Our Team
Little Characters Theater Troupe is made up of an incredible group of creative individuals. We are so grateful for what each of these brilliant folks bring to our little corner of the world! It is an honor and a privilege to work together to deliver an extra special experience to our community!
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Owner + Creative Director + Teacher
Hi! I’m Hannah Eppling, and I’m so happy you are here! I have a yearning to encourage the hearts of others - and my favorite way to do so is through theater. When I started directing my sister in our basement at the age of four, my parents knew they needed to get me in drama classes ASAP. I was in my first play at the age of eight, and continued on through high school, college and professional work on stage, film and improvisation.
In 2016, I made the move from my 9-5 job to start apprenticing in theater education. Over the past eight years, I’ve taught theater to 3-50 year olds and started Little Characters in order to bring more play and creativity to the Athens community! I am trained in theater for social change and programming for all ages and abilities.
I have a strong desire to grow lasting relationships and influence my students in innovative, atypical ways. My favorite teaching topics are emotional development, improv and characterization on stage. I believe theater is a beautiful way to grow and share the gifts we were born with. When not working, I love getting outside with my husband, Stephen and kiddos, Colette and Everett.
Click here for full bio and teaching philosophy.
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Teacher
Kidd Fielteau is a food and product photographer based out of Athens, GA. Photography/Film making started out as a hobby which soon lead to a passionate career. Kidd is also a devoted husband and a father of 4 who spends his free time playing video games and riding motorcycles. Since 2012 he has continued to shoot what he loves and loves what he shoots. "I want to continue my growth as a photographer and Film maker by learning, teaching, and consistently shooting.”
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Carley is a lover of all arts, and she holds a special place in her heart for theater. She took drama classes all four years of high school, where she gained experience playing a variety of characters, constructing sets, writing scripts, stage managing, acting competitively, and student directing. She participated in over fifteen productions at Statesboro High, but her favorite roles include Wednesday from The Addams Family, Dr. Vivian Bearing from Wit, and Dragon from Shrek. Carley’s musical roots come from playing guitar and singing in youth band group School of Rock and Roll for seven years, where she developed a passion for performing. Now a student at the University of Georgia, she is pursuing a major in Landscape Architecture and a certificate in Music Business. Inspired by her First-Year Odyssey seminar, “Theatre for Change,” Carley is excited to share the power of drama to shape lives and build confidence with Little Characters students!
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Jadin Fielteau is an aspiring digital artist and published author. She is a early graduated homeschooled student who enjoys drawing various characters, writing stories, and reading on a daily basis and plans to build a portfolio to work towards becoming a professional in the art industry. Jadin is currently working as an intern for Little Characters to gain experience and new skills in different fields.
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Set Designer + Teacher
Emily is a set and costume designer that has worked on Broadway productions, regional theater and film. She has a BFA in Theatre from the University of Montevallo, and an MFA in Set and Costume design from Ohio University. She designed 75+ productions as a freelance set and costume designer in the San Francisco Bay Area, and spent 5 years as a set designer at the stop motion film company Laika Studios where she worked on 3 Academy award nominated films, and was nominated for 2 VES awards. She is now the mother of a 9 year old little character.
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Hi!! My name is Alli Tyra and I am a student at the University of Georgia. I have always had a passion for theatre and anything to do with performing. I have worked with kids of all ages and love introducing theatre to people and am honored to get to continue that here!
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Social Media Associate + Teacher
Peyton is a Sophomore at UGA majoring in English and Theater. She has been doing theater for 5 years now, and loves everything about it! Theater has played a significant role in Peyton’s life, as she was the president of her high school’s Thespian Society for two years, and has been involved in numerous productions, both onstage and backstage! She enjoys helping others learn, and is so excited to help students find their home in theater with LC!
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Ileana Deppner is a junior at the University of Georgia and is pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in French. After graduating, she hopes to pursue further education in the field of clinical psychology. She has worked with Little Characters since Fall of 2025, and is currently an assistant teacher.
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Jenna Dekich is a senior at the University of Georgia studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with certificates in both Disability Studies and Health Disparities and Service. She is from Ringgold, Georgia, and has grown up dancing since the age of three, and was involved in the fine arts throughout middle and high school, including band, musical theater, and choir. In high school, she was the dance captain for her theater troupe, choreographing their performances, leading to 3 nominations for best choreography in the state of Georgia. While at UGA, Jenna has stayed involved in dance and theater, by leading Prelude Dance Ensemble as president, and choreographing for different middle and high school theater productions. Jenna has a passion for working with children with differing abilities, and aims to create safe spaces for all, by ensuring every space she is in one that is fully inclusive and accepting. She is so excited to be working with Little Characters, to bring the ability of self expression to everyone child, in their own unique way!
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Associate Director + Teacher
CC has always been a wisecrackin' merrymaker. She has lived inside of her imagination since she was a child, and is the embodiment of a class clown. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in 2016 with a Bachelors Of Science in Psychology. She has worked in a variety of fields such as fashion, social work, carpentry, trivia quiz-mastering, and yodeling. When asked to make a list of fields she's worked in, she always adds yodeling for fun. CC is a trained improvisor, seamstress, and clown with several years of experience under her belt.