Childsplay
Katie Brantley has extensive work experience in the field of theater education and program management. Katie has held various roles throughout their career, starting as an Entertainer at Tweetsie Railroad in 2002. Katie then worked as a Tour Actor/Director with Missoula Children's Theatre, where they directed and performed with young actors and facilitated theater workshops.
After that, they served as the Program Coordinator for ArtsBridge UCF, where they established partnerships between university art students and K-12 teachers to create arts residencies. Katie also worked as an Instructor at the University of Central Florida, teaching creative drama techniques.
Katie later held the position of Development Assistant at Orlando Family Stage, where they assisted with fundraising efforts for the theater. Katie also worked as an Art/Drama Instructor at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, delivering visual art and drama activities for their summer camps.
In 2010, they joined Dramatic English as an Instructor & Curriculum Supervisor, delivering drama-based English language instruction. Katie then became a Resident Drama Instructor at Theatre Noir, facilitating theater residencies in Hong Kong schools and developing curriculum.
Katie's next role was as the Communications Department Head at Colour My World, where they managed speech, debate, and drama courses for international students. Most recently, they held multiple roles at Childsplay, Inc., including Director of Education and School Programs, where they oversaw a comprehensive portfolio of theater educational initiatives, and Academy Director, where they managed various educational programs.
Overall, Katie Brantley's work experience demonstrates their expertise in theater education, curriculum development, program management, and partnership building.
Katie Brantley's education history begins with their attendance at Webberville High School from 1994 to 1998. After completing their high school education, they pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies from Asbury University, which they completed from 1997 to 2001. Following their undergraduate studies, they furthered their education at the University of Central Florida, where they obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre for Young Audiences, completing their studies from 2008 to 2012.
Childsplay
Since 1977, Childsplay has been committed to its mission: “To create theatre so strikingly original in form, content or both that it instills in young people an enduring awe, love, and respect for the medium, thus preserving imagination and wonder, those hallmarks of childhood that are the keys to the future.” An internationally respected theatre company that performs for children and families in Arizona, Childsplay believes that young people deserve to experience theatre of the highest artistic quality. Respect for children’s intelligence and creativity drives the organization to produce great works and prioritize the development and presentation of plays that reflect our school audiences. Childsplay’s understanding of the enduring challenges facing Arizona classrooms also leads the company to offer arts education resources to more than 600 schools across the state. The company has received major support from both local and national funders, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Shubert Foundation. In addition to Childsplay’s professional productions, our educational programming has expanded dramatically in response to the needs of our school partners. Over 1,500 young people attend classes each year in the Childsplay Theatre Academy and nearly 5,000 students experience drama directly in their classrooms through Childsplay’s Education Outreach programs. These programs emphasize experiential learning, language acquisition and literacy competency – essential precursors to overall academic achievement and long-term success across all subject areas. Childsplay believes that by continuing to create strikingly original theatre and connecting to young people’s learning potential, we can build a generation of creative learners, innovative thinkers and dynamic leaders.