Michael Weber+ | Artistic Director

Michael Weber is a nationally recognized, award-winning director, producer, actor and educator. He recently directed the Off-Broadway and European premieres of Call Me Elizabeth written by and starring Kayla Boye as Elizabeth Taylor. Under his artistic leadership, Porchlight Music Theatre was awarded Chicago’s Jeff Award for “Best Production” six times for A Class Act, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Sondheim on Sondheim, The Scottsboro Boys, Dreamgirls and Blues in the Night. Porchlight productions that he directed, include Cabaret, Gypsy, End of the Rainbow, Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Pal Joey, Assassins and Side Show, as well as Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Jeff Award Award for Best Production. He previously served as artistic director for the inaugural season of Chicago’s Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now Broadway in Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse) and at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana (1998-2004). Directing credits include Living the History-125 Years of The Auditorium Theatre starring Patti LuPone and John Mahoney, Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Beauty and the Beast at Marriott Theatre, Over the River and Through the Woods at Mercury Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre, and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena featuring stars of Cirque du Soleil with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has been nominated for nine awards and he wrote and directed 14 Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies (2006-2018). Weber’s regional acting credits include The Merry Widow (starring Renée Fleming) at Lyric Opera, Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (both starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia Festival, The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse, Disney’s My Son Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, It Had To Be You (starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka) at Little Theatre on the Square, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare, and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. He is author of the play, WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles’ infamous radio broadcast) and he is a longtime pledge host for PBS station WTTW channel 11.

Jeannie Lukow* | Executive Director

Jeannie took the helm as Porchlight’s first Executive Director in September 2014. She is a founding member of Porchlight’s board of directors, and served as president for six of her many years on the board. An integral member of the company since its inception, Jeannie held the positions of marketing director, grant writer and managing director in the early all-volunteer-staff years. She has helped lead Porchlight from this unique perspective of both the staff and board sides, continuing to drive organizational growth, brand expansion and fiscal sustainability. Prior to joining the staff at Porchlight, Jeannie co-founded Bespoke Cuisine, one of Chicago’s leading boutique catering and cooking party venues, which she co-owned for 12 years before selling in 2014. Prior to Bespoke, Jeannie built a 15-year career in marketing communications, much of it spent in association management. Her most recent position in that field was as Managing Director of Marketing Communications for the National Association of Realtors, with over 1 million members. Jeannie holds a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional designation through FMA. She is a native Michigander and graduate of Michigan State University, and an extensive world traveler, avid foodie and dog lover.


Artistic & Production

Majel Cuza* | Director of Production

Majel Cuza (she/her) joins Porchlight on this production as the Interim Production Manager. A Chicago Native, she has production managed at Victory Gardens, Broadway in Chicago, Theater Wit, About Face, Steep, American Theater Company, and Griffin. In recent years she has led production departments at Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, Idaho Shakespeare Festival in Boise, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare festival in Incline Village, and the Dallas Theater Center in Dallas. She is thrilled to be back in Chicago and working with Porchlight!

Frankie Leo Bennett+ | Producing Artistic Associate

Frankie Leo Bennett has been a Chicago-based music theatre creator since 2015, after graduating from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Theatre (Music Theatre Certificate). Regional acting credits: Porchlight Music Theatre, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Kokandy Productions, Hell in a Handbag Productions. He has also served as teaching artist for The School at Porchlight. Bennett actively works in new music theatre development with Chicago Dramatists and Underscore Theatre and composed his first original work “Resident Services: A Crossed-Up Animal Musical.” Frankie has worked in administration with Broadway in Chicago for five years and served as Workshop Coordinator, building original curriculum for music theatre courses. He serves as chair of Porchlight’s EDI Advisory Committee, furthering the advancement of underrepresented voices within the theatre community.


Audience Services

August Compton* | Audiences Services Director

August moved to Chicago from Atlanta, Georgia in 2017. While in Atlanta, she completed a Playwriting Apprenticeship with Horizon Theatre Company, joined their Front of House team, and immersed herself in a community full of up-and-coming theatre artists. She holds a BFA in Dramatic Writing with a Minor in Creative Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she graduated in 2015. While she’s always been a storyteller, it wasn’t until her first year of college that she really dove into the world of theatre, though she’s never looked back since. August is a cat lover, avid reader, frequent movie-goer, and thrilled to be part of the Porchlight team as it continues to grow in new and exciting ways. August oversees the audience experience, including subscriber relations and managing the Front of House (box office, house management, concessions) team.

Front of House Team

Caitlyn Birmingham* | Sara Crounse* | Charlotte Foster* | Noel Hartman*/^ | Marissa Longo* | Evan Morales+


Development & Marketing

Lynn Barlow* | Communications Associate

An avid theatergoer, Lynn first joined Porchlight in 2022 as a volunteer and member of Porchlight Young Professionals, serving on the Marketing and Events and Fundraising Committees. Lynn grew up in Chicago and graduated from Loyola University with a B.S. in Psychology. Her experience as a social psychology research assistant and nonprofit program manager informs her work as Communications Associate. Lynn is committed to advancing Porchlight’s programming through the planning and implementation of effective communication strategies. She also supports fundraising, event planning, and donor stewardship activities.

Kellie Buffington* | Development Associate

Originally from the Boston area, where she fell in love with theatre at a young age, Kellie is thrilled to be immersed in Chicago’s amazing theatre community. She received a BA in Live and Performing Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago, which led her to hold various internships and audience services roles at organizations like Victory Gardens Theater, The Royal George Theater and The Joffrey Ballet. Most recently, Kellie worked in donor relations and event planning at Gads Hill Center, an organization that provides community resources to Chicago families, where she planned major fundraising events and developed donor engagement programs. Now, Kellie comes to Porchlight in an operations role, splitting her time between development, finance and office management duties. In her free time, she loves reading mystery novels, going for walks around the city and watching movies.

Jenny Couch* | Social Media Consultant

Jenny was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago and moved to the city to attend the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where she received a BFA in Musical Theater. Since graduating, she’s performed at Drury Lane, Music Theater Works, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Kokandy and more. Though she loves performing, she also loves working from the business side of a theater and cultivating a community online through social media. In her free time, Jenny loves reading, going for long walks, drinking too much coffee and bothering all her friends.

James Juliano+ | SHOUT! Marketing & Media Relations

Serving as Porchlight’s marketing and media relations director for the past 10 years, James Juliano+ guides Porchlight’s corporate branding and programmatic marketing. James and business partner Jill Evans La Penna launched SHOUT! in 2018 and the firm provides individualized client campaigns, working in a variety of industries including theatre and dining. With nearly 40 years of collective experience in the entertainment and leisure industries, James and Jill partner with local, national and international clients to identify the specific needs of each organization to make every project a success.


Education

Rebeccah Singer* | Education Director

Rebeccah came to Porchlight from Emerald City Theatre where she worked in youth arts education for nearly six years, two of them as the company’s Education Manager. She has also been a teaching artist for Lookingglass Theater, The Playground Theater and the iO Theater. Rebeccah holds a BFA from Syracuse University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, and has been been through the Second City Conservatory and the iO Theater Improv program. She is thrilled to be at Porchlight, continuing to expand our education and community engagement programming for musical lovers of all ages.


Administration

Allison Cain* | Interim Human Resources Director

Allison is a not-for-profit leader and human resources/operations consultant with over thirty years of experience. With a specialization in the arts, she has experience leveraging strategic human capital capabilities to maximize resources and deliver results by achieving sustained improvements in organizational performance. Allison is a certified DiSC® practitioner with a focus in talent effectiveness design, development and facilitation of one-on-one coaching and training workshops for individuals and organizations. She helps clients strengthen skills in the areas of leadership, management, communication, team effectiveness, conflict management, performance management, recruiting and behavioral interviewing. As a human resources professional, Allison worked for companies such as Price WaterhouseCoopers, Willis Towers Watson (formerly Watson Wyatt Worldwide), ProActive, a Freeman Company, Recruiter.com and Felix Global. As a consultant, she has done work with organizations such as Steppenwolf Theatre, Steep Theatre, Theatre Squared, Lifeline Theatre, The League of Chicago Theatres and the League of Regional Theatres (LORT). Allison was the Managing Director of Lifeline Theatre from 2009 – 2021, the Executive Director of The Factory Theater from 2001-2008, and the Artistic Director of Studio 108 Theater from 1991-1998 and served on the Board of the League of Chicago Theatres for four years. As an actor, she has performed in over 50 shows in Los Angeles, Connecticut, Chicago, Edinburgh, Michigan and New York primarily focusing on new work. She received her training at Carnegie Mellon University and Columbia College.

Elana Kennedy* | Administration Associate & Box Office Manager

BIO COMING SOON

 

 

 

 

Pronoun Key: + (he/him/his); * (she/her/hers); ^ (they, them, theirs)


Todd Arp+, Treasurer / Chicago, IL 

Retired

Todd is a retired business professional with an extensive career in accounting, finance and procurement at Kraft Heinz, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies. He began his career working at manufacturing facilities in Iowa and Ohio before moving to Chicago more than 20 years ago. His career specialized in operations cost management with an emphasis on budgeting and forecasting. He was regularly sought out to analyze and fix budget issues across the supply chain in the highly complex dairy industry. At retirement, he held the position of Director of Cheese Procurement, leading a team of buyers that sourced over $1 billion of cheese each year. Originally from a small town in Iowa, Todd is a graduate of the University of Iowa where he earned both a BBA and MA degree in accounting. As a long-time supporter of the arts, Todd appreciates the unique and important role that Porchlight plays in the Chicago arts community and is pleased to support it as a member of the board of directors.


Michelle Freeman Cucchiaro* / Chicago, IL

Retired

For as long as she can remember, Michelle has had a passion for musicals. At a young age, listening to — and singing along with (albeit not well!) — Broadway cast albums. And in Chicago, the very best place for musicals is Porchlight. In addition to music theatre, film plays a major role in Michelle’s life. She serves on the Gene Siskel Film Center’s advisory board, and has been a member of the Chicago International Film Festival/Cinema Chicago for many years. During the late 1970s, when Chicago/Off Loop theatre was in its infancy, Michelle (along with her husband Steven) served on the audience development board at Victory Gardens Theatre, and later on the board of directors at VG. A lifelong Chicagoan, she takes great pride in the current theatre scene, subscribing to and supporting many of the local theatres. She is a member at the Arts Club of Chicago, sits on the board of the Sarah Siddons Society and is proud to be an advocate for Porchlight Music Theatre.


Brenda Didier* / Libertyville, IL

Director-Choreographer / Owner, Lincolnshire Academy of Dance

Brenda is a freelance choreographer/director based in Chicago and owns and directs the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance, which she founded nearly 20 years ago. She received the Equity Jeff Award for Best Director of a Revue for Porchlight’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014), and she has received Non-Equity Jeff Awards for both direction and choreography, After Dark Awards for choreography, the National Youth Theatre Award for choreography and the 2010 Broadway World Chicago fan favorite award for choreography/non-equity. Brenda has collaborated with Porchlight on more than a dozen productions including, most recently, Sophisticated Ladies, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliot The Musical, In The Heights,Dreamgirls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and the smash-hit Ain’t Misbehavin’. She has served as a guest instructor/choreographer for Northwestern University, Columbia College, the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Carthage College. She has choreographed musicals, industrials, special events as well as productions for Second City’s mainstage and five installments of Cirque Shanghai at Navy Pier’s Skyline Stage. These productions toured and played in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Cirque Shanghai Extreme Off-Broadway. 


Jeremy D. Eden+ / Chicago, IL 

Co-Founder & Co-CEO / Harvest Earnings

As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Harvest Earnings, Jeremy provides large companies with the unique and powerful Idea Harvest™ process for earnings growth, engaging employees closest to the work to find smarter ways to grow revenues, reduce costs and improve customer service. For the past 35 years, Jeremy has been advising Fortune 1000 CEOs and his clients have generated collectively, and reported publicly, billions in new earnings. Jeremy earned a BA from Yale College and an MBA from Yale School of Management prior to becoming a consultant at McKinsey & Co., Inc. He also led work on environmental, mental health care and social service issues in several state-level positions. Jeremy is on the board of the Justice Stevens Public Interest Summer Fellowship for Yale Law School and for Chicago-Kent College of Law. Jeremy’s wife, Nancy, who clerked for Justice Stevens, created the Fellowship at these two law schools to honor Justice Stevens by funding law students to pursue public interest legal work during the summer. Jeremy and Nancy are ardent lifelong fans of theatre, and in particular, musicals. Jeremy’s passion for music theatre was ignited when, at age five, he saw Robert Preston and Barbara Cook in the original Broadway production of The Music Man. He is excited to be part of Porchlight’s community, which is committed to sharing music theatre across Chicagoland.


Rhona Frazin* / Chicago, IL 

Retired

Rhona recently retired after a non-profit leadership career spanning more than five decades. Boxes of well-worn 33 1/3 rpm Broadway original cast recordings from the 60s, and 70s attest to her long love for musical theatre and the great American song book. Her earliest work experience focused on public relations and marketing for Goodman Theatre and Goodman School of Drama, Wisdom Bridge Theater, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana and Drury Lane Theater McCormick Place. Executive Leadership roles followed with The Nature Conservancy and The John Marshall Law School. For 18 years she led all institutional advancement efforts, including two highly successful capital campaigns, for Metropolitan Family Services (formerly United Charities of Chicago), the region’s oldest largest non-sectarian human service organization. In 1994, she was named President and CEO of the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Throughout her career, she actively gave back to the non-profit sector as a speaker for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Publicity Club of Chicago, Family Service America, Women in Philanthropy and the Urban and American Library Associations. She has served on a number of non-profit boards, including Girls in the Game, Wisdom Bridge Theater, Acorn Center for the Performing Arts in Three Oaks Michigan, and as a member of the Joseph Jefferson Committee. A BMI lyricist, she and her husband, retired Judge Julian Frazin, have written scores of parodies and song lyrics together, including “The Voice Above the Crowd” a tribute to the great radio voices of baseball, which was performed at the 1993 Major League All-Star Game by STYX lead singer Dennis DeYoung.


William Gilmer+ / Chicago, IL

Edward Hines Jr. Hospital & Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Bill is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Director of Psychiatric Research and Academic Development at Edward Hines Jr VA. Bill also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), an advocacy and educational organization with a national network of peer support groups and online services for people living with mood disorders and their families. A lifelong enthusiast of theatre, he was drawn to Porchlight’s commitment to expressing meaningful, dramatic themes through music theatre. As an admirer of the works of Stephen Sondheim and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill subscribes to the words of Sondheim’s Franklin Shephard, “Musicals are popular. They’re a great way to state important ideas. Ideas that could make a difference.” Bill is delighted to be a supporter and board member of Porchlight Music Theatre, a company whose artistry embodies those words.


Joshua R. Goderis+, CCP, PHR / Chicago, IL 

Vice President, HR Global Services & Solutions and HRIS / UL Solutions

Josh has more than 29 years of professional experience in progressively larger and more complex HR roles, including working in benefits, generalist and staffing roles, as director of global compensation, director of global workforce planning, director of global talent management, VP of HR for the Commercial & Industrial and Retail & Industry business units. He is currently VP of HR Global Services & Solutions and HRIS at UL Solutions. Josh has lived and worked overseas in Denmark running HR Operations for Europe and Latin America, has completed UL’s premier Leadership Programs — Global Leader Program (partnering with Northwestern University) and the Executive Leadership Program (partnering with Yale University), and attended the Leadership Development Program with the Center for Creative Leadership, the HRMAC Future CHRO Leader’s Program and the Cornell CHRO Program. He received his M.S.H.R. in 2003 from Loyola University Chicago and is an Executive Committee member of UNEF (United Neighborhood Equity Fund), as well as co-owner of Chicago’s premier customer floral design company, Bukiety Floral. Outside interests include foreign languages and cultures (Spanish major/French minor in undergraduate studies), traveling, movies, theatre, floral design, and great food and wine.


Brandon John Harrington+ / Chicago, IL

Global Staffing Lead / Google

Brandon John Harrington is an avid supporter of the theatrical arts, having worked with theatre companies in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, on Broadway and in the West End. By day, Brandon is the global staffing lead for three product areas at Google. Prior to his time in talent acquisition, he spent three years working alongside C-suite leadership at the company. Before joining Google, Brandon spent five years working in film and theatrical development for DreamWorks Animation & DreamWorks Theatricals. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Northwestern University and is a proud Bay Area native.  


Joseph Higgins+ / Chicago, IL 

Director, External Affairs / Comcast

Joe is the director of External Affairs Comcast in the Greater Chicago Region. Serving Metro Chicago, Illinois, northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan, Joe is responsible for advancing the community impact strategy, strengthening diversity commitments, and leveraging broadband opportunity programs for the region. He is the market leader for partnership marketing and communication strategies that drive awareness and leverage brand value. Joe also leads corporate social responsibility which includes a comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Joe currently is the executive champion for Out at Comcast, the company’s employee resource group focusing on LGBTQ and ally issues. Joe also serves on the board of Disabiltiy: INChicagoland. In the early part of his career, he worked in public relations, marketing, communications and product management. Born and raised in the Chicago western suburb of Glen Ellyn, Joe received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication and Journalism from Western Illinois University. 


Kenny Ingram+ / New York, NY

Director-Choreographer  / Actor / Creator

Hailing from San Jose, CA, Kenny’s dance career took him to Chicago where he was part of musical theatre for 25 years. On Chicago stages, Kenny has performed at Marriott, Candlelight Playhouse, Drury Lane, Goodman and Steppenwolf. As a choreographer he has worked with Marriott, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakes and Court. Kenny was a part of Goodman’s Summer Program where he choreographed for The Robert Taylor Homes and taught dance at the Music Theatre Workshop. He also taught in Chicago schools on the south side and Cabrini Green. In New York Kenny has performed in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway for 10 years and has choreographed Off-Broadway’s Emojiland (New York Times Critic’s Pick), Till ,The Musical and Turtle on a Fence Post. Regionally, he has worked at Paper Mill Playhouse, The Fulton Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Theatre by the Sea, New Bedford Festival Theatre and Zeiders American Dream Theatre. Kenny is the recipient of Jeff Awards for his portrayal of Mr. Magix at Candlelight, Best Choreography for 42nd Street at Marriott Theatre and, most recently, Best Direction for Blues in The Night at Porchlight. He has also received Black Theatre Alliance Awards for Dreamgirls and Blues in the Night.


Jonathan Klein+ / Chicago, IL

Professor & Executive Department Head / UIC Department of Pediatrics

Jon is a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine and in health services research. He is a graduate of New Jersey Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health. After residency and fellowship in Boston and North Carolina, Jon served on the faculty of the University of Rochester in New York for many years before moving to Chicago to work for the American Academy of Pediatrics as Associate Executive Director in 2009. In 2017, he moved to the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine as Professor of Pediatrics and Executive Vice Head of the Department, where he helps develop people and programs serving the south and west side of Chicago. Jon spent most of his adolescence as a theatre techie, first with the New Players Company in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and then at Brandeis University, as a stage manager and lighting designer, before drifting into health policy and medicine. He and his wife, Susan Cohn, have two adult children, and are active members of Chicago’s lindy hop/swing dance community. They both love music theatre, and are delighted to have the chance to support Porchlight’s mission.


Charles Laff+ / Chicago, IL 

Partner / Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Chuck is an attorney specializing in intellectual property and served many years as an Adjunct Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Loyola University of Chicago Law School. Chuck earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. During his career, he has had the opportunity to work with the owners of valuable intellectual property, including merchandising rights and copyrights for popular film characters and musical works. Chuck also serves on the Board of Managers of a fast-growing highly-innovative material science company. Growing up in Chicago, Chuck had the opportunity to watch live entertainment in intimate theaters and night clubs and learned to appreciate the wonderful experience of watching live performances up close. As lovers of theatre Chuck and his wife, Diane, regularly attend and are particularly fond of musicals. Chuck and Diane are firm believers that theatre is an essential part of our culture, serving as a wonderful vehicle for educating audiences and encouraging people to open their minds and hearts. With his background and beliefs, it was natural for Chuck to join the Porchlight family and participate in the exciting growth of Porchlight and music theatre in Chicago.


Michael Lowenthal+ / Chicago, IL 

Retired

Mike is a retired accountant, receiving his bachelor’s from the University of Illinois and his MBA from the University of Chicago. Starting out as a public accountant, he was the Assistant Corporate Controller at Abbott Labs and the Executive VP of Allied Tube & Conduit. He has served on numerous advisory boards and board of directors, including for The Court Theatre for 35 years. He is a Chicago native and an alumni of Hyde Park High School.


Cesar Rolon, Jr.+ / Chicago, IL 

Owner / Imagen Marketing Consultants

Cesar is the founder and owner of Imagen Marketing Consultants, a full-service integrated multicultural marketing agency that specializes in experiential and digital marketing. He brings more than 15 years of experience in producing result-driven solutions ranging from large scale mobile tours to retail events and digital/mobile promotions. Leading Imagen, he founded and produces some of the largest cultural festivals in Chicago, including the Chicago Latina Expo, Latino Gourmet Food Wine & Spirits Fest and World Fashion Festival, and is founder/co-producer of Latino Fashion Week, the only Latino Fashion Week in the United States. Imagen also has footprints in Texas, Florida, Atlanta, Las Vegas, New York and Puerto Rico.


Tamara Sims* / Chicago, IL 

Owner / Elegant Event Lighting

Tamara is beyond elated to be part of the Porchlight family. An avid Sondheim lover, Tamara’s first Porchlight production was Merrily We Roll Along and she has been a devoted fan ever since. Tamara and her husband own the award-winning companies Elegant Event Lighting and Something 2 Dance 2 DJ Entertainment in Schaumburg. Tamara will always greet you with a warm smile and she can also let you know where to find the best desserts! Her passion for theatre is only exceeded by the passion she has for her business and life partner, Jay. Tamara is a graduate of Loyola University.


Gretchen Upholt*, Chair / Chicago, IL 

Managing Director /FMA BDO

Gretchen is a Managing Director with BDO FMA, a consulting firm focused on building nonprofit organizations’ capacity in finance and operations. In that role Gretchen is responsible for the business development and growth strategy of FMA’s Midwest region, while also playing an active role as trainer, coach, and consultant to nonprofit clients across the country. Prior to FMA, Gretchen spent 5 years in international development, first as a Community Development Consultant for the Peace Corps in Ukraine, then as head of the Volunteer Department at the Thabyay Education Network in Thailand. Gretchen’s diverse experience includes working in corporate citizenship, housing and homelessness and the arts. She holds an MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service and her BA and MA in Arts and Cultural Management from American University in Washington, DC. Gretchen is also a board member for the National Peace Corps Association and maintains her love of the arts not only as board member with Porchlight but also as a singer with Allegrezza Singers, a Chicago-based SATB choir.


Amy Jaine Wielunski*, Secretary / Chicago, IL 

VP, Membership / WBEZ

Amy is Vice President of Membership at WBEZ | Chicago Public Media and brings more than 20 years of cross-functional non-profit experience to her board service with Porchlight Music Theatre. Prior to joining Chicago Public Media, Amy was part of the membership teams at Minnesota Public Radio, New York Public Radio, WSKG Public Broadcasting in Binghamton, NY and WTMD 89.7FM in Baltimore, MD. She also worked in various roles at WAMU 88.5FM in Washington, DC – starting in digital, moving to programming, corporate sponsorship and eventually even co-hosting a Bluegrass radio show. Amy is dedicated to fostering inclusive and equitable work environments. She has served as co-chair of CPM’s DEI Council and MPR/APM’s Women’s Employee Resource Group. She is a certified trainer of The Power Shift Project’s Workplace Integrity curriculum and as a representative of WAMU, served on the executive board of American University’s staff council. Amy holds a degree in print journalism with a minor in music performance from American University in Washington, DC.


Ex Officio

Jeannie Lukow* / Chicago, IL 
Michael Weber+ / Chicago, IL

Emeritae

Mary Kay Conley* / Orland Park, IL 
James “Jim” Jensen+ / Chicago, IL 
Rhoda Reeling* / Chicago, IL 

 

Pronoun Key: + (he/him/his); * (she/her/hers); ^ (they, them, theirs)

Wm. Eric Bramlett / Naperville, IL

Former Porchlight Artistic Director


John Bucchino / New York, NY

Award-Winning Broadway & Film Composer/Lyricist


E. Faye Butler / Chicago, IL

Award-Winning Actor/Director


Cheri Coons / Chicago, IL

Award-Winning Playwright/Lyricist


Kevin Depinet / Chicago, IL

Award-Winning Scenic Designer


William Finn / New York, NY

Tony Award-Winning Composer/Lyricist


Joel Grey / New York, NY

Academy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning Actor, Director & Photographer


Larry Grossman / West Hollywood, CA

Peabody and Multi-Emmy Award-Winning Composer


Linda Kline / New York, NY

Tony Award-Nominated Author


Jesse Klug / Chicago, IL

Award-Winning Lighting Designer


Sean Allan Krill / New York, NY

Chicago Theatre & Tony Award-Nominated Broadway Actor


Donna McKechnie / New York, NY

Tony Award-Winning Actor/Choreographer


Dominic Missimi / Northfield, IL

Award-Winning Artistic Director, Director & Teacher


Jill Moore / Phoenix, AZ

Porchlight Founding Artistic Director


Lonny Price / New York, NY

Emmy Award-Winning Actor, Director & Author


Hollis Resnik*

Multi Award-Winning Actress


Chita Rivera*

Kennedy Center Honoree and Multi-Tony Award-Winning Performer


Bill Russell / New York, NY

Tony Award-Nominated Author & Lyricist


Chuck Smith / Chicago, IL

Resident Director, The Goodman Theatre


Walter Stearns / Chicago, IL

Former Porchlight Artistic Director


Ben Vereen / Los Angeles, CA

Tony Award-winning Actor


Bob Walton / New York, NY

Author, Composer/Lyricist & Broadway Actor


Jim Walton / New York, NY

Author, Composer/Lyricist & Broadway Actor


Maury Yeston / New York, NY

Tony Award-Winning Composer/Lyricist

 

*DECEASED