Board of Directors
Meg Luhrs (Board President), Mark Baer (Director), Brent Bublitz (Treasurer), Shawn Gudmunsen (Director), Deb Kravig (Director), Emma Kravig (Director), Sydney Paredes (Past President), David Ross (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.
Sydney A. Paredes, Executive Coach, Taylors Falls, MN (Past President)
My husband, Don Hansen, started buying me Festival Theatre Flex Passes in 2004 for my birthday every year and I always enjoyed seeing productions at Festival and was always impressed by the quality and surprised I could have access to such great theatre so close to home. A few years ago we began hosting visiting artists as part of the summer intern program and that's when I started to feel a part of the Festival family. It was just a matter of time until I joined the board to help support the mission of Festival Theatre in a more direct way.
I bring my love for and commitment to the arts, my skills and experience from corporate America and from service on other non profit boards, and 15 years as an executive coach and facilitator to the table. My intention is to foster teamwork and help chart and stay on our path to carry out our mission in a more sustainable way as an integral part of our community. I have great respect for the people who founded and kept Festival Theatre alive for 25 years and feel lucky to be able to work with a dedicated board, an amazing staff, and a community of volunteers and patrons.
My favorite show so far at Festival is A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Festival's summer musical production in 2014, directed by Mark Baer. I saw it at least 6 times! They had me at the opening song!!!
My husband, Don Hansen, started buying me Festival Theatre Flex Passes in 2004 for my birthday every year and I always enjoyed seeing productions at Festival and was always impressed by the quality and surprised I could have access to such great theatre so close to home. A few years ago we began hosting visiting artists as part of the summer intern program and that's when I started to feel a part of the Festival family. It was just a matter of time until I joined the board to help support the mission of Festival Theatre in a more direct way.
I bring my love for and commitment to the arts, my skills and experience from corporate America and from service on other non profit boards, and 15 years as an executive coach and facilitator to the table. My intention is to foster teamwork and help chart and stay on our path to carry out our mission in a more sustainable way as an integral part of our community. I have great respect for the people who founded and kept Festival Theatre alive for 25 years and feel lucky to be able to work with a dedicated board, an amazing staff, and a community of volunteers and patrons.
My favorite show so far at Festival is A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Festival's summer musical production in 2014, directed by Mark Baer. I saw it at least 6 times! They had me at the opening song!!!
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.