Janelle Haywood Charlotte Academy of the Arts

CAA Student Spotlight: Janelle Haywood

Posted: September 30, 2026

At Charlotte Academy of the Arts, students find many ways to develop and share their talents, both onstage and behind the scenes. For Janelle Haywood, who will soon turn 18, that journey has included music, theatre, and an extraordinary talent for transforming simple materials into detailed works of art.

Janelle has studied both voice and violin at Charlotte Academy of the Arts and has become an important part of our musical theatre productions behind the scenes. She has served as Props Master for several CAA productions and will be assisting with Shrek this fall.

From Cardboard Boxes to Works of Art

Janelle’s creations are remarkable not only for their detail, but also for the materials she uses to make them. Many begin with something as ordinary as a cereal box or moving box.

“My main materials are usually some form of cardboard, whether it’s cereal boxes or moving boxes,” Janelle says. “I typically make art based on my interests, things from media I like, mainly from books or movies.”

Her creativity with cardboard began years ago.

“I started creating when I was around 9 years old. Back then I would make houses for my toys out of cardboard.”

Those early cardboard houses have grown into increasingly intricate creations. Janelle has an exceptional ability to study an object, imagine how it can be constructed, and then recreate it with an astonishing level of detail.

Bringing Her Artistry to the Stage

Janelle has also found a place for her talents in theatre. As Props Master for several CAA’s productions, she has helped bring some memorable details of our shows to life. Her creations have ranged from Bruce’s infamous chocolate cake in Matilda JR. to the Emerald City Guard’s sign in The Wizard of Oz, along with many other pieces that have helped create the worlds audiences see onstage.

“Working with Janelle is always a pleasure. Whether she’s taking on a simple task or helping us bring an intricate creative vision to life, she approaches her work with enthusiasm, dedication, and incredible attention to detail. I am continually astounded by her artistry and by what she is able to create.

One of the things that is important to me at CAA is finding opportunities for our students to always continue to grow artistically. Janelle came to CAA as a music student, but as we learned more about her passion and talent for art and design, our theatre program gave us a way to help her develop those abilities in a completely different setting. By taking on real responsibilities within our productions, she has been able to build experience, contribute her talents to the production team, and add meaningful work to her resume as she prepares for college.”

Regina Ziliani, Owner, Charlotte Academy of the Arts

Dreaming Big

As Janelle looks toward college, she is considering majoring in either Art Design or Architecture, two paths that reflect the combination of creativity and technical skill already evident in her work. She loves not only imagining what she wants to create, but also figuring out how to construct it and bring an idea from concept to finished piece.

Her interests also extend beyond creating individual works of art. Janelle is drawn to the way design can help build an entire world and tell a story, something she has already experienced through her work in theatre.

And Janelle has a very big goal for where those talents might eventually take her: Janelle hopes to one day win an Academy Award for Best Production Design. It’s an ambitious dream, but one with roots that go all the way back to a nine-year-old Janelle building cardboard houses for her toys. Today, she is still imagining spaces, constructing objects, and bringing fictional worlds to life, only now her ideas and skills have grown right along with her.

See Janelle's Creations at McDowell Arts Center

This October, Janelle will  share her work with our community. Her artwork will be on display at the McDowell Arts Center in Matthews throughout the month of October, with a gallery showing on October 17 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. McDowell Arts Center is located at 123 E. McDowell St in Matthews, NC.

We’re proud to feature Janelle Haywood in our CAA Student Spotlight and to celebrate not only what she has accomplished, but where her talents are taking her. From cereal boxes and childhood creations to theatrical productions and her own gallery showing, Janelle continues to demonstrate just how far imagination, skill, and dedication can take an artist. We can’t wait to see what Janelle creates next! We have a feeling this is only the beginning of her story.