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American Association
of
Community Theatre
2017 Elections
Officer Candidates
Candidate for President
Carole Ries
Topeka, Kansas (Region V)
Carole currently serves as AACT Executive Vice President. She is retired from theatre management,
most recently as the President and CEO of the Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy. She also served as
Executive Director for the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre. Earlier in her career, while working at
Theatre Memphis, Carole worked on FACT ’79 (a precursor to AACTFest). She was a member of the
Tennessee Theatre Association, served as Chair of the Youth Division for the Florida Theatre Conference
(FTC), and as President of the Kansas Theatre Association. She received a Distinguished Service Award
in 1995 from FTC. On the national level, Carole chaired AACT’s Workshop Committee and served as Vice
President for Public Relations on the AACT Board of Directors, leading the effort to re-brand AACT. Carole has also served
as the Chair of the AACT Endowment Trustees, most recently leading a task force to research endowment restructuring.
She was named an AACT Fellow in 2009.
Candidate for Executive Vice President
Rick Kerby
Bradenton, Florida (Region IV)
Rick is currently Producing Artistic Director of Florida’s Manatee Performing Arts Center, and was named
Best Director at the Florida Theatre Conference, three-time winner as Best Director at the Southeastern
Theatre Conference (SETC), and two-time winner as Best Director at AACTFest National Festivals. Prior
to his move to Florida, Rick was Entertainment Director for the USO of Metropolitan New York. Other
directorial credits include productions at professional theatres in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island,
Maine, Virginia, New Hampshire, New Orleans, and for many prominent cruise lines. He has served on
the faculties of Wagner College on Staten Island and the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (AMDA)
in New York City. Rick served six years as President of the Florida Theatre Conference, and is past President of the Florida
Association of Community Theatres. He also has served as Community Theatre Festival Chair for the Southeastern Theatre
Conference. For AACT, Rick has served as the Florida State Representative, Chair of the Membership Committee, Festival
Commissioner, and is currently serving his second term as Board Member at Large.
Candidate for Vice President for Festivals
Jim Walker
Aberdeen, South Dakota (Region V)
The Artistic/Managing Director of Aberdeen Community Theatre in South Dakota, Jim is a 35-year actor,
director, designer, adjudicator, and theatrical consultant. A charter member of AACT, he also has served
as president of the Aberdeen Area Arts Council, South Dakota Theatre Association and the Aberdeen
Convention and Visitors Bureau. In 2009, he was appointed by the Governor to the South Dakota Arts
Council, and currently serves as its chair. Jim designed a majority of the 90-plus productions he has
directed and has received numerous acting, directing and design awards. He directed Honk! in 2007 and
How to Talk Minnesotan: The Musical in 2009, both productions advancing to national festivals. Honk!
also represented the United States in Toyama, Japan in 2008. Jim served as AACT Region V representative for six years,
and currently is a Board Member at Large, serving on the Audit Committee, International Committee (as Vice-Chair), and
Festival Committee, and as an Endowment Trustee. Jim also serves as the 2017 Festival Commission Chair. For his many
contributions, he was recognized as an AACT Fellow in 2015.
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Officer Candidates continued
Candidate for Treasurer
Michael Fox
North Salt Lake, Utah (Region VII)
Michael began his theatre career at StageStop and at Bear River High in northern Utah. He attended
Southern Utah University (home of the Tony-award winning Utah Shakespeare Festival) on a performance
scholarship, but earned his BS in Business Finance from the University of Phoenix. Over the years, he
has used his talents as an accompanist, choreographer, director, singing dancer (which he points out is
“totally different from a dancing singer!”), light board operator, sound engineer, and stage manager at
many different venues. For the past 13 years, he has used these experiences--and his business degree-as Director of Operations for Hale Centre Theatre in Salt Lake City. He has served as a missionary and
lay clergy for his church, as President of Intermountain Ticketing Professionals (the Utah branch of INTIX) and as a Member
at Large on the AACT Board. He was named one of 30 Professionals of the Year by Musical America in 2014. He has a
beautiful wife of nearly 19 years who cares for him and their puppy, Bear. He is a major foodie, loves to sit at the piano and
sing with his wife, and enjoys any form of great dialog.
Board Member
at
Large Candidates
Emily Anderson
Midland, Michigan (Region III)
Emily is a graduate of Central Michigan University, with a degree in Interpersonal and Public
Communications. She began acting in community theatre when she was 14 years old and has performed
in over 30 productions. She also has volunteered as a director, stage manager, props chair, and dresser
for Center Stage Theatre at Midland Center for the Arts in Midland, Michigan. Professionally, Emily
served six years as the Communications Coordinator, and later the Managing Director, for Center Stage
Theatre, where she revitalized the theatre’s involvement with AACT. In 2011, she chaired the Michigan
AACTFest, and acted in Center Stage’s production of Urinetown, which went on to win second place at
the national festival. Through that experience, Emily has found a second family with AACT, and has chaired a Region III
festival, as well as served on the Board as a Member at Large, and a member of the AACT Communications Team and
Festival Committee. She and her husband, Bill, live in Midland with their two sons, Liam and Kellan.
