Our Team

Joe Santaniello Jr is a NATS-certified voice teacher specializing in both classical and musical theatre repertoire and technique and stage director of over 80 productions.

Owner and founder of Santaniello Vocal Studios in addition to Rising Stars Performing Arts, students reign from Fairfield County, CT and the Greater NY tri-state area. Santaniello's students have been accepted to some of the top music conservatories nationally for vocal performance and musical theatre such as Oberlin Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon, Eastman School of Music, and NYU. Others have placed in multiple vocal competitions as finalists and have been cast in many regional and community theatre productions as leading players.

No stranger to the stage, Santaniello completed his training at the Boston Conservatory in Voice and Opera under baritone Victor Jannett. Santaniello has performed in many operas and shows professionally including Peter in Hansel and Gretel, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Elviro in Serse, Guiseppe in Gondoliers, Lorrenzo in Capuletti e i Montecchi, and Brutus/Lucius in Cleopatra, a Life Unparalleled Off-Broadway as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival in NYC and the International tour of King Janos in Hungarian Nights in both 2017 and 2019 to name a few.

Jessica Rae Foulds is a Mezzo-Soprano and proud graduate of the BFA Musical Theatre Program at Shenandoah Conservatory (Class of 2016).

Currently serving as the Vice President of RSPA, Jessica strives to be a driving force in shaping the future of young performers. Her passion for nurturing creative minds has been a constant thread in her career, dating back to 2009 when she first started working with children aged 3-18.

Jessica's artistic repertoire is extremely diverse. She embraces edgy and new-age works, including performances in "Rent" as Maureen, Addison Peacock's "Scrapbooks," Amy Herzog’s poignant "4000 Miles," and the Collegiate Premiere of Green Day’s rebellious "American Idiot." On the flip side, Jessica has also graced the stage in classic musical theatre productions such as "Sweet Charity" and "City of Angels." Notably, she took on the iconic role of Angel in the Collegiate Premiere of "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas," a character made famous by the legendary Dolly Parton.

Rooted in the Meisner Acting Technique, Jessica brings a unique mashup of contemporary styles and classical musical theatre to her performances. Her artistic philosophy revolves around instilling passion and hard work into young creative minds, creating an environment where they can flourish and express themselves freely. For Jessica, it's not just about teaching acting; it's about fostering a love for the unconventional truths of life and using art as a powerful tool to normalize taboo issues and experiences for both characters and audience members.

American Tenor Patrick McGill is hailed as having a “clear, round intonation” and a “glorious sound” (Chronicle Journal). He received his Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory (2014), and his Masters in Early Music Performance from McGill University (2017) where he studied with Ben Heppner and John MacMaster.

Since completing his studies at McGill, Patrick has been fortunate to sing at some of the most prestigious summer festivals in the United States and Canada, including time as a Fellow at The Tanglewood Music Center and at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Since his time in University, Patrick has continued to perform in many major concert halls across North America including The Montreal Symphony House, Salle Bourgie, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, The National Arts Centre, Palais Montcalm, and Carnegie Hall. Although his focus has been early music, Patrick’s performance career has encompassed opera, art song, oratorio and chamber music. Past performances include Lurcanio in Handel’s Ariodante, Candide in Bernstein’s Candide, Normanno in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Israel in Egypt, Torquemada in Maurice Ravel’s L’heure espagnole, and Gabriel von Eisenstein in Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus.

Robyn Mola graduated with distinction from Full Sail University in 2012 with a BS in Show Production, and embarked on a diverse journey spanning continents and industries.

For eight prolific years, she worked in Television Broadcast, embracing multifaceted projects and global experiences, including a transformative period in vibrant Australia.

Her zenith arrived in 2020, winning a daytime Emmy Award for her role as Engineer in Charge on The People’s Court.

Robyn eventually gravitated back to her core passion—Theatrical Technical Production and Engineering. She now melds creativity and technical finesse in this beloved realm.

Beyond professional strides, Robyn mentors aspiring talents, aspiring to kindle their passion for the craft. Her commitment to nurturing the next generation mirrors her own journey's cornerstone—a fervor she eagerly shares.

Robyn’s unwavering commitment and infectious enthusiasm paint a future where she shapes Theatrical Technical Production and Engineering for generations, weaving her expertise and promoting her enduring passion.

Tim McGarrigal has served on the faculty of AMDA College of the Performing Arts in LA in both the Music Theatre and Acting Departments, where he has directed Ordinary Days,Places I Remember, and Coming Home.

He was previously on faculty at the AMDA NYC campus as well as Montclair State University. Other directing and choreography credits include: West Side Story and If I Can Dream (Director/Choreographer) Ohana Arts at the University of Hawaii, Broadway Bares SF (assistant director/choreographer), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Choreographer) Berkshire Theatre Group, The Maid’s Tragedy (Movement Director/Choreographer) Shakespeare Theatre Co/ACA, Saved by the Veil (Associate Director/Co-Choreographer) AMDA (NYC), High School Musical (Choreographer) Dream Theater.

