Staff
Macauley Allen | Business Services SPecialist
217.300.0795 | mallen10 [at] illinois.edu
andrew almeter | Senior production coordinator for events
aalmeter [at] illinois.edu
Before coming to Krannert Center, Andrew worked at the Buffalo Philharmonic working as the operations coordinator, which included planning the logistics of guest artists’ travel, hotel, catering, and being a go-to person for the “different” tasks associated with the orchestra. His most memorable project was making around 1,000 individual jingle bells for audience members to ring during one of the Christmas concerts. As a note to all, Andrew recalls cutting ribbon and threading it through the bells gets pretty boring at around the 700th time. Besides being a martyr, Andrew is an avid Ultimate Frisbee player, coffee drinker, doesn’t know anything about movies, and has the worst sense of humor in the office, all of which he is very proud of. His love for his job is seeing the creative problem solving that this building is capable of and the sheer ability of getting so many shows up and running.
ANDREA BOUCK | COSTUME DIRECTOR
abouck2 [at] illinois.edu
While costumes has been the focus of Andrea's career path since 2004, she has been involved in theatre since Kindergarten. It wasn’t until her undergraduate education when she discovered the power of storytelling that costumes have; she dove headfirst into a career in the industry and has never looked back! Earning her MFA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009 set her off on a journey that has allowed her to explore her passion, meet like-minded people, and be stared at strangely for carrying a 50-pound bag of dyers salt on a commuter bus. She delights in working with students on their journey of innovation and curiosity here at UIUC’s Costume Department. Andrea has worked as a Milliner for such companies as Steppenwolf Theater, The Met, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Glimmerglass Opera, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage Children’s Theater, and Theater IV/Barksdale Theater, among others.
Bree Brock | Production Coordinator for Events
217.244.2151 | bkb15 [at] illinois.edu
Bree was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, is a Stephens College Alumna, and has a BFA in Theatre Management. She has been with Krannert Center since 2019. Some of her favorite memories, so far, include working with Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, networking with traveling artists and production teams, and (her favorite triumph) overseeing the planning and implementation of the 2023 Ellnora Guitar Festival. Outside of work, Bree is an avid artist who spends a lot of time with her four-legged child and enjoys being outside to soak up the sun. Having several avenues of creativity is important to her and is why she prefers to be in this business. Art is all around us, where would be without it?
MICHAEL BUNTING | HOSPITALITY Supervisor
bunting3 [at] illinois.edu
Michael was raised in Mahomet, Illinois, and left the area to enlist in the military. He moved back to Mahomet seven years ago. He is an Air Force veteran who specialized in security police, law enforcement, and customs. He completed training as a customs officer through the US Department of the Treasury. Michael is a graduate of Parkland College in business administration, the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago/Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, and Judson University in accounting. In addition to the AAS degree in culinary arts, he holds a professional cooking and nutrition certificate. He has been a member of the American Culinary Federation and the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals for nearly 20 years, earning his Certified Dietary Manager and Certified Food Protection Professional credentials. Michael has spent over 25 years cooking in the Chicago, Rockford, and Champaign-Urbana areas and has worked about every job in a kitchen from dishwasher, waiter, cook, sous chef, chef, chef/manager, food service manager, assistant director to director. He has also had the opportunity to work in every kind of restaurant/food service including fast food, pizza, casual, fine dining, hotel, conference center, retirement community, nursing home, and hospital. He enjoys trying new recipes, new restaurants, and new foods when not working and also likes to travel in his free time. Michael has been to many different countries and hopes to visit China and India at some point in time.
scott butler | Attendant
Joe Butsch | building Electrician
217.265.5328 | jbutsch [at] illinois.edu
Eric Carr | Attendant
217.333.6707 | ecarr [at] illinois.edu
Terri Anne Ciofalo | Director of Production
217.265.6969 | tciofalo [at] illinois.edu
Terri is the associate director for production and the director of new work at Krannert Center as well as a member of the stage management faculty in the Department of Theatre. Originally from New York City, Terri was the production manager and production stage manager for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet prior to joining Krannert Center in 2007. She has stage-managed for the Yale Repertory Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, American Players Theatre, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, and Maryland Stage Company and has toured with Ralph Lemon, Urban Tap, and American Repertory Ballet, among others. Terri is the program director of The Armagh Project, bringing American college students to Northern Ireland each summer to study playwriting, performance, creative writing, and journalism. She earned her MFA in stage management at the Yale School of Drama.
glenda dalton | operations Office Support associate
217.300.9765 | gsdalton [at] illinois.edu
Glenda joins the Krannert Center building operations office after working 17 years as a Cashier II for Willard Airport commercial operations.
