Alex Drinnen holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from Belmont University. Originally from Knoxville, TN, he started involving himself in the theatrical world at age 7 and has not stopped since. Some of his favorite shows include: “The Little Prince”(Children’s Theatre of Knoxville), “A Christmas Carol” (Clarence Brown Theatre), “Three Sisters” (Belmont University), and “The Whale” (Verge Theatre). Some of his academic and theory work has been published/presented in the Sarasota Magazine Suffragist Project Special Edition, as well as the Belmont University Research Symposium for his piece on Griselda Gambaro’s “Information for Foreigners”. Most recently, his play “The Family Marcher” was named as a Top Finalist for the International Thomas C. Wolfe Playwriting Award. He is a first-year MFA candidate with the University of Idaho, as a part of the Pedagogy program in the Dramatic Criticism course of study.

Anna Clark is a Nashville-based Theatre educator who graduated from Belmont University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree and again in 2020 with a master’s in Teaching. Originally from southeastern Georgia, her love of Theatre began in summer camps hosted by her local community theater much like the ones she now gets to teach at NCT! In college, Anna discovered her passion is teaching young artists and has dedicated her career to fostering creativity and broadening perspectives. When she’s not teaching Theatre, she is reading books as an associate literary agent or grading papers as an English teacher at John Overton High School.

Becky Pierce is thrilled to be teaching for Nashville Children’s Theatre! A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Becky holds a BFA in Theatre performance and an MA in Humanities/Theatre from the University of Louisville. Prior to moving to the Nashville area in 2020, Becky was a teaching artist for Stage One Family Theatre teaching camps, classroom residencies, and with the Disney Musicals in the Schools program. She also taught Theatre at Jefferson Community and Technical College and has taught both middle and high school theatre for Walden School and middle school music for Louisville Collegiate School. Teaching theatre to young people is inspiring and leading them to learn self expression and confidence is extremely rewarding!

Becky Wahlstrom’s acting foundation comes from four years at The Chicago Academy for the Arts and she is a graduate of London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). In addition, she’s studied and practiced a variety of theater mediums in both Chicago and Los Angeles: story theater with The Piven Theatre Workshop, improvisation with Improv Olympics, commedia dell’arte with Tim Robbin’s Actors Gang, and writing/performing personal material with The Neo Futurists, Write Club Los Angeles, and Writer’s Bootcamp. Becky works professionally in theater, film, and television bouncing between Los Angeles, Chicago, and Nashville. She is dedicated to the idea that an arts education serves every aspect of a person’s life, and enjoys teaching all levels of artists from beginner to professional.

Cameron L. Mitchell is the Actor Laureate of Murfreesboro and a well-versed Spoken Word Artist. In addition to mentoring youth with Southern Word for five years, Cameron has performed in many projects including “Ghost” at the Nashville Children’s Theater based on the book “Ghost” by Jason Reynolds, “Project Awake” with Abrasive media, Oz arts in Fast/Forward, and Pill Hill with Destiny Theater Experience to name a few. He is a Memphis native and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University whose poetic prowess and conceptual theatrics blend together for a transformational experience that inspires the community, and highlights mental health awareness.

Chad Parsons hails from Philadelphia, PA and is a Theatre Artist who has attended West Chester University where he received his BA in Theatre with a concentration in Musical Theatre. After graduation, Chad pursued his career as a professional actor, he has had the opportunity to perform at/with Norwegian Cruise Lines, Walnut Street Theatre, Fulton Opera House, Media Theatre and OCTC to name a few. Chad is a two time Barrymore Award Nominee for his work in Fiddler on The Roof and Joseph . . Dreamcoat. After years of performing Chad turned to education and directing. Chad has directed over 25 productions with children and recently has been directing professional actors in such shows as Wizard of Oz, James and the Giant Peach and Fiddler On The Roof. Chad is excited to join the NCT family and will be going back to the classroom himself in August to gain his MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences from UNCG.

Derek Whittaker, a native of Nashville, has performed professionally for just over twenty-five years. He holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from UT Knoxville, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre from MTSU (where he is currently an Adjunct Theatre Professor). Derek is fortunate to have performed and directed both around the country and around the world. Closer to home, his work has been seen onstage at Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nashville Repertory Theatre, Studio Tenn, and Chaffin’s Barn. As a child, Derek saw his first show at NCT and even trained here briefly under local legend Ruth Sweet. He considers himself very lucky to be a part of the NCT family – sharing the magic of live theatre and encouraging young artists to think, feel, live, laugh and grow!

Eric D. Pasto-Crosby is proudly a native of Nashville, but he graduated from University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.F.A. in performance. He has performed with: Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Studio Tenn, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Stage One, Tennessee Shakespeare Festival, and People’s Branch Theatre. A loyal member of the Society of American Fight Directors and a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.

