids about the fine arts!
ELIZABETH OPPERMANN
Instructor
Miss Elizabeth has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She grew up in Orange County, CA, starting her lessons in ballet, tap, & jazz with ex-vaudevillian, Arlee Higbee. In her teens, she began more serious ballet training with Lila Zali, Kathy Kahn, and Molly Lynch at Ballet Pacifica where she danced for many years performing such ballets as "The Nutcracker", "Les Sylphides", "Giselle", "Swan Lake", "Graduation Ball", and "A Midsummer Night's Dream". During this time, she also participated in the Orange Coast College dance program for a couple of years performing in classical and contemporary ballet as well as modern dance works, later on becoming a member of a local professional modern dance company, DanceArt, for 5 years. One of Miss Elizabeth's most appreciated experiences as a dancer is of performing with His Grace Dance Ministry (also in CA), a Christian Ballet company, for 11 years. She began teaching dance at 23 with DeFore Dance Center and BethEL Ballet, among other dance schools in CA, to all ages. About 17 years ago, she and her husband moved to CO, had 2 boys, and then moved to KS in 2014. She began teaching ballet again through her sons' homeschool co-op about 7 years ago here in Wichita and is happy to be regularly doing so now.
SHAYN GUILLEMETTE
Instructor
Shayn Guillemette is excited to be teaching classes at DCT this Fall Semester. For the past decade, Shayn has worked as a language arts teacher in Wichita Area schools--and is about to enter his third year teaching at Derby High School. Shayn received his B.A. in English/Drama from Friends University and M.A. in English from the University of Kansas. After taking a respite from the busy theatre life, Shayn is ready to dig back into the craft and do two of the things he loves most--teaching and learning from local students.
Favorite roles include Joseph Hewes in 1776 (Signature Theatre), Ezekiel Cheever in The Crucible (Guild Hall Players), and Charlie Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Friends University). When not teaching, Shayn can be found sitting on the porch and drinking coffee with his fiance, Andy, reading voraciously, playing his Nintendo Switch, or tending to his two, adorable cats Olive and Whataburger.
CHLOEBETH WELSH
Instructor
Miss Chloe is a college student studying Music Education, Dance, and Musical Theater. She has a passion for the arts and for teaching. She has taught studio dance for years, along with assistant directing and choreographing for The CL Hoover Opera House Education Academy in Junction City, Kansas. Her favorite show she has worked on is Annie Kids! She cannot wait to start here at Derby teaching Stage Dance (Little, Jr, and Teens) along with the new Junior Triple Threat class!
ERYANNA GORMAN
Instructor
SHAELYNN FRENCH
Shaelynn is a dance teacher, choreographer, and film actress based out of Wichita, Kansas with both Regional and National Dance Championship titles under her belt in competitive dance. Shaelynn studied Musical Theatre and Dance at Wichita State University where she was a part of the division 1 Shocker Dance Team. During college, she also performed at multiple theme parks and musical theatre companies across North Carolina and Georgia, as well as locally with The Crown Uptown, Forum Theater, Wichita Children’s Theater, Music Theater Young People, Music Theater of Wichita as a company member, and Wichita Shakespeare Company. Shaelynn has previously worked on faculty at Southwestern College and Cowley College. She currently travels teaching dance workshops and setting competition pieces across Kansas and Oklahoma. When Shaelynn is not teaching, she enjoys being a local film and commercial actress who can recently be seen on ads for Sundance Film Festival, Oxygen Channel's "Deadly Cults," and is in the movie "Death Alley," presented by Uncork'd Entertainment - where she enjoyed as being associate producer as well. Her favorite styles are tap, musical theatre, and contemporary. She is excited to come back to her hometown to create theater magic and to help bring up the next generation!
Instructor
Miss Eryanna discovered her passion for dance and movement at the early age of 9, cheering for her small town recreational league. In high school she cheered varsity for two years, before switching to the dance team. Her love for movement and expression grew as she also spent her high school years performing in show choir, combining her vocal talents with dynamic choreography. Eryanna was also involved in many theatre productions in high school including; Once Upon a Mattress, All Shook Up!, Cinderella, and Steel Magnolias!
Eryanna's dedication to the arts led her to Butler Community College, where she attended on a vocal music scholarship as a Butler Headliner from 2022 to 2025. She initially pursued a degree in music education, driven by her desire to inspire others through teaching, and her love for music, but quickly realized her true calling was dance. She courageously switched her major and completed her dance credits with determination, gaining extensive training in multiple styles and performance techniques. Her hard work and versatility opened doors to the professional world, and Eryanna is now proudly dancing as a Wichita Thunder Ice Girl, bringing energy, precision, and artistry to every performance.She is known for her infectious enthusiasm, strong work ethic, and ability to connect with audiences both on stage and on ice. Eryanna is so excited to share her love for cheer and dance with students!
SARAH RUNYAN
Instructor
Sarah is excited to teach at Derby Children's Theatre. She fell in love with dancing at the age of 6 and never looked back. A competitive dancer growing up, she discovered a passion for musical theater in high school and went on to study music education, musical theater, and dance at Cowley Community College, where she also danced on the collegiate dance team. Since then, she's spent over 25 years teaching and choreographing, including Honk! for Derby High School and Godspell for Rose Hill United Methodist Church, along with numerous competition pieces that have earned overall titles and judges' awards. Now, she's bringing that experience, and her love of performing to every dancer she teaches.
AFTON MILLER
Instructor