instructors
Sherry Bettersworth founded NBPA in 2012, with a desire to provide opportunities for young performers to have a full theatre experience. Her goal was also to offer year-round training in Fine Arts, especially Musical Theatre. As a young performer herself, she developed a mission to help children grow their own individual talents. After being a member of the Texas State Strutters and graduating with a degree in Dance, she taught high school and dance team for many years, until she decided to pursue her dream of creating NBPA. Sherry believes that the arts prepare students for many professions, challenges and opportunities that may arise. Her goal is to pass along confidence to NBPA students, and help them realize the talents that they may not readily see in themselves.
Sherry Bettersworth
Artistic Director
Garrett Bettersworth was born and raised in New Braunfels Texas. As a young boy, Garrett loved to tell and act out stories. This hunger to bring fiction to life drove Garrett to the stage, and he begin performing in many plays and musicals in his hometown. At age 12, Garrett secured his first lead role as the Genie in a Jr production of Aladdin. This love for performing eventually led Garrett to pursue a career in theatre, tv, film, and animation. Since then, he has dedicated himself to the art of acting. In 2019, he starred in The Children’s Crusade, a short film about the struggles of war. In 2020, he lent his voice to the character of Tim in The Glove, a web comic series. Most recently he was Dennis in NBPA’s production of Rock of Ages and was featured in Netflix’s english dub of Romantic Killer. As a teacher, Garrett wants to gift the next generation of actors with what he has learned on his own journey so that acting as an art can evolve and become more engaging for future performers and audience members. If you ask Garrett what he loves most about acting, he will tell you that it is the delivery of the story to the audience - what an amazing experience. In fact, Garrett and his mother, Sherry Bettersworth, with the help of many others, formed a local non-profit theatre company called The New Braunfels Performing Arts Center, which continues to provide the community with quality entertainment. Garrett Graduated from Northeast School of The Arts in 2018 and now holds a BFA in Acting for film and TV From Hussian College Los Angeles. When he's is not working, Garrett loves to return to his hometown to assist with performances at the NBPA, and pay it forward to the next generation of story tellers.
Garrett Bettersworth
Stage Director/Choreographer
Darla Henderson grew up in Southern California and moved to New Braunfels 4 years ago. She graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 2006 with her Master of Music Degree in Performance and Literature and has received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance from the University of Southern California. She has studied voice with renowned teachers such as Victoria Hart, Fred Carama and Marilyn Horne. During her career she has performed in several operas including The Magic Flute, La Rondine, Merry Widow, The Marriage of Figaro and in Stephen Schwartz’s Seance on a Wet Afternoon. Ms. Henderson participated in Opera Santa Barbara’s Young Artist and Studio Artist programs and was a Music Academy of the West fellow in 2009. She has also participated in several musical productions including Bye, bye Birdie, Once Upon a Mattress, Godspell and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. During her singing career she has won several awards including the Los Angeles District Metropolitan Opera National Council Finalist, a three time recipient of the Sheila Allen Vocal Scholarship and EM Green Vocal Scholarship from the Young Musicians Foundation. You may recognize Darla from her latest role as Ursula in NBPA's June 2024 production of "The Little Mermaid."
Darla Henderson
Vocal Coach/Music Director/Piano Instructor
Ashley Kennedy resided in Waco, TX for 27 years where she was very involved in Waco Civic Theater and the musical theater community since 2006. Ashley was a music and theater major at McLennan Community College where she obtained an AA in Music. She also obtained a BS in Management from Grand Canyon University with a focus in classroom management. Ashley studied under Dr. Karen Albrecht (who recently was seen off Broadway in “Mary Poppins”) and Jerry McLaughlin (who worked under Bob Fosse in Broadway’s original “Pippin!”). Just a few of her notable roles on the stage include, Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”, Cinderella in “Into the Woods”, Laurie in “Oklahoma!”, and Fantine in “Les Misérables”. Ashley has taught children for 9 years with a focus in musical theater, as well as how to perform and audition. Ashley also maintains a dance background and has served a Choreographer for Waco Cotton Place Productions since 2009. She was thrilled to jump start her Musical Theater experience here in NB as a performer as “Mrs. Potts” in New Braunfels Performing Arts “Beauty and the Beast” and was last seen Music Directing “CATS." You may also recognize her from NBPA's production of "Matilda the Musical" as Miss Honey.
Ashley Kennedy
Vocal Coach/Music Director
Wyatt Has been performing with NBPA since its inception in 2012 and has gone on to perform in shows all around Texas. His credits include Davey in NESA’s production of NEWSIES, Pop in NESA’s production of We Will Rock You, as well as Stacey Jaxx in NBPA’s production of Rock of Ages. A Northeast School Of The Arts 2019 Graduate and having just graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from UT Austin, Wyatt is eagerly excited to help shape the voices of students here at NBPA. You may recognize him from his June 2024 role as King Triton in NBPA's "The Little Mermaid," which he also vocal directed.
Wyatt Bettersworth
Voice Teacher/Music &
Performance Director
Hannah Jenkins has been performing at NBPA since 2014 and teaching/ choreographing since 2021! She graduated from The North East School of the Arts in 2023 double majoring in Musical Theater and Dance. She now attends Texas State University for Musical theater, one of the top musical theater programs in the United States! Her most recent performance credits include Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (NESA), Waitress #1/ one of the choreographers in Rock of Ages(NBPA), and Dance Ensemble Swing in Urinetown the musical(TXST Musical Theater Department). She is a 3 time Joci Award winner in the Vocal and Best Lead Actress category, later being one of the 96 Jimmy Award nominees, who performed on Broadway for scholarship money in New York City! Her choreography credits include SpongeBob the musical(NBPA), Rock of Ages(NBPA), Nemo Jr(NBPA), Lion King JTF 2023(NBPA) JTF Mean Girls(NBPA), Little Shop(NBPA) and Chicago the musical(Madison High School). Her love for theater started right here with this company! You may recognize Hannah from her latest role as Ariel in NBPA's June 2024 production of "The Little Mermaid," which she also choreographed! She can’t wait to continue growing her craft as an instructor at NBPA.