Meet Our Team
Directors
Sharon DeArmon
Executive Director
Sharon DeArmon holds a B.A. in Speech & Theater Arts with a minor in Religious Studies. With over 25 years of teaching experience, she has become well known for presenting excellent musical and dramatic productions. She has taught speech, drama, high school English, Bible, music classes and various theater classes. For the past 20 years, Mrs. DeArmon has specialized in teaching and offering the theater experience to the Home School community in the Tampa Bay area. She has a passion for teaching students to discover their God-given talents and for encouraging them to use those talents for His glory. Many of her students claim Mrs. DeArmon’s classes and productions are the highlight of their school year. Mrs. DeArmon and her husband, Chip, have two children who are married and four adorable grandsons.
Kym Perrault
Managing Director
Kym Perrault earned a B.A. in Business Administration and is an experienced arts administrator, singer and dancer. Kym Perrault coordinates the office and business management of C.A.S.T. She loves working ‘both sides of her brain’ contributing creatively and administratively. Having been with C.A.S.T. since its’ inception her favorite part of the job is watching the kids grow from audition to performance and from first years at C.A.S.T to last. Kym has two daughters one who graduated from C.A.S.T. and one with Mrs. DeArmon’s original arts program Acting Up for Him.
Caroline Ford
Assistant Director
Caroline Ford earned an AA in Dramatic Arts at Hillsborough Community College and has been a part of the C.A.S.T. staff since 2018. She gained her passion for teaching and theater in High School under her drama teacher in her hometown in Maryland. Caroline has had the opportunity to be a student, intern, and staff member at C.A.S.T. under the direct teaching of Sharon DeArmon. Her years at C.A.S.T. have deepened her love for theater and all things stage production, but above all have grown her love and passion for teaching students how to use their gifts to glorify God. Caroline assists in teaching drama for Early Elementary through High School Musical Theater. She is also the Stagecraft teacher and Production Manager. She gives the glory to God for this opportunity to better love and serve Him through loving and serving others at DeArmon C.A.S.T.
Instructors
Melissa Rawls
Musical Director High School, Private Instruction
Melissa Rawls is former Choral Director at Cambridge Christian School now our High School Music Director. Her career has included the general music classroom, private vocal studio, and choral education. She has been an active educator in the Tampa Bay Area for over 20 years including being the musical director of Oklahoma, Into the Woods, Hairspray, Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls and West Side Story. Her mission is to discover, inspire and instruct students through the study of vocal music and all it has to offer the adolescent heart while giving the glory to God!
Mrs. Rawls is married to Jamey Rawls and they have 4 adult children.
Christina Hilaire
Musical Director Intermediate, Private Instruction
Christina, a military and pastor’s child, first came to love music at the age of eight as a piano student. She has been a member of various church worship teams and has accompanied traditional services since she was twelve. Her passion for music expanded to include a love for theater, which she discovered through her participation in the Missoula Children’s Theatre during high school. Although God called her to a Bachelor’s in International Studies in college, her passions have consistently been for music, worship, the Arts, and younger generations. Christina comes to CAST with two years of experience in private piano instruction and eight years as an Upper Elementary and Middle School classroom teacher - including Theatre instruction. She had the joy of directing Once On This Island and teaching Musical Theatre and Chorus during the 2023-24 school year. She deeply desires to bring God glory through music and the Arts, encouraging and building up younger generations to glorify and worship Him with their talents. She is grateful for the gift of working with students at CAST, to help them find God’s purpose for them through Creative Arts instruction.
Jenn Hinely
Musical Director Elementary, Private Instruction
Jenn Hinely is a lover of music and theater who graduated from a Performing Arts High School in Dallas, TX a “few” years ago. She has performed in a few of CAST’s favorite shows in her musical career - Into the Woods and Crazy For You! She continued pursuing her love of music in various ways at Florida College where she earned her AA. She first became a teacher to her own children in 2012 when she began her homeschooling career and then moved into working with other elementary students in 2014 when she became a Tutor in her local Classical Conversations community. Through the years she has developed a strong passion for using all the subjects she teaches as tools to cultivate virtue and character in her students, with the aim of ultimately bringing God glory. It’s a dream come true to move into this role with CAST, having the opportunity to pair her love for teaching with her love of music in a place that upholds a vision and mission she deeply believes in.
