Jared is a proud 2004 graduate of the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theater at the University of Oklahoma, where, in 2025, he was recognized as an Arts Luminary with an award highlighting his career accomplishments in celebration of the College of Fine Arts Centennial. He is a producer, director, actor, and designer who co-founded Stage Center and Stage Center’s School of Performing Arts, Shreveport, LA. He served as Artistic Director from its inception in 2012 and was promoted to Producing Artistic Director in 2020. He has produced and/or directed more than 100 productions in his current position, including musical and non-musical plays (and even a few film adaptions during the pandemic.) Most recently, he served as the associate director to longtime collaborator, Zhailon Levingston, on the NY City Center Encores! Production of Wonderful Town, starring Tony®-winner Anika Noni Rose.

He first began working with the creative team as the assistant director/choreographer to his nationally renowned mentor, Lyn Cramer, on Smokey Joe’s Café (Lyric OKC), in addition to working with her on productions of Sweet Charity, Nine (OU), and more recently he produced her production of the farce POTUS (for Stage Center.)

Before officially relocating back home from New York City, he represented many Broadway productions as a marketing associate for Broadway.com. He was also selected for the 2006 class of the Directors Lab at the prestigious Lincoln Center Theater. He has had the honor of working with many esteemed Tony®-winning professionals, including a casting internship with the Telsey Office, working on the Broadway and National productions of Wicked, The Color Purple, Rent, Leap of Faith, and the Off-Broadway revival of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars. He spent 5 seasons as a professional actor working with Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, appearing in 18 major musicals.

He made his solo directorial debut in 2007 with the play Almost, Maine, for which he received the August Staub New Directors Award from the Southwest Theater and Film Association.  Subsequently, Mr. Watson spent 2 years establishing the Talented Arts Program with a theater emphasis for the Bossier Parish School Board and currently serves as a state certified evaluator for that program in Northwest Louisiana. In 2011, Mr. Watson completed a directing residency with Shreveport Little Theater where he co-founded their academy, directing many productions for young people. He has also directed educational stage productions for Centenary College, and Peter Pan Players. His students have been internationally recognized with many awards for their work at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, GA.

Mr. Watson, who was honored as one of the top “40 Under 40” by the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and the Young Professionals Initiative, and participated in the Observership Program of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, sits on the advisory board of BPCC Theatre. Along with his SC colleagues, he received a Special Resolution of Recognition by the Caddo Parish Commission when they declared January 5th, 2023, as ‘Stage Center Day’ in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, in recognition and in acknowledgement of the ongoing extraordinary contributions made by this institution, through which it has reflected much honor, prestige, and pride upon this community.”

Candy has been participating behind the scenes of Stage Center since its first season in 2012 with Sweeney Todd. From Stage Managing to Costuming, she has served in almost every job capacity backstage. 

She is not stranger to the non-profit world, serving in non-profit since 2012. 

Carson is a vocalist, pianist, and arts administrator based in Shreveport, Louisiana. He holds a B.A. in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance from Centenary College of Louisiana. Carson studied classical voice and piano during his undergraduate years and continues to grow as a musician through performing, teaching, and working behind the scenes in the arts. He works with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra as both Production Coordinator and Marketing & Development Coordinator, and also serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Company Repertory Theatre. Alongside his classical background, Carson has extensive experience performing in musical theatre, which enriches his dynamic and versatile approach to teaching. He is passionate about helping students find joy in the process of learning and build lasting confidence through music.

Kaitlyn was born and raised in Northwest Louisiana. She grew up training in dance at multiple studios throughout the area, and has performed with local organizations including the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, LA Dance Collective and local film productions. She pursues her love for dance and storytelling as a choreographer for Stage Center and Stage Center’s School of Performing Arts. Her most recent work includes Hairspray, Six (Teen Edition), and SpongeBob Squarepants: The Musical. At Stage Center, Kaitlyn has served as the choreographer for the Performance Team which travels to compete at the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta, GA. Kaitlyn’s original choreography was awarded Excellence in Dance at this festival for her work on Moana Jr and Beetlejuice Jr. Kaitlyn has continued to take numerous masterclasses through Broadway Dance Center to further her expertise. She is also an accomplished short film director; winning multiple awards for her comedic short films. When she is not creating, she works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Kaitlyn dreams of following in the footsteps of her fellow female storytellers and truly believes in “girl power”. She currently lives in Shreveport, LA with her husband, Arms Brown, and daughter, Zoë Brown. She strives each day to make her inner child, family, and beloved cat, Dobby, proud. Kaitlyn is excited to return to teach dance at Stage Center’s SOPA.

Taylor Deville is a filmmaker, video editor, and lifelong dancer who loves sharing her knowledge and passion through teaching. With more than two decades of dance training, Taylor has had the opportunity to learn under a variety of well-known ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and hip-hop instructors. Her expertise and strong passion for tap allowed her to travel around the United States to train under renowned tap choreographers such as Anthony Morigerato, Chloe Arnold, Ryan Lohoff, Gregg Russell, Angela Carter, Mike Minery, Jason Samuels-Smith, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, and Oralis Ashley. Taylor began her teaching career seven years ago and she is beyond excited to continue teaching and choreographing at Stage Center this year. 

Anne has been performing on stage and in front of a camera for most of her life; starting out at Strauss Little Theatre in Monroe at the age of 6. After landing her first lead role as Stuart Little in Stuart Little, there was no going back. She has danced with Twin City Ballet’s senior company, performed with CA Studio in roles such as Nora Helmer in A Doll’s House, Natalie Talmadge in Stoneface: The rise and fall and rise of Buster Keaton, and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. She also performed at Canterbury as Lorna in Out of Love, and originated the role of Harper in the television pilot of Aquatics.

She has also enjoyed choreographing at Stage Center; Aladdin Kids, Jungle Book Kids, Six! Junior Edition, and Sessuical Kids. She is excited to return for another year at Stage Center!!!

Katie grew up loving music, and took voice and piano lessons as a child till adulthood. She graduated from Centenary College in 2006 with a degree in vocal music education, and has been teaching music in Caddo and Bossier parish schools ever since. She has been with the Talented Arts Program in Bossier since 2016, teaching voice and specializing in classical repertoire for students. In the fall of 2023, Katie came on board with Stage Center’s School of Performing Arts, and has loved being part of the children’s team there, music directing plays and co-teaching Triple Threat classes. Favorite roles and performances include Pamina in The Magic Flute, Lady Psyche in Princess Ida, Glinda in scenes from Wicked, Jacey Squires in the barbershop quartet of The Music Man, and being a soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah. Katie sings and plays guitar regularly at her home church, occasionally composes worship music, and loves being a wife to husband Caleb and a mom of three.

Charlie is a graduate of the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse at Centenary College of Louisiana, where he earned a degree in Theatre Studies with a concentration in Acting Performance. Trained in a wide range of acting techniques, characterization, and performance etiquette, he brings a rich skill set and deep knowledge to the next generation of young performers. Charlie is thrilled to join the Stage Center teaching staff and looks forward to an exciting and inspiring journey with his students.