Our Team
Working artists and educators who specialize in training adults, collaborating closely to shape the programs, performances, and experience at DAMATO.
McKenna Troy
McKenna Troy leads DAMATO Performance School with a focus on creating high-level artistic experiences for adults. Her work is grounded in the belief that adult artists deserve serious training, strong direction, and the opportunity to create work they are genuinely proud of. She works closely with singers of all backgrounds as a vocal coach, helping them develop voices that are strong, expressive, and consistent in performance. She has performed internationally, bringing a practical, performance-based perspective into her work in both the studio and rehearsal room. Her approach is shaped by her background in vocal performance, entrepreneurship, and design at Northwestern University.
Founder, Director & Vocal Coach
Kathryn Aarons
Kathryn is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist from the Bay Area she earned her BA in Musical Theatre from California State University, Chico and moved to NYC after college and continued studying dance at Steps & BDC. Kathryn is an Equity actress and has performed in numerous regional productions across the country, and has been lucky enough to serve as Dance Captain on a handful of them. She’s choreographed at various Bay Area high schools and arts programs, as well as teaching dance at Academy of American Dance, Zohar, and Brisbane Dance Workshop.
Resident Choreographer
Resident DirectorBrennan Pickman-Thoon
Brennan is a director, actor, writer, teaching artist, and proud Bay Area native. Recent work includes Sweeney Todd (Director) at the Throckmorton Theatre, Shrek (AD) and Matilda (AD) at the Presidio Theatre. He graduated with honors from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned a BFA in Drama and trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. As an actor, Brennan has performed with A.C.T., Berkeley Repertory Theatre, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Word For Word, Marin Theatre, and Marin Shakespeare Company, among others. SFBATCC Winner: Actor In A Leading Role. Member, AEA.