DEONTA MITCHELL is very excited to continue his second year at Florida Studio Theatre as an Education Fellow. His previous FST credits include The Playmakers Tour, Deck the Halls, and Under 6 Tour. Deonta studied Acting at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he received his BFA. His previous collegiate work includes Snickers in The Life the Musical, Jesus in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and Lou Milhauser in Stage Door. He thanks his family, friends, mentors, and all who enjoy theatre for supporting his passion.

JAKOB HARDING is a graduate of Ball State University where he double majored in Theatre Creation and Japanese with a minor in Music Composition & Theory, He also worked internships for Discovering Broadway in Indiana as well as the Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival in Michigan. Jakob is passionate about the development of new performing arts works and cabaret style shows-- At Ball State University, he was a member of the University Singers, Indiana's Official Goodwill Ambassadors.

Julia Cooke (she/her) is delighted to join FST! A recent graduate of Baldwin Wallace University and the National Musical Theatre Institute, Julia is a multi-faceted theatre artist focused in acting and directing. Favorite previous roles include Berta (The Sparks Fly Upward), Angel (Angels in America), and Roxie (Chicago), Additionally, she has worked as an Artistic Intern with Stonington Opera House Arts, and as the Front of House Manager with Theater at Monmouth. cookejuliam.wix.com/theatre

LORELEI FRANK Originally from Edwardsville, IL, Lorelei Frank is a recent graduate of Western Kentucky University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance. Past credits include The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (Annabeth), Songs for a New World (Woman 1), and Synchro by Katie Peña-Van Zile (Whitney). When not performing, you can find Lorelei baking paleo desserts, reading at the beach, or attempting to learn how to crochet. 

OLIVIA GREEN is a native of Lynchburg, Virginia and is excited to be in Sarasota, Florida for the first time! Olivia is a recent graduate of Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia where she got her bachelors History and Theatre, with a concentration in acting and directing. Most recently she played Silent Sue in Endstation Production’s Treasure Island and Rapunzel Wolfbane Production’s Into the Woods.

LAUREN PHILLIPS was born and raised in Campbellsville, Kentucky. She recently graduated from Campbellsville University with a B.S. in Theatre Production. Lauren’s favorite past roles include Amalia in She Loves Me, Sibella in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and Patrick Star in Spongebob: The Musical. She is thrilled to be at Florida Studio Theatre!

Emilie Reed is from Salem, Oregon and is a recent graduate of Abilene Christian University, where she finished her BFA in Theatre performance with a concentration in musical theatre. Some of her favorite past credits include The Light in the Piazza (Signora), Godspell (Lindsay), and The Little Mermaid (Ariel). She is thrilled to be working at FST and cannot wait to see what her future holds.

JEREMY WEINSTEIN is a midwest-based actor, pianist, and music director. Since graduating From Wright State University with a BFA in Acting and a minor in piano performance in 2022, Jeremy has instructed students from 3rd grade to undergrad in the areas of acting, musical theater, Tai Chi, and Yoga. Regional credits include: Mamma Mia! (Circa ‘21), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Totem Pole Playhouse), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Human Race Theatre Co).

TONI DANZ is a graduate of Northern Michigan University. She got her degree in Theatre Technology and Design. She was assistant stage manager or stage manager in many of her school's productions. Toni is joining FST as a Company Management intern. She has also interned at Maine State Music Theatre as a Company Manager. Toni is from Illinois and she's very excited to be in Florida working at FST!

NAOMI MARIN is a sound intern from Columbia, Maryland and recently graduated from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA with a degree in Theater Design and Technology. She’s been involved in theater since her freshman year of high school and is very excited to join the FST community.

KAYLA MINGUS has been involved in theater her entire life and loves nothing more than sitting in a theatre watching magic on stage. Recently, she earned her BA in Theater Arts with a focus on Properties, Lighting and Writing. Growing up in the Midwest, Kayla is very excited to be working so close to the ocean and seeing palm trees out every window. Kayla is really looking forward to working with the amazing staff at FST and helping produce some fantastic shows.

Matthew Parvin is a Stage Management Intern at FST. He is a recent graduate from Middle Tennessee State University (B.S) and Northeast State Community College (A.S.). He has worked on many shows in theatre as a Stage Manager, such as Peter and the Starcatcher (ASM), The Language Archive, Dark Rituals and Wiley and the Hairy Man, where he received a Commendation for Distinguished Achievement Award for Stage Management form the KCACTF National Honors Committee. He is also a recipient of the Heart of the Art Award at the KCACTF Region IV for Sound Design.

Charlotte Perez is an Ohio native and recent graduate of Miami University (Ohio) with a B.A. in Theatre with concentrations in Stage Management, Directing, and Sound. Aside from studying at Miami, they also worked as a stage manager and sound technician at Cedar Summerstock Theatre in Iowa for the last two summers. Charlotte is excited to be joining the FST community here in Sarasota!

Kara Powell (she/her) is from Franklin, Tennessee. While studying Arts Administration and Theatre at the University of Kentucky, she held positions as Assistant Director for Bright Star and Shakespeare in Love and Wardrobe Crew Chief for four dance concerts. Additionally, she was the Assistant Director for Lucidity: A New Musical which debuted at SETC 2023. Her past internships include The Chamber Music Festival of Lexington and Kentucky Educational Television. She is excited to continue her career with the amazing people of FST.

SAM POWERS is a 2022 Muhlenberg College graduate where he majored in theatre and business with a focus in stage management and lighting design. He is excited to join FST for the 2022-2023 season as a Stage Management Intern! His FST credits include Visit Joe Whitefeather (and bring the family!) and The ‘70s More Than A Decade in the Court Cabaret. Muhlenberg Stage Management credits include: Digital Dopamine; Call Me by Any Other Name…Just As Sweet; Unstable Connections; Lessons of an Unaccustomed Bride, and “Cagebirds”. Sam has also worked as lighting designer and crew on several productions. Examples of his work can be found at: www.sampowersstage.com

DIO RAQUEL JR. hails from Honolulu, Hawaii then relocated to Las Vegas, NV in his early teenage years. He obtained his Theatre Performance Certificate from Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts (Las Vegas, NV) and recently received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Studies which they emphasized in Arts Administration and Musical Theatre from Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE). He is ecstatic to make his FST debut as a Lighting Intern!

PASSION SHAFFER was born and raised in Springfield, MO and is a 2022 alum of Graceland University. She got a B.A in both English and Theatre with a minor in Creative writing. When at university she stage managed a number of productions, worked on several electric crews, and directed. During her time at FST, she has worked on FST’s Summer New Play Reading Festival (The Drolls, The Suffragette’s Murder, and Baton) and FST’s performances of Jersey Tenors: Part II, closed New York State of Mind with the Uptown Boys, opened What the Constitution Means to Me and worked on Reel Music. Passion is excited to spend a second year at FST as a Stage Management Fellow.