The North Texas Performing Arts Academy has become one of the largest and fastest growing non-profit performing arts conservatories in the state with certifications in Acting, Music Theatre, General Theatre, Technical Theatre, Video & Film and Dance and core academic studies for full and part-time students taught by a deeply credentialed and highly skilled performing arts faculty.
With the continued growth and success of the Academy, NTPA announces its exciting new high-caliber Academy Management Team that will lead it to become the premier performing arts conservatory in the Southwest.
Head of School, Mike Mazur:
Since its opening, Mike has played a key role in the day-to-day operations of the Academy, teaching classes and stepping in as a substitute for classes and our Core Café, and assisting in student matters. Mike will continue in his role as Managing Director of NTPA’s Plano youth theatre operations.
Mike brings to this role a decade of teaching performing arts at the collegiate level in the California State University system and has spent decades teaching students at the high school and collegiate level. Mike received his BFA from Bowling Green and Master’s at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
Managing Director, DeAnna Stone:
DeAnna Stone continues as the Managing Director of the Academy and has been a leader of the school’s success since its inception. After her collegiate theatre work, she went on to serve almost two decades with the McKinney Area Christian Homeschoolers (MArCH) in the roles of President, Vice President and Enrichment Theatre Department Managing Director. During that time, she has been directly involved with teaching and directing children with a passion for theatre between the ages of 3 and 18. DeAnna will continue to drive curriculum development and recruitment for the NTPA Academy.
Core Learning Counselor, Lyz Miller:
Lyz has had a life-long love of music and theater. Her father was a drama teacher, director and actor at the college level. At the age of 3, Lyz had her first acting experience, uttering the words “No Woom” in her preschools Christmas Pageant. She grew up in New England participating in school and community theater.
Lyz attended Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and graduated with honors, completing a double major in mathematics and theater. She compiled and performed a one woman show and had major roles in I Remember Mama, 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and Peter Pan.
While continuing to be active in community theater and choirs, she worked in HR Benefit and Project Management. This would bring her to Chicago and later Orlando where she received her Masters of Physician Assistant studies from the University of Florida.
Recently Lyz took a detour and completed her Texas teaching certification in Mathematics, giving her more time with her family. She is excited to see the theater bug in her sons and is happy they have become more and more involved with NTPA.