Chad-Alan Carr
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Region II)
Chad-Alan is the Founding Executive/Artistic Director for Gettysburg Community Theatre, located in the
heart of historic downtown Lincoln Square in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Originally from Texas, Chad
received his formal training in the BFA Musical Theatre Program at Sam Houston State University, which
later awarded him the Distinguished Theatre Alumni Award for Achievement In Professional Theatre.
Chad was honored to co-facilitate the first two Youth Summits for AACT, and is excited to chair the
first-ever Youth Festival at the AACTFest 2017 National Festival in Rochester, Minnesota. He directed
the Eastern States Regional Premiere of The Penguin Project (theatre for youth with special needs),
chartered the International Thespian Troupe #7640 for Gettysburg Area High School, and served as a board member for
Pennsylvania Association of Community Theatres, Eastern States Theatre Association, and AACT. Chad is seeing his lifelong dream come true with the success of the Gettysburg Community Theatre, now in its 8th season.
Michael Cochran
Paducah, Kentucky (Region IV)
Michael is the Executive Director of the Market House Theatre (MHT) in Paducah. He has worked for MHT
for over 30 years, serving as its Executive Director since 1996. Michael graduated from the University
of Wisconsin, Whitewater, with a BA in Theatre, and then attended graduate school at the University of
Alabama and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, receiving his MFA in Theatre from SIU. He has
worked professionally as an administrator, scenic & lighting designer, and director, and has directed
and designed hundreds of productions during his career. He is also a playwright, with several plays to
his credit. He is married to April Cochran, who serves as the Education Director at MHT. They have a
daughter, Jade, who is a high school senior this year. Michael has served as the Chair of the Kentucky Theatre Association
Community Theatre division, and as a Board member of Arts Kentucky.
American Association
of
Community Theatre 2017 Elections
Board Member
at
Large Candidates continued
Allen Ebert
Madison, Wisconsin (Region III)
Allen is the Executive Director at the Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM), which is a member of
Theatre for Young Audiences/USA, and a resident company of the Overture Center for Performing Arts.
Previously, Allen served as Executive Director of the award-winning La Crosse Community Theatre, and
spent three years in Vicenza, Italy, where he served as the Entertainment Director of Soldiers’ Theatre,
an Army community theatre. Over the past 23 years, he has directed, performed, adjudicated, and
conducted workshops at state, regional, and national festivals and conferences. Allen also has served as
the president of the Board of the Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre, and has been involved
for many years with AACT on various levels. He is proud to be a veteran of the United States Army.
Kristi Quinn
Dakota City, Nebraska (Region V)
Kristi has been active in community theatre for over 20 years. Formerly, AACT’s Vice President for
Festivals, she also served for six years as the Region V Representative on the AACT Board, and is a
member of the Finance and Governance Committees. Kristi completed AACT’s adjudication training,
and has adjudicated at several festivals. She serves as Artistic Director for the Pioneer Valley Players in
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, and leads the theatre and speech programs at the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community
Schools. Kristi served as a Board Member of the Nebraska Association of Community Theatre, and
participated as a core committee member and chair of several state and regional festivals. Her theatre
experience includes acting, directing, set decoration, and costume design--as well as public relations, grant writing, and
development. She has been Executive Director of the Sioux City Community Theatre, and as Development Director of the
Sioux City Art Center. Kristi resides in Dakota City, Nebraska, and currently serves as the Executive Director of Susan G.
Komen Siouxland.
Jamie Ulmer
Beatrice, Nebraska (Region V)
Jamie is a director, actor, instructor, and arts administrator, who has served as the Managing Artistic
Director for Nebraska’s Beatrice Community Players since 1997. He has directed more than 100
productions, among his most memorable including Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, Noises Off,
Jesus Christ Superstar, Lend Me a Tenor, Proof, Children of Eden, Young Frankenstein, and Chicago.
He is also an adjunct instructor of theatre management for Doane University, and has been an instructor
for Southeast Community College, as well. Jamie serves on the Board of Directors for several local and
state organizations, including Vice President for Legislation with Nebraskans for the Arts and President
the Beatrice Area Arts Council, and recently completed a term as President of the Nebraska Association of Community
Theatres. He calls himself “a strong believer in the power of the arts to transform individuals and entire communities,
regardless of where that community is located.”
