Westchester Studio: 8011 SW 40th Street, #101, Miami, FL 33155
West Kendall Studio: 15715 SW 56th Street, Miami, FL 33185
About
Roxy Theatre Group
The Roxy Theatre Group (RTG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization geared toward children ages 3 to 17 years old, yet catering to all ages. Our programs focus on the performing arts, offering classes in dance, drama and voice. These are provided through an educational format of teacher/student classroom environments culminating in on-stage productions.
The People of Roxy Theatre Group
Ana Andreu
Programs Director
Ms. Andreu has been with The Roxy Theatre Group since it’s inception in 2002. She oversees all scheduling of the arts classes, the after-school care program and the summer arts camp. She also co-directs all of the program’s main-stage musicals, oversees the class curriculum, activities, student enrollment and manages the scholarship program. Co-directing credits for RTG’s main-stage musicals include: March of the Toys (2003), Penny A Pape (2006), Seussical, The Musical (2007), My Favorite Year (2008) and West Side Story (2009), Guys and Dolls (2010), Once Upon A Mattress (2010), Damn Yankees (2011), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2012), Aladdin (2012), Tarzan (2012), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (2013) and Annie Get Your Gun (2016) ), In the Heights (2017). Ms. Andreu also teaches workshops in drama and musical theatre and assists with costuming and make-up for many of the organization’s productions. She has a BA in Theatre Management from Florida International University.
Charles A. Sothers
Theatre Arts & Artistic Director
With RTG since its inception, Mr. Sothers produces organization's graphic designs such as playbills and print ads; edits music for the arts instructors for shows and performance competitions; edits all in-house video projects, and trains students in acting and voice. He oversees all of the drama, voice and musical theatre classes offered by RTG. Performance and co-directing credits with RTG include: March of the Toys (2003), A Cause For Claus: The Search for Santa (2004), The Zoo Story (2005), Penny A Pape (2006), Seussical, The Musical (2007), My Favorite Year (2008) and West Side Story (2009) and Guys and Dolls (2010) and A Christmas Carol (2010), Damn Yankees (2011), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2012), Aladdin (2012), The Wild Party (2012), Tarzan (2012) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (2013). He earned a BA in Theatre Arts from Florida International University; has trained and performed at the Player's Workshop of the Second City and around Chicago; co-founded the local improvisational sketch comedy troupe, Impromedy; established a local theatre group, The 4th Wall; has performed at various local venues including the FIU's Wertheim Performing Arts Center, Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and what was the Jackie Gleason Theater; and has been the voice-over talent for KFC International and various local and international film & TV projects. Most recently, Mr. Sothers has worked with Gablestage’s high school tour of Taming of the Shrew (2017) and The Tempest (2018). He most recently completed work on Juggerknot Theatre Company’s Miami Motel Stories (2017) and The Amparo Experience (2018).
Jillian Torgas-Leyva
Dance Director and Tap, Jazz
Mrs. Torgas-Leyva oversees all of the dance classes and student placement procedures at The Roxy Theatre Group. She also choreographs the main-stage musicals and the opening and finale performance numbers for the year-end recitals and showcases. With the organization since 2002, Mrs. Torgas-Leyva teaches Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary and Musical Theatre classes (ages 3-17) offered by the program. Main-stage choreography for RTG includes: March of the Toys (2003), Penny A Pape (2006), Seussical, The Musical (2007), My Favorite Year (2008), West Side Story (2009), Guys and Dolls (2010), Once Upon A Mattress (2010), Damn Yankees (2011), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2012), Aladdin (2012), Tarzan (2012), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (2013), Annie Get Your Gun (2016), In the Heights (2017). Mrs. Torgas-Leyva has trained with Jazz Master Joe Lanteri, and tap icons Gregory Hines and Henry Latang in New York. She has also trained with the world-acclaimed Tap Dogs and with renowned choreographer David Scala in Las Vegas, Nevada. She earned a BFA in Dance, with an emphasis in Choreography and Performance, from Florida International University and her Masters Degree in Dance Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Noramari Oñate
President, Marketing Director
Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ms. Oñate’s excellent oral and writing skills in both the English and Spanish languages are instrumental in The Roxy Theatre Group’s multi-cultural marketing efforts. She supervises the Communications, Marketing and Public Relations for the organization. She has 25 years’ experience in Marketing, Advertising and Communications with Fortune 500 companies such as McDonalds, KFC and Exxon Mobile, Latin American and Caribbean Division. For the past nine years, she has graciously donated her services and expertise to RTG’s programming. Ms. Oñate is the Gallery Director for Oñate Fine Art, a business owned and operated by her family. She has skillfully garnered three degrees: BBA in Business Administration/Marketing from Florida International University, BS in Advertising and MA in Journalism & Communications from the University of Florida.
Ulises Otero
Vice- President, Technical Director, Sound Designer/Engineer
Mr. Otero co-founded The Roxy Theatre Group with Artistic Director, Jorgina Fernandez, in 2002. He has co- owned Roxy Productions Enterprises, a production company specializing in event planning, entertainment and audio design/engineering since 1978, with Ms. Fernandez. He directs all of the technical theatre aspects for the organization’s showcases, main-stage musicals and year-end recitals. Has over 25 years experience as a Technical Director, Sound Designer and Engineer. He has provided Sound Engineering and Design for several renowned artists including Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine and KC & the Sunshine Band. Mr. Otero has also designed and engineered the sound for Telemundo’s Nuevas Voces de America, the Latin Billboard Awards and the Latin Grammy Awards and collaborated with Music Producer, Emilio Estefan’s recording of Somos El Mundo, (Spanish version recording of We are the World to benefit Haiti relief efforts). Most recently he sound engineered Tony-Award winning actress/recording artist, Idina Menzel’s concert. He has participated in workshops in DAS Audio aero line equipment, Yamaha PMSD and Digital Audio and administers seminars in Basic Line Array Applications.