Austin Dearth | Attendant
217.333.6707 | adearth3 [at] illinois.edu
Debbie Delaney | Accounting Staff
217.244.4862 | ddelany [at] illinois.edu
Debbie has worked at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts since December 2007. She grew up in Tuscola, Illinois, but now lives in Gifford. Debbie has three daughters, one stepson, and three grandchildren.
Sara Dietrich | Attendant
217.333.6707 | sara86 [at] illinois.edu
Ann-Marie Dittmann | Patron Services Assistant Director
217.333.9716 | amd21 [at] illinois.edu
Adriane Binky Donley | Properties Director
217.333.9720 | adonley [at] illinois.edu
Binky is the properties director at Krannert Center as well as the chair of the Properties Design and Management Program for the Department of Theatre. Originally from Florida, Binky was previously an assistant professor at Ithaca College heading the areas of props and scenic art. She has also worked as a prop master at the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival and the University of Virginia. As a prop artisan, she has had the privilege to work at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Alley Theatre, Hangar Theatre, Seaside Music Theatre, and Virginia Shakespeare Festival, among other venues. She has a BA from the University of South Florida and an MFA from the North Carolina School of the Arts.
David Drake | Advancement Team Assistant
djdrake [at] uillinois.edu
julieanne Ehre | assistant director for programming and engagement
jehre3 [at] illinois.edu
Julieanne Ehre is from Chicago and was most recently the director of Pivot Arts, a multidisciplinary performance organization. She has developed new works by over 25 artistic groups including nationally acclaimed artists such as Anna Martine Whitehead and Ayanna Woods, Issac Gomez, and the Rude Mechs. Julieanne has produced discussion events with artistic and civic leaders including Senator Richard J. Durbin and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman; she produced and hosted the Pivot Arts Podcast. She served as the NEA/TCG New Generations “Future Leaders” Fellow at the Goodman Theatre where she focused on international initiatives including Latino Theater Festival and a global exploration of the works of Eugene O'Neill with the Wooster Group, Ivo van Hove and other world-class artists. Julieanne is part of an ongoing exchange between Polish and American theater professionals through the Center for International Theatre Development based in Baltimore. She was listed as one of “50 People Who Perform for Chicago” by New City Stage in 2019 and 2022. She holds an MFA in Directing from Northwestern University and worked as theater director.
John ekstrom | Attendant
217.333.6707 | jekstrom [at] illinois.edu
jesse fancher | attendant
217.333.6707 | jdumyahn [at] illinois.edu
Jason Finkelman | Artistic Director of Global Arts Performance Initiatives
217.265.0640 | finkelma [at] illinois.edu
Established in 2012, Global Arts Performance Initiatives consolidates Jason’s distinct curatorial programming in partnership with cultural arts institutions and programs across the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With a focus on genre-blurring music and international performing arts, established engagement programming includes Sudden Sound, Global Transfer Afterglow, Gateways to World Music, and Improvisers Exchange concerts, workshops, and artist residencies. Jason’s efforts in enriching campus and community through the arts was recognized in 2019 with an Advocate ACE Award from the Champaign County Arts Council 40N|88W and as Best Promoter of the Decade by Champaign-Urbana’s online magazine Smile Politely.
Bryan Franzen | Attendant
217.333.6707 | franzen1 [at] illinois.edu
andrew giza | Events Director
217.300.5222 | giza [at] illinois.edu
Originally from Massachusetts, Andrew is an alumnus of Emerson College where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting. Before joining the Events Office at Krannert Center, Andrew worked with the Artist Partner Programs team at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center while earning a Master of Science degree in management. Andrew’s professional career began at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as the program’s music production manager, a position he held for over 14 years. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA and enjoys golfing, riding motorcycles, and working with the Boulanger Initiative to promote inclusivity in classical music.
