Fran Arniotes

Director
Fran has been onstage or behind the scenes at StageDoor since 1990, as well as founding member and director of hundreds of shows with adults and kids at StageDoor Theatre. That first role was as a 12 year old boy in “Wiley and the Hairy Man” followed by “Laundry and Bourbon” and “Murder In Green Meadows.” She has enjoyed working with this cast and crew, members of whom she has directed in “The Good Doctor,” “Sleuth,” “They Came From Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in Time For The Townswomen’s Guild’s Coffee Morning,” “A Christmas Carol,” and “Nunsense.” Favorite recent roles include Betty in “The Foreigner,” Claire in “Rumors,” Muriel in “I’m Not Herbert” and her role in “Accomplice.” By day, Fran teaches acting, technical theatre, and Spanish at Evergreen High School. Fran would like to thank our patrons and donors for valuing and supporting locally produced live theatre and performing arts opportunities for all ages.

Stephen Blaskowski

Summer Camp Instructor
Stephen Blaskowski is a freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He sings bass in the University Choir and is a member of Mile 21 A Capella at CU. Stephen is a graduate of StageDoor’s Theatre program. His first show was as a seventh grader when he played Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress. Since then Stephen has performed in numerous Stagedoor productions including Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd and Javert in Les Miserables. Stephen is excited to be returning to Stagedoor as a summer camp instructor, and even more thrilled to be working with Jenna Haimes.

Alexa Burch

Summer Camp Instructor
Alexa Burch attended StageDoor Theatre summer music and drama camps 20 years ago up until the time she started teaching them. She also enjoys being on stage whenever she can, performing with StageDoor’s Adult Company. Alexa is a certified elementary school teacher in Jefferson County and loves working with kids, especially in the theatre!

Dave Cameron

Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Board Member
Dave Cameron was raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota creating, producing &/or performing in plays & mini-movies with & for the mountain community. As a poorly-funded 8-year-old, he learned quickly how to do a lot with whatever was on hand. Since then he has studied many aspects of theatre arts – including production/stage management, lighting & sound design, vocal performance under Dr. Jim Feiszli, dance, movement, set construction, & more – specializing in magic/illusion & juggling, & receiving a trade degree in Manual Dexterity & Prestidigitation from the Chavez Studio of Magic in La Verne, CA. On the teaching front, after attending the South Dakota Governor’s & South Dakota Ambassadors of Excellence summer camps, Dave joined their annual staff as a group leader for the middle & high school attendees while teaching magic & juggling before ultimately becoming a Co-Director of the Ambassadors’ yearly production on the University of South Dakota’s mainstage. A photographer by profession, Dave lives in the Conifer area spending most of his time immersed in creative endeavors.

Deb Christensen

Accompanist

After spending 23 years in Denmark, where she left Colorado to be an exchange student.  Deb then met and married her Danish husband and, as a Midwife, delivered over 1300 babies in Denmark. She returned to her roots in the mountains of Colorado and is thoroughly enjoying her career as a Broker Associate, ABA, CMAS for Keller Williams Foothills Realty. She has been playing the piano since she was 3 and accompanying “forever”. The balance and joy that this gives her life is an essential part of her being. She is so grateful to be part of StageDoor Theatre and we are grateful to have her! Deb has done over 12 shows at Stagedoor and we look forward to having her do even more.

Nelson Conway

Director

Nelson is recently retired from a 25 year career teaching music and drama in the public schools. He studied music under Dr. George Lynn at Loretto Height College and Lynn Whitten at Colorado University in Boulder. He studied technical theatre with Joseph Psuik, drama and musical theatre under Richard Clark, Tom McNally and Jan Sullivan. Nelson opened the choral and drama departments of Conifer High School in 1996 and has directed and produced numerous musicals, some of which are Fiddler on the Roof, Crazy For You, Sweeney Todd, and Les Miserable. Nelson has also acted in many productions in the past including The Fantasticks, and Man of La Mancha. His favorite of all time was playing the role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. Former students are presently cast members at Disneyland in Anaheim, California and doing improvisation and stand-up comedy in Denver. Many of Nelson’s students have gone on to college to pursue musical and acting careers at places like Wesleyan, University of Denver, and the UNC drama program. Nelson has done over thirteen productions at StageDoor Theatre and retirement couldn’t be any better.

Diane DeMarco

Choreographer

Diane DeMarco is owner and director of All The Right Moves Dance Studio in Pine Junction. Diane’s extensive studies include ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. She has studied under the direction of numerous master teachers and professional dancers, including members of the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater and former Chorus Line and other Broadway performers. Later training also consisted of classes at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Before moving to Colorado Diane was teacher and choreographer for two large dance studios in New Jersey. Under her direction, current and former members of her company have won numerous awards in national dance competitions and have been chosen for dance rolls in several professional dance productions. Diane is enthusiastic about working with everyone at StageDoor and being part of its wonderful productions!
Diane has choreograhed several Stagedoor productions including, Honk Jr., and most recently Hello Dolly.

Maryjean Fowler

Choreographer

Maryjean’s beginnings as a dancer started as a young child. She studied ballet/tap/jazz with Vella School of Dance in Pennsylvania—traveling the northeast to compete in dance competitions, even attending a national championship in NYC through Dance Masters of America. As a teenager she studied ballet under Andrea Scoggin, former ballerina with ABT and close friend of Mikhail Baryshnikov. At age 18, Maryjean was the youngest dancer with the Collin Dance Consortium, an avant-garde ballet company outside of Dallas, Texas. Maryjean was captain of the Golden Girls, her high school drill team and kickline of 75 young ladies. In college, she was captain of the UNT Dance Team, studying kinesiology. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a BS in Kinesiology, the study of human movement. Maryjean has also worked in the fitness industry as an Athletic Director and Personal Trainer, but dance keeps calling her elsewhere. She has taught ballet, poms, tap and jazz at the Peak Academy and currently is Head Coach of the Conifer High School Poms Team. Maryjean can be seen around our community working with youth, especially each summer as the music and dance leader of Conference Baptist Church’s VBS. She has choreographed for The Evergreen Players ‘Oklahoma’ and now Stagedoor Theatre. Her greatest accomplishment however, is her family. She and her husband Joe have four children— all of course are/will be an enthusiastic part of the Stagedoor Theatre family!