Teil Rey Guilford
High School Choreographer, Dance Instructor
Teil , a native of Tampa, is the daughter of nationally renowned choreographers Frank and Betty Lee Rey. At age five she made her professional debut in the Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Green’s Common Glory. Over the next several years she was lead dancer in Mr. Green’s outdoor dramas Cross and Sword, Lost Colony and Drumbeats in Georgia. As a member of the Florida Ballet Theatre she was a soloist in many ballets. In 1978 she was the youngest member to teach master classes in ballet and jazz at the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. Her published choreography for those classes received national recognition and were distributed throughout the United States and Canada. Other noteworthy accomplishment include directing, acting and dancing in numerous commercials for Walt Disney, Holiday Inn, Frank Rey Dance Studio, Florida Ballet Theatre as well as a role in John D. MacDonald's movie “A Flash of Green” directed by Victor Nuenez.
Rachel Stick
Elementary & Intermediate Choreographer, Dance Assistant
Rachel Stick has been apart of C.A.S.T since she was four years old and has performed in more than 20 productions. She is currently the Intermediate and Elementary choreographer. She also is the High School musical theater dance assistant. Rachel loves informing students on how to grow in their dance skills and her desire is to show Gods love to students and use her talents to glorify Him.
Meghan Cuthbertson
Art Instructor
Meghan Cuthbertson was home-schooled for 11 years before earning a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and a minor in English Literature from Wheaton College (IL). Involved in DeArmon C.A.S.T throughout high school, she is grateful to have the opportunity to be back with the C.A.S.T family again. As an artist, she is interested in exploring a variety of mediums and encouraging others to enjoy the creative process. Above all, she sees the arts as a way God reveals His nature and a means to bring Him glory.
Staff
Katie Ford
Consultant
Katie Ford, daughter of Sharon DeArmon, earned a bachelor's degree in Religion at Liberty University. She has learned much from her mother and has acquired her niche for the arts. Katie has a background in theater and improv comedy. Her creativity and unique eye when it comes to art sets her apart as an important part of the C.A.S.T. faculty. She has a desire to help students develop their passions for the glory of God. Katie, and her husband Jake, have their own photography business and enjoy traveling the country photographing weddings and events. They also have two beautiful sons!
Kimberly Cragg
Office Assistant, Early Elementary Teacher
Kimberly is thrilled to be a part of the DeArmon C.A.S.T. family as Kym Perrault’s assistant. She’s married to Steve and has 3 children graduated from CAST. Additionally, Kimberly is excited to be teaching the Early Elementary Musical Theater class.
Katrina Baumann
Elementary Assistant, Production Assistant Marketing
Katrina is a Tampa native with a love for theater and the arts. In 2001, she began taking classes with Sharon DeArmon as her theatre teacher and has continued to be involved with CAST ever since. After graduating high school, she discovered her love for directing and has directed multiple church plays, worked with various community theatre's and directed CAST alumni.
Bryce Vullo
Teacher Assistant Music, Private Instruction
Bryce Vullo is a former student and current teaching assistant at CAST. He attended the high school theater program his senior year, participating in three shows: Frozen Jr., The Hiding Place, and Crazy for You. Bryce has been playing both drums and guitar for around 12 years, picking up a few other instruments along the way. After completing his first year teaching at CAST, he is grateful for the opportunity to come back and continue pouring into the hearts of students and providing a fun and encouraging environment where kids can both explore their talents and learn new ones along the way.
Kailani Maeda
Teacher Assistant Dance
Kailani Maeda is a proud CAST alumni and credits performing in CAST shows as some of her favorite times growing up. She received her Associate of Arts degree in psychology with an emphasis on child development in May of 2023. Kai is currently finishing her Bachelor’s of Arts in pediatric psychology at The University of South Florida, graduating May 2025. Additionally, Kailani is PFA (Psychological First Aid) certified. She loves nothing more than helping children reach their full potential, whether that be through creative or personal endeavors!
