Spotlight
Productions
Let's meet our incredible staff!
Melody Ganaway
Director/Producer
Melody is so thrilled the Director of Spotlight. She grew up in Chesapeake, VA and went to The Governor's School for the Arts in the Musical Theatre and Vocal Departments. Melody received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Musical Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Her first professional job out of college was Directing and Teaching youth in musicals all over the country with Missoula Children's Theatre. She has had the honor of performing with Sesame Street Live, Walt Disney World, Carnival Cruise Line, Virginia Musical Theatre and most currently Busch Gardens. Melody started her own all female DJ Entertainment Company in the Hampton Roads area called Melody & Company Entertainment. www.melodyandcompany.com
Anita Winslow
Youth Camp Music Director
Anita has been working with Spotlight Productions since its beginning and comes to us from Florida each year to direct our youth camp. She has studied music most of her life, being born in a family of musicians, and can play any instrument you put in front of her! She is currently a guidance counsellor (who received the 2014 Teach of the Year award at her school) and proud mother of a very talented young lady.
Kelsy Lee
Choreographer
Kelsy is thrilled to be in the Spotlight Family this year. She first joined Spotlight at 13 with teen camp. She has a Bachelor’s of Art in Theatre and Dance, and currently is an instructor at Dynamic Movements in Suffolk, Va. Congratulations everyone, you did it!
Roy George
Teen Camp Music Director
Roy George is a New York native and currently resides in Virginia. Roy holds an associate degree in paralegal studies and a Bachelor in Science from Liberty University. Roy is currently set to achieve his master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. Roy has lived a blessed life as a musician, performer, arranger, music director, and so much more. Roy has had the opportunity to music direct over 200 productions around the country as well as arranged music for schools, churches, musicals, benefit concerts, concept cast albums and more. Roy is no stranger to Hampton Roads having worked with Virginia Stage Company on quite a few productions- “The Wiz”, “A Christmas Carol”, “The Parchment Hour”, “The Santaland Diaries” and “Crowns”. Roy is thrilled to be working with Spotlight where he shares two connections with the previous executive director Dr. Sullivan and current director Melody Ganaway are great friends of his. Roy currently works behind the scenes and enjoys doing so to help protect intellectual property and contract negotiations for artists of many different kinds.
Missy Sullivan
Founder
Missy, along with her cousin Penny, began Spotlight over two decades ago in Maryland. She has produced and directed adult and children productions in the Hampton Roads area for over 20 years. Missy is a gifted resource teacher with the Virginia Beach City Public Schools and an adjunct professor at Tidewater Community College. In her 25+ years as an educator, she has worked as a classroom teacher at the elementary level as well as served as a gifted resource teacher at middle and high school. She taught theatre at a high school in VA Beach and was the school’s director of plays and musicals for over 5 years. Missy serves on the executive board and is the education chair at the Little Theatre of Norfolk. Her main job is bringing educational opportunities to the community and has hosted professional artists such as Krysta Rodgriguez and Jacob Dickey (a Spotlight alumnae). In her spare time, Missy tries to find time to act in community theatre, travel, and watch whatever is trending on TV.
Penny Baumgartner
Founder
Penny, along with her cousin Missy, founded Spotlight Productions over 25 years ago. Their mission was to give any student with an interest in theater the opportunity to shine. Her favorite aspect of that journey has been watching friendships and memories blossom and thrive! Penny has been a Virginia Beach resident for 25 years and, before retirement, enjoyed 25 years of teaching preschool. Now she loves spending time with her family, traveling with her husband, Mark, and spoiling her two beautiful granddaughters.