Our Directors
Kyla O'Neal
Kyla O’Neal is the Artistic Director of Moore Theatrics and in her seventh season of directing middle school students at JT Moore Middle School. Kyla graduated with a Masters of Arts in Teaching from The University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Arts in English from The University of Tennessee.
She grew up on a small farm in Bowling Green, Kentucky, jumping hay bales and swinging from the rafters of surrounding barns with cousins as they performed their very own version of The Wizard of Oz. Performing has always been a part of her life, from tap and ballet at the age of three, to gymnastics at age eight, and cheering at the collegiate level.
Kyla’s theatre experience began in high school when cast in Grease. A love for the stage was created, one that would carry her into the lives of middle school students as an English teacher, theatre director and choreographer, directing 12 middle school productions to date.
As a photographer, Kyla loves to blend theatrical artistry with story telling behind the lens, always looking for creative ways to bring a still picture to life. She lives with her husband and sons in Nashville, TN.
Gillian Garnowski
Soprano Gillian Garnowski is the Musical Director of Moore Theatrics and is a current graduate student studying Vocal Performance at Austin Peay State University. At Austin Peay, she sings with the Chamber Choir and Opera Workshop.
Miss Garnowski graduated Summa Cum Laude from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a minor in Spanish. There she participated in Opera, Chorale, and Jazzmin. Recently, Gillian has sung in Nashville Opera’s La Bohème, Chicago Summer Opera’s The Tender Land, and won third place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Tennessee 2021 regional vocal competition.
She is originally from Arlington Heights, Illinois, where she grew up singing and playing the trombone.
Miss Garnowski is passionate about singing and providing a holistic music education. She is excited to be a part of the JT Moore family!