Elizabeth Blakemore
Owner/Artistic Director
Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude from Concordia University-Chicago with degrees in Theatre and Business at the age of 19. From a very young age she has been a performer and theatre was a natural life-path for her. As a young girl she would write scripts and direct her siblings in plays for their parents, and she has in her possession a VHS tape of her 9-year old self performing a one-woman show of "Kirsten: An American Girl" complete with sound effects via a tape deck, costume changes, and directed audience participation! Her career goal was never to be on Broadway, but rather to be creative every day, to touch other people's lives through the gift of theatre, and to respected by her peers. Running Forefront Arts merges her artistic and administrative gifts and is truly a dream job!
Since moving to Atlanta in 2006 she has taught theatre and acting classes for a number of schools including Master's Academy, Portfolio Academy, Artios Academy, Renaissance International School of Performing Arts (RISPA), the Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, and WOW Talent. She has also assisted with casting for CYT. In addition to teaching and directing, Elizabeth routinely performs around Atlanta at various theatres. Past acting roles include Catherine in "Proof", Laura in "The Glass Menagerie", Betty in "The Foreigner", Mistress Page in "The Merry Wives of Windsor", Dr. Vivian Bearing in "Wit". She also owns a private piano studio through which she teaches private in-home lessons each week.
She has worked on over 80 productions for children and youth as a Director, Music Director, or Producer. Past directing projects include "The Pirates of Penzance", "The Dancers", "The Music Man Jr.", "Once Upon a Mattress Jr.", "Tom Sawyer", "Little Women", "Seussical the Musical", "Bugsy Malone Jr.", "The Wizard of Oz", "Dougly the Uckling", "Moby Dick the Musical", "Schoolhouse Rock", "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", "How to Eat Like A Child", "101 Dalmatians", "The Jungle Book", "Alice in Wonderland", "A Year with Frog and Toad', "Shrek the Musical", "Annie" and "Peter Pan".
Elizabeth founded Forefront Arts in October 2010, and we opened doors for our first students in January 2011. Since then thousands of children and teens have been touched through our classes, workshops, summer drama camps, and productions. Elizabeth founded this company so that she could fulfill her love of directing shows, have one-on-one relationships with the students she teaches, and strive for a healthy work/life balance for her young family. She and her husband have two young boys and like every mom, every day is crazy and hectic, but every day is a gift! Thank you for supporting Forefront Arts and allowing me to touch your children's lives in some small way!
Kathryn Allen
Teaching Artist
A musician, audio engineer, and local theatre professional, Kathryn has been a part of the Atlanta arts community since 2009. She has been playing the piano for more than 25 years, the guitar for more than 20, and has been in vocal groups her entire life. She works to be a well rounded performer, with the goal to inspire young minds to love music and theatre as much as she does. She has lead as well as performed in many musical groups, from choirs to theatrical music direction to local bands. In addition to her involvement in local theatre groups, Kathryn also teaches piano, voice and guitar for SAS Music.
Brady Dunn
Teaching Artist
Brady completed an apprenticeship at Serenbe Playhouse where he performed in several TYA productions including Robin Hood, The Snow Queen, and The Sleepy Hollow Experience. He has a degree in Musical Theatre from West Liberty University.
Rachael Endrizzi
Marketing Director and Teaching Artist
Rachael is excited to be a part of Forefront Arts! Originally from Ohio, she is a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in NYC and has been working in the Arts for over 15 years. She is the former Director of Education for Florida Repertory Theatre, Artistic Director for Curtain Call Youth Players and continues to work as an actor, director and teaching artist for several companies throughout the Southeast.
Bethany Hicks
Teaching Artist
Bethany is a native of the Atlanta area and has been involved in theatre for 11 years. She is currently attending Covenant College with a Major in theatre with a focus in acting. Once she graduates, she hopes to start teaching drama full time and in the meantime continues to train in acting, singing, dancing, and teaching.
Eileen Koteles
Teaching Artist/Choreographer
Eileen has been working in professional theatre for over thirty years as an actor, dancer, choreographer, and director. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre at the University of Florida, and went on to study dance in New York. Upon returning to Florida, Eileen wrote, directed, and performed in a children’s theatre troupe, touring the east coast of Florida, teaching drug and violence prevention through the arts. Moving to Atlanta in 2012, she has enjoyed becoming part of this growing, creative, wonderful theatre community as an actor, choreographer, and teaching artist. There is no greater joy than to share all that theatre has to offer with the most creative among us, children.
Avery Sharpe
Teaching Artist
Avery Sharpe is an actor, singer, dancer, improviser, and writer around the city. After receiving his B.A. from Kennesaw State University, he has performed at venues such as the Alliance Theatre, GA Shakespeare, and Actor's Express just to name a few. He has most recently become a member of the Dad's Garage Improv rookies, and he is excited to be here this summer with Forefront Arts! Love to Yeshua and Mon Papillion!
Sarah Steele
Teaching Artist
Sarah Steele received her B.A. in Theatre and Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University. She is an actress/teacher/director who has performed and taught with a number of companies including Stone Mountain Park, Dad's Garage, Playground Creative Studio, and Forefront Arts.
Julia Steudle
Teaching Artist
Julia has performed and taught/directed for a number of theatre companies including Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Forefront Arts, and several princess party companies. Originally from Michigan, Julia moved to Atlanta to complete a year-long apprenticeship with Atlanta Shakespeare Company.