Leadership

Jackson Rader - Company Manager

Jackson Rader is a trained actor and theatrical director from Maryville, TN. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Lee University holding degrees in Communications, Theater, Digital Media, and Graphic Design. During his time at Lee, he traveled across the United States with the University's prestigious traveling theater troupe, Kingdom Players. He also trained under the Technical Director of Lee University's theatre program and helped design, build, and execute plans regarding scenic layouts and set pieces for many shows. Jackson performed in several shows at the university with his favorite show being Tuck Everlasting (The Man in Yellow).

Jackson currently works with the award-winning children's theater company Broadway Center for the Arts, as their Company Manager and Director of Education. In these roles, he directs 8-10 shows per year, teaches acting classes, trains the Junior Theater Festival team, and directs their summer camp programs. He has trained hundreds of students in their craft. In his spare time, Jackson is a professional digital artist who enjoys traveling to comic conventions and regional art festivals where he displays and sells his creations.

Amanda Rader - Producer and Co-Founder

Amanda Rader: Amanda is a 1994 cum laude graduate of Wake Forest University with degrees in Speech Communications and Sociology. She has worked in the television and radio industries for over 35 years (Gateway Radio Works, WXII-TV, WVLT-TV and Beyond Media Television). She is the former Director of

Development and Marketing for The Episcopal School of Knoxville. She enjoys giving back to the community and has been an active volunteer and served in leadership positions with various organizations over the years including Big

Brothers/Big Sisters, Akima (a local Women’s Service Organization), The Knoxville Advertising Federation, and various ministries at Cedar Springs Presbyterian church.

She is also one of the co-founders of Broadway Center for the Arts and is very dedicated to creating opportunities for children to experience the joy of theater and the arts. As the parent of a child with special needs, she is passionate about making

the arts available to neurodiverse and physically diverse populations. Mrs. Rader has most recently joined the staff at Friends of Tennessee’s Babies with Special Needs as their Marketing Coordinator. Amanda also serves as the Executive

Director of Arts for All, a local non-profit dedicated to supporting local theater companies, schools and artistic organizations as well as advocating to make the arts

accessible to all audiences.

Dustin Rader - Artistic Director and Co-Founder

Dustin is a 1996 graduate of the University of Tennessee with

degrees in Broadcasting and Business Management. After many years in the television industry, Dustin founded Beyond Media Television where he has dedicated his professional career to producing over 1,000 hours of television programming for

over 21 networks, including winning a Regional Emmy among other professional awards. Dustin became involved in children’s theater when his oldest children (now adults) “caught the theater bug.” After several years as an active volunteer and

board member in a local theater organization and also teaching theater classes, Dustin discovered the need for additional opportunities for children to experience the joy of theater in the East Tennessee area. To that end, he and his wife founded

Broadway Center for the Arts in 2019. Dustin now divides his time professionally between producing shows for HGTV, serving as an adjunct theater professor at Maryville College, and traveling to direct live events and concerts all over the country.

Dr. Hannah "Dr. Costumes" Barnett - Lead Costumer

Laura Taliaferro - Principle Music Director

Laura Taliaferro has her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Music Education from Carson-Newman University and The University of Tennessee respectively. She also has a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Baptist University of Florida. Laura has over eighteen years of private voice instruction for students of all ages. Formerly, she was an adjunct vocal instructor for Walters State Community College in Sevierville, TN. She has

music-directed dozens of shows, including children's community theater, high school productions, and on the collegiate level.

Matt Mimbs - Guest Music Director

Matthew Mimbs is a Knoxville-based singer, actor, music director, and collaborative pianist and holds a Bachelor of Music in Church Music with a Minor in Theatre from Carson-Newman University. He has been involved in over 30 shows with CNU, Encore Theatrical, Word Players, Clarence Brown Theatre, and BCA. He is an active member of Knoxville Choral Society and Knoxville Chamber Chorale and has been a featured soloist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Matt is the Director of Music and Arts at 2nd Presbyterian Church in Knoxville and Adjunct Music Faculty at Walters State Community College.

