Profile Category: Staff

During his tenure as a producer, Tyler Mount has been the recipient of three Tony Awards, a Grammy Award, an Olivier Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Drama League Awards, a Drama Desk Award, and a GLAAD Media Award. His years of experience span Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theater. His Tony Award for Once on This Island (Best Revival of a Musical) made Tyler one of the youngest Tony Award-winning producers in history. In October of 2020, Tyler received his third and fourth Tony Award nominations making him the youngest individual producer to be nominated for Best Play, Best Musical, Best Revival of a Play, and Best Revival of a Musical.

As an industry-leading digital strategy expert and owner of Tyler Mount Ventures, a digital agency specializing in social media strategy for the world’s most influential thought leaders and celebrities, Tyler has managed digital campaigns for Biden for America, NBC, Playbill, IBM, Hilton Hotels, Sofitel, T-Mobile, the Tony Awards, the Grammy Awards, the Olivier Awards, and countless others.

Tyler’s digital strategy expertise can be seen throughout the nearly two hundred videos he created for Playbill’s The Tyler Mount Vlog, a web series that has been seen by over 25 million viewers in 168 different countries. Guests included Lin Manuel-Miranda, Gloria Estefan, Billy Porter, Perez Hilton, Jerry Mitchell, and Ali Stroker. Tyler has been profiled in dozens of esteemed publications including The New York Times, Forbes Magazine, and Out Magazine.

Tyler’s Broadway/West End credits include: Hadestown, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, The Inheritance, Once on This Island, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, An American in Paris, ¡Viva Broadway! Hear Our Voices: Gloria Estefan LIVE!, and The Acting Company’s 2014 benefit concert of The Cradle Will Rock, starring Patti Lupone. He is currently producing the United Kingdom tour of Dream Girls, which is scheduled to make its triumphant return to Broadway in 2023.

Tyler earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance and Arts Administration from St. Edward’s University, attended CAP21 in New York City, now the Molloy College/CAP21 Theatre Arts Program, and holds a postgraduate certificate from MIT in Digital Marketing and Social Media Analytics

Emma began performing in musical groups at a very young age as she grew up in Sarasota, FL. She went on to earn a Bachelor's in Vocal Music Education from Hope College in Holland, MI. She was the musical theatre and chorus teacher at Booker Middle School for the VPA program for 5 years and then switched to Gulf Gate Elementary School for 4 years. She recently has taken a step back from being in the classroom full time due to her four-year-old son, Mason, and two year old daughter, Julianna. She has years of experience both in a classroom setting as well as in private lessons for voice and piano.

Ethan Fuhrmeister is a lighting designer for the local Sarasota area. He is a student at State College of Florida. He has been a lighting designer since 2016. He has been involved in Rise Above since Grease the Musical. His dream is to become a lighting designer and eventually create a business around lighting and sound. He is proud to have done over 15 shows with Rise Above alone and over 30 shows by the time he was 19. He is proud to be the lighting designer for Rise Above.

Joi holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Bowling Green State University, and has taught elementary, middle, and high school music at different times in her teaching career. She is a high performing, model music teacher for Sarasota County Schools. Along with being a performer herself, she has directed musical theatre productions for several elementary schools, as well as for a local dance studio’s musical theatre encore program. She also teaches private piano and voice lessons.

Joi directs multiple Choir and Show Choirs and brings an engaging and instructional approach to her musical direction. Under her tutelage, performers are able to expand their musical talents as she continually produces Nationally Award winning productions including her most recent accomplishment where her Concert Choir placed first in the nation

Krista Benson began performing in musical theater at the age of ten. She performed in countless school and community theater productions growing up. Also an accomplished flutist, Krista chose to pursue a vocal degree with a musical theater emphasis in college. She graduated with a BA in music with a Vocal Option from SUNY Geneseo. She then went on to earn a Masters in Music in Musical Theater from The Boston Conservatory. During her time in Boston she had the honor of singing with The Boston Pops, The Thayer Symphony Orchestra and performing on The Spirit of Boston.

