People

A lifelong passion for supporting live theater led Joan to an involvement with Southside Theatre spanning more than forty years. Her initial transition into a role as a member and volunteer house worker was prompted by the participation of her two daughters in the productions of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1986) and The Wizard of Oz (1992).

As a graduate of Georgia State University in Youth Administration, Joan’s career and volunteer path has consistently focused on serving young people. This dedication has been expressed through her various roles with the Fulton County Board of Education, recreation programs at Duncan Park, the nature camp at Cochran Mill Nature Center, the Renaissance Festival, the Girl Scouts, the PTA, the STEM program at Evoline C. West Elementary, and youth programs at the First Baptist Church of Fairburn.

Guided by the belief that the key to a stronger, united community is the continued support and involvement of people of all ages, Joan’s commitment to service remains the driving force behind her ongoing work.

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Drew has been active at STG since he was a child. Though he may not have been seen on stage, he has worked diligently off-stage to make sure shows run smoothly and look their best. He loves the challenge of setting and designing lights along with creating spectacular sets. He is a graduate from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and when not at the theatre he enjoys volunteering at Royal Animal Refuge and Angels Among Us pet rescue.

Originally from San Diego, California, Mike Harvey grew up immersed in the world of technical theater, first being exposed to backstage production around the age of 12. By the age of 16, he was actively volunteering with a local community theater, where what began as stage crew quickly developed into a lifelong passion for lighting, sound, automation, and production. With more than 28 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Mike studied Theatre Arts in college before working professionally as a Master Electrician, Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, programmer, and automation specialist for theaters and live events. Today, he continues to freelance throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and beyond, partnering with staging and production companies to provide lighting, sound, automation, and technical production support for live events and theatrical productions.

Outside of the theater, Mike has built a successful career in the information technology industry, specializing in automation, software development, solution design, technical sales, customer support, and solving complex technical challenges. His ability to combine creative vision with engineering and technology has become a hallmark of both his professional and theatrical work.

Since joining Southside Theatre Guild, Mike has served in numerous production roles, including Assistant Director, Lighting Designer, and Sound Designer for productions such as Alice in Wonderland, Newsies, and Little Shop of Horrors, while also supporting productions with other local organizations. Mike, his wife Jacquie, and their four children all share a passion for theater, and every member of the Harvey family has participated in Southside Theatre Guild productions both onstage and behind the scenes.

As Southside Theatre Guild’s Vice President of Production, Mike looks forward to combining his technical expertise, creative problem-solving, and collaborative leadership to continue enhancing the Guild’s productions while supporting the volunteers who bring each show to life.

Tammy D. Hyder is honored to serve once again as President of STG. A retired educator with a passion for the arts, she continues to serve her community as a 4-H Program Assistant with the Coweta County Extension Office and as the West Georgia RESA Coordinator for the Middle and High School Academic Bowl.

An active member of Peachtree City Christian Church, Tammy serves as Traditional Worship Song Leader and is involved in children's ministry, the Women's Ministry Team, and Wednesday evening Bible study.

For more than 20 years, Tammy has been a dedicated member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving in numerous leadership roles, including Regent and First Vice Regent. She currently serves as Georgia State Community Classroom Chair.

Through her leadership, faith, and commitment to education and service, Tammy brings enthusiasm and experience to her role as President of STG.

Eliza is excited to be a part of the Executive Committee after being involved in many shows starting with Mary Poppins in 2022. She can be found on and off stage acting, building, scheming, and recently directing. When not at the theatre she enjoys helping with her local food pantry and being involved with her church.

Nancy, a lifelong musician and music teacher, came to STG in 2017 to play piano for a production of Suds, and never left. She immediately fell in love with this Theatre and its wonderful people.

Over the years, she has worked with STG, on and off stage, running lights, sound, building sets, and has had the privilege of Music Directing Mary Poppins and Cinderella. Most recently she found herself on stage in the recent production of M*A*S*H.

