About CharACTers

CharACTers Entertainment was originally founded and created by Cody and Santana Carlton in 2007. The first CharACTers production was High School Musical, in conjunction with The Theatre of Gadsden at the Historic Ritz Theatre in Alabama City. It was performed in late summer 2007. Shortly after, Annie, the first sole production by CharACTers, was produced in April 2008. Without a permanent place to call home, CharACTers shows were performed at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center in Gadsden, AL. Rehearsal spaces were limited, so the cast members had to jump around from venue to venue for a few productions. But as they say in this business, the show MUST go on. And it did indeed "go on."

In late 2008, CharACTers decided to branch out and create a performing arts school, where students could go and attend classes in acting, dancing, and musical theatre. It was originally called Carlton Academy of Fine Arts, but the name was later changed to CharACTers Academy of Fine Arts.

In August 2009, CharACTers officially became a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Public Foundation.

Still without a permanent home, CharACTers has since performed at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center, The Pitman Theatre in Gadsden, and Elliott Community Center in Alabama City. 

Currently, CharACTers has branched out even more with CharACTers Children's Theatre and we hope to continue growing every year!

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Our main goal

The primary goal of CharACTers is to promote cultural curiosity. We want our performances to make a connection to the mind, heart and spirit of our audiences; creating and stimulating a hunger for the experiences only achieved through the arts. As a theatre group in the community, CharACTers largely depends on the commitment and dedication of its many volunteers who donate their time and talent on stage and behind the scenes, from actors and stage crew to box office attendants and family members.

This blend of actors, staff and community volunteers allows CharACTers to achieve its goal of providing enjoyable entertainment. Each production consist of all volunteers, a combination of young and old, first time actors and very skilled and seasoned actors. You can be sure that any involvement will produce great pride in the end result. We encourage all volunteers. If you have an interest we will find a way for you to participate.

As you may be aware, theatre can be beneficial for the youth of our community and their families in many ways: by developing their self confidence and imaginations, teaching them the techniques of drama and dance, motivating them to learn about their community and become more involved citizens.

We have worked with organizations, such a Big Brothers/Big Sisters, many times to provide their patrons with such opportunities. Through your contribution to CharACTers, Inc., you are also able to invest in our children’s futures.

CharACTers, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Public Foundation. We are both State and Federally recognized as a non-profit organization!  and experience the magic that is Theatre! 

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cody Carlton - President

Cody Carlton is the Executive Artistic Director as well as the Main Stage Director for CharACTers Theatrics. Cody began performing at the age of 12 with his first role as The Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart’s Oliver! and has been involved ever since.  Cody has performed in well over 50 productions playing such roles as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, and Emmett in Legally Blonde the Musical. Cody began directing at the age of 15 with his first show, Disney’s The Jungle Book, which received rave reviews and had a completely sold out run.   At the age of 16, Cody formed CharACTers Theatrics in Gadsden, Alabama. Over the past 7 years, Cody has directed over 40 productions. Some of Cody’s most recent directing credits include Shrek the Musical, Spamalot, and Peter Pan. Cody has also written six play adaptations including Tom Sawyer, Pride and Prejudice, and A Christmas Carol. 

Cody also serves as the President of the CharACTers Board of Directors.

In addition to theatre, Cody currently attends Jacksonville State University and will graduate May 2015 with a BS in English Language Arts Secondary Education.  He is married to Santana Carlton who currently serves as the director of the CharACTers Children’s Theatre.  Cody and Santana work as a production duo on many productions with Cody as the director and Santana as the choreographer. 

Cody is excited about the future of CharACTers and looks forward to seeing the organization reach new heights. 

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Ken Staeck - Vice-President

Ken was born in 1957 in a small town in western Wyoming. At the age of six, his family moved to Long Beach, California. They moved again in 1966 to their new house in Seal Beach. This is where Ken would attend school through high school and on to the Dental Technology Institute. After 9 years as a Dental Technician and due to the economy, it was once again time for Ken to make a career change.

1983 finds Ken as a stevedore superintendent working vessels at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, California. In 1987, he moved to San Francisco to work for another stevedore company. A year later, he was hired by American Honda Motor Co. to be a distribution field rep in Denver, Colorado.

In Denver, Ken met and married Michelle Keys, and just 6 months later, they were moving to Southern California. Garden Grove to be exact. During their stay in Southern California, Ken's two children, Aspen and Cody, were born. In 1996, they moved to San Diego to open a new port operation for Honda.  In 1998, they moved again to Ohio to work at the Honda Manufacturing Distribution Centers.