Jill Maeda
Show Manager
Jill is a certified K-12 School Administrator. Growing up, she performed in numerous productions with Christian Youth Theater and knows just how vital theater and the arts are to a child’s education. She enjoys putting the production puzzle together to make sure it all runs smoothly. Jill and her husband, Brian, homeschooled their three children, who all attended C.A.S.T.
Private Instructors
Raphael Ramirez
Private Instruction
Rafael Ramirez (Viola/mandolin), Principal Violist at The Venice Symphony, The Imperial Symphony, The Florida Lakes Orchestra and founder of Music Educational Tools, was born in Caracas- Venezuela, where he began musical studies through El Sistema (famous Venezuelan music program) in 1992. After immigrating to the United States, he studied at the New World School for the Arts/University of Florida where he earned his Bachelor degree with Honors. Rafael Ramirez holds a Master Degree from Florida International University, an Artist Diploma and a Doctorate in Musical Arts from University of Miami. As a music educator and active performer, Dr. Ramirez has created didactic tools to aid string performers to acquire the necessary skills to develop technique.
Mary Hauck
Private Instruction
Mary Hauck taught in public and private schools for thirteen years as a music specialist and choral director. While at Riverhills Christian School she was elected “Teacher of the Year”. During her years at CAST as a musical director for high school and elementary classes, she instructed many soloists and ensembles for their musical productions.
Mrs. Hauck has adjudicated for the Florida Vocal Association Solo and Ensemble Festivals and the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions. Her students have earned superior ratings in these and other competitions and auditions. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Eta Lambda local chapter Music Honor Society. Mary has performed for Strictly Entertainment and community events and led worship with praise teams and choirs at various Christian churches. Mary Hauck holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of South Florida. During her graduate studies, she instructed voice classes at the University of South Florida and assisted in Opera Workshop.
Mary Hauck offers private lessons for singing all styles of music, traditional and praise chord piano/keyboard instruction, and music theory in her nearby home as a satellite studio of CAST.
Vanessa Rodriguez
Private Instruction
Originally from Queens, NY, light lyric/coloratura soprano Vanessa Rodriguez, holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of South Florida.
Ms. Rodriguez played Mabel in scenes from Pirates of Penzance at the start of 2021 with Opera Tampa, performed in a Zarzuela and Latin American Song concert with the Spanish Lyric Theater in March and performed her own concert - “Opera with a Twist” with pianist Fernando Lopez at the Tampa Palms Country Club in May.
Highlights from Ms. Rodriguez's 2019-2020 season include: Frasquita in Carmen with Opera Tampa, performing a recital honoring God, her parents and her heritage and honored to be the first Guest Artist of the year in the College of Arts and Letters Recital Series at the University of Tampa Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values, Maria in Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria at Stageworks Theater, and performing as a featured artist, interpreting popular zarzuela arias, duets, and ensembles in Opera Tampa's A Night in Spain concert.
Gretchen Ruby
Private Instruction
Gretchen Ruby has been playing piano since 2nd grade. She went to Florida Southern College and got her bachelors in music education. She taught elementary music in public school for four years and then came home to homeschool her five children. She has always enjoyed working with children! In her free time Gretchen enjoys a good book, gardening, and being in nature. She looks forward to having you for piano lessons!
Johnny Maio
Private Instruction
Johnny began his performing career at age six, right here at CAST! He went on to appear in TV commercials for Disney, Universal, and others, and films such as Ace Ventura 3. He was nominated Best Actor in the Internat’l 48 Hour Film Fest. As an Irish Dancer, Johnny won regional and national awards. He won Tampa’s Got Talent at the Straz Center and was featured for many years as an Irish Dancing Doll in Straz productions of The Nutcracker. As a multi-instrumentalist, Johnny earned a Bachelors in Music from USF and worked as musician and Band Captain at Busch Gardens. His original music video, “Hometown,” has won dozens of awards and has been viewed internationally. Johnny was featured at the Florida State Fair in 2018, and was named first runner-up for Best of the Bay Singer/Songwriter. During the holidays, Johnny appears with the Gospel group, Joyful, at Disney’s Epcot Center. Johnny is excited and thankful to once again be working with Sharon DeArmon and the CAST family!