Barbie Graham-Meier

Choreographer

Barbie is a dance teacher & choreographer from the mountains of Colorado, Conifer area. Barbie owned and directed a prestigious dance and gymnastics school for 20 years, from which a number of her students have advanced on to professional dance careers. She is currently serving on the board of directors for the Colorado Dance Alliance, having been elected for a 12th term. Barbie has choreographed Miss Colorado Pageants and currently judges for the Miss America organization as well as various national dance competitions. Her past credits include the Professional Dance Teachers Association, American Dance Artists Association and the instruction of workshops throughout the United States and Europe. She was the head coach of a competitive high school pom & cheer dance team and has executed public relations work for various costume companies. Furthermore, her dance company is responsible for creating a few nationally televised music videos. Barbie holds degrees in Dance and Education from Loretto Heights College/Regis University and is also a certified Colorado Teacher in Elementary and Special Education. This is her 13th year traveling the country as a performing arts consultant, judging National Dance Competitions. Barbie has choreographed several adult company shows for StageDoor Theatre including, Nunsense, and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Joni Havens

Director Grades 2-5

Jenna Hawkins

Choreographer

Jenna Hawkins dreamt of growing up to be a ballerina. Ironically, her first professional dance job was as a Denver Broncos Cheerleader. Those dreams continued to evolve when she entered the acclaimed theatre program at Metropolitan State College and received her degree in Musical Theatre. She performed in musical theatre, straight theatre and on camera for a decade in Los Angeles, Seattle and New York. She returned to Colorado in 2005 and began choreographing full time. She now works with professional dancers, musical theatre performers and student of all ages. She most recently choreographed a group of pieces for 7dancers out of Cherry Creek Dance in Denver, a film by We Drink It Black, LLC and Rent for Metro State College. She was introduced to the talented Evergreen/Conifer community through Laurie O’Neil and CPAS Studios where she choreographed for the past 3 years. Jenna is also an on-camera and voice actress and a film producer. Her production company, INGYWORKS, is excited to release their first short film, Paper Thin. Jenna enjoys teaching the students at Stagedoor and giving them challenging choreography for their shows. Jenna has choreographed Pajama Game, Chicago and the upcoming spring show at StageDoor, Curtains.

D.J. Himstedt

Accompanist

D.J. has enjoyed singing and performing with and sometimes accompanying the Evergreen Chorale for several years, and  he is in his second year as accompanist for the Evergreen High School Choral Program. In his “spare time” D.J. is an attorney and private investigator, but thinks thinks theatre is a whole lot more fun. He first worked with StageDoor playing keyboards along with Deb Christensen, in the  2009 production of Les Miserables. D.J.’s daughter have been in every high school production since. D.J. has observed some really wonderful teenagers at StageDoor and has concluded that “it is nothing short of amazing to see their transformation from first read through to opening curtain. The kids are what makes it all worthwhile.

Jay Louden

Director

Jay has directed numerous productions in a variety of settings including professional, community and educational theatre. Jay is an assistant professor at Metro State College of Denver where he teaches and where he has directed Major Barbara, Twelfth Night, The Diviners and Hot 1 Baltimore. As an actor he guest starred in numerous television programs and films, the most recognizable being Star Trek: The Next Generation. His stage work includes work at The Mark Taper Forum in LA, The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Arizona Theatre Company, The Old Globe in San Diego and Alaska Repertory Theatre. Jay has directed several shows at StageDoor Theatre including, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and A Midsummer Nights Dream. Jay is grateful for the opportunity to do what he loves and teach young people his craft. Jay is happy to have the support of his wife, Donna and son, Campbell.

Jill Manser

Director

Jill brings many years of theatrical experience to StageDoor after moving back to her home state of Colorado just two years ago. She’s thrilled to be home and getting to play at the theatre right here in her mountain community with such amazing people. While her not-so-long-ago theatre past includes assistant directing and/or stage managing productions at many Denver-area theaters including: Arsenic and Old Lace at Town Hall Arts, Iguana at The Changing Scene, Taking Steps at the Aurora Fox, War of the Worlds at The Victorian Theatre and Showboat at Boulder’s Dinner Theatre. Over the last 15 years, she has produced, directed and stage managed multiple productions at the Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center, including directing Into the Woods and Something’s Afoot , producing The Odd Couple and Sylvia, stage managing A Midsummer Night’s Dream and writing and stage managing Don’t Eat the Bluebonnets, a children’s touring show. She makes her StageDoor directorial debut with Moonlight and Magnolias and looks forward to future productions with this wonderful theatre community. When she’s not at the theatre, she can be found helping companies with their social media and marketing campaigns as a creative director, writer and strategist, and raising her next generation of thespians.

Anne Russell

Director of Pre-K – 1st Grade & Summer Camp Instructor
Anne Russell has been involved in the StageDoor Education program since it’s inception 7 years ago. She has contributed in some way to almost every one of StageDoor’s productions since that time. Anne is currently working with the Elementary Group at StageDoor. Anne has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas, and 30 years of experience working in classrooms with children of various ages. Anne believes that the most lasting learning takes place when one is having fun. LET THE FUN BEGIN!!