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Meet the Fantasy Academy Teachers
Karen Alexander has an Education degree in Speech and Drama from the University of South Alabama. After teaching several years in Texas, she moved to Huntsville and taught public speaking for two business colleges in the area and also taught English and drama for Catholic High School before taking on the job of Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater Academy Director. She has served in that position for the last 10 years. She has assisted with directing and has appeared in several Fantasy plays as well as acting in other local community theater productions. She holds two Wings Awards for acting as well as a Noah Award from Theatre Huntsville. Karen also serves in a volunteer position as Office Manager for Fantasy Playhouse.
Jessica Alexander first came to Fantasy as a dancing cast member in Aladdin in 1997. Since then she has graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a BS Degree from the College of Mass Communications in Radio and TV with an Emphasis in Digital Animation and a minor in Dance and Art. Currently she is employed as a graphic artist for Sci Quest. Jessica teaches dance for Fantasy and has appeared in, choreographed, and directed several Fantasy shows. She holds several Wings Awards for her choreography with other local community theater productions. Jessica also serves on the Fantasy Board and designs Fantasy’s Season Brochure year after year.
Pam Anders studied costume design at the University of South Florida. She spent many years teaching 4-H Fashion Review Sewing in Indiana. After moving back to Alabama, she has taught sewing and quilting classes to both children and adults. Not only does she teach sewing classes at Fantasy, but she also lends her costuming talents to Fantasy shows. She currently is the costume designer for Fantasy’s Cinderella.
Lindy Atkins has a B.A. in Music Education, and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as teaching children's choirs and Kid's Worship at her church. She has appeared in, produced, directed, helped with hair and costumes, and worked as a make-up artist for numerous productions for Fantasy Playhouse. Lindy has been teaching Kindermusik and Theater Classes with the Fantasy Academy for several years and serves on the Fantasy Board.
Sandy Federico started dancing at age four and eventually earned her degree in Dance Education from Hope College, in Holland Michigan. After spending a few years working in private dance studios, she taught dance and choreographed the musicals at Pinckney High School (MI) before moving to Alabama to teach dance at the Academy for Academics & Arts. Active in community theatre, Miss Sandy has performed and/or worked behind the scenes with Ann Arbor Community Theatre (A2CT), Destination Theatre, Chelsea Area Players, Dexter Communty Players, and Pinckney Players (all in MI) as well as Fantasy Playhouse, Theatre Huntsville, Renaissance Theatre and Huntsville Community Chorus Association. Ms. Federico is proud to be a member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), through which she runs a chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) at her school. Her favorite style of dance is tap, and her favorite candy is dark chocolate.
Kathy Fisher has had a private piano studio in Huntsville for over 4 decades, started teaching Kindermusik in 1997, and is the music teacher for the Montessori School of Huntsville, where she has been on the staff since 1996. She teaches general music at the Oakwood Academy for kindergarten through 3rd grade, and teaches classes and private lessons at the Valley Conservatory. Kathy is the church pianist and choir accompanist for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville. She I teaches Kindermusik for Fantasy Playhouse and also is the outreach music teacher for 2nd Mile Pre-school through Fantasy.
Luz Ladrillono is a graduate from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Arts in Music- Voice Major with a minor in piano. She was the lead in several operas and toured professionally with Cameron McKintosh’s production of Miss Saigon in Germany in 1996-1998. She also was in the World Premiere of Walt Disney Theater’s production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame in Berlin in 1999 and was later cast as lead in the London Premiere of Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s The King and I in 2000. Lucky for us her husband, Robert, caught her eye and he brought her back to Huntsville. Here she is a full-time voice coach and owner of Lyrique Music Studio. She is also founding member, co-producer, and director of Lyrique Music Productions. Luz has appeared in or worked with many local theater productions including Fantasy’s A Christmas Carol and AD for Puss n Boots. She has won two Wings Awards for her amazing voice and talent and is the mother to three equally amazing boys
Lezlie Lanza graduated from Athens State University with an Elementary Education degree. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Administration. She has been teaching for Huntsville City Schools for 21 years in grades 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th. She currently teaches 3rd grade at Providence Elementary. Lezlie has been teaching at Fantasy for the last 10 years. She is Assistant Director for the upcoming production of “Cinderella” and will be directing the production next April of “Rapunzel”. She has been nominated for several Wings Awards in Lead actress roles as well as supporting actress roles. She won Wings for an Ensemble part in IMP’s production of “Hooray for Hollywood”, Lezlie has been married for 30 years and has 3 children, Sammy, Jacob and Savannah.
