Faith Christian School

Paul DeMeritt - Producer/Artistic Director of The FCS Players

Mr. D" is has been leading the FCS Players since it's founding in 1993. He is the founding producer and artistic director of the FCS Players, and came to FCS from 9 years as Director of Theatre for Bethany College in Santa Cruz, California. With over 30 years in Christian theatre, education, evangelism, church planting and pastoral ministry, Paul brings a wide range of credentials and life-experience to the classroom and the curriculum at FCHS. He hold a Bachelor's and Master's degrees from San Francisco State University, is listed in "Who's Who of American Teachers," is a published author, and during his eighteen years at Faith Christian has produced a dynamic, award winning and locally acclaimed company of young actors whose credits range from Shakespeare to high comedy, from Broadway musicals to rip-roaring gunfights, from street theatre to melodrama! Under Mr. D's directions the FCS Players have received over 45 "Elly" nominations from the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance, and have won 8 of the prestigious "Elly's." Mr. D also serves as Director of Community Relations for Faith Christian Schools, a position in which he helps to keep FCS in the "eye of the community" as well as with development and growth options for the school. Paul also serves as Director of Theatre Ministries for Cathedral of Faith in San Jose, California, where for 25 years he has directed one of the nation's largest Passion Plays. Paul has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Yuba-Sutter Arts Council, and serves as a creative consultant in theatre, public relations, marketing and the arts throughout the United States. Paul and his wife Anne, an Elly-Award winning costume designer and teacher's aide at FCS have four children - Matthew, Lindsay, Lauren, and Katie (all of whom have served as directors for the FCS Players Young People’s Summer Theatre Program), and six grandchildren.

Jeff Poppinga – FCS Players Music Director

Since 2007  the FCS Players have welcomed Music Director Jeff Poppinga to the orchestra pit!  Mr. Poppinga is also serves as Director of Music for Egling Middle School in Colusa and as Director of Music for Colusa First Presbyterian Church. He is an accomplished performer, singer, keyboard player, composer, arranger and music director whose credits include many of the most prestigious live music venues in the Western United States.  Jeff has also served as Music Director for productions at the Woodland Opera House and was a finalist on “You Want to Be a Star!”  Jeff and his wife Starr are the proud parents of a daughter, Kaylee, a talented  Young Lady at FCHS who has starred in several FCS Players productions, and two sons, Kyle and  Luke, who are both at  FCS !

Lana Dodd - FCS Players Music Director Emeritus, Conductor, Keyboardist, and other Remarkable Feats!

Lana and her husband Gary are "Mom and Dad" to the incredibly talented and diverse Dodd family, Heather, Jarod, Liz, Marci, and Josh and his wife Beth. Jarod, Marci and Josh all graduated from FCS and were active in the FCS Players and the FCHS Choir and Heather continues to teach voice and direct in the Yuba-Sutter community.  Daughter Marcie has continued in the arts as well, rising from Disney performer to Las Vegas productions, then to the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles as a “Wicked” chorus member, then as Nessa Rose, and finally as the infamous “Green Gal” Elphaba in the L.A. “Wicked!”  Most recently, Marcie opened in “Wicked!” at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway in New York as Elphaba – our first former FCS Player on Broadway – and the Dodd family legacy continues!

        Lana has been a leader in the Yuba-Sutter artistic community for many years, as a piano instructor, accompanist and served as music director and conductor of the FCS Players for since 1995, where she continues to serve as Co-Music Director and rehearsal accompanist.  Her involvement in musicals began as an 18-year old student at Sacramento City College where she played second piano for Once Upon A Mattress. She has served with the FCS Players as a Music Director and Conductor for Fiddler on the Roof, Quilters, numerous melodramas, Brigadoon, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, and won an Elly Award for Best Musical Director for the FCS Players productions of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!  Lana directing credits also include serving as Music Director for the Ponderosa Theatre Company's production of The Music Man, as Musical Director for the Woodland Opera House summer children's program and as Musical Director for the FCS Players Young People's Theatre Program! Lana has also served as Assistant Director and accompanist for the FCHS Choir, and currently teaches piano to 65 students. We have been very blessed to have Lana and the incredible Dodd family share their talents with us and appreciate them very