Metro Parks Theater
About Metro Parks Theater
At Metro Parks Theater, we give students the opportunity to explore the fun of drama and invest in the art form of theater. With classes, camps and full production offerings that feed the innate creativity in all of us, we strive to produce experiences that excite students’ passion for learning and desire for collaboration. We seek to involve students in all facets of theater and dramatic arts and provide quality instruction from practicing community artists. See Metro Parks Theater Academy for more information on classes and performances.
Theater Facilities
Questions? Email us at theater@nashville.gov.
Theater Classes and Camps
Play. Create. Inspire.
Metro Parks Theater Academy
Metro Parks Theater classes and camps are designed to promote fun, learning and confidence. Theater classes are offered throughout the year to children and adults.
Theater Staff
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Christen Heilman
Specialized Skills Supervisor, Theater -
Kirk Brown
Technical Director, Theater
Metro Parks Welcomes Christen Heilman as Theater Supervisor
Christen Heilman, a graduate of the Performing Arts School of Metropolitan Toledo, is an actor/singer/dancer/designer/educator originally from Northwest Ohio. Her expansive career includes a Bachelor degree in Arts Communication: Musical theater specialization, nearly 30 years of performing and 15 years of costume design.
As an arts educator, Christen has served as faculty at MTSU, Vanderbilt Summer Study Program, and Hocking College in many genres including musical theater, voice and movement, ballet, tap, jazz, creative movement, and brain dance. For the past 5 years, she has had the joy and privilege of teaching on faculty full time with the Metro Parks Dance Division. Christen delights that she has students who have continued on to have wonderful careers in the performing arts in everything from professional dance companies to Disney theme parks.
Christen moved to Nashville in 2012. Since then, she has been performing onstage throughout the area. You may also have seen her performing onstage at places like The Roxy Regional Theater, Chaffin's Barn, Boiler Room Theater, Kindling Arts Festival, Tennessee Women's Theater Project, and Actor's Bridge Ensemble. You may even have caught a glimpse of her in music videos here and there or advertisements for the upcoming feature film "Sunshine Girls" or heard her voice over the speakers at TPAC during a Nashville Ballet performance.
In addition to acting, Ms. Heilman is classically trained in ballet. She worked in the second company at Ballet Hispanico in NYC and has gone on to dance with The Metropolitan Repertory Ballet (NYC), North American Ballet, and the Toledo Ballet. In case this wasn't enough to keep her busy, Ms. Heilman also is an accomplished seamstress and costume designer.
In 2023, Christen was honored as part of the "Makers: Behind the Seams" exhibit at Lipscomb University honoring the artists who have helped create the clothes and looks for Dolly Parton. Her work can be seen in Dolly's book of the same name. You also can catch her work on our dancers here at CYB in the Mini-Nutcracker and for the Spring Showcase and may have seen her design and sewing work on the stages of Governor's School for the Arts, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Shakespeare Festival Actor's Bridge Ensemble, Street Theater Company, and Nashville Children's Theater.
Most of all, Christen is excited to begin this new journey with Metro Parks Theater to create joyful, satisfied, and more connected community.