John Stephens - Managing Director

This is John's third Season at The Little Theatre. Coming to us from Decatur, IL where he spent 5 years as a music teacher at St. James School in Decatur, IL. John is very excited to be a part of The Little Theatre Family. John comes from a strong performing background. He began to sing and play the piano at age 5 and since then has went on to sing in places like The Grand Ole Opry and U.S. Cellular Stadium for the Chicago White Sox. John spent 9 years with the Decatur Park Singers, starting as a singer/dancer and moving up the ranks to Road Manager and then Business Manager. He also directed the Decatur Young Park Singers for 5 seasons. You might have seen John on stage in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and we are sure it won't be the last time you see him on our stage. John started at the theatre as Marketing Director in 2006 and has moved up the ladder to now fill the seat on Interim Managing Director. A HUGE thanks to Lori, Seth and the entire Little Theatre Board of Trustees for all they do to help make John's life easier.

Tralen Doler - Artistic Director

Tralen Doler, a New York based director and choreographer, proudly enters his first season as Artistic Director of The Little Theatre on the Square. He has directed and choreographed productions all over the country including National Tours of A Christmas Carol starring Barry Williams, Jeff Conaway, and Jackee Harry, and The Producers for CR Productions, as well as the PBS special A Century of Broadway starring opera legend Fredrica von Stade. Over the past three years he has helmed the Little Theatre productions of La Cage aux Folles, Guys and Dolls starring Doug Wilson, A Christmas Story, Singin’ in the Rain, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Tralen serves as the resident director for the Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, NY where he has directed over 30 shows including A Chorus Line, Anything Goes, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Dreamgirls. His production of La Cage aux Folles for the Arizona Broadway Theatre earned him a Arizoni Award for Best Director and Choreographer. As an Artistic Associate of the Actors Repertory Theatre he directed critically acclaimed productions of Born Yesterday, The Drawer Boy, Moonlight and Magnolias, and Rabbit Hole.

A passionate activist, Tralen has also directed benefits for The New Jersey AIDS Alliance and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS working with such stars as Terri White, Julie Wilson, Lea Michelle, Andrew Lippa, and Ashley Brown.

Tralen is excited to be a part of 50 years of history at The Little Theatre and to help guide it into the next decade.

Lori Harbaugh - Business Manager

It’s hard to believe, but this year marks Lori’s 27th season with The Little Theatre On The Square. She is a lifetime resident of Sullivan who has been known to show up on stage from time to time. These days she’s more likely to be found in her office shuffling mounds of paperwork, ensuring that things continue to run smoothly behind the scenes. Her performance bug has been satisfied for the last nine years by her work with “The Prairie Winds”, a local group who entertains weekly at area nursing and retirement homes. Lori wants to send a huge “thank you” to her wonderful, dedicated box office staff for their loyal support and hard work over the years. We couldn’t do it without you!

Heather Doré Johnson - Education Director, actor, choreographer

With over 18 years of professional training, Heather began her dancing with the Royal Academy of Dance in Champaign, IL, where she later taught.  Her dance focus was on classical ballet, character dance (Hungarian, Russian and Polish folk), free-movement studies (modern), tap, jazz and musical theatre.  At 14, she appeared in The Nutcracker with The North Carolina Dance Theatre and in 1999, received her Elementary Grade Certificate, with one of the Nation’s highest scores (Royal Academy of Dance’s Dance Gazette), along with her Primary Grades teaching certification.  Through her training with RAD, she completed many master classes with Petrus Bosman, Cynthia Harvey and David Howard.  Throughout central Illinois, Heather has choreographed numerous musicals, show choirs, bands, and promotional events and has performed professionally with The Little Theatre on the Square: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Angel), Aladdin (Scheherazade), Funny Girl (Mrs. O'Malley/Ens.), West Side Story (Teresita), and in TLTOTS's STAR Tours of The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi (Darzee) and Accidental Friends (Marcy).  She appeared for many years with the Brat Pack as a back-up dancer and temporary lead vocalist and also appeared with Weird Al Yankovic on his Poodle Hat Tour as a back-up dancer (Anarchy Cheerleader).  Regional credits include: Man of La Mancha (Aldonza), Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (Maggie), Oliver (Nancy), The Balcony / Le Balcon (Carmen), Woyzeck (Marie), Anything Goes (Bonnie), Brigadoon (Jeannie). She received her theatre training from Parkland College: Return to the Forbidden Planet (Omnes), Five Kinds of Silence (Janet), and Cabaret (Fritzie & Fraulein Kost U/S).  She has also appeared in independent films and a nationally aired docu-drama, I’d Be Delighted (Mary) and most recently, a commecial for Manolo's Pizza!  Thank you for supporting the performing arts and art education.

