Who’s Who at LCT
Rhonda Bell acts as the Education Director at Lexington Children’s Theatre (LCT). She earned a BA in Theatre from Berea College and an MA from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. While in school, she served as a Stage Manager for several productions including Alice in Wonderland, Very Still and Hard to See, and Blithe Spirit. After graduating in 2015, Rhonda served in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools under the district’s Community Achieves initiative. Ms. Bell began her time at LCT in 2016 as an education intern and has since written and taught curriculum for a variety of classes and workshops, directed productions in LCT’s Learning Stage Series, and written for LCT’s Storyteller Series. Contact Rhonda at 859-254-4546 ext. 226.
Miranda Rose Blood is an NYC trained stage and voice over actor, singer, songwriter, and educator. Previous credits include Amy March in Little Women (Bristol Valley Theatre), Mae in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (The Company Theatre), and Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense (CAP21 Conservatory/Molloy University) She would like to thank her amazing friends and family for their continuous love and support, as well as everyone at LCT for their fantastic work on Old Dry Frye and Winnie-the-Pooh.
Heather is overjoyed to be back at LCT after an artistic odyssey spanning from “The Little Apple” of Manhattan, KS to “The Second City” of Chicago. She earned a Master of Arts from University of Kentucky and serves on the KPW board. Heather dedicates this season to Eddy and Huckleberry.
After graduating with her BA in theatre from Morehead State University, Octavia was one of two actors nationwide accepted to the National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York City. Since returning to Kentucky, Biggs has worked hard over the last twelve years to bring children’s theatre to eastern Kentucky. In 2004, LCT was able to expand its programming and services to a satellite theatre based in Morehead, KY, which Biggs operates. Since 2004, Elliott and Carter counties have been included into SSYT programming and Biggs oversees all programming and serves these three Appalachian counties. Biggs currently resides in Morehead, Kentucky and serves on the board of directors for the Morehead Theatre Guild. She has been a private speech and theatre coach and developed and ran her own theatrical voice and acting company called TADA Performing Arts Instruction. She is also Lecturer of Theatre at Morehead State University, Music, Theatre and Dance Department (MSU/MTD) and Director for The Little Company, where she prepares college students to perform touring productions and teach drama workshops in middle and high schools across the state of Kentucky. In 2014, Amelia Earhart, which Ms. Biggs directed for the Little Company, was invited to perform at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Albany, Georgia. Contact Octavia at 859-254-4546 ext. 317.
Ashlee began her journey with the theatre in 2014 as an arts administration intern and returned home to her LCT Family in 2021. You may have seen her on the main stage in several productions including The Giver, Old Dry Frye, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Duck for President. Ashlee is a currently in the Leadership Lexington class of 2025 and has worked with theatres all over the country, including Chicago Children’s Theatre, Camp Merrie Woode in North Carolina, and most notably, with Broadway in Chicago as a marketing assistant during the first National Tour of Disney’s Aladdin! She has spent three years as a Discovery Educator for The Living Arts & Science Center teaching a variety of visual and performing arts classes. Contact Ashlee at 859-254-4546 ext. 230.
Emily graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Theatre in 2020. She is passionate about costuming and the fiber arts!
Marie’s experience with LCT, and theatre altogether, began with a walk on role at the age of nine. She is delighted to have closed the circle of her theatrical experience by coming “home” to LCT as a staff member.
Cole Hintz is excited to be making his Lexington Children’s Theatre debut. He recently portrayed Wadsworth in Clue: On Stage and Max Detweiler in The Sound of Music at Ozark Actors Theatre. Other favorite roles include Sergeant Trotter in The Mousetrap, Actor/Clown 1 in Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, and Boy in Black Bear Island. He received his BFA in Acting from Millikin University (Go Big Blue!) He would also like to thank his friends and family for their endless support. (Website: cole-hintz.com)
Jaime brings a keen perspective to her role as Marketing and Sales Director at Lexington Children’s Theatre, having over 20 years in visual arts marketing experiences with Artique Gallery in Lexington. A self-professed shutterbug, she enjoys capturing special moments on film, paired with inspired writings to tell stories. Her work at LCT centers on connecting with the wider community, creatively collaborating with new audiences and community partners, and ensuring that children’s theater experiences are accessible and engaging for all. Witnessing the delight of young audiences is the most rewarding part of her role, and she feels fortunate to come to work each day to ‘play.’ Contact Jaime at 859-254-4546 ext. 239.
