BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JoAnn Solomon

Board Member

Coming soon!

Amarelys Perez

Board Member

Amarelys Perez is excited to be a part of these amazing team! With her new relocation to Florida finding a community with like minded theater enthusiasts has been a blessing and she is excited to bring in her extensive theater background from New York. With more than a decade of performance experience under her belt, Amarelys has been a prominent figure in distinguished theater companies such as Repertorio Espanol, Pregones Theater, Intar, Henry Street Settlement, and even played a pivotal role in co-founding Rubi Theater. The breadth of her theatrical journey has honed her skills and deepened her passion, which she now looks forward to infusing into Powerstories’ creative endeavors.

Steve Harding

Board Member

A retired small business owner Steve has lived in Saint Petersburg for 18 years. After graduating from Oregon State University he joined the Navy as an aviator and accumulated over 300 aircraft carrier landings in a jet airplane and served in the Vietnam War. Upon leaving the service he worked for IBM making the 100% club both years he was employed there. He worked for AON Corporation for 14 years before starting his own business.

Steve was on the Board of Directors for the Walton County Mental Health Association as VP of Finance. He has served as Assistant Treasurer on the Board of First Unity Spiritual Campus and is Presently President of Powerstories Board.

Georgia Carmichael

Board Member

Georgia is a visionary graphic designer and the proud owner of Carmichael Grafix, llc. With a passion for visual storytelling, she specializes in crafting captivating brand identities, stunning illustrations, and impactful marketing materials. Georgia is committed to creativity and client satisfaction.

Fralia Lyz

Board Member

Fralia is beyond grateful to support Powerstories Theatre with her experience and creative background to bring true stories and open Tampa’s hearts. Fralia is thankful to have met Powerstories in 2019, while doing her first play in the Kennedy Blvd location. You may have also seen her in various musicals as a performer and or backstage throughout the Tampa theater scene. Fralia wants to keep inspiring minds and hearts so make sure to say ‘Hi’ when you see her! WEPA!

OUR TEAM

Fran Powers

Founder and Executive/Artistic Director

Fran Powers is the Founder of Powerstories Theatre Inc., a nonprofit theatre that stages true stories to open minds and hearts. Fran believes that stories are powerful. They are moving and create genuine emotions. They are authentic experiences that engage, connect, and inspire us. Her mission is to help others know and celebrate their own true stories then connecting them with audiences to build confidence, inspiration, and purpose in others.

Her first vision for the company came to her in 1998 as she crossed the Wyoming border on a bike ride across America. When she returned to Tampa Powerstories Theatre was born. Since then, Powerstories Theatre has served over 30,000 individuals and sixty organizations through theatre productions, workshops on how to tell your story, and leadership programs for girls.

In 2010, Powerstories Theatre won The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, and it was presented to Fran at the White House by former First Lady Michelle
Obama. In 2011 Powerstories won the WEDU award for Artistic Excellence and in 2013, Fran was honored as a Community Hero by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 2022
Powerstories received the Joseph Parra Courage Award from the Tampa Bay theatre community.

In addition to leading Powerstories, Fran has written and produced twelve autobiographical plays and one musical. She was the Director of Grants for the Conn Foundation, Executive Director for Alpha House, Board President of The Healthy Start Coalition, and served on numerous other Boards. She has a bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Missouri, and a master’s degree in education from the University of South Florida.

Fran’s greatest wish is that everyone honors and celebrates their unique stories.

Judy Gay

Director of Operations

Judy currently works part-time as an independent business consultant and has over 40 years of experience in working with small businesses. As the former CEO/President of the South Tampa Chamber, she provided leadership, planned and promoted events to increase revenue, developed the organization’s culture, developed and implemented a retention strategy to maintain and grow the membership. She brings business acumen in finance, management, procedures, and strategy for both start-up and existing businesses.

Judy first met Fran Powers with Powerstories Theatre at a Seek and Speak Your Story workshop 20 years ago. She had hopes of honing her public speaking skills. It worked and she and Fran remained in touch all these years! Judy is a Tampa native and currently resides in Tampa. She spends her leisure time gardening, crocheting, reading, and having unique and intimate conversations with her 94-year-old mother.

Chris Corley

Director of Technical Theatre

Coming soon!

Krista Blanchette

Krista Blanchette

Director of Girls’ Program

Coming soon!

Deb Kelley

Director of Marketing

A Tampa native, having earned her degree from the University of Tampa, Deb is proud to lead the marketing efforts at Powerstories Theatre. In her other hats, she has owned The WriteOne Creative Services, a one-stop-creative shop for graphic design, web design, and PR copywriting since 2005. You’ll also regularly spot her reporter’s byline in numerous Tampa Bay magazines and newspapers, and she’s also a theater critic for Broadway World, Tampa. In her rare free time, she’s an author, lyricist, producer, director, actor, and award-winning playwright with plays across stages in Tampa Bay.

Sheri Whittington

Programs Specialist

Coming soon!

Cheryl Flowers

Lobby Manager

Coming soon!

Sefanie Coren

Stefanie Coren-Marotta

Girls Leadership Theatre - Teaching Artists

Coming soon!

Locations

Here’s where we will be bringing theatre to you next!

  • JANUARY – Straz’ Shimberg Playhouse,
    1010 N Macinnes Pl, Tampa, FL 33602
  • MARCH – USF College of the Arts,
    3837 USF Holly Drive, Tampa, FL 33620
  • JULY – Stageworks Theatre,
    1120 E Kennedy Blvd suite #151, Tampa, FL 33602
  • SEPTEMBER – New Tampa Performing Arts Center,
    8550 Hunters Village Rd, Tampa, FL 33647

813-253-2000

Mailing address

PO Box 18021
Tampa, FL 33679

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