Staff & Board Members

Meet the people who work behind the scenes!
‡ Denotes Resident Artists

Leadership

Kim Kern
Kim Kern
Managing Director & CEO

Kim Kern

Managing Director & CEO

Kim Kern’s 26 years of experience in the nonprofit world have led her to live by and enthusiastically model the following statement, “Would those of you who say it can’t be done please get out of the way of those of us who are doing it.” Kim strives to create a family-first workplace culture that is inclusive, growth-oriented and focused on positivity – yet if you choose to speak to her before she has had her morning coffee you do so at your own risk.

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Roderick Justice
Artistic Director ‡

Roderick Justice

Artistic Director ‡

Roderick is originally from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and has been producing theatre for young audiences for nearly two decades! While his passion is theatre, he also LOVES desserts. (A lot.) It is still undecided which he loves more. The jury is still out…

Email | Website

Education

Angelo Cerniglia
Education Director

Angelo Cerniglia

Education Director

Angelo hails from the Sunshine State and is thrilled to call Cincy his home. He’s the proud Dad of two precious fur babies, and too many house plants. He’s best known for his office supply invention of post-its (“they’re the little yellow things with the stickum on the back”).

Deondra Kamau Means
Deondra Kamau Means
Resident Playwright & WorkShop Artist ‡

Deondra Kamau Means

Resident Playwright & WorkShop Artist ‡

Deondra is a native of Cincinnati. He was really aware, even while it was happening, that the discovery of arts education in his life made him a better person.

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Mark Femia
TCT Academy Director

Mark Femia

TCT Academy Director
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Miranda Bohannon
Early Childhood Education Manager

Miranda Bohannon

Early Childhood Education Manager

Miranda was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio and now lives across the river in Northern Kentucky. When she is not here working her dream job, she can be found at the movie theatre with her husband watching the latest MCU movie, or at home snuggling their two cats. She will forever have a dream of being a Disney princess. Things that make her happy are baby ducks, driving through the car wash, receiving mail, and drinking coffee. She can also do an impressive duck call.

Christopher Logan Carter
Arts Integration Specialist ‡

Christopher Logan Carter

Arts Integration Specialist ‡

As a child in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Chris spent his days building forts and roleplaying as a wizard before he ever knew he had a love for theatre. Now, as he patiently awaits his acceptance letter, he’s on a neverending quest to share that love of art and creative expression with anyone he meets.

Development

Anne Venters
Development Director

Anne Venters

Development Director

Anne is from Ashtabula, OH where she first enjoyed musical theater on a Lake Erie Beach at the Straw Hat Summer Theatre. Living in Cincinnati for over 20 years, Anne’s favorite pastime is family game night with Euchre, Scrabble, Risk and Rummikub!

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Annie Bloemer
Development Manager, Grants and Corporate Partnerships

Annie Bloemer

Development Manager, Grants and Corporate Partnerships

Annie was born and raised in Cincinnati, and comes from a long line of Xavier fans. (Some of them still haven’t forgiven her for going to UC for grad school.)  If she’s not sneaking off to 5,6,7,8 on her lunch break for a one-woman dance party, she probably can be found tending to her plant babies or planning her next travel adventure. Her likes include: sandwiches, her library card, Hallmark Christmas movies, organized email inboxes, sweaters the size of blankets, potato byproducts, and rooting for the home team (no matter how terrible their record). Dislikes include: getting to the airport less than two hours in advance, flavors in her coffee, being asked “Annie, are you okay?”.

Mary Wright
Development & Volunteer Manager

Mary Wright

Development & Volunteer Manager

Mary was an Army Brat and was born in Germany. She now resides in Mason. She is one of five daughters, a proud Aunt of seven, and a Great Aunt of three. She volunteers with the Symetra Tour of the LPGA and for the Western & Southern Open.

Email | LinkedIn 

Sales & Marketing

Krista Katona Pille
Sales & Marketing Director

Krista Katona Pille

Sales & Marketing Director

Krista grew up on the west side of Cincinnati, which means she still lives on the west side of Cincinnati. She dreams to one day perform a one-woman rendition of Poltergeist. Brach’s candy corn is her ultimate weakness, and she’s celebrating 20 years with TCT this year.

Email

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Curtricia Brown
Sales Manager

Curtricia Brown

Sales Manager

Curtricia is a huge foodie from Houston, TX & enjoys spending time with her husband and their daughter. She believes any time with family, food, fun, & lots of reality tv is a good time!

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Cal Harris
Creative Projects Manager

Cal Harris

Creative Projects Manager

Cal Harris has lived most of his life in Cincinnati and is a proud comic book nerd.  If he’s not watching superhero movies he’s most likely spending time with his cats or one of the many backyard critters he’s currently feeding.

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Kelly Holtgrefe
Digital Marketing Manager

Kelly Holtgrefe

Digital Marketing Manager

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Kelly currently resides in Madisonville with her rescue pup Liza. When she’s not out walking the dog, she can be found at the theater watching a Broadway show or finding some zen at a yoga class.

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Grant Zentmeyer
Patron Experience Manager

Grant Zentmeyer

Patron Experience Manager

Grant has called Cincinnati home his whole life, more specifically the west side. His upbringing in theatre began with dressing up as Peter Pan each year for Halloween (the best holiday) and watching The Wizard of Oz on a constant loop until the VHS broke. When he is away from his natural habitat, the box office, Grant can be found badgering his friend into becoming pen pals because “there is something so nostalgic about receiving real mail.”

