Our Staff | Clayton Productions

The Gift of Music

Clayton Productions Marvelous Staff

D. Kim Clayton

Owner and Director

Instructor of Synergy, Fame, Encore, Celebrate, Hero, USA, Good News, Harmony, Harmony High, Harmony Mid, Lift Clinics and private vocals.

D. Kim Clayton has been the owner, director and producer at Clayton Productions for nearly 40 years. During that time there have been over 7,000 students at his studio. He has produced over 100 shows, arranged and written nearly 1,500 songs for these organizations and choreographed over 1,000 numbers. He is a professional

vocalist and voice-over specialist with local and national television ads, radio

spots and infomercials carrying his deep bass voice. D. Kim Clayton is also the main voice instructor at Clayton Productions while being a father of 5. His teaching background includes: Classical, pop, country, musical theater and gospel middle. He received his BA and Masters in music from the University of Utah. Many of his students have gone on to professional careers in the musical world including Broadway, Television, Movies, local and regional theater, Disney productions, BYU’s Young Ambassadors, etc. His first studio, Clayton Entertainment was the very first of its kind in the state of Utah.

Francine Faerber Thompson

Office Manager and Director of Pizzazz

Francine Faerber Thompson majored in Music at the University of Utah and ran a private voice and piano studio for 15 years. She has performed and done professional recordings with Studio One’s “Light Wave Choir”, Hamilton Singers, and the Mormon Youth Chorus. She currently performs in CP’s “Harmony” Adult A cappella Group.

Francine worked for the Finance Department of the LDS Church, and served as president of the employee association. She

produced their monthly newsletter, planned department socials and directed the department choir. Francine organized and trained an 800 voice choir for the 2005 “Day of Celebration” at Rice Eccles Stadium. She is the mother of five children who have all been a part of Clayton Productions, and are as passionate about music as she is! Francine is one planning fanatic!

Vanessa Clayton Lopez

Choreographer for Synergy, Fame and USA

Vanessa Clayton Lopez is one of our lead choreographers at Clayton Productions and one of our private vocal instructors and the daughter of D. Kim Clayton, Owner and Director of Clayton Productions. Besides being a talented choreographer, Vanessa is an extremely accomplished vocalist and performer herself. She has choreographed a myriad of productions that have been seen throughout Utah and throughout the entire world.

Vanessa has been performing since she could talk. Her rich contralto voice is not only mesmerizing, but extremely

versatile. She was a performer at Clayton Productions for over 20 years and been one of our instructors since she was 12 years old. Her vocal and dancing skills have been viewed by tens of thousands of people throughout the world including such places as: Walt Disney World, 2002 Winter Olympics, England, Scotland, Wales, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Taiwan, to name a few. She has also been a guest soloist for professional sporting events, singing the national anthem.

Not only is she a busy instructor and choreographer, but a wife and the mother of 3 beautiful children!

Laurel Clayton Dowse

Choreographer of Encore, Celebrate, Hero & Freaky Fridays

Laurel Dowse has been teaching at Clayton Productions for 17 years, she has literally grown up at the studio. She has also been a singer and performer with the studio since she was 5. Now, that's dedication! Laurel has a true love for the stage, and for bringing light to others through song and dance. She loves being able to teach her students that same love, and in watching them change the world for the better, one show at a time! She is incredibly creative and cares that students each reach for new heights!

Laurel is also a mother of 2 (soon to be 3) darling children who are also developing a love of the stage! Not only is Laurel a mother, and a lead choreographer here at Clayton Productions, she is also a Master Esthetician, loves fitness, and loves to live life to the fullest!

Lisa Dodge

Director of Upbeat, To the Top, Starstruck

Lisa has been at Clayton Productions in a teaching position for 17 years. She is the “guru” of our younger performers. Nobody has the charm and love for youth like Lisa. Her radiant personality and energy comes shining through as you watch these young kids. Lisa has also been a special needs teacher in the Murray School District as well as a Musical Theater Director

at Riverview Jr. High. She is a talented performer, vocalist and designer. She has been performing for 26 years. Part of that performing experience has been in the Internationally acclaimed group, “Synergy” at Clayton Productions, and numerous musical productions as a performer and director with Sandy, Draper, West Valley and Taylorsville cities.

Stephanie Dowse

Dance Director, Choreographer for Pizzazz & Freaky Fridays

Stephanie has been a part of Clayton Productions for 15 years and has been teaching there for 10. She has participated in Clayton Productions group “Synergy” and traveled with them to the Philippine’s in 2010, and Ecuador in 2012. She has trained in Jazz, Ballet, and Contemporary dance. She has danced at White Shoes ballet studio and was a member and officer of Cottonwood High School’s Dance Company. Stephanie has also been a part of Clayton Productions Dance Company since it first started and was the director of the company for the 2009-2010 and 2012-2013 years. For the past 3 years she has been choreographing “Pizzazz” and

“Sensation”. She loves learning, teaching, and working with these girls, and especially being able to teach these groups with her mom (Francine). Stephanie will not be teaching any of the dance company classes this year as she is taking on the role of a new mom! Performing and dancing is Stephanie’s passion, and she is so excited for the upcoming year!

Emily Stevenson

Director of Sensation

Emily Stevenson is excited to be back for her third season as a teacher and choreographer of Sensation, at Clayton Productions. Emily has been singing and performing since the age of five, and it is still her passion! She performed with Clayton in her high school and college years. Some of the tours include; Hungary & Romania (Synergy), Mexico, Chicago, and California. She has enjoyed being a featured cast in many productions, including shows with; Sunwest Entertainment, Sandbox Theater Company, Salty Dinner Theater,

Desert Star Theater, and more. Some of her favorite roles include; Mother Abbess-‪The Sound

of Music‬, Georgia Fairbanks-Curtains, and Grace Farrell-Annie. She also enjoys performing professionally, writing, and recording music.

Emily has been teaching vocal performance professionally for the past 15 years, and loves to watch her students excel within their own unique abilities.

She loves being part of Clayton Productions, truly growing to care for each group of girls as they

come through! Watching them grow in confidence and skill is one of her favorite parts of teaching!

Lindsey Holgate
Choreographer for Good News & Freaky Fridays

Lindsey has been singing and dancing since she was three years old. She has been involved with Clayton Productions for over 15 years, and calls the studio her second home. Lindsey has been trained in jazz, ballet, and contemporary. She has been involved with the studio’s performing groups that have traveled to California, Texas, Florida, Chicago, and New York City.

Lindsey was a member of the Copper Hills Dance

Company in high school, and was able to take classes in the jazz, modern, hip-hop, and contemporary dance styles. In college, she received social ballroom dance training specializing in Cha Cha, Swing, and Waltz. She has known all her life that she would be involved with the performing arts, and has combined this passion with her desire to work with and teach young children. Lindsey just recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education, and is now a 1st Grade teacher in Herriman, Utah. She has loved teaching children in the classroom, as well as teaching children choreography in the groups: USA, Sensation, Freaky Friday’s, Kiddin’ Around, and Good News. She is so excited to meet and work with her amazing students this upcoming year!

Julia Pehrson
Instructor of Starstruck

Julia has been performing since the age of 5 and has loved every second. She has been teaching at Clayton Productions for the past 15 years and was blessed to perform with Synergy for 2 years. Julia competed with Dance Attack and Buckles & Bows for 9 years and was part of the Jr. Western National Championship Ballroom Team. She was also the National Freestyle Champion in clogging. Julia has directed shows for Draper Historic Theatre, Taylorsville Arts Council, as well as several Jr. High productions. She spends most of her time as the Assistant Library Director of the Murray Public Library.