Nominating Committee Candidates
John Davis
Evergreen, Colorado (Region VII)
John has been involved in theatre since an outstanding high school drama teacher changed his life. In
1966, he and his wife joined the Evergreen Players in Colorado. As the small company grew, it became
apparent that John’s administrative and technical theatre talents were more valuable than his acting
skills. As a result, he has served in every position on the Players’ Board of Directors. (In August 2016,
the Evergreen Players honored Kathleen and John for their 50 years of volunteering.) He has served
as a member of the AACT Board, as Festival Commissioner, and is presently chair of the Governance
Committee. He also has been a stage manager for the two appearances of the Evergreen Players at
the National AACTFest. For the last 15 years, John has served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Community
Theater Coalition, currently as Treasurer, and has worked actively on many state festivals. He has been on the Board of the
Evergreen Arts Council for 10 years, including two terms as treasurer. John was recently awarded Arts Person of the Year
for his many contributions to the Evergreen community.
(over)
American Association
of
Community Theatre 2017 Elections
Nominating Committee Candidates continued
Dennis Gilmore
Indio, California (Region VIII)
Dennis began his career as a producer for professional theatre in Chicago. After moving to Texas, he
became Executive Director for the Henderson County Performing Arts Center (HCPAC), serving in that
position until his retirement in 2014. In 2003, Dennis co-founded Act I Productions, a community theatre
based in DeSoto, Texas, which won artistic recognition from its inception. He received his MA in Theatre
from Stephen F. Austin State University, with additional graduate study at the University of Texas at Tyler.
Dennis has been an instructor in theatre & speech at Trinity Valley Community College, also serving as
technical director. During his time at HCPAC, he directed over 250 plays and 275 children’s productions,
and has been a statewide one-act play adjudicator since 1991. As a Board Member of Texas Nonprofit Theatres, he helped
start the state youth conference and was its chairman for its first 10 years. For AACT, he has been involved in festival
adjudication at the regional, state and national level, served as Vice President for Education for two terms, and is currently
chair of the Accreditation Task Force. He also serves as a Festival Commissioner and is the administrator of the AACT
Resource Roster. In 2011, Dennis was named an AACT Fellow and received the David C. Bryant Outstanding Service
Award.
Rod McCullough
Urbandale, Iowa (Region V)
November 2016 marked Rod’s 50th year of involvement in community theatre, beginning with his role as
Stanley Kowalski in the Lincoln (NE) Community Playhouse’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Over the next two decades, he appeared in more than 20 productions, earning Outstanding Performance
awards for his roles in The Elephant Man and Of Mice and Men. Since 1982, his career has included
staff leadership at Lincoln Community Playhouse, the Fulton Opera House theatre company in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, and the Des Moines (IA) Community Playhouse, where he currently serves as Managing
Director. Since his first election to the AACT Board of Directors in 1994, Rod has served as President,
Chair of the AACT Endowment Fund Trustees, and most recently as Chair of Endowment Restructure and SWOT Analysis
task forces. In 2001, he was named an AACT Fellow and also received the Art Cole Award for service to community theatre.
Eugene Irby
Artesia, New Mexico (Region VI)
Eugene holds Bachelor of Business Administration degrees from both Angelo State University (General
Business) and Eastern New Mexico University (Marketing/Marketing Education). He served as President
of the Artesia (NM) Community Theater for two terms, and as Marketing Director for the Roswell (NM)
Community Theatre. He is a past President of Theatre New Mexico, and currently serves as a Board
Member. He has served as State Representative to both AACT and the Southwest Theatre Association.
In addition, he has served the Southwest Theatre and Film Association as Board member, Vice President
of Communication, President Elect, and President. He served as AACT Region VI Representative for four
years, as Vice President for Planning and Development, and is currently on the Festival Commission and is an Endowment
Trustee. Eugene was named an AACT Fellow and a Fellow of Theater New Mexico. He is in the fourth year of teaching
drama for his local high school.
Continuing Board Members
These persons’ terms end in 2018 and 2019, so they will serve with those elected in spring 2017.
Region I
Bevie Lord, MA, Region Rep
Region II
Susanne Caviness, MD, Region Rep
Bob Frame, NY, Member at Large
Region III
Richard Gannon, IL, Member at Large
Frank Peot, WI, Secretary
TBA, Region Rep
Region IV
Murray Chase, FL, Past President
Kristofer Geddie, FL, Member at Large
Lynn Nelson, MS, Region Rep
Region V
Nancy Eppert, MO, Region Rep
Region VI
Jeffrey Brown, TX, Region Rep
Sharon Burum, OK, Member at Large
Sara Phoenix, OK, Member at Large
Region VII
Donna Fisher, WY, Region Rep
Region VIII
Liz Lydic, CA, Member at Large
Gil Savage, CA, Region Rep
American Association
of
Region IX
Jon Douglas Rake, WA, Region Rep
Chris Surface, WA, Member at Large
Region X
Dane Winters, Germany, Region Rep
International
Ron Cameron-Lewis, Canada,
Member at Large
Continuing Nominating Committee
Members
Penelope Notter, MI, Region III
John W. Viars, IA, Region V
Community Theatre 2017 Elections