Karen Shirley

From a conceived vision to a community's pride. The Community Playhouse is the brainchild of performer and educator Karen Shirley.
Following a prosperous communication business, Karen stepped out on faith to create the program that would go on to garner attention from community as well as the city.

Karen poised herself to provide an enriched and structured program to a community that rarely sees creative arts on the agenda for the youth. Karen organized a complete program that not only provided direction in dance, singing and acting, she also sought writers and theater professionals to produce performance productions. To date the company has put on several plays that have been well received by parents as well as program managers.

In 2011 Karen accomplished a rare feat. She brokered a deal with The South Cobb Recreation Community Center. By bringing a cultural arts program to the community's doorstep she made performance opportunities accessible to all people despite income limits. Well received, she has also been asked to do provide her services to other areas of Georgia.

Being called on to share her vision and stories with others, she has been public speaking and has been added to speaking engagement tours. Karen motivates by using her performance talents while she is speaking. With her signature wide eye animations and expressive but uplifting tone, when Karen shares her story of her vision, many listen.

A woman of Wow with the purpose of now, Karen is enrolling, enriching and enlightening the youth of tomorrow with her lessons from yesterday.

"A lot of our youth don't know what it is to want to be better and do better because we have handed them everything," says Shirley.
"But with this program, we don't hold hands, we lead. It's more than knowing to act or sing or dance. It's about knowing how to feel and tell a story"

With contagious energy combined with professionalism as well as grace, Karen Shirley's humble beginnings are sure to inspire all she reaches.