Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy Names New Education Director

HUNTSVILLE – Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy has a new education director. After a nationwide search, Taylor Bogan has been named to fill the position. She will join FPCTA starting July 3.

“We are incredibly excited to have Taylor joining us at FPCTA,” said Karen Mockensturm, Executive Director. “Her decades of experience in the classroom and background in theatre for young audiences will undoubtedly bring new and exciting educational offerings to our families and our region.”

“I am thrilled to join the FPCTA team on their mission to enrich the lives of children and families through arts education,” stated Taylor Bogan. “I am excited to share my knowledge and passion for the arts with the greater Huntsville community. I am honored to continue a legacy of high-quality arts education experiences at FPCTA.”

Taylor Bogan is an actor, singer, director, and arts educator who grew up on the New Jersey Shore. She began her career at seven, auditioning for film, tv, and theatre in New York City before attending the Performing Arts Academy High School as an acting major. In 2013, Taylor received her B.A. in Theatre and Minor in Musical Theatre from Monmouth University in Long Branch, New Jersey.

In the following years, Taylor toured as a vocalist with Australian music artist Turk Tresize, co-hosted a video blog series, worked as a freelance voiceover artist, and performed at various theatres in the tri-state area. While continuing to audition and perform, Taylor co-founded the JoiStar Summer Intensive, a triple-threat summer arts camp for students of all ages, which ignited her passion for teaching.

In 2016, Taylor became the Vocal Director of Manasquan Music & Dance Academy, where she coached the award-winning children’s vocal team, The Vocal Stars, taught various voice and acting courses, and served as Studio Manager.

In 2022, Taylor received a Dual Track M.F.A. in Theatre for Young Audiences (Directing concentration) and Acting from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. While studying in Hawaii, she was an Acting Lecturer at the university, teaching Intro to Acting, World Theatre, and Acting for TV & Film. She was a Jim Rye Fellow at the International Performing Arts for Youth Conference and has been an invited presenter at the Hawaii Book and Music Festival, and Artists Meet Early Years, Italy.

Taylor has received the John Young Scholarship in the Arts, the Glenn Cannon Award for Excellence in Acting, and the Tara Montgomery Award for Excellence in Theatre for Young Audiences. Most recently, Taylor was teaching middle school theatre arts courses in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Her favorite productions include Interstellar Cinderella (Director/Cinderella), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky), and Eddie Wen Go (Assistant Director). Taylor’s passions in the arts include social-emotional learning, devised theatre, and accessible arts education for everyone.

FPCTA’s upcoming 63rd Season of four productions features three world premieres, A Christmas Carol, Rapunzel & the Beanstalk, and Space Monkeys! The Adventures of Baker and Able, and The Jungle Book. For more information, go to www.fantasyplayhouse.org.