A Herndon High School graduate will direct "A Charlie Brown Christmas" at South Lakes High School in December, her first show as a student teacher in the school's theater program.

Emma Harris, a George Mason University (GMU) senior completing a theater education degree, joined the South Lakes Theatre department for the 2026-2027 school year, The Reston Letter reported. She is working under theater program director Mike Viola.

Harris, a 2022 Herndon High graduate, will direct "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12. The show holds personal meaning: it was the second show she ever performed in, and her family watches the movie every holiday season. Before that, she will serve as assistant director on the fall musical "Come From Away," running Wednesday, Nov. 18 through Saturday, Nov. 21.

She discovered theater at age 9, when her mother signed her up for a summer program at NextStop Theatre, a nonprofit professional theater company in Herndon.

"The switch was flipped so instantly for me … I was like, oh, this is where I'm meant to be," Harris told The Reston Letter.

Harris comes from a family of teachers and said she wants to remove barriers that keep students out of theater. Cast fees and lack of transportation to rehearsals are among the obstacles she cited. She noted the D.C. metro area has one of the highest per capita concentrations of theater companies but said not every student has equal access to those programs.

Viola, who also serves as associate director with Reston Community Players, praised Harris after her arrival. He called her "a great asset to the program" and said he believes she will become a strong teacher.

Viola's South Lakes program drew attention in July when he directed a joint production of "Dear Evan Hansen" with Reston Community Players, pulling students from 11 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) campuses.

South Lakes sits across Baron Cameron Avenue from Herndon High, where Harris graduated four years ago. She met Viola over the summer at a staff event before starting her placement.

Ticket and venue details for "Come From Away" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" had not been posted as of Thursday, Oct. 8.