STE(A)M is the power that ignites learning. – Karen Mockensturm

I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Mockensturm, Executive Director of Fantasy Children’s Theatre and Academy, an amazing children’s theatre that I was lucky to attend, act with, and even assist with classes as a child.

1. What skills do you think “theatre kids” learn that are valuable to them in their later careers? 

We at FPCTA have a big mural in the lobby that reads Learning Life Skills Through Stage Skills.  Life skills are what workforce development professionals now call “power skills”: self confidence, verbal communication, impactful listening, a team-oriented approach to work, creative problem solving, time-management, perseverance, and empathy.  

2. As a business woman, what correlations do you find between the arts and business in your day to day activities?

 Luckily for me my business is solely revolving around an organization that is dedicated to producing theatre for families and providing arts education to students aged 3-18.  Having been heavily involved in the Greater Huntsville business community for the past decade, I have observed first-hand that successful business leaders share the same kind of creative thinking and vision casting as artists.  Successful business teams highly resemble the theatrical teams that create a play. Each designer, actor, and technician brings his/her skills to successfully execute the director’s vision of the playwright’s story.  

3. The Little Actress That Could is about promoting the Arts in STEM; what are your thoughts on creating a culture in schools that promotes the arts and STEM? 

STE(A)M is the power that ignites learning. FPCTA provides the youth in our communities with hands-on technical theatre training that marries STEM fundamentals with the artistry of theatrical production. This hands on training provides exposure, mentoring opportunities, and production experience; all early workforce development leading to professional, creative career options. Studies link exposure to drama, music, and dance directly to student success. Furthermore, theatre production encourages creative problem solving and critical thinking that is required for successful scientific study while providing a fun, highly interactive learning environment outside  the traditional classroom or lab. Theatre uniquely connects memorization and scientific analysis to real life experience.  

4. What’s one piece of advice you would give to students graduating college with their theatre degree? 

I have two.  First and foremost: don’t tie your self-worth to your rate of booking the next gig. Rejection in this business is hard, find your peace and joy in the everyday. 

Secondly, take at least one business course (learn basic quick books!). It will serve you well.

About Karen: 

Karen Mockensturm – Executive Director, Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy. Karen holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida. A member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Screen Actors’ Guild and the American Federation of Radio & Television Artists, Karen’s 16 year professional acting career (as Karen Hinton) included work in radio, television, film, improvisational comedy, and regional theater across the country. Favorite roles include: She in Maybe Baby, It’s You!, Viola in Twelfth Night, Frenchy in Grease, Kyra in Skylight, and Mary in Vanities. Some of Karen’s most important work offstage was as a teaching artist and acting instructor at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia and with the Roundabout Theatre Company, Creative Acting Company, and Broadway Classroom in New York City. Karen relocated to Huntsville in November of 2002. After almost a decade in the transportation industry, she was honored to take the helm at Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy (FPCTA) in 2012. Under her leadership, FPCTA has experienced unprecedented growth in both programmatic reach and revenues and was named the 2017 Non-profit of the Year by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Karen served as the 2018 President for the Women’s Economic Development Council. She has served as a grant panelist for the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the ALSDE Arts Integration Grant Program and as a member of Mayor Tommy Battle’s Arts & Culture Advisory Council. An alumni of Leadership Greater Huntsville’s Flagship Class 31 and Focus 28, she received the Madison Alabama Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Award for Excellence in Service and Leadership and was recognized by the Girl Scouts of North Alabama as a 2018 Woman of Distinction. Karen believes in the power of theatre and arts education to serve as a change agent in today’s digital world and is deeply grateful to be part of a community that values creativity in all its forms.

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