Board Elections 2024

Pattye Archer
Pattye is a director, scenic designer and volunteer for the award-winning Starkville Community Theatre (SCT) in Starkville, MS. She has 25 years of directing experience with SCT, directing more than 35 shows. She has also served as an assistant director more than a dozen times, as well as stage-managed, dressed sets, designed costumes and more. Pattye has directed four shows for the Mississippi Theatre Association's annual festival, with all four winning Best Production and advancing to the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC), including SETC winners Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike in 2017 (which advanced to AACTFest), and Paper Thin in 2018, as well as runner up with Smoke on the Mountain in 2007. Pattye earned Best Director honors twice, as well as scenic design awards at the state and regional level. She also served as assistant director for Underneath the Lintel, which won at SETC in 2023 and was named one of the top four shows at AACTFest 2023. Pattye is an AACT-certificated adjudicator. A native of Florence, AL, she serves as the Marketing and Communication Director for the Mississippi State University Libraries. She is active in her community and has served on numerous boards, including United Way, Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart Association and more. She has also served as president, board member and publicity chair for SCT. 

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I will bring an understanding of small community theatres and the need for cultivating a strong volunteer base, along with marketing, event planning and strategic planning experience to AACT. I have handled most of the publicity for Starkville Community Theatre for nearly 25 years. I maintain the website and have also created posters, programs, print advertisements, print brochures and more during that time. For over 15 years, I have done all the programs, most of the ads, much of the social media and other publicity projects for the Mississippi Theatre Association. I have been a part of long-range strategic planning for both Starkville Community Theatre and the Mississippi State University Libraries.

Dori Bryan-Ployer, Ph.D.

Dori is the Artistic Director and Director of Education for The Mass Arts Center in Mansfield MA. She holds a BFA from The Boston Conservatory, an M.Ed. from Cambridge College, and an MA from Emerson College. She earned her Ph.D. in education through Lesley University. Dori brings her years of experience as an artist and educator to the speaking circuit. Her interactive presentations offer distinctive perspectives universal to all fields, including “Mindfulness in the Workplace: Caring for Ourselves While Serving Others,” “Public Speaking: Lessons from the Stage” and “Servant Leadership: Creative Viewpoints.” She has served throughout Southeastern Massachusetts including Bay Colony Productions, The Family Performing Arts Center at Bridgewater State University, The Buckley Performing Arts Center, Middlesex Community College, and Dean College. She is a respondent and workshop presenter for the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (METG) The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) and the New England Theatre Conference (NETC). Dori has been nationally recognized for service as an artist and educator. Dori lives in Holbrook with her husband, Scott and their rescue, Katie.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I would like to use my education and experience to ‘lift up’ those who participate in community theatre. Skills that may be useful to this goal include writing, teaching, choreographing for non-dancers, directing, acting coaching, and public speaking. My most recent keynote speech for The Mass Arts Center Annual Gala that addressed the necessity of community theatre and accessibility to the arts generated the largest “fund the need” amount in the organizations’ history, just shy of $20,000. I have also built and delivered various webinars. This addition to my resume reflects my interest in whole wellness. I am skilled at leaving people better than I find them, as an artist, a leader, and an educator.

Chad-Alan Carr         
Chad-Alan trained under his mentor and TNT & AACT Charter Member, Bennie Nipper. In 2009 Chad relocated from Texas to historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where he opened the Gettysburg Community Theatre, chartered the Thespian Troupe for Gettysburg High School, directed the East Coast Premiere of The Penguin Project, created Gettysburg Pride Fest, and received the Key to the City from Gettysburg’s Mayor during AACTfest 2019 Gettysburg. Chad has served on the Board of AACT, facilitated Community Theatre Management Conferences, and helped create the first ever AACT National Youth Theatre Fest. Chad is the Founding Executive/Artistic Director of Gettysburg Community Theatre.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I hope to continue helping AACT look toward the future by cultivating our younger generations of community theatres from across the globe. Our young students of theatres everywhere are not just actors, but also future theatre managers, future theatre donors, and yes even future board members of AACT. I thoroughly enjoy meeting people from community theatres of all sizes and histories, learning from one another and helping mold the future of AACT to help all theatres thrive. I understand the commitment that it takes to be an AACT Board Member, and I believe I would bring the value of knowledge of where we have come from and an understanding of the goals we need to meet to foster an inclusive and encouraging organization.

