Carolina Forest High School Performing Arts
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MEET OUR FOUNDERS

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Mrs. Bannon is the founder of Carolina Forest High School Performing Arts Program.

BECKY BANNON-Founder CFHS Drama Program

​Mrs. Bannon is the founder of Carolina Forest High School Performing Arts Program.
When Carolina Forest Education Center opened 17 years ago, Becky Bannon was both the middle school and high school drama teacher. Two years later, the drama program had grown so much that Wayne Canady joined the high school staff, and Becky remained at the middle school.  Those of you who have seen the musicals produced by both schools for the past ten years know that "the rest is history."

Mrs. Bannon is the founding sponsor of Carolina Forest Middle, Ocean Bay Middle, Black Water Middle, and Carolina Forest High School International Thespian Society troupes. In 2011 she returned to Black Water Middle to play Miss Hannigan in their production of Annie.  She presently serves on the Board of Directors of Vocal Edition, the area’s first adult singing ensemble. She also enjoys directing the Christmas pageant each year at the Church of the Resurrection in Surfside Beach. 

Even as a young girl growing up in the hills of West Virginia, Mrs. Bannon loved anything to do with theater. She studied dance for ten years and vividly remembers her favorite performance being that of the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker.” After playing the lead in all four of her high school productions, she was awarded the International Thespian Society scholarship. She holds degrees in both English and Theater Arts from Marshall University where she was an active member of the theater department. Although she performed in some shows, she knew she had found a career when she student-directed "The Pajama Game" for her senior project.  

 During her first year of teaching, her high school in Mt. Clemons, Michigan had a brand new auditorium, and she was given a blank check from the school district to purchase whatever the stage needed. “Talk about a director’s dream,” she said.  “The show was I Remember Mama, and we sold out all three nights.  I was only three years older than most of the cast, but they knew who was boss!” ​
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Mr. Canady taught advanced theatre arts and technical theatre classes at Carolina Forest High School until 2017.

WAYNE CANADY-Co-Founder/ CFHS Drama Program

Wayne Canady is from Columbus County, NC and presently lives in Conway.  He taught advanced theatre arts and technical theatre classes at Carolina Forest High School until 2016 and still attends events regularly.  He is a former sponsor of the CFHS International Thespian Honor Society and continues to serve as chairman for the Fine Arts Department.  He is also the Chairman of both the Graduation and Scholarship Pageant.  He has served on the Scholarship Committee and Awards Banquet Committee and has been a member of the Principal’s Cabinet, the Superintendent’s Cabinet, and the previous Superintendents Search Committee. 

Mr. Canady is a member of the Educational Theatre Association.  He served on the Board of Directors for the Horry County Arts Council and ACE; as well as serving several terms on the Board of  Directors for the Premiere Professional Vocal Group of Horry County, Vocal Edition.  He is active as a member of the Board of Directors to the West Virginia Russian Foundation.  He was published in Coastal Business Life Magazine as the Educator of Distinction.

He graduated and received his degree in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in directing and minors in art, music, and dance. He is a member of Alpha Psi Omega and holds a Masters of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix.  After college he returned home to Columbus County and resided in Tabor City where he enjoyed teaching K-12 in Columbus County Schools in the areas of theatre arts, dance, choral music, and visual arts.  He was honored to be Teacher of the Year four times—at Nakina High School, at Williams Township School, at South Columbus High School, and at Carolina Forest High School 2005-06. In 1993-94 he received the NC Jaycees’ Outstanding Young Educator Award for Columbus County, NC. Mr. Canady was recognized in 1986 as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America.  

He has performed in 37 states and in eight countries.  He was a vocalist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra on their 50th anniversary and worked with the National Opera Company for two years.  He also worked with Lee’s McRae College Summer Theatre and with The NC Stage Ensemble in Pinehurst, NC.  He has worked in over 100 shows. One of his most exciting assignments led him to Nashville, TN to the Renaissance Center to work with directing and choreography for the world premier of the children’s show Under the Western Sky.  Among his recent directing credits are Aida, CATS, Grey Gardens, The Drowsy Chaperon, Les Miserables, and The Phantom of the Opera, several of which were premiered in the state or nation for the high school level. His community work includes The Marvelous Wonderettes and Golf the Musical, an Eric Krebs theatrical production.

He served for a number of years on the Board of Directors for the Columbus County Arts Council and also served on the Board of Directors for The Theatre Association of Columbus County and Visual Arts Guild.  The National Campaign for Tolerance honored him in 2002 by adding his name to the Wall of Tolerance in Montgomery, Alabama. He has been a Nobel Educator of Distinction twice.  Mr. Canady has also worked summers at Coastal Carolina University with the Horry County Schools Summer Arts Programs for gifted students in the arts. He served six years as Director for the Horry County Schools Summer Scholars Program.  In his spare time he enjoys traveling in the United States and abroad along with hosting exchange students.  For the past three years he has served on the Board of Visitors for Coastal Carolina University’s Spadoni College of Education. Most recently he has accepted to serve as well on the Coastal Carolina Board of Visitors for the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. He was honored to be the selected recipient for the 2014 Director’s Award by The American High School Theatre Festival where he will solely represent South Carolina for the USA at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.  He is proud to be making international directing debut among 60 participating countries, with students from Carolina Forest High School.

One of his favorite quotes is by Erma Bombeck:  "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say 'I used everything you gave me'." 

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Enjoy some of Myrtle Beach and South Carolina's finest talent. Join us in the celebration of the arts at one or all of our amazing productions.

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For Tickets or to schedule a group
Call us at:
(843) 236-7997
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Carolina Forest High School
700 Gardner Lacy Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579






  • Home
  • Get Tickets
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Founders
    • Kraig McBroom-Musical Director
    • Meredith Taylor-Theatre-Drama
    • Gregg Buck- Technical Theatre
    • Matt Ward-Piano-Music-Theory
    • Sean O'Malley-Music- Theatre
    • Stephen Williams-Orchestra
    • Mark Roddy-Band
    • Contact
    • Meet Our Founders
    • Our Fine Founders
  • Gallery