John Coffelt, Editor

Miss Chattanooga Volunteer 2025 Colleen Wainright, a Manchester native, will host a theater workshop April 5 at the Manchester Arts Center for youth ages 10-15.

Link to preregistration form

“This theater workshop is for my platform for Miss Chattanooga Volunteer, spreading love and joy through the arts,” Wainright said.  “My goal is to help strengthen these kids’ passion for the arts and help them truly find a way and a future in it.”

Enrollment for the workshop is limited. Those interested can preregister at Millennium Repertory Company’s website or by finding the link at their Facebook page. 

Participants at the workshop will learn new ways of finding themselves in a character, along with new ways of prepping for a character and find new perspective on the stage.

“I think this is going to be a super fun opportunity for the kids… to have the opportunity to talk to someone who has worked professionally and continues to try to work professionally.”

The workshop will hopefully draw new people to participate in community theater.

“I always say your love for theater starts in your community theater,” Wainright said. “You get to share your love with you friends, family and everyone around you.”

Wainright said, however, that community theater can be a steppingstone to a career in acting.

“It’s the one thing that gives you that little spark and helps you to grow.  I always want to tell people to never give up. You can do it no matter what anyone tells you,” she said.  

Wainright will draw on her experiences during her time at Chattanooga State Community College where she participated in a junior actor training program. She graduated in May 2022 with a technical certificate in professional acting.

Wainright brings those talents to bear at Magic Lamp Entertainment, Tennessee’s premiere character entertainment professionals, consisting of trained actors who portray princesses, superheroes, holiday characters, and more for parties and events.

On the stage, Wainright has been in “Lucky Stiff,” “Cinderella,” “Comic Potential,” and was the lead in “Café Noir.” 

Wainright said the Volunteer system is all about volunteering – to be a face for the community. She volunteers by visiting nursing homes to sing for the residents, works at the local food bank and at the Tennessee Aquarium.

“I intend to take Miss Tennessee Volunteer as far as I possibly can,” she said. “I hope to win state at Miss Tennessee Volunteer in July. If that is not in the cards, I am just thankful for even being seen showing my love for the arts to the world.”

Miss Chattanooga Volunteer is a personal development program and scholarship opportunity for young women in the state of Tennessee. Title holders are presented with once in a lifetime experiences and networking on local, state, and national levels. This pageant system pushes each young woman to be their best self, help their community, and achieve their dreams. 

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.