We are so lucky to have Alexa as our Drama Program Manager here at Rainey!

Alexa is a graduate from Cleveland State University with a BA in Theater with a focus on Acting and Direction. She has had a passion for theater since high school and knew it was something she wanted to continue in her adult life. After graduation she worked fulltime in childcare while doing theater on the side before coming to Rainey in 2021. She began as the early Childhood Art Education Coordinator where she built out our Art Adventures Program while adding onto our Preschool program. In 2025 Alexa became the Drama Program Manager which she proudly says is her “dream job.” During Alexa’s time as Program manager so far she has successfully produced and directed a one act play called “A Recipe of Me” and a production of “James and the Giant Peach Jr!”

Alexa describes herself as a performer and said the journey to discover what kind of artist she is has been a “roller coaster.” Her love for performing originally started out from singing and then came to include acting through high school drama club. She says her original passion has always been to make people laugh and she is chasing that through every aspect of performing. As she got older, the search to find a creative spark turned into a way to discover new creative avenues leading to a more collaborative passion. She points out how theater can be a difficult art form because of the heavy dependency on being cast in certain roles which can lead to a lot of “nos.” She says, “But those no’s provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the art and may open doors to explore other avenues that you might not have thought were possible.” Taking that to heart, Alexa has recently performed in multiple one-act classic plays with friends and started doing stand up comedy.

For Alexa, her artist inspiration comes and goes but she gets it from many different creative outlets. From friends, fellow performers, and the collaborative environment of theater. In recent times, writing stand up comedy has sparked a lot of inspiration for her and helps her feel empowered as an artist. She loves that she is able to bring her true personality into her performances and use elements of her real life to make her unique as an artist.

Through all of the highs and lows of theater life she finds joy as an artist because of the story that is being told. She says, I might not be the right face for the story and that’s something you have to understand and move on from. Being on stage and off stage is, to me, equally impactful, just in different ways.” Alexa is a performer and artist that truly appreciates and drives joy from all aspects of art, especially working with our Rainey Kids. She says they have sparked a new light for her and working with them has also helped her discover her passion for direction and bringing out the best performance in everyone.

It is extremely important for Alexa to help young artists realize how to use their talents to best tell a story. She is passionate about teaching and helping to foster all of the amazing skills that the arts can teach kids. She says that, “The arts teaches empathy and curiosity that the world often doesn’t seem to have much of any more.” She also emphasizes the importance of community in theater and in the artist in a time where it is not readily accessible in many other places.

Thank you Alexa for sharing your story and skills with Rainey!