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Photo courtesy of Trussville Children’s Theater.
From left: Camille Swann, Emma-Reese Morrison, Andrew Leggett and Brantley Adams and the Aladdin cast pose during the finale of the show.
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Photo courtesy of Sheryl Lowery.
Lawson Cribb leads the cast of “Seussical KIDS” in a pre-show dance party at the Trussville Children’s Theater.
Just six months ago, Taylor Knuppel was teaching music full-time at Paine Elementary School. Now she has brought a brand-new community theater for kids to life in Trussville.
The Trussville Children’s Theater’s first summer camp sold out in less than 12 hours, and things have only grown from there. This month, the theater will stage its biggest production yet: “Matilda the Musical.”
Knuppel’s journey began when she chose to leave her teaching job to pursue her dream of starting a children’s theater.
“Stepping out then, I didn’t know how much it was going to grow in just a matter of a couple months,” she said, noting that she is not usually one to take big risks. “That was a total leap of faith.” Backed by a core group of supportive parents from Paine and her husband, Mitchell, Knuppel has created a place where kids can learn, grow and shine.
Parents credit Trussville Children’s Theater’s success to Knuppel’s personality, expertise and unwavering belief in every child’s potential.
“Taylor Knuppel has a unique way of believing, championing and calling things out in children before they see
it in themselves,” said Kelsee Philpot, whose three children have participated in the theater. “Everyone needs someone like Taylor instilling courage and confidence in their kids’ lives.”
“She’s magnetic,” said parent Jessica Morrison. “The relationship that my daughter, Emma-Reese, has built with Taylor has inspired her to try new things.”
Known affectionately as “Mrs. K,” Knuppel brings an inclusive mindset to her work. For example, when casting for “Willy Wonka” at Paine, she saw the best fit for the lead role was a girl, so she rewrote the character specifically for her young actress. She’s also committed to ensuring children of all abilities can participate, whether that means recording lines for a child with dyslexia or adapting the stage for a performer with muscular dystrophy.
Over the summer, Trussville Children’s Theater performed “Seussical the Musical” and “Aladdin,” both of which sold out multiple shows.
“It’s simply incredible to drop off an 11-year-old blank slate for a two-week summer camp and watch a seamless production of ‘Aladdin’ come to life,” said Katy Langley, whose daughter, Abbie, performed in the show. “No detail goes unnoticed — from costumes to harmonizing voices to comical one-liners. Mrs. K is seasoned beyond her years.”
Knuppel said her husband has been a constant support from day one of the theater undertaking. She describes Mitchell, whom she met while in the Million Dollar Band at the University of Alabama, as a “five-star, actually 10-star” partner who handles their 2-year-old daughter during her classes and rehearsals.
Their little one, Emerson Jo, loves being part of the theater world, often singing along to numbers during rehearsals and recognizing the older kids by name. They’ve always been a busy family, and their daughter has rolled with it, happily tagging along to all their activities.
Photo courtesy of Sheryl Lowery.
Lawson Cribb leads the cast of “Seussical KIDS” in a pre-show dance party at the Trussville Children’s Theater.
The Knuppels had been searching for the perfect space for Trussville Children’s Theater since its inception, but finding the right thing within their budget proved challenging. Things changed when they walked into an old Men’s Warehouse location at The Pinnacle.
“I looked at my husband and said, ‘Yep, this is it,’” Taylor Knuppel recalled. The space had a built-in feel, with features like clothing racks along the back wall — perfect for costumes.
“Something about it just made sense for the theater,” she said. Now, they are in the process of transforming it into a dedicated rehearsal space, providing a creative home for the theater’s growing number of students.
The next step in the theater’s evolution is this month’s production of “Matilda the Musical,” a beloved musical based on the classic Roald Dahl title. The cast will perform the show at Faith Community Fellowship Church from Nov. 21-24.
The part of Matilda will be played by 9-year-old Livie Cates, a fourth grader at Paine Elementary who considers this a dream role. "Matilda doesn't let being little stop her from making a big difference,” Livie said. “She notices when things aren't fair and knows that breaking the rules and being a little naughty is sometimes what you have to do to make a change."
Livie’s mother, Heather Cates, appreciates the level of showmanship Knuppel expects from performances. “The costuming, the vocals, the choreography, the set design—it is so well thought out and executed! You will not walk away disappointed from a TCT show,” Heather says. “It will be amazing from the opening number to the bows!”
Knuppel is passionate about the transformative power of the performing arts. She has seen countless children blossom in ways they never expected. “I’ve watched so many kids come out of their shell,” she said. “They discover talents they didn’t know they had. Kids might come to me as singers, but they learn to act and dance, becoming what we call a ‘triple threat.’”
For Knuppel, it’s not just about the performance itself, but the growth that happens along the way. “It’s about building confidence, learning problem-solving, and making friendships that last a lifetime.” She shared that just minutes after casting Matilda, the kids had already created a group chat called “Matilda 2024” and were buzzing with excitement.
“Even if they don’t know anyone in the cast, I encourage everyone to come and see what kids can do when they are loved and given the chance to shine,” Knuppel said.
Tickets are available online at trussvillechildrenstheater.com or at the door.