Rachel Gladd | Performing Arts Events Coordinator
rgladd [at] illinois.edu
Rachel is part of our Events team, responsible for managing the calendar for all our theatres and rehearsal spaces, as well as coordinating facility rentals. Born and raised right here in Urbana, she graduated from The New School in New York City with a BFA in Musical Theater. She worked on various Off-Broadway productions as Assistant Production Manager with Atlantic Theater Company. When not working on keeping our schedules straight, Rachel enjoys being outdoors with her husband and dog, breaking out of escape rooms, and discovering new and interesting cuisines.
richard gregg | Costume Rentals Director / associate costume Shop director
rdg [at] illinois.edu
Richard is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Hybrid-Costumer from New York City. He has been a proud member of the International Alliance of Television and Stage Employees Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 764 since 2009. In June 2018, he moved to Champaign-Urbana to be the Costume Rentals Director for Krannert Center. He teaches costume tailoring and flat pattern-drafting classes for BFA and MFA Costume Design and Technology students. 40 years of sewing has brought him unimaginable job opportunities and experiences. During Fashion Week, he travels to New York City and works as an Assistant and Head-Tailor for ‘LR Tailoring, LLC’ which provides tailoring and alteration services for several high-fashion companies. He has worked for Parsons-Meares Costume Shop, Sarah Timberlake Costume Shop, New York Theatre Workshop Costume Shop, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Costume Shop and Wardrobe Department, The New York City Ballet Costume Shop and the New York Metropolitan Opera Costume Shop and Wardrobe Department. His constructed elephant blankets for FELD Entertainment’s production of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey’s ‘Greatest Show on Earth’. He never knew a costume pattern could be so large. He toured the U.S., Singapore and Hong Kong with American Ballet Theatre and devoted much of his time to dressing performers and maintaining wardrobe for Radio City and several Broadway Musicals including Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, Dr. Zhivago, Amazing Grace, Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Hamilton, On Your Feet: The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. His passion for backstage jobs in wardrobe stems from his stage-fright as theatre has always been a large part of his life from an early age. Richard enjoys spending vacation time with his family members in Iowa, Minnesota and Colorado. He absolutely adores fashion/costuming and has made his sewing hobby into his career.
Jenell Hardy | Director of Business Services
jljackso [at] uillinois.edu
Whitney Havice | TicketING AND PATRON Services Director
217.244.3963 | whavice [at] illinois.edu
Whitney has worked as part of the Krannert Center team since 2003 as a ticket services supervisor and then assistant ticket services director. In addition to her extensive experience working in the Ticket Office, for many years Whitney has served on Krannert Center’s Engagement Team, Occupational and Safety Committee (including co-chairing the group), and as class coordinator for Krannert Center’s Dance for People with Parkinson’s program. Whitney is an English and journalism graduate of Bradley University and is active in Champaign-Urbana and regional communities as a dance instructor, choreographer, director, and a board member for the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company, in addition to other efforts.
Tara Heiser | Human Resources Specialist
217.244.2600 | tlheiser [at] illinois.edu
elizabeth henke | stage 5 bar manager
ehenke [at] illinois.edu
John Ingalls | Culinary Worker III
jci [at] illinois.edu
tatsuya Ito | Associate Technical Director
217.300.8015 | tito [at] illinois.edu
Tatsuya “Tito” Ito is an associate technical director at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and a member of the scenic technology faculty. Tatsuya started his career off by freelancing in the greater Boston area working for companies like Bent Productions, Company One, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, and Suffolk University amongst many others. He would go on to work his way from an over-hire carpenter to technical director at Stoneham Theatre. Looking for a change of pace, he was fortunate to become the shop foreman at Brandeis University where he discovered his love for working in educational theatre. In grad school, he had the pleasure of spending his summers in New York to work for Productions on Point, a layout and survey company focusing on live events, as well as in Los Angeles to work for Center Theatre Group. In 2011, Tatsuya received his BFA from Salem State University in Massachusetts and is currently finishing his thesis to complete his MFA in technical design and production from the Yale School of Drama.