Shawn Pryby - Company Manager

Shawn currently serves as Company Manager at The Little Theatre On The Square where he also directed Harnick & Legrands’ A Christmas Carol and The Honky Tonk Angels. Additional directing credits include: Baby, I Do! I Do!, Love Letters, The Sound of Music, Guys & Dolls, South Pacific, Once Upon a Mattress, SALUTE! A Tribute to America’s USO, and Tommy Tune’s 60ish Birthday Celebration. Management credits include- Nationally: Hello, Dolly! starring the legendary Carol Channing, The Pointer Sisters’ Ain’t Misbehavin’, Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson, She Loves Me, Man of La Mancha, Once On This Island, Steel Magnolias. Regionally: It Had To Be You starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka, HATS! starring Grammy Award Winner Melissa Manchester, 110 in the Shade, A Little Night Music, Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical, 42nd Street, Shear Madness, Oil City Symphony, Forever Plaid, Smoke on the Mountain and Plaid Tidings.

Sue Weaver - Sullivan Civic Center Director/Dance Assistant Director and Business Manager

Sue is starting her 21st year of developing and instructing programs for the Sullivan Civic Center.  She was the Assistant Director of the Civic Center until 1997 when she became the Director.  Sue has been involved with the Dance program and it’s growth since it’s birth in 1997 and has even been known to sub for some classes in her 10 years with the program.  Sue’s background includes a Recreation Administration Degree with an emphasis in Sports Management from Eastern Illinois University.  She has taught Aquatic Aerobics for the young at heart since 1984 and is instructor of fitness at the Civic Center She develops and instructs an after school program entitled Fit Club.  In past years Sue has tapped with the Adult Tappers on stage at The Little Theatre On The Square.  Sue is married to Ron Weaver and they are the proud parents of Melissa and Mindie Weaver.

David J. Scobbie - Sound Designer

 David Barkley - Acting the Song Instructor

David has performed over a hundred characters in the last thirty-plus years.  Along the way, he earned a degree from UIUC in Vocal Performance and performed in about 18 states.  His performance experiences include: operas, musicals, drama and comedy from Shakespeare and Chekhov to Rodgers and Hammerstein, dinner theater from Alabama to Alaska and one summer at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg in which he performed 372 shows in 12 weeks.  One thing you learn from experience - there is always more to learn.

Andrew Tebo - Drama Instructor & STAR Tour Actor

Andrew is ecstatic to be performing with The Little Theatre on the Square! He recently received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Southeast Missouri State University. Favorite regional credits include You’re A Good Man Charlie, I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, Annie, The Civil War, Peter Pan, South Pacific, along with two summers spent at The Broadway Theatre Project. University credits include Big River, 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls, The 1940s Radio Hour, and more. Thank you to everyone at The Little Theatre on the Square for this great opportunity! And always, much love to family and friends for their unending support.

2009 marks her sixth seaon working with the Little Theatre. She say working with because we really do all work together. When it is show time, you do whatever is needed to be done, whether it be taking tickets, working the box office or ushering people to their seats.

Donna comes to the Theatre by way of the County Clerk’s office. She held the position of Chief Deputy County Clerk for 9 years. Donna feels truly blessed to have a job she loves working with people she adores.

Arlene Denning – Ticket Office Manager

Nicole is a native of Sullivan and is happy to be working at The Little Theatre On The Square. During her youth she volunteered as an usher at the theatre, and has now passed that torch onto her son and soon her daughter will enjoy seating our patrons as well.

Nicole earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Millikin University in Management and Organizational Leadership. Her role at the theatre is to schedule performances’ for our STAR touring group outreach program that performs for schools throughout the state. In addition to this she also finds advertisers for our play bill, works in the box office, and when needed ushers, and help with the concession stand. Nicole is actively involved in the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce and Amish Country of Central Illinois CVB which promotes tourism throughout our region.

Nicole enjoys working at the theatre with her second family. It takes all of the staff working together to make our theatre a success; we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful theatre in little old Sullivan. Enjoy the show!