Katie Philips - Guest Music Director

Katie Philips is an accomplished music educator and choral director from East Tennessee. She is a graduate of Maryville College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. She later received a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as well as an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lincoln Memorial University.

Since 2003, Katie has taught students in grades 4–12 and led ensembles recognized for their musical excellence. Show choirs and concert choirs under her direction consistently earned superior ratings at adjudicated festivals. In addition to directing choirs, she taught digital music, music history, and musical theatre.

She currently serves as Director of the Maryville College Youth Choir, Scottie Singers, and is actively involved in children’s musical theatre throughout the community.

Katie also teaches at Foothills Elementary School in Maryville City Schools, where she designed an arts-integrated Career Exploration class for students in Pre-K through third grade. In this role, she blends curriculum design, arts integration, and program development to help young learners discover their creativity and explore future pathways.

Ashlyn Barnett - Guest Director

Ashlyn Barnett is a graduate of Lee University with a Bachelors in Theatre Education with certification K-12. She has worked as a theatre arts teacher and director at North Whitfield Middle School in Dalton, GA for 10 years. Ashlyn is a private vocal coach with training from Lee University, Ginna Claire Mason (Wicked - Broadway and National Tour, Hallmark Network Movies), and Mary Kate Morrissey (Wicked - Broadway and National Tour, Mean Girls National Tour). Ashlyn is a member of the board of directors of Artistic Civic Theatre in Dalton, where she directs for the children’s wing of the theatre, ACT2. Ashlyn is a 2026 recipient of the Freddie G Fellowship. The Freddie G Fellowship is generously sponsored by Music Theatre International Chairman Freddie Gershon and his wife, Myrna Gershon. Directors and educators who are registered attendants for the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival are eligible to apply and interview. If chosen, teachers are awarded an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to work with industry professionals, including Team iTheatrics in a master-class setting, and a ticket to one of Broadway’s hottest-running shows. The hope is that teachers gain invaluable skills from practitioners at the top of their field to take back home to their communities. Only 5 educators are selected each year from across the globe to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. Ashlyn has directed and choreographed 10 JTF teams who have competed at JTF West, Atlanta, Online Extravaganza, and JTF Texas receiving awards in Music, Acting, Dance, Individual Performance, and Outstanding Student Choreography Awards. Some of her favorite projects include directing the regional premiere of Mean Girls High School Version with the ACT2 teen company, and James and the Giant Peach Jr with full ASL inclusion. This coming year Ashlyn is creating a performing arts company within her school system and working to create a One Act Festival for local middle school students. When she isn’t directing, she likes to perform at the community theatre, coach middle school cheerleading, go to Disney World, and take trips to New York to see as many Broadway shows as possible!

Jenny Ribble - Guest Music Director

Jenny Ribble has been teaching voice students for the past three years and recently completed the "Every Child Can" early education course through the Colorado Suzuki Institute. She is a design major at Maryville College and is a member of the MC small choral ensembles and concert choir. Some of her favorite roles with BCA have been Ursula (The Little Mermaid), Nancy (Oliver!), and Miss Hannigan (Annie JR.).

What is BCA?

Broadway Center for the Arts is an award-winning children's theater company dedicated to serving East Tennessee. We believe in the transformative power of theater and its positive impact on communities, children, and audiences alike. Each year, BCA brings 8-10 shows to life on various stages including the fabulous Nutt Theater and Flex Theater at the Clayton Center for the Arts allowing many opportunities for children and our community to experience the joy of top-tier theatrical productions.

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Opportunities

What is BCA?

From classes and camps to a traveling Junior Theater Festival team and hilarious 24-Hour Musical experiences, we provide a variety of engaging opportunities for children to be creative, forge friendships, have fun, and grow. Join us in our journey to nurture young talent and create unforgettable theatrical experiences for everyone.

Mission

What is BCA?

Mission

Our mission is to inspire creativity, grow confidence, and foster an appreciation for the arts in an inclusive environment.