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Director of Education

Gulfshore Playhouse

As director of education at Gulfshore Playhouse, Steven Calakos oversees and executes interdisciplinary arts education programs while also establishing beneficial partnerships with local and national organizations. Though he’s also a professional actor, singer and model with national credits, Calakos said the most important thing he’s learned in his career is the power of education. “Theater education provides the opportunity for students to be creative, effectively communicate both verbally and nonverbally and build their confidence in a safe environment.

“Theater education promotes a sense of universal understanding and respect within our community while offering the opportunity for actors … to actually put themselves in someone else’s shoes,” he says.

Calakos was honored with the 2022 and 2023 Tony Award Honorable Mention for Excellence in Theater Education, as well as the Greek America Foundation Forty Under 40 Award. He previously co-founded a theater production company to help create quality, affordable educational opportunities in a socioeconomically disadvantaged region. Calakos is also a member of the 2023 Leadership Collier Foundation Class.