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.

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, Dance Instructor

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: The Full Monty (Estelle), Jack Milo's Baggy Pants Burlesque, White Christmas (Rita, Ens.), Hair (Tribe, Mom), Annie (Ens.), Showboat (Ens.), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Angel), Aladdin, Funny Girl (Ens.), West Side Story (Teresita), and TLTOTS's STAR Tours of The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi (Darzee) and Accidental Friends (Marcy).  Heather has directed/choreographed at TLTOTS: Willy Wonka Jr., Beauty & The Beast Jr., Honk! Jr. and Seussical Jr. 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, Kost U/S).  She has also appeared in independent films and a nationally aired docu-drama, I’d Be Delighted and commercials for Dallas & Co., Manolo's Pizza, Busey Bank & Horizon Hobby.  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 23rd 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.

Michael Detmer - Actor, Drama & Voice Instructor  Michael is a graduate of Illinois State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education with a second major in Music Theatre. Children have been such an inspiration in Michael's life and educating them will always be a strong passion. Michael has taught Kindergarten - 12th grade general music and choir, taught at several children's theatre camps, directed children's musicals, music directed several high school and community theatre productions, and has been teaching private voice and piano lessons for over 4 years! Along with his passion for education, Michael loves spending time on the stage! Michael is currently touring with The Little Theatre on the Square’s educational theatre company! Michael has been performing professionally in regional theaters for the past four years and his favorite past roles include: Huck in Big River, Angel in Rent, Tom Sawyer in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Jack in Into The Woods. For more information, visit: www.michaeldetmer.com

Jamie Finkenthal - Actor, Dance & Drama Instructor  Jamie is so excited to be performing with The Little Theatre’s Educational Tour! Jamie’s regional credits include Grease (Marty), Anything Goes (Irma), Summer 42’ (Aggie), Les Misérables (Fantine), and Lend Me a Tenor (Maria). Her regional theatres include Timber lake playhouse, Tent Theatre, Cain Park, Emerald City Theatre, Quest Theatre and Kalliope Stage. She also was a featured soloist with the Chicago Premier of Monday Night New Voices where she got to work with and sing new material of Scott Allen, Bobby Cronin, Andrew Lippa, Jordan Mann, and Jeff Thomson.  Jamie Graduated from Chicago College Of Performing Arts/Roosevelt University, where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre. She would like to give a special thanks to her loving husband and her family and friends for being so supportive.

Mallory Murphy - Actor, Dance & Drama Instructor  Mallory is ecstatic to be touring with The Little Theatre on the Square this year. Mallory had her first role at The Little Theatre, where she also works year round, at the age of 9 as Violet Beauregard in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She is a native to central Illinois, where she graduated from Lovington High School. She went on to school at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale where she studied music theatre and creative writing. Some of her other favorite rolls have included Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Chanelle in Little Shop of Horrors and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice.

Zachary J Parker - Actor, Drama & Voice Instructor  Zachary is excited to begin teaching at The Little Theatre on the Square.  Previous theatre credits include: Bare at the Unicorn Theatre; Frank in Merrily We Roll Along and The Governor in Man of La Mancha at UMKC; Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof and Willard in Footloose at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse; and as a Storyteller in the US Symphonic Premiere of Children of Eden.  Zachary has previously taught Triple Threat workshops for the Coterie Theatre, Musical Theatre Summer Intensives at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, and and voice lessons while living in Kansas City.  Zachary recently received his Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance from the University Missouri-Kansas City.  www.zacharyjparker.com 

 

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.