The North Texas Performing Arts prides itself as an organization “managed by professionals and made possible by volunteers” illustrated by the hard work and dedication of its volunteer Board of Directors.
The NTPA organization operates with the oversight of a Governing Board of Directors together with the advice, counsel and support of ten (10) Theatre Management Boards responsible for supporting the management and operations for each of our theatre troupes, creating a support structure of over a 160 hard-working and dedicated volunteer board members. Theatre Management Board Chairpersons are granted a Governing Board Seat during their term. All NTPA staff members and contractors report to the Chief Executive Officer who oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and reports to the Governing Board of Directors.
The Governing Board Officers make up the NTPA Executive Management Committee and are authorized for decision-making beyond the CEO’s daily authority when NTPA’s full Governing Board of Directors is not in session.
The NTPA Governing Board of Directors meet on the third Tuesday of every month in the Neiman Marcus Welcome Center at the Willow Bend Center of the Arts and its meetings are open to observation to the public. The Board Meeting reserves time each month for “Public Comment” and those interested in participating in the meeting or making comments may make their request via email to info@ntpa.org.
Governing Board of Director Monthly Meetings:
DATE: 3rd Tuesday of EVERY Month
TIME: CALL TO ORDER at 7:00pm
LOCATION: Neiman Marcus Welcome Center, Willow Bend Center of the Arts, Shops at Willow Bend
Dr. Sara Johnson has been involved with NTPA since her son auditioned for the inaugural Dallas show. NTPA has become a home away from home for her family as her children have now performed in 40 NTPA shows over the past six years. Sara previously served as chair of the NTPA-Dallas management board and is honored to be a part of the team working to create a welcoming, supportive environment for NTPA directors, performers, and volunteers. Sara holds a PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy and currently teaches in the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences at the University of Texas Dallas. In addition to being an active NPTA volunteer, Sara also enjoys hiking with her husband Jay, traveling with her daughter to figure skating competitions, and cooking.
Abbi joined the NTPA Plano Management Board in 2020, but first came to Plano Children’s Theater in the summer of 2014 when her then six-year-old son, Noah, did a Wizard of Oz themed summer camp and promptly fell in love with theater. Since then, Abbi has been involved with volunteering for Noah’s productions and NTPA events including Cirque Du NTPA , Lucky Stars Casino Night, Senior & Plano AMPS. She joined her son on stage in NTPA productions of Scrooge and Sound of Music. She works in Richardson ISD as the Director of Salary and Compensation in the Human Resources Department. Abbi has a passion for party planning and enjoys turning even small affairs into fun, themed events. She looks forward to working with her theater family to support her family’s second home, NTPA – Plano.
Trysh became a dedicated volunteer at NTPA in 2013, when her daughter Sophie said, “When I’m at theatre, my heart feels like I am home.” Trysh was honored to serve in McKinney and Fairview as Board Chair from 2015-2017, with the amazing team of volunteers who built NTPA – Fairview. She is proud to continue serving NTPA on the Governing Board of Directors. NTPA is a huge part of her heart, and she loves the difference it makes in the lives of so many children and families. She loves that her whole family can be a part of theatre productions through volunteering and that through the years, NTPA has become a home not only for her daughter Sophie, but for her son Zack and husband Tim, as well.
Elly has been actively involved with NTPA since 2009. She brings strong marketing and sales expertise to the board with 20+ years of career experience. Elly currently manages product marketing for Enterprise Cloud and Apps Services at DXC, a $8 billion/year business that holds the number two position in global market share. She is a Sunday school teacher and also volunteers with several organizations, including the National Charity League (NCL) and the Booker T Washington HSPVA Theatre Guild. In addition to her terms on the NTPA-Governing board , she served as Chair of the NTPA – Plano board. Elly has previous board experience with the Alliance Française of Dallas. In 2015, Elly received the Arts Volunteer of the Year award by the Arts Center of Plano. Elly has a son Ryan that began his involvement at NTPA in 2008 and a daughter Ria who performed her first show at NTPA in 2009.
Mark began serving the NTPA community as the first Chairman of the Frisco Youth Theatre Board. After two years in that role he had the opportunity to continue supporting the theatre on the NTPA Governing Board. His involvement was driven by his children’s experience participating in productions and camps over the years. His goal is to be part of a team that creates a powerful theatre experience for each child that participates. Mark is the Commissioner and President of the North American Hockey League and a member of USA Hockey’s Junior Council. The NAHL is the oldest and largest junior hockey league of its kind that places over 300 players annually into NCAA college hockey programs.
