Staff and Board of Directors

Staff

DOUG INSTENES (Managing/ Artistic Director) email
Doug has held the Guild’s top staff position since July 2001, after eight years as associate director. He earned an MA in communications/drama from UW-Superior and an MFA in directing from Ohio University. Before coming to the Guild, he worked for a number of theatres throughout the US, including Arena Stage, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the Monomoy Theatre, and The Great American Children’s Theatre. Doug and wife Kim have two children, Lauren and Dalen.

BETH JURGAITIS (General Manager) email
The Theatre Guild has employed Beth since 1996, first as box office manager, then as office manager/publicist and, since 2001, as general manager. Since 1985 she's been actively involved both as a volunteer and paid staff with many nonprofit arts organizations in Racine and in Carbondale, IL. She's been a member of the Racine United Arts Bund Board of Directors almost continuously since 1991. Beth and husband Jim are parents of adult twin sons, who reside in Ft. Lauderdale.

BRIAN D. MORGAN (Technical Director) email
Our brand new TD, just graduated from University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign with a BFA in scenic technology. He’s worked on productions of Metamorphoses, Henry IV (Part I), The Lark and Madama Butterfly at the Krannert Center, and Assassins and Sherlock’s Last Case at Parkland College. Brian likes to participate in projects of the US Institute for Theatre Technology. He thanks his parents and fiancée Andrea for helping him get to where he is today.

PHIL PAULSEN (Business Manager) email
Phil was vice-president of our board of directors, until he became a part-time employee. He has been an active volunteer since 1989, when he helped build the set for They’re Playing Our Song. The only time he appeared on stage was during Inspecting Carol, when he accidentally knocked down a wall while working as an assistant stage manager. Phil was the RTG’s John Maccanelli Award winner (volunteer of the year) in 2002-03.

TERI KARPINSKI (Box Office Supervisor) email
Teri was a season ticket holder for umpteen years before joining the staff in April of 2004. She moonlights as a Wisconsin Certified Massage Therapist. She has served on the St. Richard Home and School Board for eight years and on the board of the Catholic Junior League for four years. Teri’s hobbies include self-defense and embarrassing her three children. Besides the kids, she and husband William have two dogs.

JOYCE GREGG (Season Ticket Coordinator) email
Joyce is a longtime head usher, member of the RUAF board, past and present member/officer of various other arts boards, former president of AAUW, two-time Athena Award nominee, and all-around community volunteer. Joyce stepped down from her position on the RTG Board of Directors to become season ticket coordinator for both the Theatre Guild and the Racine Children’s Theatre.

MARLENE WEICHMANN (Box Office Assistant)
Marlene began working in the box office six years ago, because she “needed something to do” following retirement from Robert Bosch after 30 years. She and her husband, Ted, just celebrated their 52nd anniversary. They have four grown children, eight grandchildren, and a poodle named Pumpkin. Marlene has been very involved with the 4 th of July parade for many years. She was named Ms. 4 th Fest in 2004.

RON HALVORSEN (Volunteer Box Office Assistant)
Ron has been an RTG volunteer for more than 20 years. He's been heavily involved in fund raising, served six years as president of our board of directors, and fills a shift in the box office on Wednesday afternoons. Recent stage credits include Jacob Marley in Scrooge- The Musical, Herman in Mixed Emotions, Captain Wickett in The Uneasy Chair, and the narrator in A Christmas Story.

SHARON JOHNSON (Maintenance)
Sharon takes care of our facility through Sharon’s Cleaning Service, which she and husband Clay own and operate. She’s been in the cast of six RTG productions, mostly musicals. She also volunteers in the box office, in the booth, as a house manager, in props, and in wardrobe. She was production stage manager for Murder by Misadventureand A Christmas Story. A Sweet Adeline, Sharon sings in the Westosha Lakes Chorus.

 

2008-2009 Board of Directors

 

MICHAEL KROES, President, is an IT consultant with SC Johnson & Son. He’s been in four RTG musicals and is a trustee of St. Rita Parish. Mike and wife Carolyn have three children.

FRAN MACCANELLI, Vice President, has been volunteering at RTG since 1987. She’s experienced in costumes, lights, sound, props, makeup, house managing and stage managing. Fran is an RN at Wheaton Franciscan—All Saints.

ROBERT BISHOP, Treasurer, has held this office since 1999. Rob is a CPA and works as a manager at Clifton Gunderson LLP. For fun, he plays golf and tennis, and he likes traveling to warm places with casinos.

CINDY DAVID, Secretary, has filled a variety of positions in two dozen RTG productions. This season she’s chairing play reading committee. Cindy is employed in human resources at Lincoln Lutheran.

BOB BENSON played Bob Cratchit in three years of Scrooge. He designed costumes for Gypsy and The Gamester, in which he played the Marquis. Bob and wife Karen have three children. He works at Modine Manufacturing.

ROSE BLISS is a 33-year RTG veteran and 2001 volunteer of the year. She’s been on stage a number of times, often in the Packy costume, but more hours are spent backstage. She is mom to Sarah and wife to Brad.

JOHN CRIMMINGS, of First Weber Group, has been active in Racine real estate for over 30 years. He enjoys involvement with nonprofit organizations, and has been president of the Racine Community Foundation, YMCA, etc.

DONNA NEWGORD, in her second term on the RTG Board,has designed and assembled the lobby kiosk for three years. She is active in AAUW and several arts organizations and is on the Quilts on Barns project committee.

RICHARD NONDAHL, after a short break, has just returned to our board to head the finance committee. He’s a frequent house manager, an accountant for CNH, and lives in a historic home.

MIKE PIRTLE works in IT at JohnsonDiversey and has a theatrical family. He’s played roles in eight productions, most recently Guys and Dolls. He’s our facilities committee chair, Webmaster, and 2006 volunteer of the year.

KATE POTTER-BARROW, a past president of RTG’s board and 2002 volunteer of the year, is also a school teacher, singer, choir director, piano teacher, pastor’s wife, and mother to two kids and two dogs.

KAREN REISENAUER was named an RTG life member in 2005. She’s had at least 19 stage roles and often chairs production crews. A retired nurse, Karen keeps busy with church, friends, travel and puzzles.

PETER SELKOWE is a retired newspaper publisher and semi-retired journalist. He’s been on facilities committee and is a crackerjack salesman of playbill advertising. Pete is active in the Downtown Rotary Club.

ERIC SMITH recently joined InSinkErator as Vice President of Supply Chain. Eric, a lifelong Wisconsinite, and his family have been active in Madison's art and dance community.

JOYCE SMITH has been a community cheerleader and activist most of her life, having served on many state and local boards and commissions. She enjoys planning community-wide events and bragging about her nine grandkids.

DREW SOBOTA runs a manufacturers’ representative firm and is in his second board term. His main interest is marketing, and he’s a head usher, box office volunteer and bartender for Jean’s Jazz Series.

GARY STAMM played the title role in Scrooge, the Mayor in The Music Man, Fagin in Oliver! and FDR in Annie at RTG. He’s appeared in dozens of other productions. Gary is Association Executive for the Racine Board of Realtors.

RUSS STETLER has been a dedicated volunteer for 39 years. An avid gardener, he’s responsible for the plantings in front of our building. Fresh from playing Arvide in Guys and Dolls, he was honored with the John Maccanelli Volunteer Award in June.