Nick Jukes | theatrical lighting coordinator
njukes1 [at] illinois.edu
Nick is a Champaign-Urbana native, and a Parkland Alumni. He is currently pursuing a BFA in the Arts & Entertainment Technology program here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He previously worked at Krannert as a stagehand starting back in 2017, but after working as the resident LD/VJ at various venues as well as numerous production companies & tours, he is now currently serving as the Theatrical Lighting Coordinator at the Krannert center. He comes to Krannert in this new position with specialized knowledge in SFX, live music production, and serves as a certified Laser Safety Officer (cLSO) for the International Laser Display Association (ILDA). Outside of work, he enjoys ice skating, camping, kayaking, hiking, really any nature based activity.
Bill Kephart | Scene Shop Chief Clerk
217.300.3943 | kephrt [at] illinois.edu
In addition to clerical duties, Bill manages the Krannert Store in the Scene Shop where a variety of materials are available for purchase by students, staff, and the public. Bill has an English literature degree from the U of I. He loves clothing design, sewing, and spreadsheets.
Lisa Kidd | Lighting Director
217.300.6245 | lisakidd [at] illinois.edu
Lisa is the Lighting Director for the Krannert Center as well as a member of the lighting faculty for Illinois Theater. You may have seen their work as the lighting designer for Ellnora the Guitar Festival. That includes inside the venues as well as outside on the building. Lisa has a hand in an average of thirty performances annually and enjoys the variety of performances that Krannert Center produces. Prior to coming to Illinois Lisa worked in Nashville Tennessee as a freelance lighting designer and technician and has toured nationally as a lighting supervisor. In their spare time they enjoy gardening and dogs.
tyler knowles | Assistant Audio Director
tknowle2 [at] illinois.edu
Tyler is the Assistant Audio Director and Live Stream Engineer at the Krannert Center. Before coming back to Krannert, he had been the Resident Sound Designer and Audio Video Supervisor at the Children's Theatre of Charlotte in Charlotte North Carolina for 6 years. Tyler received both his BFA and MFA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
david krupla | associate lighting director
krupla2 [at] illinois.edu
David is the Associate Lighting Director at the Krannert Center and a member of the lighting design faculty. He previously served as the Lighting Director at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center and as the Resident Lighting Designer at the Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol located in The Villages, Florida. He has also worked with such companies and institutions as Nebraska Shakespeare, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, the Santa Fe Opera, Great Lakes Theatre, Porthouse Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Near West Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, Hathaway Brown Theatre Insitute, and Cuyahoga Community College. David received his MFA in lighting design from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his BA in lighting design and technologies from Kent State University.
Sean Kutzko | assistant communications director
217.244.3187 | sekutzko [at] illinois.edu
Sean joined Krannert Center in 2022. Born and raised in Urbana and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Springfield, Sean brings a wealth of experience in social media, public relations, audio and video recording, and storytelling. He uses those skills to help tell the stories of Krannert Center events, artists, audiences, staff, and history. He worked as Media and Public Relations Manager at ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio, and as Social Media Manager at the Mark Twain House and Museum, both in the Hartford, Connecticut area. Sean also worked at several National Public Radio (NPR) stations in Illinois and Indiana as on-air host and Operations Manager and was a long-time volunteer at WEFT-FM community radio here in Champaign-Urbana. Passionate about jazz music and jazz history, Sean runs the website ChambanaJazz.com, which records, documents, and preserves the Champaign-Urbana jazz scene. He’s also a drummer/percussionist in the local music scene, an active amateur (ham) radio operator, baker and pizzaiolo, and loyal Chicago Cubs fan.
Alec LaBau | Associate Audio Director / video director
217.244.9899 | alabau [at] illinois.edu
Alec is currently serving as the associate audio director at Krannert Center and as a member of the sound faculty for the Department of Theatre. He received his BFA in sound design from Utah State University and continued his education, earning an MFA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Alec has worked nationally as a sound designer and engineer with the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Crossroads Theatre Company, Actors Theatre Kansas City, and the Old Lyric Repertory Theatre in Logan, Utah. Prior to coming to the Krannert Center, Alec worked as the assistant technical director for production services.
Vanessa Lane | Office Manager
217.244.2661 | vklane2 [at] illinois.edu
Vanessa comes to the Center with over 32 years of combined experience in customer service, food & beverage management, office administrative and HR support for community outreach & non-profit. Vanessa's background includes a BA in Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Ceramic Sculpture. She continued to pursue her work in the arts as an art teacher for K-5th grade, worked as live-in Teaching Parent for a youth home for at risk teens and was an Owner/Partner and Artist for an art gallery. Each opportunity led to years of volunteer work and advocacy through the Y, DREAAM Opportunity Center and the Urbana Park District Advisory Committee. She is a passionate supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion, a gardener, artist and long-term advocate of the arts and live music.
