Meet Our Directors…
Meet Christina Hernandez
(Director)
Christina Hernandez has been lucky enough to be working in educational theatre around Memphis since 2013. A part of the University of Memphis’s inaugural BFA of Musical Theatre Performance class, she soon after began teaching voice and audition prep, discovering a deep passion for teaching.
She had the absolute privilege of directing four spring musicals at Riverdale Elementary School in Germantown (Beauty and the Beast Jr, Frozen Jr, Matilda Jr, and SpongeBob the Musical Youth Edition). She spent five years as Education Director of Germantown Community Theatre, so you may recognize her from summer camps, after school classes, or one of the 15ish productions she directed, including Hadestown last summer.) Most recently she directed Rhodes College’s 2025 production of Radium Girls.
It’s possible you’ve seen her on-stage around Memphis, as well! Christina has been performing alongside our incredible theatre community since 2008. Some favorite credits include Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman- Ostrander Nomination), Dance Nation (Sofia - Ostrander Nomination), The Phantom of the Opera (Christine Daae - Ostrander, Best Leading Actress), I Love You Because (Marcy - Ostrander Nomination, Carrie the Musical (Miss Gardner), Falsettos (Cordelia), Hundred Days, First Date, The Producers and John and Jen.
“What I want more than anything is to create a space where students can be authentically themselves and find community through the common goal of making theatre and joy.”
Meet Adam Jeffrey
(Music Director)
Adam Jeffrey is a founding member of the Dream Star Performing Arts team and is honored to be the music director for their fall production of Mean Girls Jr!
Adam is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has performed all over the world with Grammy Award-winning artists, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musicians, and multiple symphony orchestras, as well as with the pit orchestra for the touring Broadway production of "Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan" and annual concerts with the Memphis Symphony for nearly 2 decades.
In recent years, Adam has shifted into the role of music director, where he has experienced a profound joy in helping young performers discover their own personal potential and a deep love for music. He has since been the music director for numerous productions with Memphis local community theatres, such as Germantown Community Theatre, the Kroc Center, New Spark Performing Arts, and Houston High School, which was nominated for the High School Musical Theatre Awards for Outstanding Chorus and Outstanding Student Orchestra (which they won) under his musical direction. Adam is also currently a Teaching Artist at Playhouse on the Square, where he teaches the music portion of adult and youth musical theatre classes.
Meet Ashley Sadé
(Choreographer)
Ashley Sadé is a Houston-born performer, choreographer, and reigning Ms. Black Memphis USA whose work spans theater, film, television, and live entertainment. A graduate of The University of Texas at Arlington and Florida State College at Jacksonville, she is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Her recent theater credits include Ruffin’s Hairspray (Choreographer), Hattiloo’s Dreamgirls (Joanne/Ensemble/Dance Captain), Take the Soul Train to Christmas (Ensemble), and Succession (Billie), as well as Playhouse on the Square’s Jesus Christ Superstar (Ensemble) and Chicken and Biscuits (Simone). She is an Ostrander Award winner for Your Arms Too Short to Box With God (Best Ensemble). Additional credits include The O’Kays (Clarissa/ Choreographer for The O’Kays movie), The 24 Hour Plays, and Dance Nation (Amina, Best Ensemble).
Outside the theater, Ashley is a member of the Memphis Grizzlies’ Claw Crew and can be seen on screen. She is grateful for the love and support of her husband, Retired U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer 4 Curtis, and their two children, Amira Sadé (Actress/Singer/Dancer) and CJ, her future NBA star.