Martha Cherbini
Martha is an attorney currently living in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her love for AACT and community theatre began when she attended AACTFest in 1999 and has continued through attendance at more than twenty festivals in the AACT system since that time. She has directed more than twenty productions at various community theatres, including one, The Gin Game, which advanced to the National AACTFest in Rochester, New York in 2011. She began adjudicating after completing the AACT adjudicator training in 2017 in Rochester, Minnesota. Martha has served on the AACT Board of Directors since 2018.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I anticipate continuing to serve the board's ongoing need for legal advice. I also believe I bring an enthusiasm that I share with the local theatres with whom I come in contact, hopefully enhancing AACT's profile among its members.

Michael Cochran
Michael  is Executive Director at Market House Theatre in Paducah, Kentucky. Now marking his 40th year with MHT, he also serves on the AACT Bboard of Directors, and is a past board member of Arts KY and the Kentucky Theatre Association,. His original play Eternity was selected as one of the winners of AACT NewPlayFest 2018 and was published by Dramatic Publishing. He has worked in a variety of professional theatres and theme parks. In addition Michael has worked professionally in dance, television, and film and has won awards for design and acting. Michael and his wife, April, were awarded the City of Paducah Mayors Award of Merit and the Chamber of Commerce Summit Award for their years of work at MHT. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in theatre from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?

I believe that my experiences in theatre for over 40 years have allowed me to experience the growth from a small primarily volunteer community theatre with a small budget, and a single donated found space, to a large thriving organization with a significant budget, and a campus of buildings all owned by the theatre and a nationally recognized theatre education program and productions.  The ability to learn from so many great people I’ve had the honor to work with connected to AACT over the past 40 years has given me a great appreciation for the unique role community theatre holds in the development of our national arts and culture landscape. 

Bob Frame
Bob recently retired from Cayuga Community College in Auburn, NY where he served as Director of Theatre Operations since 1979. Bob is now finding more time to explore the fun of being a free-lance lighting designer, director and actor. During his 40-plus-year career, he has won numerous awards for his work in theatre. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the Theatre Association of NY State since 1997, including a term as President and is a roving adjudicator for NY state. He has been honored to serve on the AACT Board of Directors since 2014 and was recognized as AACT Fellow in 2022. Bob has served as Technical Liaison for AACTFests in 2011, 17, 19 and 23. He has served as co-chair of AACT Design Competition at AACTFest for the past four cycles. In 2023, Bob was elected to serve as AACT Vice President for Festivals.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
My intent is to continue to serve the association. My forte is technical theatre, production and organization. I see myself as a big picture person who understands the tedious minutiae that need to be addressed to realize that big picture. I have used these skills during my tenure on the Board and will unconditionally continue to offer them to the Board in the future. I also bring a sense of humor in this otherwise terribly focused world.

Craig Gibson
Craig is rgw founding executive director of the Premier Arts theatre organization in Elkhart, Indiana. He is an award-winning actor, director and writer who has given the gift of theatre to his region for more than 15 years. Showcasing local talent and sharing powerful stories on the stage is his passion, and children’s programming is an important part of his work. Craig works at inspiring the next generation of theatre lovers by investing in young people through arts appreciation events and his work with local schools. Under his leadership, the Premier Arts Academy opens in the fall of 2024, as an independent public school that will focus on the arts.

