Andy Blacker
Andy Blacker is
proud to be involved with the Board of CUTC. Andy is
originally from the Monticello area and works for the University of
Illinois in Customer Relations and Communications. Although he got
a late start in theatre, he has jumped in with both feet. He
keeps busy both on stage and behind the scenes by helping with
construction, set designing and performing.
Gary Burgett
Gary has been on the board since 1997. He has two daughters
that have been in various CUTC productions. Gary is a local
architect and has his own office in Urbana.
Jeffery A. Chandler
Jeffrey is brand new to the board, but he has been a
member of the company since 1992, performing, makeup designing and
most recently directing. Jeffrey works in customer service and
has a B.A. in Speech Communication from the U of I. He will be
pursuing an undetermined Masters Degree in the near future.
Jim Dieker
Leonard Doyle
Leonard
is one of the founding members of the theatre company and has served on the CUTC
Board since the beginning. He has been associated with the Virginia Theatre since 1947 from usher
to manager.
Even today you will see Leonard as Front of the House Greeter for
most all events.
Retired from Jewel grocery after 33
years, he is currently employed with Mass Transit District at the
Illinois Terminal Building with Customer Service for the past 15
years. He is also on staff with Owens Funeral Home.
In his off time, Leonard has volunteered with the Champaign County ESDA program for 8 years,
spent 33 years as a volunteer on the Champaign County 4th of July
Celebration and was president in 1976, is a member of the Knights of Columbus for 50 years, serving
at the local and state level, worked with the Champaign Convention Bureau bringing
activities and meetings to the area 6 years.
Married to Loretto for 55 years, they have 5 daughters, 14
grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Wendy is a techie to
the core—she’ll help build, paint, and move the set, but will
forever stay behind the scenes! Her first show was Anything Goes,
and she’s been involved in nearly every show since. In 2003 she
joined the Board, and will also make her stage managing debut in
Secret Garden. In the “real” world, Wendy is the business
manager for the Department of Mathematics at the
University of Illinois. When not working on sets, she can normally
be found in an antique store, book store, or at the library.
Kathy Murphy
Kathy Murphy is one of the founding members of CUTC. She got her
start in theatre through the Stage Makeup club when she was in 8th
grade. In high school, she worked on costumes as well. Once
she started out in the real work world, she went back to her high
school as a volunteer to work on more costumes and makeup, but
soon added set painting, lighting and directing to her resume.
She was active for many years with the Villa Grove Community
Theatre (both on stage and off). As a founding member of the
CUTC board she has served as secretary or treasurer since the
beginning. She has performed in several shows over the years.
In those hours not dedicated to the theatre company, Kathy works
as an insurance agent at Murphy Insurance Group in Champaign.
Diane
Pritchard
Diane has been involved in
CUTC since 1994. She has performed in many shows, and has
worked backstage as stage crew, make-up crew, and props chair
and crew. In 1999, Diane assumed the role of Business Chair for
the CUTC Seven Corpse Dinner Murder Mysteries and is responsible
for making contacts and securing contracts for private murder
mystery events and for arranging the spring and fall murder
mystery series which is open to the public. Diane works as the
Office Manager at Robeson Elementary School in Champaign.
Todd Salen
Todd is in his first term on the CUTC after spending his first
year behind the scenes. Recruited to help back stage with
Les Miserable, Todd has volunteered to help in every show
since. He took a giant leap last summer, co-producing Beauty
and the Beast. "I love working with so many talented actors,
directors, musicians and all of the people that make these shows
work," said Salen, "I'm having so much fun helping others reach
their dreams of performing and entertaining." Todd is
involved in several community activities including Big Brother
Big Sister, empty tomb, the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival and the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes. During the day, Todd is
Property Manager of Presby Hall, a new Christian Dorm being
built on campus by the McKinley Foundation. He also is a real
esate broker with Ramshaw Real Estate.
April Smith
April
M. Smith is an Middle School Music Teacher at Franklin and Jefferson
Middle Schools in Champaign, IL when she is
not helping out with CUTC. She loves to be involved both onstage
and behind the scenes and learns a new skill with every show. She
is proud to serve on the board of the Champaign Urbana Theater
Company.
Mary Claire Smith
Mary Claire was the
second employee of the UI Assembly Hall working there 38 years and
retiring as an Administrative Aide to the Director. She has been a
life-long fan of live theatre and would be a musical comedy star
except that she doesn't sing, act or dance.
She has been involved
in almost every CUTC production since 1995, working backstage at the
sound deck or in front-of house hospitality and has co-produced four
shows. Other activities include acting as teacher's helper at
Urbana's Leal School; volunteer coordinator for the Kiwanis
Challenger Baseball League; Provena Covenant Hospital Auxiliary, and
travel.
Bob Weber has been a board member since
1997 and an active member of the Theatre Company since 1993. He is
very busy behind the scenes of many of the shows designing sets,
building sets, stage managing, designing show lighting, and generally
helping out where he can. Bob retired after 32 yeas as a
materials engineer with the US Army Construction Engineering Research
Laboratory. He works as a part-time stage hand at the Assembly
Hall for road shows and various concerts. He has four grown
children and five grandchildren and a
very supportive wife of 39 years.