Mark, his wife Kira, daughters Charlee and Bella reside in Dallas.
Bio and Picture to come!
Telisa Webb Schelin is the former Chief Legal Officer of TIER REIT, Inc. (formerly NYSE: TIER), a real estate investment trust focused on commercial office properties, serving in that position from January 2008 until June 2019 when TIER REIT merged with Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ). Ms. Schelin was responsible for all legal aspects of the company, as well as risk management and human resources. Ms. Schelin has almost 25 years of legal experience and was in private practice with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP prior to her role with TIER REIT. Ms. Schelin is currently retired and active in the community. She has served as a longtime member and past chair of Attorneys Serving the Community (ASC), a volunteer organization that supports Dallas-area non-profits, and is currently a member of the ASC charity selection committee and a co-chair of the ASC Heart & Sole 5k & Fun Run. She has also served as chair of the board of AVANCE-North Texas, a non-profit that provides family support and education services to at-risk families, and has served as a community volunteer for numerous other Dallas-area non-profits, such as Rainbow Days, Community Partners of Dallas, Girls Inc., and Hope Supply Company. She is also the current President of the National Charity League – Preston Bluebonnet Chapter and the Shepton Drama Boosters. She is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and served as the past chair of the Dallas Bar Association Corporate Counsel Section.
Holly has lived in the North Texas area her entire life. She is married and has one daughter, Sydney, who fell in love with the theatre in the fall of 2016. Holly ran her own wedding coordinating business in Dallas for 15 years, but has been a stay-at-home mom for the past several years. She started volunteering with Sydney’s second show, and has since served as the Marketing and Programming Chair for NTPA – Fairview.
Bio and Picture to come!
Sara received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University with a major in Dance and a minor in Theatre and continued her education at the University of Texas at Austin where she received her Masters of Fine Arts in Children’s Theatre and Creative Drama. During her time at UTA, Sara received the Aurand Harris Playwriting Award and taught on the UTA faculty for two years. In 1981, Sara began teaching Creative Drama and Movement at The Lamplighter School in Dallas Texas, where she taught for 9 years. During this time, she also taught and directed at Dallas Theatre Center, Children’s Arts and Ideas Foundation, and the Junior Players Guild. Sara founded the Imagination Company underneath the umbrella of JPG.
In 1991, Sara founded Plano Children’s Theatre and has watched the company grow from a small theatre in Plano to a family of theatres covering the North Dallas area. Sara now works as the organization’s Vice President of Development and is responsible for NTPA’s fundraising, grant writing, and member development activities.
Jamee Cutillo is one of NTPA’s longest serving Board Members, having served for almost fifteen years in various roles. She has been involved with NTPA since 2005 when daughter Tess took her first summer camp. She has chaired the Volunteer Committee, and for years led the the Program Committee which works closely with theatre management to ensure a well balanced schedule of programs is available to performers of all ages. She is currently the chair of the NTPA Alumni Committee.
Jamee is now a homemaker and office sub for PISD. Her past experience has been as a Research Director for the NBC and WB affiliates in Orlando, Florida for over 20 years.
Jamee is now a homemaker and office sub for PISD. Her past experience has been as a Research Director for the NBC and WB affiliates in Orlando, Florida for over 20 years.
Jamee’s husband Dennis Cutillo has also been heavily involved for almost two decades. He has co-chaired the Facilities Committee for years, programmed lights and ran the tech booth, and was the backstage manager for the AMP Awards.
Dennis Cutillo has over 30 years of experience as a telecommunications software-engineer with Seimens, TXP and iPhotonix.
Bio and Picture to come!