Joelle Irons
Joelle is Executive Director of The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, previously serving as its Director of Operations. In her time at the theatre, she has been instrumental in tripling the size of its education program, as well as working with making and made new and strong connections in the community.  She also as served as an active volunteer, board member and board president on other  boards. Previous work includes Box Office Manager/Front of House Manager for the Avenel Performing Arts Center, Avenel NJ, and Box Office Assistant for the State Theatre, State College PA. Joelle earned her B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Graduate Certificate in Arts ManagemenT and an M.A. in Live Entertainment Management from the University of Miami.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
My experience as a volunteer and with volunteers brings a deep understanding of how to best help them feel fulfilled in their roles by helping them recognize their strengths and put those strengths to the most efficient use. My past board experience has shown me that I enjoy being on that side of the table. The important work of helping an organization move forward and grow. I am organized and find great satisfaction in doing the tasks that ensure the bigger picture is achieved.

Jason Leader
Jason has held the position of Co-Founder and Executive Director of 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville, Louisiana, since its founding in 2014, and has been instrumental in the theatre's growth and success. He has devoted over 30 years to higher-education administration, showcasing his commitment to education and leadership. His diverse background also includes a focus on human resources, contributing to his well-rounded expertise. Jason's community involvement extends to his role as the 3rd Vice President of the UNO Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, where his selection was based on his experience in human resources rather than financial matters. He also has honed his leadership skills through programs like Leadership St. Tammany and the Louisiana Leadership Academy. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Theatre from Southeastern Louisiana University.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I believe I can be a valuable asset to the AACT Board. With extensive experience as an Executive Director of a community theatre, I bring insights into fostering creativity, engaging diverse audiences, and navigating operational intricacies. Additionally, my perspective as a practitioner and leader ensures grassroots needs are recognized. I'm proactive in problem-solving, offering innovative ideas for growth. My presence signifies a fusion of passion, experience, and advocacy, committed to amplifying the impact of community theatre and fostering a vibrant ecosystem where creativity thrives.

Tucker Leighty-Phillips
Tucker is the Director of Appalshop Roadside Theater, in Whitesburg, a professional ensemble of community-trained storytellers in the coalfields of Appalachia, where he has worked since 2021. He is a writer and artist, the author of Maybe This Is What I Deserve, a short story collection published by Split/Lip Press in June 2023. He grew up in Laurel County, Kentucky, where he booked punk rock shows before becoming a road crew member for a number of national touring bands. Tucker earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Arizona State University, and a B.A. in English Literary Studies from Bucknell University. He hopes his passion for storytelling and narrative will find a place among the community and engage a larger network of enthusiastic storytellers.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I am passionate about performance as a means of mass invitation to many types of artists. I am a teaching artist who actively promotes collaboration and play in creation. Through AACT, I would love to continue to connect artists, both urban and rural, increase accessibility, share resources, and promote solidarity, so that no one feels they are working in isolation. I have experience in fundraising and climate-related crisis management, since our organization was subjected to the tragic Eastern Kentucky floods of July 2022. Although my primary background is fiction writing, I do not want to solely integrate into and uplift fiction or creative writing-centric organizations, but rather promote a melting pot of creative engagement and ideas.

Lorien Reese Mahay
Lorien is the Executive Director of Pennsylvania's Theatre Harrisburg. She moved from New York in 2021 after five years as the Associate Director for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, where she oversaw trainings across the globe using improv techniques to teach science communication to researchers at institutions like NASA, IBM, and the Gates Foundation. She is credited for playing a central role in transforming the Alda Center into the nation’s leading science communication training organization. Lorien earned an M.F.A. in Dramaturgy from Stony Brook University, and has worked professionally as an actor, dramaturg, and stage manager. In addition to her work at the Alda Center, she has served as Associate Director of Development at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York, and Program Director at the Watermill Center, Robert Wilson's interdisciplinary laboratory for the arts. She currently lives in Camp Hill, PA with her husband and two rambunctious children, Cedric and Lyra.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
My love of theatre began as a professional actor and grew through stage management into an MFA in Dramaturgy and finally to theatre leadership. My theatre background is extremely diverse and has allowed me to learn best practices across a variety of organizations. My career has included supporting developing avant-garde work, fundraising at a LORT theatre, overseeing applied theatre training for researchers, and finally becoming the Executive Director of a historic community theatre. Through these experiences I have developed many different skill sets, from grant writing and donor cultivation, to dramaturgy, new play development, strategic planning, Board governance, and leadership through organizational/cultural change. I would be honored to bring these, or any other skills I possess, to the AACT Board.