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Shelby Coleman
Patron Experience Specialist

Shelby Coleman

Patron Experience Specialist

After nearly a decade of sharing theatre across the country, Shelby is thrilled to return to her roots of Northern Kentucky. She has spent the last five years hiking and creating theatre in North Carolina. Shelby and her rescue pup, Ollie, cannot wait to experience hiking in Ohio and eat enough Skyline to make up for lost years. She likes TLC reality shows and cheese.

Administration

Pam Young
Operations Manager

Pam Young

Operations Manager

Pam is a native of Cincinnati. She has worked at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati since 2006. Before that she raised her 5 children. She enjoys spring, summer and fall! Cincinnati winters seem to have gotten longer!

Email

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Brandi La’Sherrill
Company Manager ‡

Brandi La’Sherrill

Company Manager ‡

Brandi hails from the Queen City and despite going to school in the Windy City, the pull of the ‘Nati was to strong to resist. She and her husband love it on the banks of the Ohio River and are here for good to raise their three kids and start a family band.

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Tim Jones
Finance Director

Tim Jones

Finance Director

Tim was born and raised in Northern KY but now resides in the northeastern burbs of Cincinnati. While his talents aren’t going to land him on a big stage (he can dance, but you don’t want to hear him sing), he loves kids and is a big fan of local theater, so he’s thrilled to bring his financial talent to The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. In his spare time, he likes dancing, hiking, traveling and hanging out with his wife, kids and grandkids.

Production

Maddie Burgoon Jones
Associate Artistic Director ‡

Maddie Burgoon Jones

Associate Artistic Director ‡

Maddie Burgoon Jones was born, raised, and lives on the west side of Cincinnati (which is obviously the best side to live). Despite her five-foot-one stature and obvious lack of height, Maddie still dreams of magically growing 8 inches to become a Rockette- or even better- one of Beyonce’s backup dancers.

Email

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Dani Lobello
Director of Production

Dani Lobello

Director of Production

Dani grew up in Northern Illinois playing on (and behind the) stage and the soccer field. Dani loves teaching and working in technical theatre and presenting shows for young audiences.  If you can’t find her, she is probably with her dog, Cricket.  She loves chocolate and coffee and has made it a goal to zip line on every continent (Antarctica is going to be hard).

Alix Frisch
Costume Assistant

Alix Frisch

Costume Assistant

Alix Frisch is a transplant from New Jersey who is still trying to lose her Jersey accent. She hopes to see her children happy and successful and living elsewhere so she can live her dream of being a shut-in with the help of Amazon.com.

Email

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Maggie Foley
Co-Technical Director & Scenic Charge Artist

Maggie Foley

Co-Technical Director & Scenic Charge Artist

Maggie was born and raised in Chicagoland and her love for children’s theatre has brought her a few hundred miles south for the past six years.  She’s excited to continue that journey in Cincinnati and explore a new town and a new theatre.  Her love for storytelling can only be rivaled with consuming stories themselves in any form, large fluffy animals, and sweets.  Lots and lots of sweets.

Benjamin Adams
Co-Technical Director & Lead Carpenter

Benjamin Adams

Co-Technical Director & Lead Carpenter

Ben was born in Boston, Massachusetts but grew up in Cincinnati. His passion for building and storytelling lead him to become a scenic carpenter. When not constructing sets for The Children’s Theatre, Ben enjoys studying stage combat and performing with Carnivale Sword Play.

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Jadi Davis
Resident Stage Manager

Jadi Davis

Resident Stage Manager
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Ellie Fangman
Props Master

Ellie Fangman

Props Master

Ellie Fangman is a Northern Kentucky native who spent her childhood attending the productions at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. From those experiences, her love of the theatre grew and now she has had the opportunity to tell stories and create fantastical props all around the country. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her cat, Korra, and exploring Cincinnati.

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Andrew Nunley
Scenic Carpenter

Andrew Nunley

Scenic Carpenter

Bio coming soon!

TCT Board of Trustees

Emeritus Board
Fran Carlisle
Edyth B. Lindner
Honorary Board
Vicki Herche
Carol Hilsinger
Chair
Allison Kropp
Vice Chairs
Charles O. Schiff
Danielle Wilson
Secretary
Andrew Simon
Treasurer
David Crowley
Immediate Past Chair
Gregory L. Adams
Trustees
Jeanette Altenau
Peter Brown
Sarah Anne Campbell
Grant Cooper
Maris Croswell
Melinda Davis
Darcie D'Ascenzo
Abby Dougherty
Daniel M. Driehaus
Libby Galvin Brock
Molly Garber
Paul Griscom
Sarah Haines
Peter Horton
Katherine O. Jarnigo
Dr. Rajan R. Kamath, Ph.D.
Leanne Langdon
Kick Lee
Skip Merten
Meghan Sullivan Nelson
Kathy Sias
Bethany R. Smith
Jeremy Smith
Jennifer Spieser
Scott T. Stubbins
Diana Victoriano
Owen J. Wrassman
Executive Staff
Kim Kern

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