Leadership
Founder
Executive Producer/Artistic Director
Krista John, M.Ed.
Krista John is an educator, leader, and entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience in education, curriculum development, school leadership, and youth arts programming. She is the Founder, Executive Producer, and Artistic Director of Williamsburg School for the Arts & Innovation.
Krista holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Education from Arizona State University. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of educational leadership roles, including teacher, curriculum director, registrar, guidance counselor, and program director. Her work has spanned traditional schools, Montessori education, and homeschooling, giving her a unique perspective on how meaningful learning experiences can be designed both inside and outside the classroom.
A lifelong lover of literature, history, and the performing arts, Krista founded Williamsburg School for the Arts & Innovation to create opportunities for young people to develop confidence, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration through authentic artistic experiences. As Executive Producer and Artistic Director, she oversees the organization’s educational programming and theatrical productions, directing and producing youth performances that bring live theatre opportunities for students and audiences throughout the Williamsburg community. She also owns The Wordsmith, a mobile bookshop that celebrates great books, storytelling, and lifelong learning.
Associate Producer
Mary Stiegelbauer
Mary A. Stigelbauer earned a BA in Dance and a minor in Classical Studies from The University of North Carolina Greensboro. While in NC she worked with Triad Stage, Greensboro Opera, Cyrus Art Production, American Dance Festival, and The Lost Colony.
In 2010, Mary moved to Virginia and started working all over the country on various projects and productions as a performer/dance captain, assistant stage manager, guest dance teacher, and guest choreographer. In 2011, Mary founded draMAStic dance works which has developed and produced 6 original productions that have gone on to be performed in numerous venues and festivals up and down the east coast. In 2015 she started a short film series collaboration, known as the Mischief Day Series, between draMAStic dance works and RAWHIDE Theatre Company. This collaboration has produced 4 short films which can be viewed on draMAStic's YouTube channel. Mary’s most recent touring project, Sherlock's Study, is an original collaboration between herself & Cat Yudain. Sherlock Holmes: The Loss at Whitechapel had its most recent run in New York.
As Associate Producer at Williamsburg School for the Arts & Innovation, Mary helps develop and expand the organization's theatre and arts programming. Drawing on her extensive experience in performance, production, choreography, and arts leadership, she supports the creation of new opportunities, community partnerships, and high-quality productions that inspire young artists and strengthen WSA's growing impact in the Williamsburg community.
Our Team
Music
Abby Blount
Abby Blount is a recent graduate from the College of William & Mary majoring in music with an emphasis in piano and piano performance. Hailing from Newport News Virginia, Abby has been playing piano since she was 5 and teaching lessons since she was 17. While at William & Mary, Abby had the opportunity to participate in numerous ensembles, accompany 5 full legth musicals, and perform in over 200 auditions. Abby is very excited to be working with W.S.A. As a music teacher and the music director this school year.
Theatre
Lyra Hale
Theatre first captured Lyra’s heart in fifth grade, and has been a driving force in her life ever since. After a myriad of productions in her youth, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in English Education and taught both Drama and English in the Hampton and Newport News public school systems. She’s excited to return to the classroom and inspire students at Williamsburg School for the Arts & Innovation with the same passion for theatre that has shaped her own journey. Outside of the classroom, she’s actively involved in the Hampton Roads theatre community. Over the past five years, she’s had the joy of performing in productions with both the Williamsburg Players and Peninsula Community Theatre. In addition to acting, she serves on the board of the Williamsburg Players and has taken on production management roles for a variety of shows, gaining valuable experience both onstage and behind the scenes. She’s also really into books, tea, and cozy sweaters.
Sewing & Costuming
Fi Heller
Fiona Heller is a new arrival to the USA! Originally from Bristol, UK she has a degree in mental health nursing and worked as a mental health nurse in many areas including forensics, Correctional Mental health and most recently Perinatal. She has been sewing and creating since she was about 5 years old with the help and guidance of her Mum and Grandma. Whilst pregnant with her first child she increased her sewing/fibre arts production making a lot of clothes for herself and her (now) children! Fi has taught several of her close adult friends to sew and since being in Virginia has been giving 1:1 weekly sewing lessons to 2 young ladies who have produced a range of pieces which they wear with pride! Fi’s approach is to follow the ideas and requirements of the student taking in their ideas and suggestions to make a truly unique piece they can truly be proud of!
Theatre
Gina Velardi
Gina Velardi is a graduate from West Virginia University (‘24) with a concentrated study in Acting. A Delaware native, Gina has performed in over 30 shows including Cinderella, Romeo + Juliet, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She has also been seen working at various theme parks with costumed characters, including Hershey Park with Jolly Rancher (JR), and Busch Gardens Williamsburg with the Sesame Street crew. Throughout her college career she has learned and perfected voice/diction, movement of the body, accent work, Shakespeare, vocal performance, and stage combat. She is very excited to share her love for the theatre with everyone at Williamsburg School for the Arts and Innovation.
Sewing & Fiber Arts
Cedar Willson
Cedar is an aspiring costume designer who has been passionate about sewing, costume design, historical clothing, and various other fiber arts for around 5 years. He has three younger siblings and his mom runs an in home daycare, so he loves working with kids. After high school he assistant taught sewing and fiber arts classes at Tabitha Sewer Studio for a few months and he can’t wait to get back to a classroom. During Highschool he costumed four shows among other smaller design projects. Since then he has interned at the costume department (HC&D) at Colonial Williamsburg. He also interns at the Hennage auditorium in the art museum at CW, where he does costuming, acting, and stage managing for some of their shows. He also has a small crochet business with his mom, a hobby they have both enjoyed throughout their lives.