Kelli McLoud-Schingen
Kelli is a co-founder of World Stage Theatre Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose missioni is to "tell multicultural, inspirational, and transformational stories to connect hearts & minds with people, places, and ideas." In her work with World Stage Theatre, Kelli utilizes her theatre and cross-cultural skills to foster greater representation of actors of color, as well as tell stories that invite the audience to explore compelling social and cultural themes. Kelli is a member of the AACT Board of Directors. She has facilitated development workshops, trainings and dramatic presentations for educational, non-profit, government and corporate institutions in the U.S. and internationally. A professional mediator, certified by the State of Texas, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Aurora University and a Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural Studies from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I will bring over 45 years of theatre experience, 35 years as an experienced professional and leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, as well as a global mindset to use the power of the arts to connect across cultural differences. 

Ted Miller
Ted has been active in community theatre in Washington State for more than 25 years as an actor, producer, and director. He has served on the board of the Washington State Community Theatre Association for 14 years, including as board president. He has attended every state AACT festival since 2001, and has served as festival chair at both the state and regional level. Ted believes theatre should be a safe space for all, reflecting the diversity of our community and our nation. He is a runner, a writer, and an engineering manager. Ted believes community theatre makes good community.
 

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I remember my first AACTFest state festival as part of an entering production from the opposite side of Washington State. The experience was transformative. I discovered that community theatre is universal, that when we come together, a festival is truly a celebration of this oldest form of storytelling. We can lift each other up, help each other where we didn’t know needed help, and establish friendships that grow stronger through the years. AACT is the organization that provides the framework for a national network of mutual support, of theatre resources that truly allow American Community Theatre to thrive. I believe my experience on the board of our state organization and my two decades of festival experience will help AACT continue to grow in its mission.

Jereme Raickett
Jereme is a Chicago native who works both professionally and with the community as an actor, director, stage manager and producer. He is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, where he began his training as a theatre major. Shortly after, he began working with many other theatres and companies, including Alhambra Theatre and Dinning. At age 18, Jereme joined thr Maximum Theatre Group as Assistant Director for the gospel stage musical, No More Drama, then moving into the role of technical director for a new touring production of Maxie Coleman’s The Fight of her Life. He served as co-founder and Director of Mega Mind Productions, LLC, a dance and theatre company. This eventually to a position as Production Manager for Players by the Sea theatre, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. He now serves as the theatre's Artistic Director  for the theatre. approaching his 9th year with the company this fall.  His regional performance credits include productions of The Color Purple, Shrek, Man of La Mancha, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat, Hairspray, 7 Brides for Seven Brothers, The Wedding Singer, Suessical, Big River, The Wiz, Elf the Musical, 5 Guys Named Moe, and more. As a playwright, he has created and workshopped two original musicals. Jereme plans to share his gifts and talents in a fresh new capacity serving as Creative Director for the International Creative Arts Experience for South Africa. 

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?