Gerold Oliver is a proud Nashville native who has been teaching theatre for seven years. He has been seen on stages around Middle TN including Studio Tenn (It’s A Wonderful Life Radio Play), Nashville Repertory Theatre (Pipeline, Shakespeare in Love), Nashville Shakespeare Festival (Romeo and Juliet, Jitney), Chaffins Barn (Sister Act, Newsies), and Nashville Children’s Theatre (Ghost, Pete the Cat, Wizard of Oz, Diary of Anne Frank).

Ginny Shockley is an educator, arts administrator, director, and stage manager whose greatest passion is teaching and investing in the creative potential of young artists. Ginny grew up in Franklin, TN and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Lipscomb University and M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from MTSU. She joined the NCT family in 2014 as a teaching intern. From that experience, she knew that this was where she was meant to be. In the past, she has worked in several capacities at NCT from fund development to administration, but her favorite by far is as a teaching artist. She currently serves as the Theatre Director at Goodpasture Christian School.

India-Jane (IJ) Hodge is a Nashville based actor and teaching artist. In 2020, she received her BFA in Theatre Performance from Belmont University. Along with teaching at NCT, she is also the day program coordinator at Friends Life, an organization for adults with disabilities. Her passion for teaching theatre began in the 10th grade when she and her friends started their own theatre camp for the children in her area! IJ loves good storytelling, curious minds, and being a part of the NCT family.

James Rudolph II has been a professional performer for over 15 years and has been on stages all around town and abroad. A Nashville native himself, James grew up coming to this theatre as a child and being able to now pass the magic on as an adult is an honor and a privilege he doesn’t take lightly. Favorite NCT performances include: Lahdalord (James and the Giant Peach), The Cat (Einstein is a Dummy), The Snail (A Year With Frog & Toad), Man In Suit (Dragons Love Tacos), and Uncle Homer & Sheep (Charlotte’s Web). In addition to performing and teaching James is working on a degree in music, sharpening his skills in violin, piano, and trombone.

Joe Mobley, originally from Kennett, Missouri, graduated with a BFA in Theatre Performance from Belmont University in 2019. He is a Board Member of Verge Theater in Nashville and a member of the Gnu Tales improv team. He is excited for his first summer teaching at NCT after being an intern there in the summers of 2018 and 2019.

Jon Royal is a professional director, teaching artist, and actor with extensive experience in arts education and program development for Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, and many others. Jon has also taught in partnership with the Vanderbilt University Kennedy Center’s TRIAD camp for kids on the autism spectrum. Jon holds a BA in Theatre from Middle Tennessee State University.

Jordan Tudor Haggard is a Nashville native and professional actress that recently received her MFA in Acting from the University of Louisville. She has performed in the national tour of A Christmas Carol, as well as various Shakespeare festivals around the country. During her time teaching at U of L, she discovered her love for introducing students to theatre. She feels very fortunate to join the NCT family!

Kara Y. Kindall currently serves as the Theatre Chair at Nashville School of the Arts. She received a BS in English and Theatre from Austin Peay State University, an MFA in Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and an MA in Teaching from Trevecca University. In 1999, the North Carolina Theatre Conference chose her as the state’s “Most Promising Theatre Graduate Student” and awarded her a grant to pursue Professional Theatre Management. That experience compelled her to return home to the Nashville area to join Mockingbird Public Theatre, where she served as their Managing Director for three seasons. In 2004, she joined with Theatre Faculty at Nashville School of the Arts. Professionally, she collaborates with Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Repertory Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, BellaLuna Theatre in NC, and Community SPIRIT Inc. in Adams TN, working as an actor, teaching artist, director, producer, and commissioned playwright.

Katie Berger Wood is a theatre educator, musician, and book lover. Originally from Lexington, KY, she has taught and performed all over the country from Florida to Minnesota to New York City. When she’s not teaching theatre, you can find her with her nose in a book and a cat on her lap. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado.

Kelsey Jenison is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist who recently moved to Nashville from New York City. She holds an MFA in Acting from UC Irvine and a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville. She has worked regionally at Chautauqua Theater Company, ACT of Connecticut, the New Swan Shakespeare Festival, and more. Some favorite roles include the national tour of Elf the Musical (Josie u/s), Noises Off (Brooke), Parade (Lucille Frank), and Audrey (As You Like It). Kelsey loves working on new plays and musicals. Her experience includes the readings and workshops of the New Harmony Project, Counter Balance Theatre, and Play On!. Kelsey is so excited to join the NCT family and to start using “y’all” in everyday conversations!

Kyle Summers is a teaching artist and storyteller from White House, Tennessee. He received his BA in Theatre with Minors in Elementary Education and Speech at Carson-Newman University. Professionally, served as a Teaching Artist and Camp Coordinator for Nashville Children’s Theatre. In August of 2017, Kyle moved to Omaha to be a full time Teaching Artist for The Rose Performing Arts for Children and Families. While there, he created curriculum using process drama, worked with students with minor to severe exceptionalities through The Monroe Meyer Institute, and served as the Accessibility Administrator. Kyle Summers was seen on The Rose stage in two world premiere productions: The Meaning of Maggie and Return to Niobrara and directed shows such as Disney’s Peter Pan, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. As Kyle continues his work, he aspires to implement theater techniques to create a safe environment for all students regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, or disability, and encourage students to create a more positive and accepting generation.