Joan Leggett has been a teacher most of her life. Since moving to Huntsville almost twenty years ago, she added story telling to her resume, entertaining students in public schools as well as private gatherings. For the last few years, she has also been involved in theater at Fantasy and Huntsville Community Chorus. At Fantasy Playhouse, she enjoys teaching children from ages five through twelve. She also teaches Bible Story time at Trinity UMC and First Presbyterian of Huntsville. Joan also serves on the Fantasy Board and has appeared in several Fantasy and HCCA shows.
Jenny Lenz has taught for 26 years in private and public schools. She holds a BA in elementary education and is currently obtaining a masters degree in educational leadership. She has worked at Fantasy Playhouse first as a volunteer in numerous plays, then as the director of the Fantasy Players for eight years. For the past ten years, she has been the director of a summer workshop for the Fantasy Academy. Jenny is currently a fifth-grade language arts and history teacher at Randolph School. She is also the director of the middle school plays for Randolph
Gina Lewis graduated from Erskine College with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and Theatre, as well as a teaching certificate. During her senior year, she was the recipient of the college's top theatrical honor and was also recognized for excellence at the South Carolina Theatre Association Convention. She spent a year working as a professional Tour Actor/Director with the Missoula Children's Theatre and has also worked full-time as a first grade teacher. She is now a full-time mother of many but continues to find time to devote to her love of teaching and the arts.
Daphne McKinley has a long history working in the community with children. For over 17 years, she has served as a Storyteller in the city and a Summer Reading Volunteer for the Huntsville Public Library. Daphne also worked with Scholastic Book Fairs for 3 years as a BookTalker/Field Sales Representative. She has been a Girl Scout Leader for ten years and a member of the Riverton Kiwanis Club. Daphne , a certified Kindermusik instructor, has been teaching Kindermusik classes with the Fantasy Academy for ten years and serves on the Fantasy Board.
Wynn Oldham graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught several years in Jackson County and Huntsville City Schools. Wynn became involved with Fantasy Playhouse in 2001. She studied stage makeup design under Brent Baker and now she does makeup for various theater companies as well as Fantasy Playhouse. She has also won multiple Wings Awards for her work. Wynn serves on the Fantasy Board and volunteers in the office.
Marie Sexton began sewing at age 10, taught by Mother and Grandmother. She took Home Economics in school and also other sewing classes throughout the years. Marie has been working with Fantasy Academy assisting with Sewing Classes during the Summer sessions. She has been designing and making costumes for Huntsville Community Chorus since 1986 and has costumed shows for Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater, the latest being Tom Sawyer. Marie also volunteers In the Fantasy office.
Lyndy Werpy has a BA in Theatre Arts and specializes in Children’s Theatre, as well as advanced classes in hair design and make-up. She is currently the co-director of Fantasy Playhouse Players touring group. Lyndy has toured with two children’s theatre companies, handling various duties including, performing, make-up, hair and props. She was General Manager of Surfside Playhouse, establishing a children’s educational theatre program. Lyndy has been an artist-in-residence, planning curriculum and instructing students at elementary and Jr. High levels. Lyndy also coordinated and headed a summer outreach program for Seattle Children’s Theatre. She has appeared on TV with her own local show Focus, and acted in a few TV series. Lyndy, a former Academy Director for Fantasy Playhouse Academy, has instructed classes for the academy in the past and currently. She has directed many shows for various theatre groups as well as recently The Magic of Beauty and the Beast for Fantasy Playhouse. She currently serves on the board for Fantasy Playhouse as well as volunteering in the Fantasy office