Jorgina "Roxy" Fernandez
Executive Director
Co-founder of The Roxy Theatre Group (RTG) with Technical Director and Sound Designer/Engineer Ulises Otero in 2002, Ms. Fernandez oversees all of RTG’s programming, by ensuring program efficiency and operations. Directing credits for RTG’s main-stage musicals include: March of the Toys (2003), Penny A Pape (2006), Seussical, The Musical (2007), My Favorite Year (2008), West Side Story (2009), Guys and Dolls (2010) Once Upon A Mattress (2010), Damn Yankees (2011), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2012), Aladdin (2012), Tarzan (2012), Thoroughly Modern Millie (2013), and Annie Get Your Gun (2016) ), In the Heights (2017) as well as numerous recitals and showcases presented by the organization. She has co-owned Roxy Productions Enterprises, a production company specializing in event planning, entertainment and audio design/engineering, since 1978 with Mr. Otero. Inspired by her childhood struggle with dyslexia, Ms. Fernandez created the Books Come to Life Series, an installment of literature-based showcases that promote reading to children. She received dance training from L’ecole de Ballet and Arabesque dance studios and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University.
Enid Gonzalez
Voice Director
Ms. González is an established voice teacher with more than 20 years of experience in both private and higher education. She received a master’s degree in voice from Indiana University in Bloomington where she completed her training as a classical soprano. Enid’s repertoire encompasses a multitude of genres, but it is the zarzuela where she has most distinguished herself receiving great reviews in Florida, the Dominican Republic, and her native Puerto Rico. She teaches at in her private studio and has also taught at the University of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico’s Conservatory of Music. Some of her students have been accepted at some of the most prestigious Universities in the United States such as Carnegie Mellon, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Michigan University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and NYU among others. One of her students was recently a winner of the Young Arts Competition.
Renée Mansur-Cornette
Belly Dance Instructor
Renée Mansur-Cornette (born of Lebanese, Italian, and Dutch descent) was born in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of five, she began her dance training in ballet, tap, and jazz. In 1990, her family relocated to Miami, Florida.
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It was not until Renée graduated high school that she began taking belly dance classes at the prestigious Mid-Eastern Dance Exchange led by world-renowned teacher TamalynDallal. She immediately fell in love with this form of dance, bringing her closer to her Lebanese heritage, and has continued her training in it ever since. After training at the Mid-Eastern Dance Exchange, she went on to join the professional dance troupe “Ishtah” under the direction of another world-renowned instructor, Samay. After several years with the company, and guest appearances in several other companies, Renée went out on her own. She was one of the first to have a professional children’s performing company “Amirah”, which won countless awards in competitions, along with a professional adult company “Renée waAlimah”.
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Renée has taken many workshops and classes in her over 20 years of belly dancing including teachers from all over the world. (Raquia Hassan, Horacio and Beata Cifuentes, Tito, Aladdin, Ansuya, Jillina, Virginia, Jihan Jamal, and Bozenka,just to name a few…)
Having a wide array of teachers and mentors has led Renée not only to have excellent dance movements, but skills using Middle Eastern dance props as well; including veil, candelabra, sword, cane, fans, tambourine, dumbek, and wings. However, she is best known for her exceptional ability to play Zagat (finger cymbals).
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She has performed and continues to perform in theatre shows, galas, charity events, television, private parties, and even for some famous faces including Saudi Arabian Royalty. In addition, Renée danced in the award-winning Mediterranean restaurant “Maroosh” for over 15 years.
She has taken everything she has learned and has developed a belly dance style of her own. Renée is a professional belly dance instructor, performer, and choreographer in the South Florida area. She has become well known for her award-winning, innovative choreographies and her ability to teach young children this wonderful art form. She provides an energetic class, teaching not only movements, but the history behind them as well.
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In addition to dance, Renée has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Miami in Graphic Design and Illustration. She is also the proud mother of two children.
The Roxy Theatre Group (RTG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization geared toward children ages 3 to 17 years old, yet catering to all ages. Our programs focus on the performing arts, offering classes in dance, drama and voice. These are provided through an educational format of teacher/student classroom environments culminating in on-stage productions.
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Our doors opened in 2002 with 250 students enrolled in various performing arts classes. Since our inception, we have produced numerous recitals and musicals, have implemented an after-school program, conduct an annual summer camp and have participated in numerous local, regional and national competitions and events. Our annual season consists of Fall Follies, an autumn recital; Holly Jolly Follies, a winter recital; two main-stage musical productions; our year-end Recital which is a culmination of the knowledge the children have garnered throughout the year; community outreach performances and several original shows written and performed by parents, students, local teachers and special guests.
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Mission
The Roxy Theatre Group (RTG) is devoted to enriching children’s lives through the performing and cultural arts. Our organization provides arts education and performance opportunities for all children in the community, with a special focus on under served populations, ages 3 to 17.
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Endowment
You can now share the passion of The Roxy Theatre Group by making a donationthat will benefit the lives of countless future generations. There exists, without a doubt, an artistic yearning in all of us, and at The Roxy Theatre Group, we seek to promote and enrich culture in our community by launching dreams and feeding creativity and imagination without bias toward age, race, ethnicity, gender creed or origin. Come dream with us as we grow into bigger and better programs and facilities. Traditions begin with a few and continue with many, tying together the lives of all who participate.
