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 Chairman
E.F. Bluestein
E. Frank Bluestein is the chairman of the Fine Arts Department at Germantown High School. He is founder and director of the school's theatre, the Poplar Pike Playhouse, and also serves as executive producer for the school's three million dollar educational television facility. In 1998, USA Today named Mr. Bluestein as one of the top 40 teachers in the United States. Two years earlier, he was selected as the 1996 Disney and McDonald's National Performing Arts Teacher of the Year. In 1994, Mr. Bluestein was chosen to serve as Tennessee's Teacher of the Year. He is a past winner of the American Theatre Association's John C. Barner Award, a national award given to one secondary school teacher whose theatre program is judged most exemplary for the year. Mr. Bluestein has served as an arts advisory panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, the College Board Arts Advisory Committee, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and the Tennessee Arts Commission. He is a former president of both the Tennessee Alliance for Arts Education and the Germantown Arts Alliance. Mr. Bluestein supervises the theatre division of the Tennessee Arts Academy, a statewide teacher training institute. He was named to Memphis Magazine's "Who's Who in Memphis" poll and was presented a community service award for his accomplishments in education by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Under Mr. Bluestein's leadership, the studios of GHS-TV have received Emmy and Cable Ace Award nominations, over 70 first place Hometown Video USA Awards, and a national Student Emmy Award of Excellence. In 1984, he helped the Germantown High School Fine Arts Department become one of eight secondary schools in the nation chosen to receive the prestigious Rockefeller Brothers Fund Arts in Education Award. Mr. Bluestein has served as a director of shows at Opryland, USA and most recently wrote and directed the musical review Beale Street Saturday Night starring blues legend Joyce Cobb. He is a frequent speaker and writer on arts-related issues.
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 Conductor
Lanny Byrd
Lanny Byrd is in his twenty-fourth year with the Fine Arts Department at Germantown High School where he serves as chairman of the Music Department. A Memphis native, he graduated from Overton High School and received his Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of Memphis. Mr. Byrd has performed with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and also with various well-known recording artists such as Barry Manilow and jazz trumpet great, Marvin Stamm. Before coming to Germantown, he developed an award-winning band program at Sky View Academy. Mr. Byrd is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the Mid-South. He is an active member in Music Educators National Conference, Tennessee Music Educators Association, and the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association. Mr. Byrd directs the Concert, Jazz, and Marching bands at Germantown High School, all of which consistently receive superior ratings at contests and festivals.
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 Choral Director
Steve Danielson
This year is Steve Danielson's fourth year as the choral director at Germantown High School. Having graduated from Houston High School and then completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Brigham Young University, Mr. Danielson returned to Memphis to pursue a master's degree in Conducting at the University of Memphis. While at the U of M, Mr. Danielson was the assistant conductor for the University Singers and Chamber Choir. He also had opportunities to guest conduct rehearsals of the Memphis Symphony Chorus and the Memphis Vocal Arts Ensemble. Mr. Danielson has soloed with both the Vocal Arts Ensemble and the Symphony Chorus. His theater credits include roles in Man of La Mancha, The Ugly Duckling, Calvary, Gianni Schicchi, and Carmen. He is an active member of the Music Educators National Conference and the West Tennessee Vocal Music Educators Association. Mr. Danielson and his wife, Angi, have three children.
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 Video Coordinator
Jordan Liles
Jordan Liles is in his fourth year as GHS-TV staff, but he's not a new face around the studio. A 2001 graduate of the fine arts department, Mr. Liles was actively involved with GHS-TV, technically producing such shows as Election Night 200 and Auction 2001. He went on to graduate from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in broadcast journalism. In addition, he has contributed to stories for MTV News Online, international video game magazines, and for California-based website giants IGN Entertainment and GameSpy. Mr. Liles was granted a rare and exclusive interview with the CEO, president and creative VP of Rockstar Games, creators of the popular video game "Grand Theft Auto". He has also interned with Blue Sky Filmworks in the summer of 2005.
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 Theatre Arts Teacher
Allison Rogers
Allison Rogers is in her sixth year on the Fine Arts Department staff. A 1994 graduate of Germantown High School, Ms. Rogers appeared in the Poplar Pike Playhouse productions of The Nerd, Once On This Island and Can't Stop Dancin'. Ms. Rogers attended Baylor University where she received a B.B.A. in Broadcasting. Before returning to Germantown, she worked with Susquehanna Broadcasting, CBS Promotions Group and ABC Radio in Dallas. Ms. Rogers currently teaches Communication Arts and Introduction to Film & Video.
