Megan Hughes, Director and MainStage founder, is originally from Paducah, Ky. She grew up in a home dedicated to the performing arts and has vivid memories exploring the Market House Theatre during its construction. Her father, Dr. Benjamin Bradford, as a co-founder of Paducah’s community theatre, was instrumental in bringing a thriving performing arts community to the area. As Bradford became an award winning playwright, Megan remembers her childhood home being filled with New York and L.A. artists as overnight guests. Family vacations were accompanied by musical soundtracks via 8 track tapes and included tickets to major musical productions on both coasts. In high school, Megan fell in love with vocal music under the direction of Loretta Whitaker where she was a member of the Concert Choir, Swing Choir, and Madrigals.

During her college years, Megan toured the country as a vocalist for a contemporary Christian group, the New Direction. Upon graduation, she originated the role of Viola in the Hal Hester production of Do Your Own Thing on the Market House stage. After moving to Natchez, MS, Megan became the director of the Mississippi Medicine Show, choir director of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church, and program director of the children’s choir and bell choir. She was also an active participant in the Natchez Pilgrimage and Preschool Director for the Natchez Junior Auxiliary. She also taught private piano lessons.

After moving back to Paducah, Megan assisted Art Deweese of the Paducah Tilghman High School’s choral department where she worked with individuals and groups teaching vocal technique. She also acted in several Brelco productions. She combined her love of teaching and mentoring young people with her love for the arts by teaching music and art at Community Christian Academy. There, she directed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Music Man in addition to many other choral programs. Megan also designed children’s clothes under the label e.wheeler and traveled extensively with her daughter, Wheeler to support her talent and passion for dance. Megan designed and created dance costumes for her daughter and dance troupes.

In 2012, Megan combined her love of teaching and children, the performing arts, and design and visual arts by establishing MainStage School of Performing Arts. Using a holistic approach to arts education, Megan teaches classes in theatre, vocal, and performance skills and creates performance opportunities for her students with Broadway shows and community outreach. Her students have been accepted into the Kentucky Governor’s School of the Arts and several prestigious college theatre programs including NYU. Former MainStage students are pursuing and achieving professional success in theatre and musical theatre. In 2013, Megan was joined by her daughter, Wheeler as director of MainStage dance. Together, they have produced over 40 shows with children ages 2 - 18. As the program has grown, MainStage moved into a new complex on Stuart Nelson Park Road and was awarded the Best Dance Studio for 2022. Over the course of her lifetime career, Megan has produced and directed over 100 shows. Based on a lifetime of teaching and a love for the arts, Megan believes that children thrive in a child based program where each is celebrated. She believes a strong arts program fosters empathy, creative problem solving, stronger communication skills, and a sense of community. She believes that creating a safe space and loving environment contributes to a child’s self esteem, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the world.