In 2004, they moved again to Weatherford, Texas. Here they became involved with a large homeschool group. Cody & Aspen did small performances, 4H group, baseball, and other events. Within a year and a half, Honda had them move again to Lincoln Alabama. They found a house in the rural Ohatchee area.    

After getting used to hearing, “Y’all ain’t from around here”, Michelle & and his son found the CharACTers Academy for Fine Arts.  During his family's first CharACTers production, Ken assisted taking tickets. The next year, CharACTers staged “Oliver!".  Ken & Cody assisted with set construction and set up.  At this time, Cody Carlton asked Ken to play a small part. He even got to shoot Bill Sikes.

That was just over five years ago. Theatre is now a big part of Ken and his family's lives. Michelle does costumes; Aspen & Cody do some productions or work backstage.

Ken is very proud to be associated with CharACTers Theatrics as a Board Member. Ken believes that CharACTers and CCT Kids is making a positive impact for the Arts in Northeast Alabama, and he says that CharACTers is truly a  blessing to be part of. 

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Santana McKinney-Carlton - Secretary/Treasurer

Santana currently serves as the Children's Theatre Director and Lead Choreographer for CharACTers as well as the Director/Instructor to the award winning CCT KIDS Competition and Performance Troupe and the Musical Theatre 101 class. She has performed in numerous productions within the past eight years. Some of her favorite roles include Peter Pan in Peter Pan the Musical, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical, Amber von Tussel in Hairspray, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Santana has also choreographed for other organizations such as The Theatre of Gadsden, Heritage Hall’s Arts Education Program, and 21 Century After-School and Summer Programs. Santana has been working in the Visual and Performing Arts field with children for 8 years. She has two Associate’s Degrees in Art and Business from Gadsden State Community College. Santana is currently attending Jacksonville State University where she is studying Technical Theatre. 

Santana is a woman who wears many hats. Not only does she perform and teach, she is also involved in the "technical" and business side of CharACTers. She currently serves as the Treasurer/Secretary for the CharACTers Board of Directors. She is the resident Graphic Designer and spends most of her spare time designing all the posters, programs, banners, t-shirts, and more for CharACTers. Santana is also the Event Coordinator and works continuously to make "CharACTers" a house-hold name.

Santana stays very busy working on the scenic design as Lead Charge Artist for all CharACTers productions. Each time you attend a CharACTers production, you are seeing original artwork by Santana!

In her very little free time, Santana enjoys working on craft projects. She loves to host parties and entertain. She coordinates birthday and holiday parties for her friends, family, and students. She also makes and decorates cakes as a hobby! 

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Debra Whittaker - Board Member

Debra Whittaker became involved with CharACTers when her daughter joined the CCT Kids Performance and Competition Team in 2012.  Since then, Debra has volunteered backstage, made costumes, constructed sets, advertised, and raised funds.  She even made her stage debut as Lord Farquaad’s guard in Shrek the Musical.  To her, CharACTers is an organization her entire family can get involved with.  Three of her children have performed with CharACTers, and two of her other children have helped with set construction and as backstage hands. 

Debra has always been an avid volunteer.  In the past, she has given her time, energy, and money to various organizations such as the March of Dimes, Children’s Hospital of Alabama, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, the Spirit of Anniston, and the Noble Street Festival.  She is the proud mother to five children, and in her spare time she is the Engineering Manager at Aerospace Coatings International.  

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Daniel Henson - Board Member

Daniel Henson is a native of Glencoe, Alabama.  He has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University and is employed by TGI, a software development company based in Madison, Alabama.  

Daniel began working with CharACTers in March 2013 when his oldest daughter was cast in Suessical.  He enjoys working behind the scenes with the technical aspects of the shows.  

CharACTers is something Daniel feels brings families together and provides opportunities for the entire family to get involved.  He also feels CharACTers provides opportunities in the arts that children and families might not be exposed to otherwise.  Daniel considers it a honor and privilege to be a part of such a fantastic organization.

