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.
Since moving to Atlanta in 2006 she has taught theatre and acting classes and directed shows for a number of programs including Master's Academy, Portfolio Academy, Artios Academy, Renaissance International School of Performing Arts (RISPA), the Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Sunrise Baptist Church, Victory World Church, and WOW Talent. She has also assisted with casting for CYT. As a private acting coach, she has helped students prepare auditions for colleges, professional theatre companies, Disney, commercials, and agent representation. In addition to teaching and directing, Elizabeth occasionally 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 music lessons each week.
She 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", "Schoolhouse Rock", "Shrek the Musical", "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown", and "Thoroughly Modern Millie".
Elizabeth founded Forefront Arts in 2010. Since then thousands of children and teens have experienced the transformative power of live children's theatre through our classes, workshops, summer drama camps, and productions. Elizabeth founded Forefront Arts so that she could fulfill her love of performing and 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! 
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.
Kati Grace Brown
Teaching Artist
Kati Grace is a local actor, teaching artist, choreographer, and director. As a teaching artist, Kati Grace has directed numerous youth productions for students through both artist-in-residency initiatives, school-year programs, and summer camps. Through her "day job" as the Associate Director of Education for the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern she created the Shakesploration Days programs for Homeschool students and various in-class programs such as Play On! Theatre Games to Build Your Classroom and the Literacy Through Drama Workshop series. Kati Grace has also worked regionally as an actress, director, teaching artist and arts administrator with the Barter Theatre (VA), Flat Rock Playhouse (NC) and Faulkner Dinner Theatre (AL) as well as for Atlanta theatres such as the Aurora Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare Festival and the Alliance Theatre Acting Program.
Jonathan Bryant
Choreographer
Jonathan Bryant is dancer/choreographer/instructor who has worked in the booming entertainment industry in Atlanta for over a decade. He has worked with many celebrities including Ne-Yo, Trina Braxton, Tichina Arnold, Nivea, Queen Latifah and more. He has been in numerous musical productions in the Atlanta area, recently AIDA(Atlanta Lyric Theatre) and MAMMA MIA! (Aurora Theatre). He has worked in the booming television/movie industry in Atlanta including The Originals and Step Up: Highwater and movies like Bessie, Billy Lynn Long Halftime Walk directed by Oscar-winning director Ang Lee. He will make his acting debut as “Bubba Knight” in the docu-series American Soul premiering on BET in February. Jonathan owns his own lifestyle brand Jaybsmoovethebrand that focuses on MOVEMENT, STYLE, and PERSONALITY. Jonathan Bryant has only begun to exude the talent and success of his career and much more is to be achieved.
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.
Jan Jensen
Teaching Artist
Jan Jensen is delighted to be joining the staff at Forefront Arts. Last spring she directed Forefront students in “Lion King”. Ms. Jensen has studied improvisation and comedy at Second City, Dad’s Garage, and Whole World Theatre. She has happily spent her life as a high school drama director, actress, artist in residence, and improviser. Ms. Jensen was recently inducted in to the Chattahoochee High School Wall of Fame for her contributions to the arts while teaching at CHS. She directed many musical and non-musical productions during her tenure as Chattahoochee’s drama director. The list includes Chicago, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Grease, ,and Little Shop of Horrors, which received a Shuler Hensley High School Theatre nomination for Best Musical Production. Ms. Jensen was a professional actress, director and teacher in New Orleans before moving to Atlanta. A fun fact is that the rapper Lil’ Wayne was one her students! She continues to direct at area schools. Her most recent shows were “Mamma Mia” and “Wizard of Oz”. Ms. Jensen is also a Teaching Artist at the Fulton County Teaching Museum and a docent at the High Museum. She has also taught improv and acting for middle and high school students at the Alliance Theatre.
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, Aurora Theatre, and several princess party companies. Originally from Michigan, Julia moved to Atlanta to complete a year-long apprenticeship with Atlanta Shakespeare Company.
Nikkia Tyler
Teaching Artist
Nikkia is excited to be joining the Forefront Arts team as a new resident of Atlanta. Nikkia has relocated from Chicago where she graduated from Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts with a degree in Acting and African American Studies. Originally from Orlando, Florida, Nikkia has spent the last seven years in Chicago working in arts education administratively, as a teaching artist and as an actor. Nikkia has worked in public school and private facility settings as a a drama teacher. Her most recent directing and artistic credits include assistant directing The Wiz at Emerald City Theatre and writing and directing the Dr. Seuss Amita Health workshops with ECT. Her recent performing credits include Steel Magnolias, A Song for Coretta, The Condition of Femme, and Wedding Band. Nikkia is excited to share all of experience and learn and grow with the Atlanta and Forefront communities.