Board of Directors
Sydney Paredes (Board Chair), Therese Durkin, Meg Luhrs, Cherie Ollman, Mark Baer, Sue Mathews, Jean Shore, Brent Bublitz, and David Ross.
Therese Durkin, Family Medicine Physician, Dresser, WI
I was drawn into the theatre as my daughter has experienced great opportunity through the youth acting program. In addition, I am an avid concert and theatre goer, and take advantage of the high quality entertainment that Festival provides in my neighborhood. I have an interest in working with the staff to identify technology needs for the theatre, plus I am part of the Presenting the Arts Action Group.
Seeing the youth actors come together as a group and grow is really fun to watch. I saw at least two amazing performances of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in which the actors and the crowd both hit amazing energy levels. I never miss an opportunity in the summer to see Sew Good Improv. The music series including the Fiddle Masters concerts and the Once Upon a River event with Dan Chouinard are some of my favorites .
I was drawn into the theatre as my daughter has experienced great opportunity through the youth acting program. In addition, I am an avid concert and theatre goer, and take advantage of the high quality entertainment that Festival provides in my neighborhood. I have an interest in working with the staff to identify technology needs for the theatre, plus I am part of the Presenting the Arts Action Group.
Seeing the youth actors come together as a group and grow is really fun to watch. I saw at least two amazing performances of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in which the actors and the crowd both hit amazing energy levels. I never miss an opportunity in the summer to see Sew Good Improv. The music series including the Fiddle Masters concerts and the Once Upon a River event with Dan Chouinard are some of my favorites .
Meg Luhrs, Artist, St. Croix Falls, WI
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.
Sue Mathews, Retired Polk County Information Center Director (On to new adventures!!)
Having always been a theatre/music performance attendee, (locally and throughout the region), I was drawn to the Festival Theatre right away. I have supported and promoted the Theatre since its very beginnings, in my position as Director of the Polk County Information Center/Tourism, for 23 years and have attended many conferences, classes, committee meetings and forums related to the Arts throughout and the State of Wisconsin.
How fortunate we are to enjoy professional theatre right here in the beautiful St. Croix Valley !
Having always been a theatre/music performance attendee, (locally and throughout the region), I was drawn to the Festival Theatre right away. I have supported and promoted the Theatre since its very beginnings, in my position as Director of the Polk County Information Center/Tourism, for 23 years and have attended many conferences, classes, committee meetings and forums related to the Arts throughout and the State of Wisconsin.
How fortunate we are to enjoy professional theatre right here in the beautiful St. Croix Valley !
Cherie Ollman, Retired Teacher, St. Croix Falls, WI
After I retired, I knew that I wanted to get involved with a new (to me) organization that:
My favorite production has to be A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. As a young person, I saw it performed in a theatre, and I remember laughing through the whole play. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was the first comedy I had ever seen professionally performed, and it got me hooked on live theatre.
When Festival Theatre produced the play in 2014, I invited my family to see it, and I got great pleasure from watching them laugh as much as I did. In spite of all the horrid events occurring in the world and close to home, that evening, we were able to feel carefree and happy, and we all left the theatre in high spirits.
After I retired, I knew that I wanted to get involved with a new (to me) organization that:
- Taught me new skills while utilizing my current ones
- Benefits the community
- Has members who are caring, passionate, and interesting people.
My favorite production has to be A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. As a young person, I saw it performed in a theatre, and I remember laughing through the whole play. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was the first comedy I had ever seen professionally performed, and it got me hooked on live theatre.
When Festival Theatre produced the play in 2014, I invited my family to see it, and I got great pleasure from watching them laugh as much as I did. In spite of all the horrid events occurring in the world and close to home, that evening, we were able to feel carefree and happy, and we all left the theatre in high spirits.
Sydney A. Paredes, Executive Coach, Taylors Falls, MN
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
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.