Artistic Director
Amy Love is a professionally trained theatre director, originally from New York (MFA Directing for the Theater), with a career in film and television production in LA. She has taught and directed in local schools (MCS, SBMS) since 2007, and has directed in theaters in New York, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara (Stella Adler Theater, Ensemble Theater Company). She and her husband own a television post production company in Los Angeles, and live in the Santa Barbara foothills, visited often by their young adult children.
Executive Director
With over fifteen years experience building, growing, and leading small companies, Erica Schreiber blends strategic vision with soulful leadership to support Lights Up! to shine. She was CEO and partner at Conscious Leadership Group and founder of the branding agency, LightLab Studios. As parent at LU! since Season 1—and a coach to leaders, entrepreneurs, and artists—she has seen firsthand how creativity and connection transform families and communities.
Dance and Choreography Director, Conservatory Teacher
Meredith Cabaniss-Ventura is a multi-creative artist based in southern California. She holds a BFA in Dance from UC Santa Barbara and an MFA in Dance from Hollins University in coordination with the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm and The Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company (formerly the Forsythe Company). As the founder and artistic director of Selah Dance Collective, Ms. Cabaniss-Ventura has produced and presented works throughout the United States as well as abroad in Europe and Asia, most recently in Estonia, Finland, Spain, and Italy. She continues to travel and advocate for the arts both nationally and internationally as a dance educator and choreographer.
Vocal Music Director
Bella Garcia Holland was born and raised in Santa Barbara. Her love of musical theatre began at a very young age. Her performance education started in elementary school and she continued to perform into high school at SBHS and got to direct the student-led musical review Music of Night for two years. While attending college at SBCC and UCSB Bella began voice and piano lessons while studying music direction under a local professional. During her time at UCSB she performed with and was on the board of Shrunken Heads, a student musical theatre company, where she gained experience in vocal and stage direction. Additionally she had the privilege of singing with UCSB’s Jazz Band, and Lumina Women’s Choir for two years. Since graduating in 2023, Bella has continued her personal and professional musical theatre education working on vocal direction with Out of the Box for Jesus Christ Superstar and Great Comet, directing two shows with PVAC Once on this Island and In the Heights, as well as teaching music appreciation, choir, and theatre at Our Lady of Mount Carmel for two years, and performing with local cover band Whatever Forever.
Assistant Director, Production Stage Manager, Conservatory Teacher
HMH (they/her) brings lifelong, enthusiastic passion and over a decade of professional experience to the creative team of Lights Up! Theatre Company. A theatre kid since day one, working in the performing arts has been a lifelong throughline from infancy. Having performed in México, USA, and some packed living rooms in Canada, Heather continues to work in the performing arts, including in film, theatre, sketch, improv, podcasts, and other voice work. Current non-LU! focuses include: Production Consultant for Santa Barbara Middle School (since ~2014), a founding member of The Schwackhammers (who regularly perform with SB Improv), and proudly serving on the boards of Yeah Sand and Center Stage Theater.
Costume Designer
Company Manager
Nanci studied musical theater at Indiana University. After college, she sailed the South Pacific with her husband and had their daughter, Abigail in Hawaii. Nanci is now pursuing a degree in Psychology while living her theater dream vicariously through Abigail who is a member of the company. She is very excited to tap back into her theater roots and feels lucky and privileged to be working with Lights Up!
Voice Coach
An award-winning soprano from the Juilliard School, Agatha Carubia is widely known as a versatile voice teacher and mentor to other teachers. Her students have been accepted into the Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, UCLA, NYU, and many others. Her “Heart-based Singing” workshops are held in Santa Barbara and on the Big Island in Hawaii.
Assistant Arts Administrator
Elena Adcock is an actor, producer and teacher working in Los Angeles and New York City. She is a graduate of the UCSB Theater department and is classically trained in voice, music, and acting; in her spare time she plays the violin, guitar and mandolin. She is passionate about working creatively with children and young adults in order to expand their minds and challenge their limitations. As someone who benefitted from early and ongoing exposure to the arts, she hopes to bring that same joy and passion to the wonderful community of LightsUp!
Creative Consultant
Brendan is a Professor of Clown at Montclair State University 2018-2019. Teaching artist for ASTEP in NYC and Homestead, FL. Movement projects include: Sound House (New Georges), I Feel Love (Brooklyn Sanctuary and Republic Records), Incoming! Black is Beautiful, but it Ain’t Always Pretty (Under the Radar), Bazarov (The Representatives), Peer@Me (NYU Graduate), The Humans are in Trouble (NYU Graduate). Assistant Choreographer on Balm in Gilead (Industry City). Graduate of Juilliard Drama.
Artistic Director
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
