Mary Hayes Ernst (Director) This is Ms. Ernst sixth year at NFHS. In past seasons she has directed such favorites as THE WIZARD OF OZ, CATS, THE GREEK MYTHOLOGY OLYMPIAGANZA, BROTHER WOLF (Best Play GTC-2011), CHANGING MINDS (Video Smackdown Winner), & BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. She is very proud of the production of THE PASSAGE this year which was the "Runner Up" in the Region 6AAAAAA GHSA One Act Play Contest. A native of Atlanta, Ms. Ernst worked commercially as a child in NYC and Atlanta. She attended the GHP Program for theatre in 1985, graduated from Milton High School, earned a BA in Theater/Secondary Ed from Furman University, and an MFA in Performance from UGA. She owns and directs the TIR NA TRALEE IRISH DANCE ACADEMY (www.tntirish.com), and THE OFF BROADWAY CLOSET - Theatrical costume rentals (www.offbroadwaycloset.com) with her mom, Lyn Shiver, and husband Chris. Some of her favorite roles include “Bianca”(The Taming of the Shrew), “Sister Mary Amnesia” (Nunsense), “Velma Kelly” (Chicago), and “Sally” (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown). In her spare time she loves knitting, reading and spending time with Chris & Bobby Ernst (and dogs Max & Molly). She loves her kids and colleagues at NFHS and thanks everyone for their support of the theatre program.
John Hutchinson (Musical Director) Mr. Hutchinson is the Director of Music, Worship & Arts at Cumming First United Methodist Church and Professor of Organ at University of North Georgia. Favorite shows for which he has provided musical direction include CABARET, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING and ANYTHING GOES. Favorite roles include Schroeder in YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN and Cowardly Lion in WIZARD OF OZ. John is very pleased to be working with the NFHS Drama Department again and proud of all the students. He is also very pleased to respond to "J-Hutch".
Jamie Summerour (Assistant Director) Ms. Summerour is a science teacher at North Forsyth High School. She started dancing at the age of 4 and studied ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance at Hutchenson’s Dance Academy, Dance Clayton, and the dance program at Mount Zion High School. She was captain of her high school dance team. As an adult she has taken tap classes at Conyers School of Ballet and Dance101 in Atlanta. Most recently, she has been studying Irish dancing with the Tir Na Tralee Irish Dancers. Ms. Summerour is the CRN Irish Dance Regional Champion in the Over 18 age group for 2013 & 2014. She was Assistant Director last year for CHANGING MINDS, ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR. and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Ms. Summerour is excited to be working on another year of fun shows. She is very excited that her ten year old son Andrew will be playing a "munchkin" in the Spring production of THE WIZARD OF OZ!
Addison Walden (Technical Director) Mr. Walden is a graduate of North Forsyth High! He is really excited to be returning here as the Technical Director for the Theatre Department and a teacher for 11th grade Literature. (He wants to point out that some of the lights in the PAC are in the same position he left them when he graduated in 2005, but he is working on fixing that!) Mr. Walden holds a BA in Theatre and an MAT in English Education from Georgia College & State University. He taught 8th grade math for the last three years at Sandy Springs Middle School. He and his wife April are the parents of one year old Breanna Elizabeth Walden!
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