Staff & Instructors
Our highly qualified and experienced team is passionate about the arts and bring a great deal of creative and knowledgeable expertise to every production.
Executive Director/Class Instructor
Lauren S. Parker
Lauren S. Parker is an award-winning and nominated artist, instructor, director, and performer who was born and raised in Gastonia, North Carolina. Lauren has been involved professionally in both performance and visual arts since 2014 and has worked with several non-profit organizations, schools and theaters in Gaston County and surrounding areas. Lauren has been with Little Theater of Gastonia since 2018, becoming the Executive Director in 2022.
Technical Director
Ethan Parker
Ethan Parker has been involved working on set construction, light, sound and design for over a decade. Ethan has won several awards, including "Best Set Design" (2019) and "Best Lighting Design" (2022) in Regional BroadwayWorld Awards.
Ethan began working at Little Theater of Gastonia with his (late) friend, Adam, in 2019 before becoming the Technical Director in 2022.
Class Instructor
Shane Elks
Shane Elks has years as a performer in Musical Theatre, Opera, and Jazz fuel his passion of sharing the arts with the community. As a teacher and therapist, Shane believes in the power of expressive arts and how they act as a universal connection for us all.
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