Roots’ School of Theatre
Mindy Root (Owner; Private Voice Lessons) received her BM in Vocal Performance from Ball State University in 2012. While in NYC, Mindy received her vocal training from Valentine Peytchinov and she was a regular performer with Vocal Productions NYC. Mindy has been an instructor for the Barn RATS summer theater program at Mud Creek Theater for the past seven years. The last several years Mindy has also been a featured soloist with the White River Wind Symphony. Mindy’s most recent credits include Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (Dido), Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Zerlina), and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia). Just a few of her other favorite roles: Antonia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Brigitta in Iolanta & Gianetta in L’elisir D’amore. Mindy loves her family and is obsessed with her adorable dog Katara. With God, all things are possible!
Brad Root (Owner/Director: 3-8 Grade Musical, Teen Musical) received his BFA in Acting from Ball State University in 2013. After graduating he started working as an instructor for the summer theatre program at Mud Creek Theater, in between his time in New York. For the next eight summers, he and his wife Mindy continued to run and expand that program. His favorite recent acting credits include Jason Hall’s Hitchcock inspired thriller Third Floor (Eleven), John Noel’s newest play Be a Man (Brad), and the New York Film Academy movie The Letter (Josh).
Since moving back to Indiana, he appeared in Mud Creek Player’s production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Picasso), and also originated the role of Fred in Jeremy Grimmer’s play Adults through Fat Turtle Theatre Company.
Darby Hayes (Private Voice Teacher; Choreographer: 3-8 Grade Musical, Teen Musical) is a singer originally from Plainfield, Indiana. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from DePauw University in 2019 where she was also heavily involved in the theater department. Some of her roles there included Marta in Company, Sister Mary Lazarus in Sister Act, and Helen in Trojan Women. Aside from performing in shows, a Darby also acted as choreographer, dance captain, and makeup designer for various productions while also being president of the theater fraternity Alpha Psi Omega. After graduating Darby worked at the Catered Cabaret in Greenwood performing as a lead in several of their shows before moving to the northside and teaching voice and piano in Carmel. She also has a long history of performing in show choirs, choirs and is currently the Extracurricular Choral Assistant at Westfield High School. Darby is thrilled to be sharing her love of music and theater with the Roots’ School of Theater.