Mark Lashbrook | Attendant
217.333.6707 | lashbrok [at] illinois.edu
Emily Laugesen | director of community Engagement
217.333.9727 | elaugese [at] illinois.edu
Part of the Krannert Center staff since 2009, Emily is endlessly fascinated by the power of the arts to bring people together through shared experiences. Her work with arts engagement is focused on creating opportunities for intercultural exchange, personal and professional growth, and community development. She is program director and collaborative curator of the Krannert Center Youth Series, a series of performances by professional touring artists designed to nurture creativity in students preschool through high school. Born and raised in Indiana, Emily feels at home in the Illinois prairie but has also enjoyed living in St. Louis and New York as she completed degrees in comparative literature, Italian, and musicology/music theory. She embraces the inherent contradiction in her love of both coffee and yoga.
Scott Leon | Community Service Officer
saleon [at] illinois.edu
jacob lerch | attendant
217.333.6707 | jlerch [at] illinois.edu
kari little-mckinney | Theatrical Stitcher
A 1981 graduate of Southern Illinois University's Theater Technology program with a costume specialization, Kari has since owned a costume rental business, run a dance studio, managed a bellydance troupe, and created costumes for various Renaissance festival participants and dance companies before joining Krannert Center full time in 2023. The child who hardly spent a weekend without donning some costume or other to go out to play continues doing so into adulthood by participating in Living History enactments, and spends much of their free time living in a tent and sporting Elizabethan garb while shooting archery if not doing home improvement or going kayaking with their wife.
kira lyon | assistant properties DIRECTOR
217.244.5379 | kiral2 [at] illinois.edu
From Hattiesburg, MS, Kira joined Krannert as a full-time staff member in 2022. She graduated with a BFA in theatre performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed her MFA in properties design and management right here at the U of I. Kira’s worked in props with Definition Theatre, Chicago’s New Colony, and with the Virginia Heritage Theatre Festival. Other experience includes stints with the Utah Shakespeare Festival, PlayMakers Repertory Theatre, and for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University of Chicago. When not helping manage the Krannert Center Properties Shop or serving as an instructor in the Department of Theatre Level 21 Design and Production Area, Kira continues to work on her goal of hiking in all 63 US National Parks.
Tony Mapson | assistant facility manager
217.333.6707 | amapson [at] illinois.edu
april Mckinnis | cutter/draper
aprilmck [at] illinois.edu
EB McTigue | cutter/draper
mctigue2 [at] illinois.edu
Maria Miguens | Production Manager
Maria is the Production Manager at Krannert Center as well as a member of the Stage Management faculty. Maria was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she started her career in theatre working as a Production Manager with multiple theatre companies in the city. She received an MFA in Stage Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Maria has worked on numerous productions as a stage and production manager for dance, opera, theatre, as well as event management. Maria is very passionate about developing new works and looks forward to the possibility of doing more of this in the future.
miguens2 [at] illinois.edu
Ty Mingo | Assistant Ticket Services Director
217.265.0271 | tmingo [at] illinois.edu
Zia Moon | Showcase Director, Office and Communications Support Specialist
217.333.8300 | ziamoon [at] illinois.edu
Nicholas Mulvaney | art director
217.300.2240 | nmulvane [at] illinois.edu
Since childhood, the arts have inspired Nic’s imagination and have been a rich platform to teach him about the world we live in. After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Nic has worked professionally as a designer since 2005. He strives to always remain curious about the craft of design and be thoughtful towards its privilege and responsibilities. He has been involved with local organizations such as 40 North Arts Council and Champaign Urbana Design Organization (CUDO). Nic joined the talented team at the Krannert Center in 2018 and considers it a special highlight both personally and professionally. When not designing, Nic likes wandering imaginary worlds, taking photos, drawing, reading, and listening to the wind. The inky skies of a starry night will always feel like home.