It was from the first moment I sat in a room full of strangers at AACT Management Conference and by the end of the day suddenly no one was really a stranger at all. The room was full of practitioners who shared the same passions, experiences, obstacles and successes! I felt seen and understood without shame or judgment. It was a support group for artists and resilient leaders in arts. Who knew? That's when I felt the motivation to lead with courage and continue to impact the community through excellence in arts. One AACT Fest, World Fest and Management Conferences nearly 3 years later I have developed a strong connection to the principles, mission and networking of AACT including the impact it has made in the lives of communities around the world including our youth. It wasn’t until being asked to serve as a youth adjudicator that I felt a closer connection to that purpose. The potential of the impact I could contribute to the organization became evident. With my experience over the past 15 years and work as a Writer, Actor, Director, Vocalist, Technical Director, Stage Management, Instructor and 9 years as Artistic Director serving communities both locally in my home town including the work and development of arts educational programs I am developing in the communities internationally in South Africa. I am eager to continue to serve, learn, develop and collaborate with the AACT family. With my energy, innovative approaches, 10 years of experience and dedication with leading a non profit community theatre. I hope for the opportunity to bring new ideas, networking and support to the mission and growth of what I know to be a inclusive and impactful organization. 

Ramona Ramdeen
Ramona holds a Master’s degree from the University of North Florida in Non- Profit management, and a Bachelor’s degree in digital video production from The Art Institute of Jacksonville. In 2014, she produced a short film that won an Academy Award. Ramona has over 10 years experience in community theatre management, inicluding box office, marketing, communications, fundraising and development. She also has written and directed for both the stage and screen.
Ramona is an integral part of the Jacksonville FL community theater scene. She has helped manage and grow programs such as New Voices, which aims to develop new and aspiring playwrights, and the Creativity Behind the Curtain program, designed to provide backstage, technical, and production opportunities to the underserved communities of Jacksonville. Ramona is known as a skilled mediator, bridging the gap between creative minds and business minds. She gravitates towards projects that tell powerful stories that bring communities together by sharing perspectives, allowing us to understand human experiences that differ from our own. 

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I am a skilled and talented mediator who is very successful at bridging the gap between creative minds and business minds. I believe in the power of storytelling. A team player, who gravitates towards projects and organizations that bring communities together by sharing perspectives which allows us to understand human experiences that differ from our own.  

Atamjit Singh
An awardee by two Indian National Academies, Atamjit has penned three dozen plays in Punjabi; few are also translated into Hindi, Urdu, English, Marathi, French and Sanskrit. Apart from Indian cities, his plays were performed at Sacramento, Chicago, Dayton, Montreal, Ottawa, Kitchner, Mississauga, Brampton, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Lahore. Atamjit is also well-known for the dramatic solo recitals of his texts. In addition to various Indian venues, he did captivating recitals in Canada, US, UK and Kenya. He wishes to establish his identity as someone who tried to transcend all other identities—ethnic, sexual, regional, political etc.
 

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
Through AACT activities I wish to establish that although the community theatre is rooted in the ethos of a particular group, it is powerful enough to broaden the horizons of its audiences by promoting the basic common human values. The ideal community theatre is always meaningful and instead of encouraging differences, it should aim at finding means to connect the local with global and global with the local. While keeping its soul unbroken, transcending barriers of one’s culture is in a way its growth. The process inspires others and rejuvenates us. AACT might like to use my experience in play-writing and performing at community level by organizing off-line sessions. I’ll also be happy to give dramatic recitals of my plays in English for select audiences

