For Ticket Information and Purchases Please Contact:
The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center - Admin Assist - 913.826.3012
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Theatre Administrative Offices |
The Theatre in the Park |
The Theatre in the Park |
TIP Staff
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Tim Bair |
Sarah Saugier |
David Powell |
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Guy Gardner |
Rachel Lee |
Ruth Bigus |
TIP Advisory Council
You may leave a message for the Theatre Advisory Council HERE.
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Brian Brewer (Member at Large) is a lifelong resident of Johnson County and a lover of the arts. He began performing in high school, was invited to the Coterie’s Young Playwrights’ Roundtable, and is an Eagle Scout. Brian was cast in the 2003 TTIP production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, where he met his wife, Christina. Brian has performed locally at The University of Kansas Theatre, The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre, The Chestnut Fine Arts Center, The Barn Players, and The Theatre in the Park. |
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Kelstan Ellis (Member at Large) Kelstan's love of musical theater started when she first performed on the TIP stage in The Music Man at age 6. She grew up performing throughout the Kansas City area before relocating to southern California for college where worked for United Talent Agency and helped establish and develop their corporate foundation. In 2006, when she realized her true calling was medicine she returned to Kansas City and has been delighted to return to the vibrant theater community as an avid supporter. Kelstan currently resides in Overland Park with her husband and three children. Kelstan is dedicated to promoting the arts opportunities for the Kansas City population and continuing the great tradition of instilling a love and appreciation of theater to future generations. Kelstan is a pediatric palliative care physician and clinical ethicist at Childrens Mercy Kansas CIty. She is also the medical director for pediatric palliative care at the University of Kansas Health System and an adjunct professor of bioethics at Kansas City University. |
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Melissa Evans (Past Chair) After graduating in 2001, Melissa attended Neosho County Community College on a theater scholarship in performing arts. While there, she dabbled in smaller productions. After college, she left the Midwest for Philadelphia, where she performed here and there. Her favorite role during that period was the young Missy Cougar-wildcat in Pecos Bill and the Ghost Stampede. After getting married in 2007, she and her husband thought it'd be a good idea to come back to Kansas City and start their family. Returning home, Melissa dedicated her time to starting the nonprofit Sleepyhead Beds, where she served as the Operational Director and oversaw the volunteers who made that organization such a great success. After the birth of her second child, she decided to take a step back and focus on being a mom and all the tasks that come with that very important role. But theater has always been her love and passion and she's so excited to be a part of it all again. |
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Jackie Hancock (Member at Large) grew up in Overland Park and has spent many evenings at Theatre in the Park over the years. Her love of the arts began early with piano and the flute, where she performed in many ensembles throughout high school and college. Currently, she lives in Leawood with her husband and two children.
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Courtney Harrison (Member at Large) grew up near Kansas City, in Hamilton, MO, before moving out of state for several years. She returned to Missouri to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia for her BA in both Political Science and Psychology. After receiving her JD from Washington University in St. Louis, Courtney moved back to Kansas City in 2016, where she has lived ever since. Currently, she is a Partner at Stinson LLP, where she primarily practices consumer class action litigation. Fittingly, the very first musical she saw performed at a professional level was Legally Blonde, solidifying both her future career plans and her love of the theatre. She hopes that through Theatre in the Park, other young persons are able to experience shows that help validate their dreams and passions. |
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Meredith Neill (Chair) Originally from Kansas City, Meredith spent 21 years as a military spouse, moving 10 times in 21 years including a two-year tour in Okinawa, Japan. She brings a combined 20 years of experience in education, finance and budget management. She currently works for the De Soto School District, in the Human Resources Department. Meredith and her husband have loved exploring local theatre at every new duty station. Meredith looks forward to working with the Advisory Council and giving her time to the and families of Johnson County. In her free time, Meredith enjoys spending time with her family, and exploring coffee shops and local walking trails. |
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Tom Nelson (Member at Large) is a Kansas City transplant since 2016, having lived in various places across the country and around the world prior to that. He received his BS (Int'l Marketing/Russian) from the University of Alabama and his MBA (Marketing/Entrepreneurship) from Notre Dame. Currently, he works at H&R Block running customer success/retention strategy for the Tax Software department.
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Inga Nordstrom-Kelly (Member at Large) received her BA in English/Speech Communication from Baker University and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Rockhurst University. She currently works as an Instructional Designer for Artisan E-Learning, but previously taught various secondary English, gifted, speech, debate, and forensics courses. As an enthusiastic fine arts participant, parent, and patron, and a person who enjoys helping others, Inga is thrilled to help further TIP's mission and vision through collaboration, innovation, and service to the advisory council. |
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Jim Royer (Sertoma Club Representative) is a native “Kansan”, having been born in Topeka and raised in Johnson County. He is a graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School and a graduate of Kansas State University. After working in Idaho for three and one-half years in the Nuclear Engineering field, he came back to Kansas to do graduate work at Kansas State University and then started a career with IBM in Kansas City. In 1975, Jim became a member of the Shawnee Mission Sertoma Club and instigated the project to build a new outdoor theater in Shawnee Mission Park. As chairman of the Theater Fund Raising Committee and with the help of my fellow Sertomans, he spent the next five years raising money to build the new theater. |
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Jonathan Thomas (Member at Large) returned to the Kansas City area from San Francisco in 2018, where he became the Senior Development Manager at ArtsKC. While in San Francisco, he served as the Development Manager for The Walden School, a music program for aspiring composers and musicians. Always finding ways to fit music into his life, Jonathan performed as a soloist and professional chorister with the Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Symphony Chorus and the small ensemble Cappella SF. Before moving to San Francisco in 2014, Jonathan divided his time between building an insurance agency and singing professionally in the Kansas City area. |
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Tim Bair (Producing Artistic director) grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and began his long theatrical career at a very early age as “Paddy the Pixie” in the not-too-well-known musical - Santa’s Elf Saves Christmas (in fact… he’s not too sure it was ever heard of again!) He went on to perform on The Theatre in the Park stage for many years, and eventually took his first step into the “production” side of things when he choreographed OKLAHOMA, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, and WEST SIDE STORY for the park. |