Stan Natonek | Theatrical Technical Coordinator
217-300-1633 | snatonek [at] illinois.edu
Before joining Krannert Center, Stan worked with FELD Entertainment. Starting as a touring stagehand, he most recently was the Production Stage Manager for Disney on Ice: Find Your Hero, and the Technical Director for the international tour of Marvel Universe LIVE! Stan graduated from Millikin University with a BFA in Theater, Design and Production.
Jared Painter | Assistant Chief Building Operations ENgineer
jaredp [at] illinois.edu
Jon Proctor | Ticket Sales Supervisor
217.265.0271 | jproctor [at] illinois.edu
Maureen v. Reagan | Associate Director for Administration and Patron Experience
217.244.4864 | reagan [at] illinois.edu
In her role at Krannert Center, Maureen is responsible for fostering the work of a multifaceted team including staff members in public services, communications, and administration. Since joining the Center in 1987, she has combined professional and scholarly pursuits while working in positions of continually increasing responsibility and scope. Maureen’s recent research explores performance history, including archival research, digitization, crowdsourcing, and cross-Atlantic musical influence. Her dissertation examined the history of the University of Illinois British Brass Band, 1981-2011. She currently co-leads the Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK)-funded project “The Internet of Musical Events: Digital Scholarship, Community, and the Archiving of Performance” and serves as advisor for University of Illinois Doctor of Musical Arts candidates seeking a cognate in performing arts administration.
Bobby Reynolds | theatrical SCENE SHOP coordinator
rwr3 [at] illinois.edu
Bobby joined the Shop staff full time in 2022, where he uses his extensive background in carpentry and welding to help build sets for various Krannert Center productions. He graduated from Wittenberg University (Ohio) in 2014 with a BA in Theatre, then came to Illinois and earned an MFA in Scenic Technology in 2019. He’s been with Krannert off and on since his grad student days. Outside of work, Bobby enjoys exploring, seeing the world through camping, hiking and kayaking adventures.
Adrian rochelle | Front of House Performance Supervisor
arochel2 [at] illinois.edu
Champaign native Adrian Rochelle joined the Krannert staff in the summer of 2022. A graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a Bachelor of Arts in musical theatre, Adrian attended many performances at Krannert Center while growing up. Adrian has worked with the JET Theatre in West Bloomfield, Michigan and Thunder Bay Theatre in Alpena, Michigan, and has stage management and choreography experience with such productions as West Side Story, Mamma Mia and Songs for a New World. When not working, Adrian enjoys cooking and baking, dancing, and independent choreography projects.
Mike Ross | Director
217.333.6700 | mikeross [at] illinois.edu
Mike Ross became the sixth director of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in 1997. He came to the Center from the Miller Theatre at Columbia University in New York City where he received his doctorate with distinction in music composition and where, under his direction, the Miller Theatre was recognized by The New Yorker as “the city’s hottest hotbed of innovative programming.” Deeply committed to embracing the art of the past as well as the art of our time across disciplines, aesthetic sensibilities, and cultural legacies, Mike views Krannert Center as a potent blending of classroom, laboratory, and public square. He attributes his experience as a professional classical, jazz, and rock musician and his interest in the visual and environmental arts, broader cultural history, and explorations into the nature of creativity writ large as major influences on his collaborative approach to arts administration. He has served as board chair for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters and as board president of Arts Alliance Illinois and is a founding member of 40 North, the Champaign County Arts Council. He is a recipient of the North American Performing Arts Agent and Managers Association’s Award for Excellence in Presenting the Arts and was selected by National Arts Strategies to participate alongside 100 national and international cultural leaders in its inaugural Chief Executive Leadership Initiative. Mike is an associate dean in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, has served on numerous campus committees, and chaired the cross-campus Seedbed Initiative for Transdomain Creativity, which led to the establishment of the eDREAM Institute (Emerging Digital Research and Education in Arts Media), for which he now serves as an advisor. Mike is a passionate advocate for the micro-urban Champaign-Urbana community and has served as co-chair of the 2013 Champaign County United Way Campaign.
