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Meet our team of Teaching Artists!

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Elizabeth Blakemore ~ Artistic Director

Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude with degrees in Theatre and Business from Concordia University-Chicago .  She has worked professionally as an actor, director, producer, arts administrator, and teaching artist for the past 15 years , both in Chicago and Atlanta.  Elizabeth has worked on over 100 productions for children and youth as a Director, Music Director, or Producer.  Favorite directing projects include "The Pirates of Penzance", "Little Women", "Bugsy Malone Jr.", "The Wizard of Oz", "Moby Dick the Musical",  "Shrek the Musical",  "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown", and "A Year with Frog and Toad". As a teaching artist & coach she has taught thousands of kids and helped students prepare for auditions for colleges, professional theatre companies, Disney, commercials, and agent representation.  She is excited to serve a whole new population of students through virtual theatre experiences!

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Julia Steudle ~ Director of Virtual Camps

Julia is a professional teaching artist who has taught thousands of kids across North America for the past 2 years on tour with Missoula Children's Theatre.  She has worked with a number of performing arts organizations in Atlanta including Forefront Arts, Aurora Theatre, Atlanta Shakespeare Company, and Graduation Generation.  When not teaching theatre, Julia delights audiences of all ages as a princess with several party companies!  

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Haley Benefield ~ Associate Director of Curriculum ~ Musical Theatre 

Haley has been working as a theatre teacher for five years and has been involved in theatre for more than ten years. Haley recently completed her degree in Theatre Education.  She is a vocal coach, director, teaching artist, arts administrator, and performer.  Haley specializes in tailoring curriculum to each student's unique abilities and helping them become more confident in themselves!

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Aaron Lenhart ~ Associate Director of Curriculum ~ Acting/Improv

Aaron has been teaching voice and acting for over 12 years in public schools and private studios in New York City, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and now Atlanta. He has taught musical theater performance and audition technique at performing arts high schools in California, and completed his student teaching at the famed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Arts in New York. He holds a master's degree from NYU as well as a bachelor's in musical theater from Westminster Conservatory for the Arts. As an actor he has toured and performed in regional houses throughout the US. His students have gone on to work in national touring productions such as Gypsy and gained acceptance to some of the best college programs in the US such as: NYU, Julliard, Rutgers, Marymount Manhattan, AMDA, Boston Conservatory among others. 

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Katie Miesner ~ Associate Director of Curriculum ~ Creative Dramatics

Katie received her BA in Theatre Studies from the University of Central Florida and was trained through the Royal Academy of Ballet’s examination syllabus. While in Florida she taught and choreographed at numerous performing arts programs and schools in both the Tampa and Orlando areas. In addition to teaching and choreographing, she also is a performer and has performed regionally with Orlando Repertory Theatre, St Petersburg Opera, Jobsite Theater, Legoland Florida Resort, Seaworld Orlando and Universal Studios Orlando Resort.  Since moving to Atlanta, Katie has taught and directed for a number of theatre and dance companies, as well as performing professionally at local theatres.

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