joe eckstein
Art & Theatre Instructor
Joe Eckstein is a professional children’s book author, illustrator, and cartoonist, and has performed onstage since age five in dance, music, and theatre. Drawing and writing stories since he can remember, he grew up in central Ohio and earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Bowling Green State University, where he studied art, digital art, drawing, illustration, animation, and theatre. He has worked as a staff illustrator for a leading children’s educational publisher and illustrated nearly thirty books for children, including Herby Gets a Life, which he also authored.
Participating in bands, choirs, show choir, and theatre productions throughout middle school, high school, and college, he has performed in dozens of community, church, and professional theatre productions since and continues to perform regularly, including with the Manatee Players in Bradenton. In addition, he has received training in jazz, tap, ballet, liturgical, swing, ballroom, and Irish dance, played trumpet and sung in church worship bands and choirs, and directs and sings in an cappella vocal group that performs in the community.
Joe has taught art and theatre at Sunshine Christian Academy in Bradenton, where he also wrote and directed plays and musicals performed by the students, and is grateful to God for the opportunity to serve and be part of the wonderful community at WFA. In addition to creating art, performing, and teaching, Joe enjoys traveling, being outdoors in God’s creation, spending time with family, and volunteering with ministries and camps for children in foster care. He is devoted to the wife of his youth and more than anything, loves his Creator and desires to use his life and artistic talents for Him.
Participating in bands, choirs, show choir, and theatre productions throughout middle school, high school, and college, he has performed in dozens of community, church, and professional theatre productions since and continues to perform regularly, including with the Manatee Players in Bradenton. In addition, he has received training in jazz, tap, ballet, liturgical, swing, ballroom, and Irish dance, played trumpet and sung in church worship bands and choirs, and directs and sings in an cappella vocal group that performs in the community.
Joe has taught art and theatre at Sunshine Christian Academy in Bradenton, where he also wrote and directed plays and musicals performed by the students, and is grateful to God for the opportunity to serve and be part of the wonderful community at WFA. In addition to creating art, performing, and teaching, Joe enjoys traveling, being outdoors in God’s creation, spending time with family, and volunteering with ministries and camps for children in foster care. He is devoted to the wife of his youth and more than anything, loves his Creator and desires to use his life and artistic talents for Him.
