Leah, originally from Columbus, Ohio, discovered her passion for theatre at a very young age and pursued it at Ohio Wesleyan University, earning a Bachelor of Arts and teaching certification in Theatre Education and Directing. Following her studies, Leah completed a prestigious Theatre Education apprenticeship at the Tony Award-winning Cleveland Play House, where she met her husband, Jason. Following her apprenticeship, Leah relocated to Florida as the Director of Education at the regional theatre Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, where she established several theatre education programs that are still successfully running nearly a decade later. Her theatre education experience spans all grade levels in both public and private schools and theatres, emphasizing the transformative power of theatre education.

With a dedication to fostering a love for theatre in young performers, Leah has spent the past seven years contributing to the vibrant arts community here at CFCArts. She is a proud member of the Florida Association of Theatre Educators and the Educational Theatre Association, reflecting her commitment to professional growth and collaboration within the field. Now an integral part of the CFCArts family, Leah continues to invest in a new generation of theatre artists. In addition to their work in the Central Florida theatre community, Leah and her husband Jason enjoy being supporters of Orlando City Soccer, passholders at Walt Disney World, members of Lake Baldwin Church, and loving parents to their son Marcelo.

Originally from Cary, NC, Hayden graduated from East Carolina University in 2018 with her BFA in Theatre Arts Education, BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Theatre For Youth, and a minor in vocal music studies. While in college, Hayden was the recipient of an Undergraduate Research in Creative Activities grant and the Outstanding Senior in Theatre Education award. Hayden was also the head drama, musical theatre dance, and acapella counselor for four summers at Keystone Camp for girls in Brevard, NC. Upon her college graduation, she moved down to Florida to participate in the Disney College Program. During her four years of making magic as a cast member, her favorite role was being part of the Animal Science Education team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She’s thankful that she decided to stay in the sunshine state because, otherwise, she wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to become a part of the amazing CFCArts family!

Erin Hernandez started working with CFCArts in the Spring of 2019 as an Education Intern and has loved working with them ever since. She graduated from the University of Central Florida that spring with a degree in Theatre Studies and a double minor in Education and History. Her credits with CFCArts include Stage Manager (The Secret Garden, The Sound of Music, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, From the Mouths of Monsters, Aida, Murder on the Orient Express, Mary Poppins, A Christmas Carol), Assistant Stage Manager (Broadway Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, The 39 Steps), Assistant Director (Theatre for Young Audiences Play Festival), Assistant Teaching Artist for their Youth and Outreach Summer Camps, and Summer Camp Coordinator at their main campus. When Erin isn’t in rehearsal, she is a middle school Language Arts teacher for Orange County Public Schools. She is so proud of these young performers and has loved watching them grow over the years into kind, passionate, and hardworking young adults.

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