Frank Sposeto III
Over the past 15 years, Frank has been seen on stage, cleaning toilets, taking tickets, finding lost purses, directing shows, running lights, climbing ladders, and placing Band-Aids on fingers after missing the nail with a hammer on set. At Iowa’s Newton Community Theatre he built sets for multiple productions, including Hambuns and Potato Salad, Glass Menagerie, Proof, and many others.  He also served as Board Member and President. After moving, he worked on set design at Ankeny Community Theatre, including Godspell, Aura, ‘Night Mother, and several others.  He also directed productions of Piece of My Heart and Marjorie Prime, as well as serving as   assistant director or producer on a dozen other shows while also doing stage design. Fdrank and his wife, Tammy, created Xfade Productions, which toured three different venues with its second show and is currently planning its next show. He joined the Iowa Arts Council in an effort to boost  involvement by community theatres in the state, and takes particular interest in getting grant information to theatres across the state, as well as  at each ICTA event.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
My business-first mentality complements the other artistic resources at the table to improve theatres’ fiscal strategies necessary to support their creative pursuits.  Currently serving on the Iowa Arts Council, I have developed affiliations with broader reaching agencies such as Arts Midwest, NASAA, and the National Endowment for the Arts.  Previously targeting arts   organizations and community leadership organizations in Iowa for community engagement, I have facilitated creative ideas for partnership that have resulted in the use of grant funding for the benefit of the performing arts community.  AACT will allow me to expand my influence to the national level. 

Lou Ursone
Lou is Executive Director of Curtain Call, Inc., Stamford Connecticut’s longest running, year-round nonprofit producing theatre company. His successes there earned him Connecticut’s Arts Administrator of the Year in 2008and recipient of the Elizabeth Mahaffey Fellowship. Curtain Call has been recognized with The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Culture and Tourism and the ACE Award for Excellence in the Arts from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. Lou has been an active volunteer for Junior Achievement both locally and nationally for more than 30 years. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Darien Arts Center and is currently the Chair of the Stamford Arts and Culture Commission, and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Stamford Magazine and the Samuel French National Theatre Advisory Committee. He is a member of the AACT Board of Directors, and a member of the Spotlight Magazine Editorial Team. As a professional actor he has appeared on many daytime dramas including a recurring role on the ABC-TV “soap," Loving. Other TV work has included principal roles on Unsolved Mysteries and Rescue 911. He has appeared in numerous film, commercial and industrial film programs, including winning a Bronze Telly for his work in a children’s video. He has performed extensively throughout the northeast, including many Connecticut theatres, including The Goodspeed Opera House, Summer Theatre of New Canaan, Music Theatre of Connecticut and at Curtain Call.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I’ve been involved in community theatre on and off since I was 13; my professional career was made possible by that involvement. Through AACT I continue to learn from colleagues across the country and love sharing those ideas with others.  I'll continue working to encourage greater membership in AACT which ultimately helps us all. Having served one term on the AACT board I have a much better understanding of the many ways the board can support our terrific staff and help secure the future of the organization for all members.

Angela Wilson
Angela is founder and CEO of the AngelWing Project, Inc., a non-profit organization in Brooklyn Park, MD, whose mission to “positively impact the community by producing uplifting, entertaining shows that inspire and foster appreciation for and participation in the arts."  An award-winning playwright, she is also a skilled producer and director. Angela has found her niche in writing plays that speak to her cultural experiences in honest and compelling ways.  Her work has been widely recognized in the Maryland/DC area, including an Independent Artist regional award from the Maryland State Arts Council for Literary Arts in 2022.  Angela has spent over 23 years as an HR professional.  She possesses a B.S. in Business, with a concentration in Management, and an M,S, in Organization and Human Resources Development and has obtained several professional certifications.  In 2020 she decided to leave her HR career and dedicate herself to her life's pursuits, the arts being top of the list, but also using her experience, skills and expertise to become an independent consultant.

What value will you bring to the AACT Board?
I have a genuine passion for theater and the arts, and I am committed to supporting my local theater and arts community.  I am also dedicated to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion because I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the arts, and I would advocate for initiatives that promote accessibility and representation.  I possess a diverse set of skills such as writing, producing, directing, marketing, fundraising, teaching, event planning and leadership.  I believe in collaboration, and I am actively engaged with other community leaders.   Being creative and resourceful, I seek out innovative approaches to enhance the theatergoers' experience. I am enthusiastic about bringing fresh perspectives and creative solutions to the board's discussions and initiatives.

Officer Nominations

The Nominating Committee recommends the following slate of officers for the 2024 -2025 Board term. The AACT Board is responsible for approving the slate of officers following the election.

