(Co-Founder/Tour Director/Co-Choreographer)
Having been raised in a theatrical Christian home, it's no surprise that Karlyn was called into performing arts ministry. She toured with the Young Continentals for the first time when she was 14, and continued traveling with them nationally and internationally for over a decade, initially as a performer, then progressing into a variety of leadership positions, including directing, choreographing and producing, even starting up a new group called Continental Kids. She directed three tours for Young Continentals which meant that she was responsible for over 30 teenagers at a time.
In 1996, Karlyn founded Connections, a non-denominational Christian performing group of school aged kids, which went strong for over 10 years. After her third of her fourth child, Karlyn took a short break from leading these groups, and plans to lead more Connection groups in the near future. The formation of Solid Stage Footlights in 2005 was the next step for her ministry. Throughout these years, Karlyn also fit in college in Colorado and California, focusing on the arts.
She and her husband K.J. know that their greatest ministry is raising up their five young children, Kaleb, Korbin, Kenley, Karter, and Kylah to know and serve the Lord. They make their home in San Diego County.
Debe Eddo
(Co-Founder/Skript Writer/Drama Director)
As a seasoned director, costumer, script writer, worship leader and speaker, Debe's work has been seen in community theater, schools and churches for over 20 years. Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty & the Beast, and Oliver are just a few of the many productions that she has been a part of. She has also written and directed several original productions, and loves writing the scripts for Solid Stage. She and Karlyn have a great relationship and have worked in ministry together for many years.
Debe has an amazing talent of bringing out the best in performers. Her heart's desire is to help others discover and develop their God-given gifts through creative arts, and believes that Solid Stage Footlights is a ministry God has placed her in to accomplish just that.
Happily married, mother of four, and grandmother of seven. Debe lives with her family in the San Diego County area.
Esther Cloyd
(Assistant Director/ Chaperone)
Performing arts has been a part of Esther's life for as long as she can remember. She sang in choirs and performed in plays at church; took part in community theatre; toured with the Continental Singers; co-lead a Christian dance team during high school; studied and performed theatre in college; and was part of Solid Stage when it first started.
Esther traveled with Continentals all over the states and internationally for five years both as a performer and as part of the leadership. Continentals had a huge impact on Esther because it was where she discovered her passion for serving the Lord. It is also where she first met her husband and her good friend Karlyn (Director).
During high school, Esther's passion to serve inspired her and a friend to start a Christian dance team to reach youth in their hometown, El Paso, TX. Esther was also part of Solid Stage during its first two years. She loved how this group combined her loves of sharing Christ through performing arts, and hands on community outreach. Even when Solid Stage had to take a break, Esther had a strong feeling God would call her back to it eventually. Esther is newly married and just moved to San Diego County, living with her husband, Andy, and daughter Naomi.
