Board of Directors
Meg Luhrs (Board President), Mark Baer (Director), Andrew Benson, Brent Bublitz (Treasurer), Shawn Gudmunsen (Director), Deb Kravig (President-Elect), Emma Kravig (Director), & Jean Shore (Secretary)
Meg Luhrs, Artist, St. Croix Falls, WI (Board President)
I have advocated for the Civic Auditorium restoration and the Festival Theatre in many different ways over the past 25 years, and this was the year the two efforts intersected nicely for me and the board.
I have been an art maker and business owner in SCF for 29 years and have firsthand knowledge of the regional arts consumer. I have volunteered for several projects, boards, and committees that pertain to the environmental, historic, and cultural preservation of the St. Croix Valley, and have attended or presented at a variety of related conferences, charettes, and workshops.
The show that left the greatest impact on me was one produced in 2004 called There Shall Be No Night, a Pulitzer Prize winning play by Robert Sherwood about the invasion of Finland by Russia in 1938-1940. It was a perfect fit for our stage, our cast, and our audience.
I have advocated for the Civic Auditorium restoration and the Festival Theatre in many different ways over the past 25 years, and this was the year the two efforts intersected nicely for me and the board.
I have been an art maker and business owner in SCF for 29 years and have firsthand knowledge of the regional arts consumer. I have volunteered for several projects, boards, and committees that pertain to the environmental, historic, and cultural preservation of the St. Croix Valley, and have attended or presented at a variety of related conferences, charettes, and workshops.
The show that left the greatest impact on me was one produced in 2004 called There Shall Be No Night, a Pulitzer Prize winning play by Robert Sherwood about the invasion of Finland by Russia in 1938-1940. It was a perfect fit for our stage, our cast, and our audience.
Mark Baer, Associate Professor of Theatre at Indiana University Northwest, Crown Point, IN (Director)
I have been in love with Festival Theatre and the lovely St. Croix Valley since 2002 when I joined the company as an actor and director. During my four seasons as Managing Directing (2002-5) we produced 21 plays and increased revenue 230%. During that time I met my wife Kelly (White) Baer who some may remember from her six seasons as company manager/stage manager. It makes me very proud to think of what we created together in those days.
After leaving the region and earning my Master of Fine Arts degree, I have returned to direct six productions including A Streetcar Named Desire, Man of La Mancha, and A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum. I am currently and a professor and theatre maker living in Northwest Indiana just outside of Chicago. I am co-founder and president of Gary Shakespeare Company as well as a freelance director at various theatres around the Midwest.
I joined the BOD in 2016 to facilitate the Executive Director search and was very proud to be part of bringing Jason Richards to the Valley. I feel the Festival Theatre is thriving and has an upward trajectory.
I have been in love with Festival Theatre and the lovely St. Croix Valley since 2002 when I joined the company as an actor and director. During my four seasons as Managing Directing (2002-5) we produced 21 plays and increased revenue 230%. During that time I met my wife Kelly (White) Baer who some may remember from her six seasons as company manager/stage manager. It makes me very proud to think of what we created together in those days.
After leaving the region and earning my Master of Fine Arts degree, I have returned to direct six productions including A Streetcar Named Desire, Man of La Mancha, and A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum. I am currently and a professor and theatre maker living in Northwest Indiana just outside of Chicago. I am co-founder and president of Gary Shakespeare Company as well as a freelance director at various theatres around the Midwest.
I joined the BOD in 2016 to facilitate the Executive Director search and was very proud to be part of bringing Jason Richards to the Valley. I feel the Festival Theatre is thriving and has an upward trajectory.
Jean Shore, Balsam Lake, WI (Secretary)
The first Festival Theatre show I saw was “The Glass Menagerie” in 2005. Like many first-timers, I didn’t
expect to see the exceptional talent and high quality production for such a small town! When I retired
and moved full time to Balsam Lake, I wanted to become involved with Festival as I have over 30 years
experience acting and volunteering for theaters. So in 2017, I joined the Festival Theatre board of
directors and had the pleasure of acting in The Children’s Hour”. Working with this tireless, dedicated
staff has given me purpose in this new stage of my life. I also continue to serve on the board of directors
at Theatre in the Round in Minneapolis.
The first Festival Theatre show I saw was “The Glass Menagerie” in 2005. Like many first-timers, I didn’t
expect to see the exceptional talent and high quality production for such a small town! When I retired
and moved full time to Balsam Lake, I wanted to become involved with Festival as I have over 30 years
experience acting and volunteering for theaters. So in 2017, I joined the Festival Theatre board of
directors and had the pleasure of acting in The Children’s Hour”. Working with this tireless, dedicated
staff has given me purpose in this new stage of my life. I also continue to serve on the board of directors
at Theatre in the Round in Minneapolis.