Kristofer Geddie
President

Kris holds a BFA in Musical Theatre, an MA in Arts Administration, and has performed on stages around the world. He has directed productions such as Once On This Island, Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Fences, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Dreamgirls. Prior to his arrival in Venice, FL, he cruised the world as a Company Manager and Principal Singer for Jean Ann Ryan Productions on Norwegian Cruise Line. In addition to Geddie’s duties at Venice Theatre, he serves on the Ambassador Circle for Embracing our Differences; the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Access+ committee for Southeastern Theatre Conference, is the treasurer of the Florida Theatre Conference, the Florida State community theatre representative, and is a Board Member of the Friends of the Venice Public Library, Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, Squeaky Wheel Theatre Group, and Vice President of AACT.

Lou Ursone
Executive Vice President

Lou is Executive Director of Curtain Call, Inc., Stamford Connecticut’s longest running, year-round nonprofit producing theatre company. His successes there earned him Connecticut’s Arts Administrator of the Year in 2008and recipient of the Elizabeth Mahaffey Fellowship. Curtain Call has been recognized with The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Culture and Tourism and the ACE Award for Excellence in the Arts from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. Lou has been an active volunteer for Junior Achievement both locally and nationally for more than 30 years. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Darien Arts Center and is currently the Chair of the Stamford Arts and Culture Commission, and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Stamford Magazine and the Samuel French National Theatre Advisory Committee. He is a member of the AACT Board of Directors, and a member of the Spotlight Magazine Editorial Team.

Bob Frame
Vice President for Festivals

Bob recently retired from Cayuga Community College in Auburn, NY where he served as Director of Theatre Operations since 1979. During his 40-plus-year career he has won numerous awards for his work in theatre. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the Theatre Association of NY State since 1997, including a term as President and is a roving adjudicator for NY state. He has been honored to serve on the AACT Board of Directors since 2014 and was recognized as AACT Fellow in 2022. Bob has served as Technical Liaison for AACTFests in 2011, 17, 19 and 23. He has served as co-chair of AACT Design Competition at AACTFest for the past four cycles. In 2023, Bob was elected as AACT Vice President for Festivals.

Scot MacDonald
Treasurer

Scot serves Managing Director for Theatre Charlotte.  Falling in love with the theatre and musical performance as a child, in college, Scot he found a passion for directing and administration, and oddly enough, accounting. During his time at Towson University, He also discovered a deep love of non-profits and the gaps they fill in our communities. Working as an administrator and a grant writer, he learned the ropes of fundraising and put those skills to good use throughout his career. Working many different paths from administrative and management, to banking and customer service, Scot found his way from Maryland back to his roots in Indiana, working particularly with Memorial Opera House, where he was Box Office Manager, then Artistic Director and finally, Executive Director.

Kay Amstrong
Secretary

Kay has been involved in the community theatre scene for over two decades. She has served as an adjudicator, director, and volunteer manager for various organizations, including Business Manager for Contemporary Theatre of Dallas. She has served on the AACT Board of Directors, and as Vice President of Festivals. She also serves on the board of the Dance Council of North Texas. Kay received a Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Allen Ebert
Vice President for Education

Allen is the Executive Director at Wisconsin's Children’s Theater of Madison, (CTM). a member of Theatre for Young Audiences/USA and a resident company of the Overture Center for Performing Arts. Allen also directs and performs in the Madison area. Previously he served as Executive Director of the award-winning La Crosse Community Theatre, and spent three years in Vicenza, Italy, where he served as the Entertainment Director of Soldiers’ Theatre, an Army Community Theatre. Allen served on the Wisconsin Association of Community Theatre board of directors and as president. Over the past 23 years Allen has directed, performed, adjudicated and conducted workshops at state, regional and national theatres.  He has served in many positions with AACT, including his current term as a Member-at-Large.