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.jpg) Theatre Arts Teacher
Courtney Smith
Ms. Smith is in her fourth year at Germantown High School, though she is no stranger to the PPP. A 2000 graduate, Ms. Smith was the general manager of GHS-TV and costume manager for the Poplar Pike Playhouse. After graduating, Ms. Smith attended The University of Southern Illinois where she recieved a Bachelor of Arts. Ms. Smith teaches Intro to Film and Video, and Film and Video II.
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 Theatre Arts Teacher
Kirie Walz
Kirie Walz is a 2004 graduate of Germantown High School. She returns to the PPP after earning a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Memphis. Mrs. Walz has worked at several theatres in the Memphis area including Theatre Memphis and Playhouse On the Square. She recently received an Ostrander award for Leading Actress in a Musical in the U of M's production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Other favorite productions include Elegies: A Song Cycle, Big River, Assassins, Noises Off, Parade, and Aida. Mrs. Walz currently teaches theatre and acting.
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 Publicity Supervisor
Ted Beasley
Ted Beasley joined the GHS-TV staff in 2006 after spending two years as the sports editor of the Evening Times newspaper. His sports section won five state awards in his two years. Mr. Beasley's feature pieces on a football team overcoming the near death of a teammate and of the fine line fathers must watch while coaching their own children each garnered top honors. Mr. Beasley earned B.A.s in Broadcast Journalism and Technical Writing from the University of Memphis. In 2002, he received the university's Outstanding Broadcast Student award. He is a 1998 graduate of White Station High School.
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 Theatre Arts Teacher
Patrick Ashcraft
Patrick Lee Ashcraft began his career in the arts starring as a child actor in such films as Heavy Weights, Angus and Menace II Society. A graduate of Germantown High School, Patrick went on to act, direct, write and sound desgin over twenty playings in Iowa City, Iowa. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Patrick double-majored in Theatre and Cinema. Favorite theatrical works include Woyzeck, The Puzzle Locker, Orson Welles Is Dead, The Beguiled and Little Shop of Horrors. Patrick's talents in puppetry, sound, playwritting and multiple-character work formed the produced works The Death of Pimpleville, The Invisible Man, Quote Boy and Ethan: The Talking Mime series at Iowa's "After Hours" Playhouse.
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 Video Coordinator
Bobby Ramsay
Bobby Ramsay is a 2004 graduate of Germantown High School. As a senior in the GHS Fine Arts Department, Mr. Ramsay served as general manager of GHS-TV and as lighting director of Wake Up, Germantown!, won a National Student Television Award of Excellence from the organization that presents television's coveted Emmy awards. In 2008, Mr. Ramsay graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media Production. Mr. Ramsay served as an intern for News Channel 5 and has worked freelance in the Nashville area. Some of his freelance projects include the 2008 Nashville Regional Emmy awards and Soundcheck: Season 2, which highlights musical groups from the Nashville and Murfreesboro area.
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 Lee Williams
Visual Arts Teacher
This is Lee Williams' second year with the Germantown High School Fine Arts Department. Mr. Williams returns to the Memphis area after teaching art in Dallas, Texas for four years, where he enjoyed painting for his friends, and rooting against the Dallas Cowboys. His hobbies include golf, painting and watching Martin Scorsese movies. He has a beagle named Marlo.
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 Ashley Burns
Visual Arts Teacher
Art Teacher Ashley Burns joined the Fine Arts staff in January 2008. Ms. Burns graduated from GHS in 1999, and got her BFA from Memphis College of Art in 2003. She is currently working towards her Masters in Art in teaching from Memphis College of Art. In her spare time, she enjoys watching LSU Tiger football and Memphis Tiger basketball.
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 Samantha Sherry
Visual Arts Teacher
Samantha Sherry is the newest addition to the GHS Visual Arts team. Ms. Sherry, a Chicago native that was raised in Arkansas, went to undergraduate school on academic and rodeo scholarships. She earned her BFA in painting and drawing and her MFA in soft sculptures on the body. She attends fashion weeks in New York City twice a year and is a fan of the Chicago Cubs.
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