Performing credits include: Across the Universe, Hugh Jackman: In Time, We Will Rock You (Original U.S. Cast), Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular in NYC, and National and International Tours of West Side Story (Action), Fosse, High School Musical, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

He holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the George Washington University/Shakespeare Theatre Company and a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Connecticut.

Zachary Anderson is a performer, musician, director, and teacher recently graduated from NYU Steinhardt, where he received a B.M. in Musical Theatre Vocal Performance, and where he currently works as a staff pianist. At school, Zach has been seen on stage in Applause (Bert), Wonderland (Dance Captain), Rags (Dance Captain), and NYU’s New Student Spotlight, directed by Natalie Weiss. In May 2022, he made his NYC cabaret debut at Green Room 42 in Endings & Beginnings. The same month, Zach launched the off-off-Broadway premiere of Damnation! The Musical, a semi-devised musical comedy in which he served as the director and co-head of music.

He studied voice at Santaniello Vocal Studios throughout his high school career, and was heavily active in the Norwalk High School music and drama departments, as well as the Chamber Music Institute in Darien, and the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport. Some of his favorite roles from the years he trained at Rising Stars include the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe, and the Modern Major General in The Pirates of Penzance.

Zach studied Music Composition at Interlochen Center for the Arts following the premiere of his first original musical, Keychain, in January of 2016. In August of 2018, he directed and starred in his second original musical, Escape, and went on to publicly debut several pieces while at NYU. New original work is on the way, but more on that later.

André Sguerra is a highly skilled SAFD Actor Combatant based in the vibrant city of New York. He has garnered a commendable reputation for his outstanding performances in various regional productions. Notable among his regional credits is his role as Gudule (Fight Captain) in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Skylight Music Theatre, where his exceptional combat skills added depth to the character.

His talents extend beyond regional stages, having portrayed Ted in Running Mates at Hippodrome Theatre and contributing as part of the Fight Corps at the renowned New York Renaissance Faire. In the heart of the theatrical hub that is New York City, André has made significant contributions to the local scene. He served as Fight Captain for the role of Laertes in Hamlet with SIST and as Co-Fight Director for Tybalt in Juliet and Her Romeo with Turn To Flesh. Additionally, he showcased his puppeteering skills in the role of Arthur in After the Blast at Lincoln Center Theatre LCT3.

André's academic foundation in Theatre, acquired through his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University, underscores his commitment to excellence in the performing arts. Beyond the stage, he has garnered a substantial following on TikTok (@sguerraandre), where he captivates audiences with sea shanties and resonant bass vocals. His multifaceted talents and dedication to the craft make André Sguerra a distinguished presence in the world of theatre.

Emma is an NYC based Performer. Since graduating from Shenandoah Conservatory in 2018, Emma has worked on three national tours including “Something Rotten!” and “The Elf on the Shelf”, a number of regional contracts including “Guys and Dolls”, “Hairspray”, and “Beauty and the Beast”, workshops with the Broadway team for 'Mrs Doubtfire', and belting 80s rock with Syd Norman's Pourhouse onboard Norwegian Cruiselines.

Excitable, loud, and optimistic, Emma Benson is a 'class clown' who grew up in Bedford, New Hampshire, and is a New England girl at heart. She has one little sister, two supportive parents, and three equally supportive labradoodles. As a kid, Emma loved to perform so much that one time she sang 'The Sun'll Come out Tomorrow' at a wedding between two fourth graders, which she was also officiating. (Let the record show, they had NOT asked her to sing, and she severely annoyed the bride.)

Outside of performing, Emma is passionate about: True Crime, Dessert, 305 Fitness, Rent the Runway, Exploring NYC, Travel, Law and Order SVU, SNL, Italian Food, and Theme parties!

After graduating from The Boston Conservatory at Berlee with a BFA in Musical Theater, Thomas Purvis made his national touring debut as a swing in the RENT Anniversary Farewell Tour.

In addition, he played various diverse musical roles in college, such as Shrek The Musical (Donkey), The Drowsy Chaperone (George), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Schroeder) and Pippin (Leading Player). Some of his other credits include working for the Speakeasy Stage Company, New Rep Theater, and Cape Cod Symphony.

As well as being a working actor, he is also a professional dancer. His biggest credit is working with Mariah Carey during her “All I Want For Christmas” Tour. Thomas, along with working professionally as a performer, enjoys working as a Director/Choreographer. He is classically trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Modern and Commercial. His credits for direction include The Flick by Anne Baker, Carousel, Hello Dolly, Company and Bengal Tiger at the Beghdad Zoo.

While recognizing where we are as a country and fearing for our future, “The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation!” - Jonathan Larson.