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CharACTers Community Ambassador Board Members

Jackie Brehm Edmondson - Communications Manager - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

·         Communications Manager at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
·         Graduate of Troy University
·         Married to Todd; mother to Sarah Kate, 11, and Mary Elizabeth, 9
·         Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the United Way of Etowah County
·         Chairperson of the Industrial Division for the United Way of Etowah County
·         Chairperson of the American Heart Association's Heart Walk
·         Chairperson of the Mayor's Ball Committee
·         Member of Leadership Link for the Business Council of Alabama
·         Board of Directors for the Gadsden Public Library Foundation
·         Member of the Leadership Etowah Planning Committee
·         Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Gadsden/Etowah
·         President of Club Blue, an advocacy group for the Boys and Girls Club
·         Board of Directors of Arts for Kids.

Jackie has this to say about CharACTers, "Some of my most prized memories as a child are when my parents would take me to see a play. I loved everything from "Annie" to "The Secret Garden" to "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" to "Cinderella." The moment I saw Annie walk on the stage in her rags and red wig, I was hooked. It was all magical to me. As an adult, I'm still an avid fan of live theater. My two daughters and I travel all over the state to see live theater -- especially musicals. At just 11 and 9 years old, my girls have seen over 40 plays.....and some of the best we've seen are right here in our own backyard. We are still talking about "Shrek," "Hairspray," "The Music Man," "Peter Pan" and "Wizard of Oz," to name a few! CharACTers has grown to be a fantastic theatre group. It rivals any that we've seen in our state! We never miss a show. The talent is incredible; set design is amazing; choreography just keeps getting better and better. It's the best entertainment in town and it's affordable for everyone. We are very lucky to have CharACTers in Etowah County!"

"We've all heard it before -- art influences learning! It ignites engagement, thinking, creativity and achievement. With the decline in funding for the arts in our public education systems, community organizations that provide the arts are more important than ever. Because of CharACTers, children in Etowah County and surrounding communities are able to grow through performance art. This has a tremendous impact on their social skills, their academic performance and, most importantly, their self-confidence and awareness.....no matter their socio-economic status. CharACTers does not discriminate. It's all encompassing and inclusive, and that's so important for the children of today."

M. Kay Moore - Director - Downtown Gadsden, Inc.

Kay is a native of Gadsden and prior to accepting the position of Director of Downtown Gadsden Inc. In October 2007, she was a career banker with Compass Bank for 30 years and enjoyed a 2.5 year career in the mortgage industry.

She attended school in the Gadsden City system.  She is a graduate of the University of Alabama and obtained her Bachelors of Science Degree from the College of Human Environmental Science through the Distance Learning program available at the University of Alabama Gadsden Center.

Moore is the past Chairman of the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts Board and also served as Treasurer and more recently as Secretary.  She has held all offices in the Gadsden Lions Club and currently serves as Treasurer.  She is a member of the Board of Trustees at Riverview Regional Medical Center and is active in many other community activities in Etowah County.  Moore is a member of the First Baptist Church in Gadsden where she is directors of the TV ministry. 

Kay says this about CharACTers, “I have been a fan of CharACTers Entertainment for many years.  I have watched Cody Carlton lead many as a very young man.  He and the crew have now moved up to another level as they continue to bring amazing talent to provide exciting entertainment to Gadsden and the surrounding area!  CharACTers is a tremendous benefit to our community and deserves our unwavering support.”

Heather Brothers New - President - The Chamber, Gadsden & Etowah County

Previous Jobs:   Non-profit fundraiser, disaster response and emergency management, business manager in land development, fire & rescue, information specialist for water & sewer authority, graphic arts director for magazine & ad firm, obituary clerk

Family:  Spouse – Blake New
Children – Quintan Brothers (19), Savannah New (17) & Ashby New (14)

Hobbies:  Painting, writing poetry, crocheting

Activities of Interest:  bass fishing, boating, back-porching it with friends

City of Residence:  Gadsden

Burning Desire:  To exceed expectations.

Favorite Quote:  Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week. – Jay-Z

Key to success:  Mother Teresa said “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love”. In the end, the only success that will ever really matter to any of us is that we loved and were loved.  The greatest success is when we grow to love even those that hurt us. What better reward could we give ourselves than to be full of love?

Heather has this to say about CharACTers, "Over the past few years, CharACTers has catapulted live theater into the spotlight in Etowah County. They've grown from a small troupe of performers to a community theater group that commands large audiences as well as respect from all of us who love the performing arts. I've personally watched performances captivate and ticket sales grow through the years. I'm proud that we have this caliber of entertainment in our community."

"CharACTers not only entertains but it provides performance opportunities for students who otherwise would never step foot on a stage. It gives young people a place to grow as performers and a place where they belong. I'm honored to be a part of that as a member of the new community board."