Many of her favorite musical theater roles from that time include "Once on this Island" (Timoune) "A Chorus Line" (Sheila), "Guys and Dolls" (Sarah), "The Apple Tree" (Barbara), "The Threepenny Opera" (Polly), "Oliver!" (Nancy) and "The Fairy Queen" (Titania) as well as roles in "Cabaret", "Sweet Charity", "Marat...Sade", and "Hair".

While attending The Boston Conservatory she met her future husband. After they were married they moved to NYC. After too many cold winters spent in Boston and NY they decided to move to southeast Florida. Krista had many opportunities as a professional performer at Stage Door Theater in Ft Lauderdale performing in such shows as "My One and Only", "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (Angel) "No Way To Treat a Lady" (Sarah) and the original musical "Are We there Yet?" (Woman 1).

After moving to upstate NY Krista then took some time away from the spotlight to stay home and raise their two daughters. Upon encouragement from a mentor, Krista began teaching vocal lessons in 2008. Krista's training in both classical vocal technique AND musical theater has made her a unique resource for her students.

Under her tutelage many of Krista’s students have gone on to BFA musical theater programs at highly esteemed universities such as Rider, Montclair, SUNY Fredonia, Ithaca College, Belmont and Coastal Carolina to name a few. Krista’s students have also performed with the Boston Pops, Mormon Tabernacle Choir and have won numerous vocal competitions.

Currently Krista is a faculty member teaching Vocal Technique, private vocal lessons and Musical Theater at Ovation School of Musical Theater in Bradenton, FL.

Her passion for music, musical theater and working with her students is evident in her enthusiasm!!

As a business owner of a product that embraces creativity and artistry Donnie is always able to bring an interesting perspective to the table. In his first career he worked in the country of Niger on the edge of the Sahara desert with nomadic herders helping bring education to traditionally isolated communities. He worked to make it possible that these children could access education and have options that previously were not available to them. In an environment that came with many life challenges Donnie helped them overcome challenges by teaching them to think creatively and dare to dream in a land where dreams rarely exist.

Currently Donnie owns a Lego business and is inspiring both children and adults all over the world by using the medium of a building brick. He teaches individuals how to use a simple platform to bring their circle of influence into the world they build and take them on an unforgettable journey by showcasing their talent and hard work.

Gregg Barker is an entrepreneur who has been an executive and founder in two successfully startup businesses, one as CIO the other as Co-founder and CTO both of which are still operating on their own today. After selling the company in 2016 Gregg joined Microsoft. Gregg’s current role as a Principle Solution Architect requires him to manage relationships and negotiate at the C level with fortune 500 customers around the globe.

Brian’s love of Theatre began in High School becoming the technical director for the plays stretching the limited technology available at the time. That love continues in bi-annual trips to Broadway to see the latest shows that are out as well as traveling locally to see shows.

Brian has a long history of working with non-profit organizations. He spent 10 years as IT Director for one non-profit followed by 8 years as Director of International Operations for another. He serves on the board of directors of another non-profit working with teens. Brian currently spends his time as Realtor in Texas.

“It is an honor to serve Rise Above and the Rise Above Community and I hope we can continue to grow and allow students to have an amazing experience introducing them to theater and helping them find their hidden talents. The staff of Rise Above is unmatched and I am excited to see what they do each and every time!”

JB has been in the musical theatre and concert sound and staging business for the last 15 years. JB has served as Sound Designer at Players Theatre of Sarasota and many other theatres, schools, and studios with production credits including The Fantasticks, The Who’s Tommy, The Producers, Putnam County Spelling Bee, Seussical the Musical, and dozens of others.

Along with numerous sound productions for concerts including Thompson Square, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Dick Hyman, Highway to Hell, and many festivals. JB has produced sound design for Ashton Elementary School for its first seven years as well as for Rise Above since its second season. He and his wife are excited to be a permanent part of Rise Above and continuing to exceed expectations in production value.

Allison has been in Concert Sound and Staging for the last 8 years. Allison has been involved in musical theatre since attending Julie Rohr Academy from a young age.

Her most notable role was as “Connie” in the Sarasota Players 2012 production of A Chorus Line. She has performed and assisted in productions for various elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as numerous concerts with Quarter Deck Productions. She and her husband are excited to be a permanent part of Rise Above and continuing to exceed expectations in production value.