Meet Our Staff!
barb dignan |
James Dykstra |
Ty Eatherton |
director, Costume Designer, Storybook Holiday writerBarb Dignan is a retired educator, having spent her last fifteen years of teaching at Highlands Ranch High School, where she was the theatre teacher and director. More recently, she has worked with Front Range Theatre Company for five years, directing Spamalot and Shrek.
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technical director
James graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Theater Technology and Design, and went on to complete his MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. Before entering into the field of education, James worked for a variety of theater companies including Denver Center Attractions, Triptych Theater, Inspire Creative and Colorado Thespians. As an educator, James has taught a myriad of courses ranging from technical theater to architectural drafting to photography. Currently he is a full time Photography teacher at Overland High School, and a theater manager at Grandview High School.
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director, producer
Growing up in Douglas County, Ty’s passion for theatre and education has been fostered with greats art programs, just like FRTC! He is an established teacher, educator, and director in the Colorado theatre scene including residencies at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Denver Center of Performing Arts. With a degree in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado, Ty joined the FRTC staff in 2017 and has never looked back! Ty has instructed many different educational workshops and camps for students just entering the theatre season to seasoned pros. He currently serves on the Colorado Thespians Board of Directors. Ty strives to promote collaboration and creativity, and above all, push students to continually create and explore with the arts. When Ty isn’t directing, producing, or leading a silly warm-up, you can find him exploring the city with friends and family, skiing the slopes, and looking to crack the newest, funniest joke.
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hollie haverkorn |
jennie johnson |
laurilea mcdaniel |
FRTC South educational outreach coordinator, asst. page to stage coordinator |
costume designer, Outreach coordinator, director + coordinator for Beyond the grave and page to stage.Jennie has been involved in theater since she was 12 years old. She enjoys being on stage as well as behind the scenes. Some of her favorite onstage performances include: Delightful in Dearly Departed, Etta Baily in Going to See the Elephant, Multiple characters in The Laramie Project and Laura in The Glass Menagerie. Jennie has also directed adaptations of Anne of Green Gables and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. She has spent the past two years writing and staging readings of her first full length script called "The Adventures of the Model T Girls" which is based on the book "Darlene's Silver Streak and the Bradford Model T Girls" by John Butte. She is the mother of three awesome teens and wife to a wonderful husband who also happens to be a Radio DJ and she is the creator and co-host of The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery podcast. She adores her black cat named Salem after her favorite city in the whole world, Salem, Massachusetts.
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Executive director & producer
Laurilea McDaniel is the Executive Director for Front Range Theatre Company and the Visual & Performing Arts Facilitator for Colorado Springs School District 11. This is her 19th year in education and she has taught all levels from kindergarten to college. She holds undergraduate degrees in Theatre, Journalism and Education, and a master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction for Secondary Theatre Education from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. She is also a Freddie G. Fellow, Class of 2017. She passionately believes in the power of the arts and how transformative they can be. Everyone has a story worthy of being heard. Arts programs encourage confidence and give students a voice!
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Beth has been a proud member of the Front Range Theatre community since 2016, starting as a camper and transitioning into a staff role in 2020. Apart from her passion for doing theatre, she also has a love for the world of advertising, media, and business. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, and can’t wait to help further the company using all she has learned from her time there. Apart from her expertise in advertising and business, she also has a background in early childhood education. Beth cannot wait to help extend the reach of Front Range Theatre Company and introduce new students to this wonderful organization. While Beth loves the work she does for the company, she adores the staff and campers even more. When she isn’t working on things for Front Range you can probably find her reading a book, analyzing a television shows, or adding items to her shopping cart online to never buy them.
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Collin has served as music director for Front Range since 2019, as well as having music directed / played keys for productions at the University of Colorado Boulder, the PACE Center, the Fisher Center, the Mizel Center, and more. He loves working with performers and musicians more than anything, and is immensely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the students of Front Range every summer. Away from the musical keyboard, Collin works at a computer keyboard as a software engineer. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2022 with a degree in astrophysics.
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Erin Solomon (she/her) is a fifth-year combined Communication Studies–Theatre major with a minor in Graphic and Information Design at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. This year will be Erin's eighth year working with Front Range Theatre Company! Erin recently completed an internship at Boston Beer Company as a graphic designer and printer. Additionally, she has worked for numerous performance venues in the Greater Boston Area. She is passionate about new theatre works and student expression.
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delaney sweeney |
kiera sweeney |
red weiss |
choreographer |
director, choreographer |
stage manager, director |
FrontRange Theatre Company has been a part of Delaney’s life since 2014. She has quite literally grown up with this company. She started as a camper and eventually transitioned into a leadership role as a choreographer. Delaney is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She also currently works as a preschool instructor and ballet teacher. Delaney loves to work with kids and help them create a love for the performing arts. She could not be more proud to continue her work with this amazing company. In her spare time, Delaney loves to spend time with family and friends, go on long walks, and eat pickles.
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Kiera was raised with a strong love and appreciation of the performing arts, starting at a very young age. She first started in dance classes at the age of three, and not soon after began performing in shows. Ever since, Kiera has loved to share her passion for theatre and dance with others; whether that was putting on shows in her basement with her cousins to now working professionally, as a theatre teacher, director, and choreographer. Kiera is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Theatre Education and a minor in Dance. Kiera has been working with FRTC since the beginning and, as one of the founding staff members, she cares deeply for this company and its community. When Kiera is not doing theatre, she is usually spending time with her family and friends or teaching Barre and Pilates fitness classes. Kiera also loves to travel, hike, bake, read, and play with her pups.
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Red grew up in California and found a passion for theatre and performing at a very young age. Ever since elementary school, she has found any opportunity to be on a stage because of the amazing loving and welcoming theatre community. Her passion for theatre led her to pursue a Theatre Education degree at the University of Northern Colorado. Red is now teaching Theatre at Discovery Canyon Campus Middle School. Red Weiss is so thankful to be back working with Front Range Theatre Company doing what she loves with the best staff. She would like to thank her parents, grandparents, and Ben for their constant love and support.
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Not Pictured:
Julie Sweeney, Silent Auction and Donation Coordinator
Tracy Taylor, Assistant Page to Stage Coordinator
Julie Sweeney, Silent Auction and Donation Coordinator
Tracy Taylor, Assistant Page to Stage Coordinator