wakelandtheatre.com - Meet the Directors

Alesha Tatum-Howe
Theatre Arts Director | 469-633-5736 |
Email: tatuma@friscoisd.org

Alesha Tatum-Howe has been teaching in Frisco ISD since 2004. She is a native of the area having grown up in Plano and graduated from Plano East Senior High School. She went on to attend the University of Florida for 2 years and then completed her degree at Pace University in New York City. She holds a B.F.A in Acting from Pace where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She then spent many years in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry and attending classes at Playhouse West School, Repertory Theatre and Film Foundation. Students of Playhouse West learn the Sanford Meisner technique of acting. Mrs. Howe spent 6 years at the school and in her final 2 years she was not only a student, but a teacher as well. Mrs. Howe incorporates the teaching of Meisner's technique with the rest of her curriculum.

Lindsey Leffel
Technical Theatre Director |
Phone: 469-633-5736 | Email: leffell@friscoisd.org

Lin Leffel has been teaching at Wakeland High School since 2007; she teaches all Technical Theatre courses as well as Theatre Arts I. Lin began her theatre career as a high school student herself in Lakeville, MN. She graduated Cum Laude from Texas Tech University's College of Visual and Performing Arts in 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Production. At Tech, she specialized in Scenic Design and Painting, the later of which is her true passion. In addition to the design work she did at Tech, Mrs. Leffel also performed in many productions, including a stint as Snoopy in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!-her favorite of her former roles. Since graduation, Mrs. Leffel has done freelance work for Dallas area theatres including Watertower Theatre in Addison and the Performance Hall at Texas Women's University. Her top priority in the production shop is student safety, as students will quickly learn, but she also places a great amount of emphasis on creativity and fun. Go Red Raiders!