Jeremy Kisling has taught, directed and performed for young people for over 30 years. He received his B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Northern Iowa and his M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre for Youth from the University of Texas at Austin. Jeremy has authored stage versions of Why Mosquitoes Buzz, Anansi the Spider, The Princess Who Lost her Hair and co-wrote The Ghosts of Pineville with Sara Turner. He was the recipient of the 2017 Sara Spencer Child Drama Award and the 2019 Tom Behm Award from the Southeastern Theatre Conference. He is a proud graduate of Leadership Lexington in 2019. Jeremy serves on the Board of Directors for Kentucky Theatre Association, Southeastern Theatre Conference and Lexington’s DiverCity Festival. He is honored to share his life with his wife, Amie Kisling and his wonderful son, Leo. Jeremy would encourage you to be brave and stretch your imagination everyday! Contact Jeremy at 859-254-4546 ext. 227.
Maddi is a recent college graduate from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Communication Studies. She is a Gold Medalist of The United States Figure Skating Association and is a figure skating instructor over at the Lexington Ice Center. Maddi brings a unique blend of communication expertise and athletic achievements, and she is honored to showcase her diverse skills at Lexington Children’s Theatre!
Sydney H. Lofton is an alum of Belmont University in Nashville, TN. While in Nashville, Sydney worked with Nashville Children’s Theatre and the Belmont Repertory Company where she began performing for young audiences. Sydney came to Kentucky to work as an artist educator and actor with Kentucky Shakespeare. Selected Credits: The Woman, The Woman in Black; Juliet/Tybalt, Two Actor: Romeo and Juliet; Viola/Toby, Two Actor: Twelfth Night. In 2023, she earned Actor/Combatant status with the Society of American Fight Directors and is a recognized Consent Forward Artist by Intimacy Directors and Coordinators. Sydney is excited to join Lexington Children’s Theatre and continue bringing theatre to young people in Kentucky.
Laika Myers graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Bowling Green State University with a specialization in Design and Technical Theatre. In her spare time, she loves to read and visit a new coffee shop; while on the clock, she loves to use her artistry to share the magic of theatre with young audiences!
Rachel Ray began working in development at Lexington Children’s Theatre in 2011 and was promoted to Managing Director in 2021. Prior to that, she worked at Joseph-Beth Booksellers for over ten years. She has a BS in Speech Therapy and a BA in English from the University of Kentucky. She is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Lexington and is a past National Philanthropy Day Chair for the Association of Fundraising Professionals of the Bluegrass. She is a board member for Girls on the Run Central Kentucky and is a founding board member of First Generation Women Achievers of Kentucky, an organization whose goal is to award scholarships for women who are first generation college attendees. Contact Rachel at 859-254-4546 ext. 229.
Lydia Rice is the resident teaching artist at Lexington Children’s Theatre, passionate about using theatre education to teach life skills through stage skills. A graduate of Columbus State University with a degree in theatre education, Lydia has taught musical theatre at the Alliance Theatre, choreographed Once On This Island at Hardaway High School, and worked with 3rd-5th graders in the after-school program Drama Kids. She brings her experience and enthusiasm to every class, excited to inspire new students through the magic of theatre.
Gabriel Slusser is thrilled to be joining the LCT family. Originally from Georgia, he earned a B.A. in Theatre from Piedmont College. He has worked at theatres throughout the eastern United States, including Titusville Playhouse, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, and Stagedoor Manor. Contact Gabriel at 859-254-4546 ext. 240.
For more than twenty years Chris has worked in the world of theatre. She began her journey straight out of her MA in Communications with an emphasis in technical theatre from Morehead State University. She landed immediately at the Shenandoah Conservatory, in Winchester, VA, as the Assistant Technical Director and Lighting Instructor. Chris also worked for East Central College, in Union, Missouri, for 6 years as the Technical Director and Communications Instructor. While at ECC, she was the Technical Director for over 64 shows and developed her directing skills by directing over 10 productions.
With an intensive academic background Chris managed to work professionally for such award-wining companies as Jean Ann Ryan Productions out of Miami, FL; Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, TN; Actor’s Theatre of Louisville; Union Opera of St. Louis; Theatre Memphis, Bluegrass Production Studio in Louisville, Ky, Papermill Theatre in Lincoln, NH and IASTE 69 out of Memphis. Her recent travels have been keeping her busy as a Teaching Artist and Tour Manager for Shooting Stars Youtheatre and The Little Company, both of which are located on the campus of Morehead State University. Summer of 2023, she travelled across the pond to bring The Little Company’s tour production of Mr. E of Imagination, written by Vivian Snipes, where the troupe produced 6 international shows at the Intranational Fringe Festival in Scotland, UK. She is very excited to begin her new adventures with Lexington Children’s Theatre.
Kate Tayler graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree from Bowling Green State University in Design & Technical Theatre. She is originally from Monroe, Michigan. Kate loves spending time with her cats and her partner, keeping up on all things Taylor Swift, and working with young people.