Instructors
Leah Mae Aldridge is a senior Musical Theatre and Arts Management Major at the University of Memphis! Her hometown is Jonesboro, AR, where she began her teaching and educational theatre career. She is a teaching artist, director, choreographer, actor, singer, and dancer! In addition to her love of the arts, she is a CNP (Certified Nonprofit Professional), a licensed yoga teacher, and a group fitness instructor!
Jennifer Aycock attended Auburn University where she received her B.F.A. in Theatre Performance. From there, she went on to tour internationally with Missoula Children's Theatre as a tour actor/director and worked for California Children's Theatre as an actor and instructor while touring the west coast. Jennifer moved back home to Memphis in 2007, and independently contracted around the greater Memphis area, including with New Day Children's Theatre! She received her M.A.T from Harding University and currently serves as the Director of Theatre Arts for Harding Academy of Memphis, where she has been for the past seven years.
Ashley Bugg Brown has been working with New Day as a director and instructor for 7 years. Some of the shows she has directed have been Big Fish, Godspell, Peter and the Starcatcher and Beauty and the Beast. For the past 20 years, Ashley has been working in theatre education throughout the Memphis area. She has a B.F.A in theatre performance from the University of Memphis and a Masters of Theatre Studies from Southern Oregon University. She has been teaching middle and upper school theatre at Lausanne Collegiate School for the past 17 years.
Marques Brown has been a theatre professional and educator in the Memphis area for almost 20 years. He has a Masters in Arts Education and is currently a staff/faculty member of the theatre department at Hutchison School. Marques has enjoyed performing on most of the Memphis area stages. Some of his favorite shows include Young Frankenstein, All My Sons, Little Shop of Horrors, and Amadeus. He is the former director of education at Theatre Memphis and Chatterbox Audio Theatre.
Camden Douglas has been involved in the theatre community for over 12 years and has had the privilege of performing with New Day Children’s Theatre, Desoto Family Theatre, Playhouse on the Square, and Alaska Fine Arts Academy. Behind the scenes, Camden has worked as technical crew for many productions, stage managing and operating lights. He has been volunteering and teaching children at Collierville United Methodist Church’s SNAP program and New Day Children’s Theatre since 2016. Outside of theatre, Camden is enrolled at the University of Memphis to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in Commercial Aviation.
Christi Hall has been involved with New Day for over 8 years and has choreographed many productions such as Big Fish, The King and I, Into the Woods, Shrek, and Beauty and the Beast. Off-stage, Christi teaches Tap classes and the Dance for Musical Theatre workshop at New Day. She has also choreographed for many local school productions. Other recent choreography credits in the theatre community include 42nd Street, Singin' in the Rain, Music Man, Anything Goes, and The Producers at Theatre Memphis.
Tamatha Holt received her Bachelor of Music degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Music degree from Rutgers University. She is Briarcrest Christian School’s Elementary Orff Music Specialist, Chorus, and Musical Theatre Director. Mrs. Holt is a professional musician and has performed with the Jackson, Tupelo, Paducah, and Corinth Symphonies, and appears frequently in the orchestra for musicals at Playhouse on the Square, Circuit Playhouse, Theater Memphis, and Hattiloo Theater. She has been an instructor and musical director for New Day Children’s Theater in Collierville, and the Summer Youth Conservatory through Playhouse on the Square.
Julia Hinson works as a producer, director, and teaching artist in Memphis, TN. She has an MFA in Theatre Directing from East 15 Acting School in the UK and has produced and directed all over the world. Recently, Fortunate Country, the short film she co-created with Kristin Tripe, premiered at the Omaha Film Festival and Indie Memphis. With the local immersive company, Lost in Found, Julia has also created unique theatrical worlds all over the city. Julia currently serves as Artistic Producer of LoneTree Live which has produced work at the Kansas CIty Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Sao Paulo Festival in Lithuania as well as in London, Omaha and of course, Memphis.
Justin Pepper received a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education and a Master’s degree in Music with an emphasis in conducting and music education from the University of Mississippi. Since moving to Memphis, Justin has been involved with the Memphis Symphony Chorus, Second Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, and New Day Children’s Theatre. At New Day, Justin has had the pleasure to music direct several productions including The Addams Family and Spamalot Young@Part.
Brianna Roche graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Performance. She received her Teaching Artist Training from Florida Studio Theatre and Tennessee Shakespeare Company. Brianna is certified through TCCOTS as a caregiver for 3 year-olds, 4 year-olds, and school-agers. She has taught professionally at Playhouse on The Square, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Florida Studio Theatre, and New Day Children's Theatre. She has taught several outreach classes on behalf of theatre companies at elementary, high school, and middle schools in the greater Memphis area and Sarasota, Florida.
Kathy Thiele is a dance instructor and choreographer with over 30 years of experience in instructing and choreographing for competitive dance teams, show choirs, local theaters and schools. She has taught regional and national master classes and has judged numerous talent competitions. Kathy has had the pleasure to work with several school theater and choir programs. She has served on the Collierville Arts Council, Collierville Board of Parks and Recreation, and the Board of Directors for Pazazz Performing Company. She is thrilled to now be a part of the New Day Children's Theater instructional staff.