Front Range Theatre Company Staff
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Laurilea McDaniel
Executive Director She is currently the Director for Headstrong Theatre at Mountain Ridge Middle School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. This is her 14th year in education and she has taught all levels from kindergarten to college but enjoys middle school the most! She holds undergraduate degrees in Theatre and Journalism and a master's degree in Theatre Education from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. In her spare time, she loves snow-shoeing, fly fishing, yoga and singing. This summer she will also be traveling to New York City to participate The Freddie G. Fellowship Experience! |
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James Dykstra
Technical Director Bio coming soon . . . |
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Kiera Sweeney
Director/Choreographer 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 has been studying dance ever since. Kiera has a wide variety of experience and is trained in many different styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre. She loves to share her passion for theatre and dance with others, and has choreographed ten productions over the past five years. This however, will be her first summer taking on the role as "director-choreographer” and she could not be more thrilled about it. Kiera is a graduate of Mountain Vista High School and is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Northern Colorado, where she is pursuing a major in Theatre Education and a minor in Dance. In her spare time, Kiera likes to spend time with her family, go on adventures with her friends, and eat all the tacos and burritos she can. |
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Barb Dignan
Director She is a long-time resident of Highlands Ranch, having moved her family here in 1989. She has participated in theatre since her high school years. She taught school in Georgia and Virginia before moving to Colorado. Barb earned her Colorado Drama Teacher Certification from UNC in 2002 and was the theatre teacher and director at Highlands Ranch High School until her retirement in 2013. During her years at HRHS, Barb taught many acting classes, some tech classes, and created and directed an Improv Class and Performance Group.She directed more than forty productions for the main stage. Some of her most successful shows were: Les Miserables, Aida, Jesus Christ Superstar, Amadeus, Of Mice and Men, Romeo and Juliet, To Kill a Mockingbird, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. A number of her graduates gained acceptance and scholarship to college drama programs, and a number of them are now working in the business on both coasts and in Chicago. Barb taught film acting classes for PEAK Acting Studios last year and owns her own acting workshop program: In the Wings - Acting Workshop. Barb believes that an acting background encourages an individual to build confidence, a strong work ethic, a strong ability to communicate well with a variety of people/groups. Working with a group toward a common end - a first-class stage production - is great fun and extremely satisfying. |
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Ty Eatherton
Producer Originally from Parker, CO, Tyler “Ty” Eatherton is an up and coming director and educator in the Colorado theatre scene. Receiving a degree in Theatre Education from the University of Northern Colorado, Tyler has directed many shows, both colligate and children’s, including Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr., The Door, and Good Kids. Tyler has also instructed many different educational workshops and camps for students just entering the theatre scene to seasoned pros. Tyler strives to promote collaboration and creativity, and above all, push students to continually create and explore with the arts. This will be Tyler’s third summer with Front Range Theatre Company and he is excited to continue working with such talented young actors and actresses. |
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Nicole Iannone
Grant Writer Nicole Iannone is so proud to be a part of this amazing and innovative project. Nicole has been involved in theatre her entire life but once her own children started acting she found that leaving the onstage stuff to her girls is what she loves most. She is the Ponderosa Theatre Parents President and has worked with Front Range Theatre Company for 3 years. This show struck a personal nerve since she was the primary caregiver for her elderly father-in-law and watched 2 grandparents suffer and pass from dementia related illnesses. This past Spring, she took a class in grant writing to help fund FRTC productions. She has enjoyed working with Mitch and NextFifty immensely and she is hoping to continue writing grants and finding new ways to fund local work. |
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Erin Solomon
Marketing Director Erin Solomon (she/her) is a third-year combined Communication Studies–Theatre major with a minor in Graphic and Information Design. Erin is the current President of Silver Masque Theatre Company – a university club focused on producing new theatre art for and by students. She recently completed her first co-op as the Assistant to the Executive Director at Central Square Theater and the Operations Assistant at ONCE Somerville. Throughout the pandemic, Erin helped to bring all types of performance art to a digital platform with the ONCE Virtual Venue. She has been involved with all things dance, theatre, and singing since she was young. This summer will be Erin's seventh year working with Front Range Theatre Company and is excited for another jam-packed Triple Threat Season! |
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Greg Bell
Accountant Greg has been a volunteer, stage performer and the accountant/bookkeeper for Castle Rock Players, Inc./Front Range Theatre Company since 2002. He has been a volunteer for virtually every production, and has performed in almost 20 productions, melodramas, and radio plays with them. In his spare time, Greg loves history and science, and he has also recently added ‘playwright’ to his resume, and the honor of his first play being produced by FRTC. Greg lives in Castle Rock with his wife, Bonnie, and four cats and a dog, in that order. He is a CPA and has his own bookkeeping and tax business. |
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Brian McManus
Improvisational Theater Brian is a fanatic of the art of Improvisation with a BFA in Theater Performance from the University of Colorado. He has studied and performed the art of improvisation for more than 20 years, including five years in New York with the Upright Citizens Brigade, The People’s Improv Theater, the renowned Armando Diaz and more. He performed locally with Impulse Theater for many years and was a cast member for three seasons of the Denver Center’s Off-Center show Cult Following. Brian teaches teen and adult improv classes for the Denver Center Academy, presents workshops annually at the Colorado High School Thespian Conference, acts as a Guest Artist Teacher at Denver School of the Arts and various local high schools. Yes, and… |