Our Professional Training Company
Administrative Interns
Krista Hagans
Leslie Hill-King
Becca Kitt
Meg Mechelke
Kayla Michelle
Michael Miller
Analisa Salinas
Dellan Short
Reid Williams
KRISTA HAGANS (She/Her) is from Dayton, Ohio, and a recent graduate from Heidelberg University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater with a concentration in acting and a minor in business. Krista's last role at Heidelberg was Tink in Wendy and Peter Pan before she transitioned into administrative positions where she was the manager of the front house and the box office. She is excited to be expanding her horizons at Florida Studio Theatre as the new general management intern!
BECCA KITT is from the Bay Area in California and recently graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She has a BA in English and minors in theatre and music. Through her studies and work on various productions throughout high school and college, she has gained experience in dramaturgy, stage management, and acting. Becca is thrilled to be joining FST this year as a literary intern.
MEG MECHELKE is a multidisciplinary theatre artist from central Minnesota. As a director / dramaturg / person-in-the-room, they have experience in new play development, festival coordination, and theatre education for ages K-retired. Special interests include queer theatre, things that are scary, and plays that make you say ?!?. University of Iowa 2022, #gohawks.
KAYLA MICHELLE PISANO is a theatrical artist who calls Florida home as well as Long Island, New York. She is currently working on her B.A. in Theatre Arts plus an English minor at Rollins College after receiving her A.S. in the same at Suffolk County Community College. Kayla's favorite things to do in showbiz are acting, singing, dramaturgy, directing, and writing. She loves to be onstage, offstage, backstage, anywhere with a "stage!" Kayla is only 4 awards shy of her EGOT.
MICHAEL MILLER graduated with honors from Chapman University in 2023 with a BA in Theatre (Dramaturgy and Playwriting Focus). Originally from Chicago, he’s looking forward to discovering a lot of new plays during his time at FST. In 2021, Michael listened to every musical that’s been on Broadway since 1950 - that was 2 shows a day for the entire year! If you ever need a listening recommendation, let him know. For more personal information, write to his mother.
ANALISA SALINAS is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, with a BFA in Theatre Arts (Musical Theatre concentration) and minors in History and English. She apprenticed at Amphibian Stage’s 2022 Spark Fest and returned to the festival in 2023. In addition to performance, she has written and directed several plays and spent a year studying queer/feminist/anti-racist social-political theory in collaboration with MIT, culminating in devised theatre work.
DELLAN SHORT is an actor and writer from Cumming, GA. He received his BFA in Acting in 2022 from Brenau University and the Gainesville Theatre Alliance.
REID WILLIAMS is a current BFA Musical Theatre major at Auburn University and is so excited to join FST as an Audience Services intern! He has recently appeared in Auburn’s productions of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Fractals, and Barbecue, as well as serving as the Props Assistant and part of the Front of House staff for the AU Theatre and Dance Department.
Artistic & Education Interns
Jakob Harding
Jeremy Weinstein
Madison Plowman
Julia Cooke
Rhea Leonard
Erik Street
Ava Podewitz
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.
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).
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
RHEA LEONARD is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and earned her degree in English Literature with courses in theatre history and music. She has been involved in community theatre, regional theatre, a national choir tour, and recording with Grammy-winning gospel artists. Some of her favorite credits include Cinderella and Into the Woods. Rhea is excited to join the team at FST.
Production Interns
Sarah DeSmith
Hailey Drake
Madison Harosky
Allison Lamb
Naomi Marin
Matthew Parvin
Charlotte Perez
Kara Powell
Sam Powers
Jamie Thygesen
HAILEY DRAKE (she/her) is currently a stage management intern. She recently graduated from the University of North Alabama, where she SM’ed nine shows and majored in Cinematic Arts and Theatre. Hailey is also interested in house management and sound design. She is from North Alabama, and spent last summer as a props intern in California with PCPA. In her free time Hailey can be found watching sci-fi shows and playing Nintendo games.
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.
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
JAMIE THYGESEN has returned to FST as a lighting fellow! With a bachelor's degree in technical theatre from Northwest Missouri State University and her previous experience here at FST as a stage management fellow, Jamie is very happy for the opportunity to shift her focus to lighting here in beautiful Sarasota and to work with friends both new and old.