She trained with many ballet schools and performed with several dance companies in Austin. Since the age of six, she has been dancing and began training seriously at age eleven. Miss Emily and MMPA have made that dream come true even at 75! Broadway will just have to wait!Įrin Lapaglia – Kottler is from Austin, Texas. Most recently, Donna Co-Directed a Curtains Up Production with Miss Emily of Rescue in the Night at First Baptist Church.įUN FACT: Donna had two dreams for her life, one was to be on Broadway, and the other was working with children to instill encouragement, training, and confidence so they could enjoy the same joy she experienced when performing. She was an avid volunteer with the Pensacola Children’s Chorus serving as Props Mistress, Choreogapher, Production Coordinator, Choir Representative, and Director of The Rock Slinger, a PCC Pizazz Summer Production. Fred’s Medical School education in New Orleans while employed by Davis Oil Company. Beauregard in Willy Wonka, directed by Miss Emily for PLT’s Treehouse Theatre.ĭonna developed her administrative skills during Dr. Harcourt in Anything Goes at PSC, and Mrs. Other roles followed as Clairee in Steel Magnolias at PLT, and Mrs. She received a Vera and Crystal Award for her performance in 2002. Donna to audition for the role of Mame Dennis Burnside in a production of Mame at PLT, and to her surprise, she booked the role. After 34 years of being a Home Manager, Miss Emily convinced Ms. They were blessed with seven wonderful children that all manifested a passion for the Arts. Fred, her childhood sweetheart, were married during his years of Medical School and Residency as a Family Physician, they enjoyed a stint in the Navy, and decided to call Pensacola home. Emily consistently motivates performers to reach their highest level.ĭonna Mixon is Miss Emily ‘s Mom, Business Manager, and an Instructor at MMPA! Donna graduated with a BFA in Theatre, with a Minor in Dance from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1968. She has a distinct gift of working with a variety of skill levels, aiming to educate, encourage, and inspire with a spirit of excellence. Emily realized that this programming was something she could provide for children of all ages. This grassroots pandemic production fueled a spark in Emily that is now Mixon Magic Performing Arts. After only two months, she had those boys doing barrel turns and Brooklyn accents.

Emily helped them develop confidence and an appreciation for performing arts and musical theater. She created a fine arts curriculum for her nephews to help provide healthy activities while the pandemic raged on. In 2020, Emily came to the rescue of her sister’s family. She’s led students to high level rankings and awards at the District One and Florida State Thespian Festivals. A passionate and dedicated educator, Emily taught Theater and Dance at Escambia High School and also served on the fine arts faculty at Creative Learning Academy. She was a Teaching Artist with the Pensacola Opera while serving as Adjunct Faculty in the Theater Department of the University of West Florida. From 2010 - 2020, she served as Co-founder and Head Instructor of Broadway Dance Machine at Ballet Pensacola. Emily’s work has also been seen on the stages of Pensacola Little Theater and Pensacola State College. She directed and choreographed the 2015 production of Seaplane at the Saenger Theater. White in Clue: On Stage and the Stepmother in Cinderella at PLT.Įmily was a member of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus and later returned home to serve as a resident choreographer for PCC: creating movement for over 300 performers. Some of her favorite performing opportunities were Queenie in The Wild Party at the Boston Conservatory and at the 45th Street Theater in NYC for the Musicals Tonight! staged reading of Good News. Regionally, Emily has performed at Pensacola Little Theater, Pensacola State College, University of West Florida, and the Summer Lyric Theater at Tulane University. In her formative years, she studied acting, voice, piano, flute, and began her dance training at the age of three with Kaleidoscope & Ballet Pensacola. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater from The Boston Conservatory. Emily Mixon was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida along with her six siblings, a modern-day ''Von Trapp'' family.

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