Lindsay Peters is a theatre educator and actor. She has her BFA in theatre performance and her MAT in theatre education both from Belmont University. Originally from Louisiana, she has performed and taught in her hometown in Louisiana, Nashville, Orlando, and New York City. She most recently has taught high school and middle school in Davidson and Wilson counties as well as other local theatre companies.

Morgan Robertson received her BAM from Belhaven University before moving to Nashville. Morgan has enjoyed working with students of all ages as a choreographer, drama coach, voice instructor, and teacher for over a decade. She’s enjoyed being a teaching artist with Nashville Children’s Theatre for the past three years as well as working with Davidson county schools through their side-by-side coaching program. Teaching is the perfect way for performers to hone their craft, and Morgan is grateful for the opportunity to practice so often with such amazing students.

Natalie Brown is from Nashville, TN and is a St. Louis Native. She is a 2022 graduate from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts as a Theater Performance major. She has been a Teaching Artist at Nashville Children’s Theater since 2022. TYA theater has always been a love of hers since she was a child herself doing shows. “I regard the theater as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” -Oscar Wilde

Piper Jones’ credits include Emmie Thibodeaux, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE (Street Theatre); Herself, THE RAY LEGACY (Studio Tenn); Ursula, THE LITTLE MERMAID (Nashville Children’s Theatre); The Neverbird, PETER PAN WENDY’S ADVENTURE TO NEVERLAND (NCT); Ensemble, RENT (Nashville Repertory Theatre); Season 14, AMERICAN IDOL. Piper is thrilled to be apart of NCT as a Teaching Artist. Being a Nashville native, Nashville Children’s Theatre played an integral part in cultivating her love for the arts. It is truly an honor to make art with such wonderful young actors, and an even greater privilege to have the opportunity to be a small part of their artistic development. Piper has a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Music with a Performance emphasis from Belmont University and is a local recording artist, actor, and voice teacher.

Rachel Hansen is so excited to be returning to Nashville Children’s theatre. Rachel taught at NCT from 2010-2014, and she cannot wait to create art with the amazing campers again! Rachel earned her BFA in theatre education at Belmont University and is the theatre teacher at Fairview Middle School.

Santiago Sosa is an Assistant Professor of voice and movement at UAB. He works around the country as a director, actor, voiceover actor, fight director, and voice & text coach. He earned a BFA from Texas State University and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin. Santiago has worked at American Players Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Writers Theatre, Island Shakespeare Festival, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Rep, Kansas City Rep, The Theater Bug, Kansas City Actors Theatre, Muse of Fire Shakespeare, Door Shakespeare, Forward Theatre, Definition Theatre, Nashville Children’s Theater, Nashville Rep, and Studio Tenn. He studied improv, comedy sketch writing, and standup at iO Chicago and has been certified in multiple weapons by the SAFD and DAI. He was the co-founder and artistic director of From the Branch Theatre Company for seven years. Santiago, recently served as an associate artist for the Nashville Shakespeare Festival for several years where he co-founded The School at Nashville Shakes, acted, directed, fight directed, text coached, costume designed, and worked as their Apprentice Company Director for 4 years. He has taught at Vanderbilt, Lipscomb, Belmont, Middle Tennessee State University, and, the University of Kansas. In the summer of 2022 Santiago will work as a voice and text coach, director, and Apprentice Company Director for the Great River Shakespeare Festival.

Shawn Knight has been teaching at Nashville Children’s Theatre for over 15 years. At NCT, he has enjoyed playing Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web, Horton in Seussical, and the title role in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, among several other roles. Shawn received an MA in English from Auburn University and an MFA in Theatre from the University of Louisville. He currently teaches at Belmont University and enjoys teaching theatre to students from age three well into adulthood.

Shawn Whitsell is a father, activist, actor, producer, director, and playwright. He is the founder of the Destiny Theatre Experience and Focused Dreams Films. Shawn has appeared in Bud, Not Buddy, Holes, The Watsons Go To Birmingham: 1963, and And in this Corner: Cassius Clay at Nashville Children’s Theatre. When he’s not onstage, Shawn can be found teaching drama at NCT or spoken word with Southern Word, Inc.

Tricia Combs is thrilled to be teaching with NCT. She holds her BFA in theatre performance from Western Michigan University and her MA in Educational Theatre from City University of New York. For nine years Tricia taught and directed with youth theatres and schools in NYC. During that time she also spent time in London, England and Pune, India studying and directing. For the last five years she has been the theatre teacher at Valor Collegiate Academy in southeast Nashville.