Something Rotten! - 2022
About the
Draco Playhouse
The Draco Playhouse came into existence in 2003 with the naming of the theatre. The Draco Playhouse presents a theatre season of five to six productions. Every season opens with a children’s musical, followed by our competition one-act and then a mainstage drama or comedy. In the spring we produce an in-the-round dinner theatre followed by our spring musical. The Draco Playhouse has many alums working professionally in the field both on stage and behind the scenes. We are proud to be the only high school theatre program to have won Best Overall Production three times at the Orpheum Theatre's High School Musical Theatre Awards (Thoroughly Modern Millie - 2012, Catch Me If You Can - 2018, Something Rotten! - 2022). Our productions of Black Comedy (2023) and Rabbit Hole (2024) were both selected perform at the Southeastern Theatre Conference. The Draco Playhouse performs in the beautiful 1,000 seat Pickler Auditorium on the campus of Collierville High School.
Chris Luter
Director of Theatre
Technical Director
Chris is in his 27th year of teaching high school theatre. He joined the Draco Playhouse staff in 2016. His productions have three times been named Best Overall Production at the HSMTA's (Something Rotten! - 2022, Catch Me It You Can - 2018; Avenue Q - 2015) and have been named Best Production five times at the TTA One-Act Play Festival (Rabbit Hole - 2023, The Exonerated - 2013, How I Became a Pirate - 2011, Doubt - 2009, Driving Miss Daisy - 2004). He holds a BA in Theatre and Vocal Music from Rhodes College and a MEd from Union University. Chris is currently President of the TN Theatre Association.
Ashleigh Williams
Director of Theatre
Ashleigh is thrilled be in her 4th year on the Draco Playhouse Staff. She previously taught and directed at Germantown High School and Briarcrest Christian School. She is a two-time Best Director winner at the High School Musical Theatre Awards for her work on Les Miserables and Sweeney Todd. Her production of Black Comedy was selected to perform at SETC in 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in musical theatre from the University of Tulsa and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Kathy Theile
Resident Choreographer
Kathy has choreographed productions with the Draco Playhouse since 2018. Her work has also been seen on stage at the Harrell Theatre and Briarcrest High School. Favorite productions choreographed include Something Rotten! (HSMTA Best Choreography) Catch Me If You Can, Mary Poppins, Singing in the Rain, The Addams Family (Ostrander nomination), and 9 to 5 (Ostrander nomination).
Matthew Morrison
Music Director
Matt is in his 4th year as Choral Director at CHS. A native of Connecticut, he completed his BM in Choral Music Education at Ithaca College in upstate New York and his MM in Choral Conducting at Florida State University. Prior to CHS, Matt was the Director of Choirs at Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts in Hartford, CT. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, long walks, and enjoying the southern sun.
Catie Ward
Theatre Instructor
With over a decade of educational experience, Catie brings her passion for theater arts to the Draco Playhouse team. Currently in her 12th year of teaching, she has previously taught at Arlington, Bartlett, and Germantown High Schools. Before transitioning to education, Catie served as Production Stage Manager for the Tennessee Shakespeare Company in Memphis. She has a BS in Theatre from Middle Tennessee State University and a MA in Education from Union University.
Jeff Robbins
Speech and Debate Coach
and Theatre Instructor
Jeff in in his 11th year teaching at Collierville High School. He has coached more than a dozen Tennessee High School Speech and Drama League state champions, a National Speech and Debate Association National Finalist, and a National Champion. In 2023 he was selected as the THSSDL Educator of the year and in 2024 he was elected into the Tennessee Speech and Debate Hall of Fame. He is also proud to be an alumni of Collierville High School’s theatre and forensics programs. He has a BA in Theatre and in Political Science and an MA in Directing from Lindenwood University.
Eula Ashbee
Resident Costumer Designer
Eula Ashbee received her BFA in fashion design from Washington University in St. Louis. She got her start in costumes as a summer reperory costume intern for Central City Opera in Colorado. Locally, she has worked on over a dozen productions, including shows for the Harrell Theatre and Collierville High School. In 2024, she won Ostrander Awards for both her costume design and wig/make-up design for 9 to 5 at the Harrell Theatre.
Moya Jones
Theatre Assistant and
Box Office Manager
Moya is starting her fifth year teaching biology and is proud to be a part of the CHS community. She earned her degree from Brigham Young University and is currently pursuing her master’s in biology from Mississippi State University. Outside the classroom, she has a lifelong love for theatre and is thrilled to support the incredible Drao Playhouse students. Being involved in this creative and passionate community is one of her favorite parts of teaching. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading, and cheering on her students from behind the scenes.