Nancy attended Juilliard, and NYU where she graduated with a Bachelor's of Music in Performance and a minor in Education. Nancy is a full-time Realtor and continues to coach and teach whenever she can.

Nancy is excited to serve STG as Member At Large and get the word out to everyone about this wonderful Theatre.  When Nancy is not at the Theatre, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son and daughter-in-law, and doting on her new grandson.

Chris Shellnutt is a Fairburn native and has appeared in over 40 productions as a performer. He has served as president and treasurer of Southside Theatre Guild as well as Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, Property Coordinator, Set Designer and Director for dozens of STG productions. Some favorite acting roles include Rick in The Nerd, Dolan in Mister Roberts, Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, Richard in Lion in Winter, and Ralph in A Christmas Story. He met his wife, Valerie, while directing Anything Goes at STG. (She was the choreographer.) He also directed Bus Stop, Harvey, Crimes of the Heart, The Foreigner, Steel Magnolias, On Golden Pond, Smoke on the Mountain, The Nerd,The Cemetery Club and Mama Won’t Fly. Chris wrote and directed The Collins Family Christmas Special as a special benefit event for Southside Theatre Guild. He has also appeared in over 30 film and television productions as a “Background Artist.”

Cheré Slocumb is delighted to be an Executive Committee member at STG. She has spent time helping build the set and volunteering to work house with her fantastic husband, Benjamin Slocumb. She has been in several productions and enjoys working with and meeting all the cast members. Her favorite role was Pipi in Bone Chiller. She was also cast in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner.  She was last seen in Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol. When she is not on the stage, she enjoys nature, serving others, and spending time with her two terrific sons, BJ and Blake Slocumb but especially her grandchildren, Hendrix and Harper Slocumb.

Lenton Lees was off-and-on with the Southside Sidekicks Improv Troupe between 2020 - 2022, before finally settling down and becoming a full-time member and now the Improv Director for both the adults and youth troupes. Lenton is a professional actor with the Dinner Detectives, an improv coach for Flat Rock Middle School, a business owner (highspiritsentertainment.com), an interactive Murder Mystery playwright, the improv director for the Newnan Theatre Company NITWITS for four years, and the "local celebrity" known as Newnan Time with Harold.

Lenton Lees took over the adult and youth improv teams after Mike Boylan and Amy Beaucham's wonderful tenures. He was set for success and is excited to take the improv at Southside to another level of professionalism and community engagement. The Rascals (youth improv) are open year-round to any middle or high schoolers who want to dip their toe into improv. The Sidekicks (adult improv) offers yearly workshops, auditions, and ten shows a season. He has played Bob Cratchit twelve times and dreams of one day playing Ebenezer Scrooge.

Jonny has been active with Southside Theatre Guild both on and offstage since 1986. He met his wife Heather at the theatre early in his involvement, and they've remained deeply engaged ever since. Married for 32+ years, they continue to support STG through performance, production, and leadership.

Over the years, Jonny has served on STG’s Executive Committee in several roles, including Associate Member-at-Large, Member-at-Large, Parliamentarian, and Vice President of Productions. He’s also a founding member of the Southside Sidekicks improv troupe.

He and Heather have two adult children, Ian (and Kylie) and Erin.

Jonny holds a BFA in Interactive and Media & Web Design from the Art Institute of Atlanta. He currently works as a freelance web designer and actor.

Janet has worked in theater in the metropolitan Atlanta area for over 40 years, but has always considered Southside Theatre Guild to be her theater home.   Her first lead role was as Mina in STG’s 1979 production of Dracula and her most recent appearance was in 2016 as Ida in The Cemetery Club.    She has served on the Executive Committee in several positions and worked as director, stage manager, costumer, set designer and many other required tasks at the theater.  She is a proud mother and grandmother and currently resides in Fayetteville with her loving husband Ted.