TNEDTA Board of Directors

The theatre teacher and director for Independence High School, She began her teaching career after graduating from Concordia University Chicago with a degree in speech and theatre. While teaching in Chicago, she brought back the musical after a 20 year hiatus and directed a total of five shows. She moved to Tennessee in 2007 and founded T-Time Productions at Independence in the fall of 2009 and has directed 12 main stage productions since including Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Crucible, Big Fish, and Hairspray. When time allows, she gives private acting lessons and dabbles in script writing.

Conner Meinhart is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Source One Five, a nonprofit theatre company founded in 2019 with a mission to provide free, audition-based, professional productions to the community.

A proud graduate of Columbia College Chicago, Conner holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance and brings over a decade of performance experience to his work, blending artistic insight with strategic leadership.

Outside the theatre world, Conner serves as Head of Operations for Compass RE, supporting Real Estate teams across Tennessee, Missouri, and Kansas.

Passionate about building connections, Conner is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for collaboration, networking, and growth throughout Tennessee’s theatre community.

Savannah Aiello has worked in education for over a decade, serving Williamson County Schools as a digital learning designer and speech and theatre teacher at Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee. Aiello has also performed and worked with local children’s theatre groups in the area, including Bravo Creative Arts Center and Williamson County Star Bright Players. She currently serves as technical director at Independence High School and assists with Thescon, the state high school theatre conference. Aiello was recently elected to serve as secretary on the board of directors of Pull-Tight Players, where she frequently stage manages shows and serves as a social media and Instagram moderator. Aiello graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and lives in Franklin with her husband Sean, who is an attorney and a Williamson County Commissioner.

Karen Joy Thomas earned her BA in Vocal Performance from Spring Arbor University, where she studied music and theatre, and furthered her lifelong love of the Arts. Entering the professional world, Karen Joy taught private voice lessons and performed professionally in the US and Europe before moving to Nashville in 2000 to develop young artists in the music business.

Karen Joy has a long history in the realm of theater both as an actor and as a director, and she is proud to have worked both in professional and educational settings throughout her career. She is a member of the Educational Theatre Association.

Currently, Ms. Thomas is in her 17th year at Christ Presbyterian Academy and serves the as an instructor of US Theatre, Arts & Activism, and Art of Film, producer of Coffeehouse, director of the One Act productions, Co-Director of the Mainstage show, Assistant Director on the musical, and sponsor of Thespians.

Allie Spengler is a performer and arts educator based in Nashville, TN. A proud Williamson County native, Allie grew up attending Thescon and is thrilled to now serve on its board. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Western Carolina University and has performed at regional theatres and theme parks across the country, with credits including Nashville Repertory Theatre, Franklin Theatrical Fellowship, Old Creamery Theatre, and RWS & Associates.

In addition to her work on stage, Allie is passionate about arts education and currently serves as a supplemental theatre educator at Independence High School. She also contributes to her community through her work with Habitat for Humanity.

Annie Rice is the theater director at Summit High School, having helped open the school 15 years ago and was named the school’s Teacher of the Year in its inaugural year.  Entering her 20th year of teaching, she has directed over 40 productions, one of which she co-wrote with some of her students.  A Middle Tennessee native, Annie graduated from Brentwood High School (where she attended ThesCon as a student), attended Lipscomb University where she earned a BA in English and Theater Education, and has performed around the mid state with several local theaters.  When not teaching or directing, Annie is a home baker specializing in cakes.

ThesFest Committee

Aly Isom is a dedicated theatre educator and director with over 15 years of experience inspiring creativity, leadership, and excellence in students. As Theatre Director (2005–Present), Aly has directed over 40 plus productions, including Matilda Jr., Seussical Jr., and Aladdin Jr., investing 150+ hours per show to hone students’ skills in acting, singing, dancing, and technical theatre. She leads the Junior International Thespian Society, fostering student-driven leadership, and serves as Williamson County Schools’ Fine Arts Theatre Team Lead, mentoring educators and promoting collaboration.

At Bradley Academy (2008–2017), Aly directed acclaimed productions like Lion King Jr. and Peter Pan Jr., earning the Freddie Gershon Award for Teaching Excellence in Musical Theatre (2015). Her programs consistently ranked in the top 4–10% at the Junior Theatre Festival, securing awards like “Excellence in Music” and “Outstanding Production.” She raised substantial funds to support student performances. Her innovative drama program was featured in the Southeastern Study, a prominent U.S. educational publication.

Aly has developed comprehensive theatre curricula and partnered with organizations like the Tennessee Arts Commission, University of Tennessee- Chattanooga, and Middle Tennessee State University. Her accolades include Teacher of the Year (Williamson County, 2022; Murfreesboro City Schools, 2013) and the Tennessee Volunteer Award for Service (2021). Early in her career, she directed award-winning one-acts at BYU-Idaho and served as a scenic artist for productions like Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof etc. Aly’s passion for theatre education continues to cultivate well-rounded, creative students and vibrant theatrical communities.

ThesFest Committee

Donovan Hughes is a Memphis native who found his way to Middle Tennessee to study Theatre at MTSU. He received his B.S. in Theatre in 2019 with a focus on Performance and Production Management. Donovan has spent the last three years as the Theatre Teacher at Page Middle School and will now be serving as the head of Theatre at Page High School! 

ThesCon Committee

ThesCon Committee