Rick Scholwin | Audio Director
217.300.2154 | scholwin [at] illinois.edu
Richard is a Wisconsin native. He attended DePaul University School of Music in Chicago, Illinois, as a voice major, completing his Bachelor of Science in sound recording technology in 1994. He served as the assistant audio director for the University of Illinois School of Music from 1994 to 2001. Richard worked for Northern Illinois University as a recording engineer during the 2001-02 school year and then as lead audio technician for the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at the University of California, Davis from 2002 to 07. While working at the Mondavi Center, he earned his MFA in dramatic arts-sound design from UC Davis, graduating in June 2007. He was resident sound designer for the Denver Theatre Company for the 2007-08 season. Richard then served as fine arts and humanities audio director for the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 2008 through December 2014. In January 2015, Richard joined Krannert Center as audio director, also serving as the chair of sound design for Illinois Theatre, and is delighted to be on the Illinois campus.
Ryan Schultz | Technical Director
217.300.4223 | ryans [at] illinois.edu
Ryan is the technical director as well as the chair of the Scenic Technology Program for the Department of Theatre at the U of I. Prior to joining Krannert Center in 2016, Ryan was the technical director at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. There, his credits include the annual production of A Christmas Carol; Disney’s The Jungle Book adapted by Mary Zimmerman; The Iceman Cometh at the Brooklyn Academy of Music starring Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy; Robert Fall’s and Seth Bockley’s massive interpretation of Roberto Bolaño’s 2666; and the Broadway production of War Paint starring Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersol. Ryan received his education from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Chad Schwenk | Attendant
217.333.6707 | cschwenk [at] illinois.edu
Sam Smith | Director of Civic Engagement and Social Practice
217.244.0925 | smsmith3 [at] illinois.edu
With interests in schools, challenged neighborhoods, and international settings, Sam uses the resources and tools of making art to extend the impact of the Krannert Center.
Cheryl Snyder | Director of Advancement
217.333.2533 | casnyder [at] illinois.edu
Jodee Stanley | Program and Web Editor
217.300.4315 | jastan [at] illinois.edu
Jodee has worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign since 2003. Prior to joining the Krannert Center staff, she served as the editor of Ninth Letter, the award-winning literary journal published by the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English. She has been awarded an Academic Professional Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a Faculty Fellowship from the University of Illinois Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership. A native Missourian, she received her BA in English from the University of Missouri and her MFA in creative writing from Emerson College.
Julianna Steitz | first hand
217.244.4086 | steitz [at] illinois.edu
After careers as a Pediatric RN, Montessori assistant directress, company manager for CUBallet and raising four children, Julianna embraced her love for preforming arts and sewing and joined the KCPA costume shop team in 2013 as an extra help seamstress. She began working full time in 2015 and was promoted to First Hand in 2023. Julianna loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, reading, gardening and exploring the outdoors.
paige stewart-rankins | hair & makeup supervisor
prankins [at] illinois.edu
A 2015 graduate of the Regency Beauty Institute, Paige has worked on numerous productions in theatre, film, and variety shows. She ensures the quality of all hair and makeup needs for the many Krannert Center performances throughout the season. When not working, Paige enjoys spending her free time with her husband and two dogs, writing stories, and dancing.
amy thomas | food services director
amyt [at] illinois.edu
Bethany Whoric | associate Director of Advancement
217.300.6042 | bbwhoric [at] illinois.edu
Bethany joined Krannert Center in February 2019 after relocating from Columbus, Ohio. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bethany received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to her move to Champaign-Urbana, Bethany spent seven years working in personal styling, sales training, and customer relationship management for Nordstrom Inc. Always a lover of the arts, Bethany is thrilled to oversee Krannert Center's corporate giving program while also working with individual donors, allowing her to play a part in continuing to bring the performing arts to an already vibrant arts community. Bethany’s hobbies include running, yoga, fashion, and traveling.
John O. Williams | Facility Manager
217.333.6702 | jowillia [at] illinois.edu
John started at Krannert Center in 1999 as an extra help building attendant, shoveling snow and filling in where needed. In 2000, he was hired as a part-time building attendant. By the end of that year, John was upgraded to a full-time building attendant. In 2001, John was promoted to day-shift facilities manager. He was assigned his current duties filling in as the assistant director of operations when his predecessor retired in 2008. When not working to maintain Krannert Center, John enjoys riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles across the country. He has visited 49 states, Canada, and Mexico from the seat of his motorcycles.
Kayley Woolums | Theatrical Scene Shop Assistant
kwoolums [at] illinois.edu
nick wurl | ticket sales supervisor
217.333.6280 | wurl2 [at] illinois.edu