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Affton CenterStage Theatre Company

Presenting

Our Board of Directors

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Member

Background

Executive Director

Judy Rethwisch  

Judy

 

 

If you attended Affton High School sometime in the last 35+ years, you probably know Judy!  She was a Teacher at Affton High School for 36 years and is currently the Fine Arts Coordinator for the Affton School district. 

 

Judy is our Executive Director.  She runs the business part of our theater company, assuming responsibility for signing contracts, ordering supplies, paying bills and keeping the books.  She also sets the agenda for Board meeting and presides over the meetings.  She provides guidance to the production staff and support where needed.  

 

Judy has a Masters Degree in Theatre and is Past President of AATE (American Alliance for Theatre and Education).  She has held many offices on the State and local level in theatre education and is presently Chairman of the Metro South Arts Council.  She is also a member of the Arts Round Table here in St. Louis.  Judy was recently honored by having the Auditorium at Affton High School named after her.

Technical Director

Mike Ackermann

Mike

 

Mike has been involved with theater since 1969,  He has been on stage as an extra in chorus and has tried his hand at acting, starting with small bit parts then supporting roles. Mike joined ACT in 1994.  According to Mike, though, his best work in theater has always been on the backstage side.  He has worked in every phase of backstage theater work – set building; stage hand, props, sound, lights, set design, stage managing, producing, and even directing.  He currently serves as Technical Director for ACT.  To quote Mike, “I am thrilled to be working with this wonderful bunch of people who have the same drive for theater as I do.”    Mike spends time as a Theater merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts, a teacher assistant for Affton High School theater department, and the Auditorium manager for Affton High School.  Oh yeah… Mike’s wife and children are also active with our group.  After all, it’s probably the best time to see him!

 

Props and Costumes

Donna Alden

Donna

 

 

 Donna has been a Board member since 1993, and served as Board secretary and historian.   She has a lot of stamina, having done 45 shows in a row so far.  She’s worked in all areas of community theater… set design, set painter, canvas stretcher, producer, assistant director, director, costume mistress, and props mistress.  Although content to work “behind the scenes”, She has appeared in a non-speaking part (a Klansman in "The Foreigner") and a speaking part as an APPLE in 2004 past children's show.  As Donna says, “I can
speak when I'm not seen!”

Away from CenterStage, Donna just retired after teaching at Hancock Place School District for 35 years (25 years in 3rd grade and 10 in 6th grade).  She’s been active in the local teacher association, and served two terms as President.   She also served a term on Affton School Board.   Donna has a Masters Degree in Education. 

Business Manager

Cindy Boucher

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Cindy has been working for CenterStage as Business Manager for over 20 years. She also works for Cequel III as a Executive Secretary and Purchasing Agent. Cindy has two daughters and four grandchildren. She is the Chair of the Dinner/Auction for the Affton School District Education Foundation.

Props and Costumes

Lorena Doss  

Lorena

 

Lorena is another long-time member of our group.    Like Donna, she has worked with Affton CenterStage Theatre Company 16 years, or 45 consecutive productions!  As a matter of fact, she and Donna work most of our shows together… they work so well together that sometimes we think they’re joined at the hip!  Lorena has served on the Board since 1993.  She served as Membership Chairman for six years and Historian.   As far as our productions are concerned, Lorena has been involved in almost every aspect…    Set painting and construction; Props; Costuming; Assistant Directing; Producing… and (in her spare? Time) has “pounded the pavement” to get ads for our programs and donations for our group.   As if we didn’t keep her busy enough, outside of Affton CenterStage Theatre, she works as a secretary/customer service rep for Manufacturers Rep company.  She is also involved in many church activities at the Eden United Church of Christ, including serving as a Council Member, a Vision Team Member, working on the Evangelism Committee, and working at Cardinal Baseball games as fundraiser.

And – just to round things out – she spends much of her “spare” time enjoying her 3 children and 2 Grandkids!

Special Projects

Nicki Ketterling

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Theatre has always been near to Nicki's heart.  At a young age her teachers would often choose her for the announcer or narrator because she had the loudest voice and it would carry through out the room.  Along with the voice, they discovered that she wasn't shy in front of an audience.  What she discovered was that she loved to entertain.  This took a natural course to lead her to acquire a college degree in theatre and speech where she appeared in and worked on numerous productions.  She also has a teaching degree.  Later she took a hiatus of sorts while she was raising her five children.  During those years she kept  her creativity honed with her children's talent shows, participating in follies and other programs with her church, singing in church choir and even writing and performing liturgical material. 

Nicki has been very happy to find a home with Affton CenterStage.  She enjoys working with everyone involved with the company.  It's close like a family and yet is very open to welcoming new people who want to become involved.  She was especially delighted to be introduced in her first ACT show along with her daughter, Tomi Kaye, in which they both played dwarfs in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  Since then she has appeared in various shows including Arsenic and Old Lace and 45 Seconds from Broadway.  She has also directed two of the Murder Mysteries; A Plot of Murder and When All Is Said and Dead in which she also played a small part.  She is very happy to be a part  of the Board of Directors.

 

Special Projects

Cindy Moeller

CindyM

 

 

 

We’re still waiting for Cindy’s personal biographer.  I think she’s busy writing the “Great Mystery Novel!”  Keep checking back for an update.

Publicity

JoAnn Raisch

JoAnn

 

JoAnn is currently retired, but still very active.   She is a former business owner and elected official, and has held various offices in community and school organizations.  She coordinated and chaired various campaigns, including one as co-chair of a successful bond issue for Affton Schools.  She has chaired various fund raisers for the Work Activity Center (Sheltered Workshop in Affton).  JoAnn was a co-founder of our predecessor group, Affton Community Theater (ACT

Special Projects

Jeff Remelius

Jeff

 

 

Jeff grew up in Affton and is currently the Principal of Rogers Middle School.   He assumed this position this past July 1.  Jeff has been on the Board from the beginning and prefers to work behind the scenes ... unlike his wife, Jeanne, who prefers the spotlight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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