Meet Our Artistic Team
We are proud of our Award-Winning Artistic Team.
They bring professional, industry experience, wisdom, and integrity to our
RON CISNEROS
DIRECTOR
34 years ago, Ron co-founded RCTC to bring an inclusive children’s theatre company to the greater Sacramento region. Mentoring youth in musical theatre is a passion of Ron’s, as he reflects on those who mentored his early career. He is a veteran of Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, Disney productions and Sacramento professional and community theater. He has received many Elly award nominations and numerous wins for his work as a director and choreographer. He is the very first recipient of SARTA's Lifetime Achievement Elly Award (2011). Ron was the resident choreographer for Galena Street East, a dance instructor at Natomas Charter School, Performing and Fine Arts Academy, and a guest lecturer at the University of California, Davis. He was the owner and director of the Cisneros Studios of Dance. He was also the director and choreographer for the Cisneros Studios of Dance Summer Musical Theater Workshops for Children.
Christi has been directing, choreographing and performing in and around the Sacramento area for over 25 years. She has worked at multiple theatre companies from Davis to Roseville and more, and is passionate about youth and children’s theatre. Christi started her musical theatre journey with RCTC as a performer back in 1991 and returned many years later to direct for RCTC in 2011. She has trained in tap, jazz and ballet as well as voice and continues to perform currently in musical theatre productions. Outside of theatre Christi is an Elementary school teacher, wife and mom to two amazing daughters.
We are very excited that Erin Gabriele is a member of the River City Theatre Company's Artistic Team. Erin works with the C ensemble cast members. Erin's impressive credentials include a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Performance and Dance from San Jose State University. Erin has studied opera and dance (ballet, tap, jazz, and ballroom) and has won awards for her work on the piano. Recently she has vocal directed and/or performed in several shows for both the Rocklin Community Theatre and Civic Theatre West. Her theatre experience includes roles in The King And I, The Melody Lingers On, Chicago, Fiddler On The Roof, Crazy For You, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Ragtime, Forbidden Broadway, and The Drowsy Chaperone. She was also "Maria" in The Sound Of Music, for which she won a Birdsall award. Hope you join us in welcoming Erin to the RCTC family.
CHRISTI AXELSON
CHOREOGRAPHER
ERIN GABRIELE
VOCAL DIRECTOR
MONTANA MONCE
A/B VOCAL DIRECTOR
Montana Monce is a Sacramento based jazz pianist with a decade of experience playing in pit orchestras. He has performed with RCTC since 2017 first as a rehearsal pianist and then taking up the role of A/B Music Director. He’s proud to have taught all the talented and spirited younger performers.
Sami Axelson has been with RCTC since 2011, starting at the company at 7 years old. Since joining the company, Sami has also studied dance for 10 years, performing in competitive and professional dance companies in the area. After graduating high school and leaving RCTC as a performer, Sami has continued to study Musical Theatre, working and performing at many theaters in the community.
SAMI AXELSON
ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER