GREAT Staff
Risa@GREATTheatre.org
Bonnie@GREATTheatre.org
Breana@GREATTheatre.org
Breana Burggraff As our Finance and Database Manager, Breana does all our bookkeeping, generates monthly financial reports, organizes payment for staff and visiting artists, and processes donations, along with organizing and managing GREAT’s large database of patrons. Breana also hosts HOW GREAT: The GREAT Theatre Podcast alongside Keenan. GREAT has been lucky enough to have Breana for the past two years as an Administrative Assistant, and for four years as a Teaching Artist before that. With a BA in Theater and Communication and a Minor in English writing, Breana tends to prefer challenging theatre experiences and enjoys analyzing the artistic choices behind most any production. Outside of her time with GREAT Theatre, Breana works with Pale Horse Studio making films. She’s also an avid fan of arts and crafts, and spends many afternoons sewing, knitting, etching glass, or trying a craft entirely new to her.
Lily (she/her/hers) has lived in Central Minnesota all of her life. While not a performer herself, she enjoys many forms of art. From traditional art, writing, and music, to a Degree in Marketing and Design, she loves anything and everything creative. Lily grew up playing sports and doing art, loving the competition and creativity. Now at GREAT, she loves her position as marketing can be competitive, and Graphic Design allows her to be creative every day.
Mark@GREATTheatre.org
Emily Johnson (she/her) is GREAT’s Education Manager where she supports the development and delivery of programs that provide a broad range of educational experiences ensuring access to the transformative power of live theatre in schools, at the theatre, and in community settings. Emily has been involved in theater since she was little, in both onstage and backstage roles. Emily pursued her undergraduate degree in theater at Rutgers University, and her Master’s in Elementary Education at Northwestern University Chicago. She is excited to have the opportunity to combine her passions here at GREAT and help expand access to arts education for all. In her free time, Emily loves spending time with family and friends, crafting, running, and traveling.
Jessica@GREATTheatre.org
Jessica Mancini (she/her/hers) grew up in Kimball, MN and has lived in St. Cloud, MN for more than a few years. Jessica leads a wonderful team of volunteers in the creation and care of costumes for GREAT’s productions, summer Camps and other programming. She works closely with the Resident Costume Designer to understand the costume needs for each project, and to facilitate and contribute to the realization of the Costume Design. Jessica loves spending time with members of her family, and especially finds joy in watching her nieces and nephews discover and learn. She also enjoys books and audiobooks, logic puzzles and riddles, singing in the car, and dancing in the kitchen. For Jessica, making a contribution to a production is wonderful, but she takes even more pride in the moments when costume shop volunteers can pick out specific costume pieces they’ve worked on, and experience the feeling that comes from watching their work come to life onstage.
Kendra@GREATTheatre.org
Kendra Norton Dando (she/her/hers) As Artistic and Education Director for GREAT, Kendra is focused on increasing access to the arts by bringing engaging theatre to our stages, developing partnerships and opportunities to tell the stories of our community, and expanding learning experiences for audiences of all ages. Kendra is originally from the Chicago area and joined GREAT as Education Director in January of 2019. She holds a Master of Theatre Studies from Southern Oregon University and brought fifteen years of experience in educational theatre to GREAT, having developed, designed, and taught theatre curricula for middle and high schools in St. Louis, MO and Madison, WI. Additionally, Kendra is an award-winning director and educator who has directed youth and adults in over fifty productions. She has presented nationally on social justice and theatre and served as the co-director of the Educational Theatre Association’s Wisconsin Thespians and on the board of Minnesota Thespians, increasing student opportunity and access to theatre arts. In addition to teaching acting and theatre courses at St. Cloud Community and Technical College, she has worked with area school districts on developing K-12 arts pathways and was recently selected to the 2022 cohort of the Minnesota Young American Leaders Program with the University of Minnesota and Harvard Business School. When not in a classroom or rehearsal, Kendra is most frequently found enjoying the sunlight, tending to houseplants, or building ginormous LEGO creations with her children.
AnitaR@GREATTheatre.org
Anita Reber (she/her/hers) is from St Joseph, Minnesota. Anita is a House Manager and Stage Manager at GREAT. As House Manager, Anita sets up the lobby for auditions, performances, and other events, and helps train any volunteers working in the lobby as well. As Stage Manager, Anita communicates with the production team, writes rehearsal reports, coordinates with the production team to get the show ready on time, and makes sure that shows run smoothly. Anita enjoys spending time with her kids and grandkids! She also likes to garden, read, visit her family cabin, and draw with watercolor pencils. Anita is on a mission to camp at each state park in Minnesota! Anita’s favorite part of working with GREAT is educating cast members (particularly newcomers to theatre), welcoming them to GREAT’s space, and helping them feel comfortable and confident. Anita also enjoy working with nervous newcomers at auditions, as well as nervous repeaters. She encourages these actors to do their best, relax, and have fun!
Lacey Schirmers (she/her/hers) has been GREAT’s Executive Director since 2022, and has worked at GREAT since 2014. Having worked very closely with the founding Executive Director in the role of Managing Director, Lacey’s business leadership with GREAT and has been integral to the organization’s recent successes and essential to making our artistic vision possible as we strive to ensure everyone has access to the transformative power of the arts.
Lacey was born and raised in St. Cloud and has firmly rooted her family here. Graduating from St. Cloud State University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing, she has experience working in a variety of industries and over 20 years of applied experience achieving financial and marketing results, developing and leading others, and managing projects from ideation through implementation and evaluation. Until recently, Lacey also owned her own business as a freelance graphic designer and photographer for eleven years.
Although not a performer herself, Lacey is passionate about the arts and strongly believes that the arts play a critical role in making a community a vibrant place to live. This is especially important to Lacey, as she is deeply engaged in the community. She has been actively involved with Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation since 2015, most recently co-leading a marketing initiative to reframe the narrative of the greater St. Cloud region to one that is inclusive, celebratory, and authentic– St. Cloud Shines. She previously served as a board member for the American Advertising Federation of Central MN, was a recipient of the St. Cloud Times 5 under 40 Award in 2017 (recognized for innovation, involvement, and influence), and was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Minnesota Young American Leaders Program with the University of Minnesota and Harvard Business School in 2019.
Lacey’s desire to connect with people and add value to their life extends far beyond her full time gig, volunteer work, and side hustle; she also takes her social life with friends and family pretty seriously. She enjoys spending as many weekends at the cabin as possible, playing card games, early morning workouts, attending theatre and supporting the arts, and being with people that bring joy and laughter to life.
Anthony@GREATTheatre.org
Anthony Schrock (he/him/his) is a scenic carpenter at GREAT. Anthony first found family in the theatre, and in his teens and early twenties he was involved in 20-25 shows. Anthony always tried to be in a show, and often volunteered to help build sets and props. Anthony was even in several productions on the Paramount stage before its big renovation! Between directing Two Days in Saint Cloud at the Helgeson Learning Lab, acting in Ahoy, Murder, Dead Ahead!, and being a volunteer, Anthony has seen GREAT from a many different angles. Anthony loves being part of the GREAT team and finds pride in the high quality productions he works on. Anthony makes designs come to life at GREAT, from designer’s blueprints into a set you can walk onto and shine!
Jake (he/him/his) has taken on many roles in GREAT Theatre, from a performer to now working as part of the admin team. Jake loves anything pertaining to theatre… except improv. He loves trying new weird foods with others, much to his coworkers’ dismay, as well as being the fun uncle to his niece & two nephews. Jake is passionate not only about theatre but also about what theatre brings to our community and how theatre arts can unite us.
Dana@GREATTheatre.org
Hillary Vermillion (she/her/hers) is originally from Fort Collins in Colorado. Hillary is the resident Music Director at GREAT. As Music Director, Hillary has a variety of roles. She helps with the audition process for each show and teaches music to each cast. She rehearses with the pit orchestra, and conducts performances of each GREAT musical. Hillary loves instruments and plays the cello. She is also learning the bagpipes and harp. Hillary really enjoys the rehearsal process, and finds it rewarding to see GREAT casts grow and gain confidence as they learn the music for each show. Hillary also loves opening night, because the cast, crew, and production team finally get to share their hard work with amazing GREAT audiences.
Hillary@GREATTheatre.org
Grace@GREATTheatre.org