Our Team

Alexandria Ingram

Founder, Director, Chroeographer

Alexandria started the Shine the Light Project to literally shine a light on talented individuals who do not otherwise get a chance to show their skills in a professional and accessible environment. She holds a BFA in Dance and a BS in Psychological Science, as well as a minor in Autism Spectrum Disorders and extensive professional studies in Classical Voice Performance

  • from Ball State University and has choreographed and directed professionally. She also holds a master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Couples & Family Therapy from Antioch University New England and holds licenses in both fields (R-DMT & LMFT). She has a passion for theatre, as well as helping others, and looks forward to inspiring others to love theatre and find their light!

Maria Koontz

Maria has been teaching music for over 30 years. She currently teaches piano and accompanies students for voice lessons and vocal competitions, as well as teaching theatrical music for productions. She received her bachelor’s in Piano Performance from the College of St. Rose in New York and her master’s in Music Education from Dowling College in New York. She loves helping

Music Director

  • children reach their fullest potential and has been working alongside her daughter, Alexandria, for several years. Together, they have directed many productions and helped children of all ages and abilities.

Student Board of Directors

  • Olivia Reedy

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Olivia is a senior in high school and is starting her third season with STLP. She has been involved with theater for around 7 years, and she has loved every second of it. Olivia loves being on stage and getting to become so close with her fellow castmates. She knows this season is going to be a great one, and she can’t wait to meet new friends!

  • Luke Snow

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Luke is a senior in high school. He has been doing theater since the sixth grade. He joined STLP in their premier season with their production of The Sound of Music and has loved it through and through ever since. He truly means it when he says he wouldn't know where he'd be without the people he's met through the program. He wants to help everyone have a similar experience with STL as he has had since joining. One filled with happiness and positive memories. He has really loved being a part of it for these past three years, is looking forward to this season, and is ecstatic to see what it and its members will accomplish once he graduates.

  • Chris Gaines

    ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Chris is a senior in high school and has been involved in theatre since seventh grade. He started with STLP during their first production of Grease and has been acting and working backstage ever since. Chris is excited to welcome new friends to the STLP family and help bring the love of theatre to more people.

  • Charlee Reedy

    ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Charlee is a sophomore at Valparaiso High School, where she is a member of Hope Club, Key Club, Future Medical Professionals, and HOSA. She has been in theater since she was 6, and has been involved in STLP for the past 2 seasons. She has made life long friendships and memories with the company, and is beyond excited to make even more this season as one of the assistant executive directors!

  • Brittany Wise

    SECRETARY

    Brittany is a senior in high school and has been involved with Shine The Light Project since August of 2024 in their production of Chicago: Teen Edition. Shine The Light Project will always hold a special place in her heart because it has become a second family to her. She loves being on stage and showing the people who come to support what they have worked so hard on. Brittany hopes to continue to help keep Shine The Light Project a place where everyone feels welcome and can succeed.

  • Zyla Gladdis

    PR & MARKETING

    Zyla is starting her freshman year in high school and has been doing theatre since she was in 3rd grade. She has been with Shine The Light since the beginning and is grateful to be a part of it. Zyla is so grateful for the memories and friends she has made at STLP and cannot wait for this next season.

  • Lillie Marks

    PR & MARKETING

    Lillie is a sophomore in high school and has been involved in theater since 8th grade. She joined Shine The Light Project in Heathers: Teen Edition and has been active in it ever since. STLP for her is like a home away from home; she has made many friends and looks forward to the future. Along with Shine The Light, she is involved in her high school cheer team. Lillie is very excited to welcome everyone into this 4th season!!

  • Meela Hensley

    PR & MARKETING

    Meela has been doing theater since sixth grade and has been a part of STLP for almost two years now. She first fell in love with theater after watching her older sister being a part of many plays and musicals and eventually started to take part in them too! She loves theater so much and believes that STLP has helped her improve on and off stage as an actress and person. She looks forward to this upcoming season and what STLP will achieve!

  • Colter Hannon

    FINANCIAL CHAIR

    Colter is a senior in high school and is an avid runner, hobbyist, and member of 4-H and FFA. While he never saw himself doing theater, he loves it and enjoys every second! He has found a second home here and has already done 6 shows. He can’t wait to meet new people with every show!

  • Olivia Gober

    CREATIVE CHAIR

    Olivia is in the 7th grade and she is very excited to be starting her fourth season with STLP. She has been doing theatre since she was in 1st grade, and has enjoyed every second of it. Olivia loves being on stage but she also loves when she can help with the details of each performance she’s in. She is very excited to be in STLP and is very happy she gets to be in a group of people that really love doing theatre as much as she does. She knows this season is going to be a great one and she can’t wait to meet new friends.

  • Michaela Novotney

    CREATIVE CHAIR

    Michaela is a sophomore in high school and is starting her second season with Shine the Light Project. She first joined STLP with their production of The Wizard of Oz. She loves being on stage and is glad to perform with such a supportive and talented group of people. Michaela plans to bring fresh, creative ideas to improve STLP in the coming season and is excited to see what accomplishments are in store for the future!

Partners

Shine the Light Project, Inc. is thrilled to be partnering with the fabulous Bearcat Theatre Company (Wheeler High School) in Valparaiso, IN, as our performance venue! The amazing people in this space are helping us create magic for our young artists. We could not be more excited to be partnering with them as our ‘home base’ for performances! Rehearsals will occur in a separate location, and we will move into our space closer to the date of our production. Please give them a like or follow on social media!

We are also fortunate to have the community support of photographer David Centifanto and professional costume designers Jean Rebeka & Patty Halajian. Without their talents, we would be lost!

For more information on how you can help support our mission see a full list of sponsorship opportunities HERE, or you can reach out to our founder Alexandria directly through this form. We want to make sure Shine the Light Project, Inc. is a place for all members of our community, and we can’t do that without your help!