ABOUT FIREFLY
Firefly Creative was dreamt up in darkness but encircled by flickers of light. In 2024, founder Oakley Weddle chartered Firefly to fill a need in the Mid-South community: accessible storytelling and creative fulfillment for all involved. Whether on stage, behind the scenes, or in the audience, every story we share is chosen and created to inspire, uplift, and bring people together.
Guided by our slogan, "Catch Lightning in a Bottle," Firefly Creative brings light to stories that spark curiosity and creativity. Our productions are crafted to be family-friendly, wholesome entertainment—inviting people of all ages to experience the magic of theatre and the joy of storytelling.
Mission
Firefly Creative is dedicated to bringing imaginative and engaging musical stories to life—empowering young performers on stage and inspiring audiences of all ages through the transformative magic of theatre.
What we do
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Firefly Creative brings immersive, engaging productions like School House Rock Live! Jr. on tour, reaching audiences in schools, retirement communities, and beyond. With creativity and care, we create family-friendly, wholesome entertainment designed to inspire and enrich. Our stories spark confidence, creativity, and curiosity, making theatre an unforgettable experience for performers and audiences alike.
We are also proud to partner with Anchor Cottage Tutorial, where theatre and education come together in a powerful way. Every year, Anchor Cottage Tutorial presents a full-scale outdoor musical, complete with costumes, sets, and captivating performances. Over the past five years, we’ve produced five musical productions, and in 2024, we broke our attendance record with 850 attendees. Through these productions, we enrich education by fostering empathy, building communication and leadership skills, and sparking creativity in students.
Why Outdoor Theatre?
At Firefly Creative, we believe theatre doesn’t need a stage or a spotlight to be powerful—it just needs heart, imagination, and a place to gather.
Our shows occur in a driveway surrounded by several acres of land in Cordova, TN. From the moment you park your car, the audience is immersed in an experience like no other. From face paint to bounce houses to enjoying dinner and a show, Firefly is a unique theatrical experience like no other.
Why? Well, when we were kids, we made plays in our backyards, living rooms, and garages—using sheets for curtains, flashlights for spotlights, and anything we could find to bring our stories to life. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about wonder. About the thrill of gathering friends and family to watch something you made, something you believed in.
That spirit is at the heart of Firefly Creative.
Our name comes from those fleeting summer nights spent chasing fireflies barefoot through the yard. That spark of wonder—that magical, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it feeling—is the same feeling we hope to create through our work. Childhood is full of those moments: quick, wild, unforgettable. We’re here to catch lightning in a bottle and share it with others.
Outdoor theatre brings us back to the roots of storytelling. It’s bold, simple, joyful—and it invites the audience to use their imagination alongside the cast. A window can become a tower. A tablecloth becomes a magical carpet. A chalk-drawn path becomes a yellow brick road.
At Firefly, we’re not just creating performances. We’re re-creating the feeling of childhood magic—the kind that made us believe anything was possible.
ABOUT FOUNDER
Oakley Weddle, founder of Firefly Creative, combines a deep passion for theater with professional expertise to bring accessible and impactful arts experiences to young performers across the Mid-South. With 15 years of experience on and off the stage, Oakley has dedicated his career to fostering creative opportunities for youth in his community.
Oakley holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a master’s degree in Strategic Media from The University of Memphis. His journey in theater began at a young age doing church plays and community theater. In high school, he worked at a local theater company, managing social media, coordinating a school tour that reached thousands of students, teachers, and faculty in 2018, and directing, choreographing, and helping produce more than 15 musical productions with young performers aged five to eighteen. This formative experience fueled his mission to create meaningful, accessible theater for young audiences, leading him to establish Firefly Creative.
Oakley has directed or worked on the production team of over 30 children's theater productions across seven different theater companies in West Tennessee. In 2019, Oakley launched the theater program at Anchor Cottage Tutorial as its first theater director, building the program from the ground up.
His teaching philosophy emphasizes the value of the educational process and collaboration, fostering a supportive environment where young actors can thrive. A key differentiator of his approach is empowering students to take on significant responsibilities in the production, from leadership roles to creative decision-making. By allowing them to lead, problem-solve, and contribute meaningfully, he helps them build confidence and a sense of ownership—transforming each production into a powerful learning experience. Rooted in the belief that this approach can change the world one musical at a time, he follows the iTheatrics Method to guide and inspire young performers.
Alongside his theater work, Oakley is an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis and the Marketing Director for ProTech Services Group, Inc. He has also long been committed to nonprofit work, serving as the board president for The PEYitforward Foundation and contributing to nonprofit initiatives since the fourth grade. For more information about Oakley’s journey and professional work, visit www.oakleyweddle.com.