Felicia Lopes, introduced to NTPA in 2015, served on the inaugural Dallas Management Board, then in 2016, she was asked to sit on the Governing Board. Felicia has more than 25 years of leadership experience in New York theatre as a producer and general manager (GM). She was the GM of the Drama Desk Awards for 10 years. Televised by PBS in 25 markets, she oversaw all production and administrative areas of the awards show and coordinated celebrity and presenter hospitality, arrivals, and logistics. Off and on Broadway as well as in the UK, she has produced and been part of the management teams of over 40 productions including Judah Ben-Hur, C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce, Shades of Harlem: The Cotton Club Musical, Angels The Musical, A Tale of Two Cities, King David The Musical, Temptations and Betrayals, Chicago The Musical and Disney’s Lion King. She began her theatrical career at Actors Equity Association. Felicia is an MFA graduate of Columbia University’s School of the Arts. In 2014 she came back to Dallas her hometown, to care for her elderly mother, and today, she is the owner of BusyGal, founded to provide a business coaching and entrepreneurial ecosystem for Women Over 40 globally to authentically re-invent themselves through business ownership.
Jeri Tidwell is a Pediatric Advanced Practice Nurse. She has been a nurse for over 20 years and holds a PhD in nursing. Jeri is a member of the Melrose Church of Christ and a mother member of North Suburban Dallas Jack and Jack of America. Ms. Tidwell is a huge fan of the Performing Arts and is a ‘theater mom”. NTPA (Plano Children’s Theater) has been the theater home for her children for almost a decade. Her role on the governing board is to promote the great work that NTPA is doing to develop character in our youth in diverse communities. Ms. Tidwell is a believer that the performing arts can build confidence and promote emotional health.
Jo Alamares became a dedicated volunteer at NTPA in 2014 when her son Peter did his first class “Avenging Avengers”. Through 20+ performances, NTPA has become a second home and extended family.
Jo was honored to serve on the Plano Management Board, the “Team of Steel” and currently serves as the Repertory Board Chair.
Although, Jo’s formal education is in Engineering, Jo has performed in several NTPA productions. She loves bringing the Director’s vision to life on the stage exercising her artistic skills and construction skills during set builds for Repertory shows.
Outside of NTPA, Jo is an Assistant Scoutmaster and Chaplain for Troop 131, a member of the choir and Parish Council at St. Jude Catholic Church.
Cassandra has served on the Academy Board for one year. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters, one of which is a 3rd year Academy student. She loves the Academy’s approach to theater education which stresses the “Ten Characters”. Cassandra and her husband are excited to participate in the Adult Education program and have been tremendously enjoying Improv classes at the Plano location. She will tell you, “It is wonderful to find a community and artistic home within NTPA.” You will often see her with her camera as she loves to capture photos of the kids at their happiest. Cassandra comes to NTPA service with an extensive background in accounting, compliance and technology operations as a current member of the financial services industry.
Michelle Kaumeyer Hoffman has been volunteering with NTPA for 10 years. She is currently serving as the Board Chair for the NTPA Studios and is a member of the NTPA Governing Board. Michelle is also a past Vice Chair for the Governing Board. Michelle started with NTPA when her daughter was in elementary school and today, her daughter attends TCU majoring in Theatre-Acting. Michelle has a background in marketing and film production. She has her BA in Journalism, MBA, and completed coursework at New York Film Academy. Michelle is also a film screener for the Atlanta Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival.
Ruthanne’s children have performed at NTPA for 10 years. She has volunteered in several areas over those years & now gladly serves our special needs guests through the Starcatchers program. She works for our local school district in Special Needs and Behavioral Support, so this is an extension of what she does in her profession. She believes it is a privilege to work with these families and see the full potential of these students & young adults recognized through the variety of performing arts programs at NTPA.
Stephanie Pearson is passionate about education, children and the arts, which all make her a great asset to the NTPA — Dallas board. Her position as Parish Plus Associate Director at Parish Episcopal School gives her unique insights regarding education, programming and working with kids. Stephanie is also active in her children’s school parents’ associations, Parish sySTEMs, and she has been a Girl Scout leader since 2008. She holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University and has a wide range of interests, including a love for the outdoors to playing the cello and singing (only for fun!). Stephanie is married to Keith and mom to three beautiful children, one who is an NTPA alum and one who is currently active in Dallas productions. She has enjoyed witnessing first-hand how theatre builds a child’s confidence, encourages independence, nurtures creativity and instills an understanding of teamwork.
Bio and Picture to come!
Rob has spent 30 years working with ministries and non-profits, using his skills as a multidisciplinary creative force to help people and organizations tell their stories of transformation. His most memorable acting role came in the first grade, when he was an ear of corn in the Thanksgiving school play. He can still sing his song on cue if asked nicely. His wife Lauren and three kids have all benefitted greatly from being involved in NTPA.