“I have loved theater my whole life. I grew up in Maine and moved to Fairhope in middle school. There weren’t many theater opportunities but I did all I could. My parents encouraged me to get a college degree in something I could use so I majored in elementary education. I started teaching in Elsinore, a tiny community past Robertsdale. That is the first time I realized there were so many people struggling down the street from here. I taught third grade and many kids had difficult home lives and were already burned out on school. A tornado hit and destroyed the mobile homes they were living in and we were in crisis mode. Nothing I did in college prepared me for teaching in this type of environment. I used the only tools I had in my toolbox, music and theater. The kids engaged in that and connected on a level that was encouraging for them. I saw big improvements and realized how important the arts are. I quit my job and started Jitterbug Theatre. Many schools couldn’t afford to go on field trips so we took the arts to them.

Karl and I started dating when I was in high school. We left my senior prom to go to one of his first gigs. I thought it was cool to be dating a drummer. We both had artistic dreams. We got married and he was also a third-grade teacher. He quit his job first and were just going to see if we could survive. It worked and the next year I left my job. Everyone said the percentage of us failing was huge, but I knew this is what I had to do. We had great success with Jitterbug Theatre and the doors opened. The first production was a musical I wrote. It wasn’t good but learned so much from that. We performed it at the Southeastern Theatre Conference and they tore our show apart from top to bottom during public adjudication. From telling us to get a ghostwriter to hire professional actors. I learned the theater world is tough but I was young and just thought I will do better the next time.

Jitterbug Theatre was adults performing for kids. FEEF tried to hire us to do a musical with kids and I told them I just performed for kids, I don’t work with them. Then I got pregnant and realized I couldn’t tour so I said yes to FEEF. I loved every minute of it. The first show was ‘Once on This Island’ and it went well so we decided to do more. We turned Jitterbug into a non-profit, Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre, and it has gotten bigger and bigger.

Directing is a problem-solving Rubik’s cube. Every show is completely different with its own technical challenges. I like the early creative stages when anything is possible. I love the relationship with the actors and watching them grow and bringing out the best of them. It is a magical world to live in before the show ever takes the stage. People believe in ESRT and bring their best and create the most beautiful art they can. Our older kids are now mentors to the younger kids. They are going to colleges for theater and having amazing experiences. We try to give them as many opportunities as possible through theater and chances to travel and perform. I want all of our kids to know they can make great art or be a great leader, or accomplish their dream. I want my students to learn to be brave at whatever they do.

I force myself to be brave, too. I have gotten into triathlons and putting myself into familiar situations where I am not in control. I once had a fear of the gym and it took me a long time to walk in. My trainer told me I needed a challenge and suggested triathlons. I have done three so far.

Impact 100 has done life-changing work for the community and ESRT. Their first grant let us buy our own lighting equipment for our shows on the Bluff. Last year we won a second grant to help convert the Nicholson Rec Center close to Bayside Academy into a black box theater. This is our first time having our own location and the possibilities are now endless. We can now have smaller shows and things that are more accessible. I hope everything will be done by June and we can start on programming. I am so excited about what could happen next and how we can work with more kids. I have the greatest job in the world and it keeps getting better.”