The fix was simple. Display the current value through Dynamic.
Old:
{{a, 1.5, Style["a", Italic]}, 1, 2, 0.1, Appearance -> "Labeled"},
{{b, 0.3, Style["b", Italic]}, 0, 1, 0.1, Appearance -> "Labeled"},
{{\[Theta], 90, Style["C", Italic]}, 180, 0, 1, Appearance -> "Labeled"},
New:
Row[{Control@{{a, 1.5, Style["a", Italic]}, 1, 2, 0.1}, Spacer@5, Dynamic@a}],
Row[{Control@{{b, 0.3, Style["b", Italic]}, 0, 1, 0.1}, Spacer@5, Dynamic@b}],
Row[{Control@{{\[Theta], 90, Style["C", Italic]}, 180, 0, 1}, Spacer@5, Dynamic@\[Theta]}],