STAFF DIRECTORY

Jeff Kingsbury, Artistic Director
Jeff is the founder of Capital Playhouse and KIDS AT PLAY. For the past 23 years, he has directed, produced, and choreographed over 100 plays and musicals for the theatre and, additionally, has been a fixture at local theatre companies. His work as a director has been seen on the stages of The Abbey Players, Olympia Little Theatre and both Capital and Timberline High Schools. He directed all four of the All City High School Musicals. He has been the Master of Ceremonies for the annual Christmas Forest Gala Auction and the Family Support Center’s Reach for the Stars Auction as well as the host of The Waldorf School’s “Auction in Three Acts” for the past several years. As an actor, Mr. Kingsbury has been seen on the stages of Harlequin Productions, The Abbey Players, Olympia Little Theatre and, of course, right here at Capital Playhouse. His favorite roles include the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge, Captain Hook, Sweeney Todd, Smudge in Forever Plaid, and Hermocrates in Triumph of Love. Jeff’s work in the community garnered him recognition as one of Thurston County’s top ten Citizens of the Year in 1999.  He also currently serves on the Olympia City Council. 


Troy Arnold Fisher, Music Director
Troy moved to Olympia in the fall of 1988 to begin work for Capital Playhouse. Since that time he has music directed and/or directed over 50 musicals for Capital Playhouse, four musicals for The Abbey Players, seven productions for Harlequin, four All-City high school musicals, three musicals for The Timberline Theatre Company, six musicals for Capital High School, two productions for the Nova School, two musicals for the Griffin School District, and two productions of Babes With Big Hair for UCAN. In addition to his theatre work in Olympia, Troy is also the founding music director for Olympia’s premier youth choir, Kids in Koncert, which recently returned from a concert tour to Disneyland. He is the music director for the Olympia Unitarian Universalists Congregation and also has a private voice studio that turns out some of Olympia’s finest young singers. Outside of Olympia, Troy’s work has been seen and heard at Utah Musical Theatre in Ogden, Utah, The Toledo Rep in Toledo, Ohio, Iron Rod Family Productions in Portland, Oregon, The Post Playhouse at Ft. Robinson, Nebraska, The Black Hills Playhouse in South Dakota, The Lyceum in Columbia, Missouri, Project For The Arts in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and Music Arts Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia.


Ann King, Education Director/Grants
Ann has been on staff as Education Director since l998. She created the Page to Stage Theatre-Literacy Program during her first year with Capital Playhouse. 2009 Page to Stage included a community wide celebration of theatre, puppetry and literacy, highlighted by a puppet exhibition: All Hands on Stage. She also works with Students on Stage, the Playhouse’s after school musical theatre arts program. Ann writes the grants in support of performing arts educational outreach. Her background includes 20+ years of public school teaching, interior design and traveling to far off places. Her bachelor's degree is in world literature; her master's is in education. In her spare time she is writing an adventure book for young girls. Ann’s most recent (and thrilling) research for her book took place while gliding over the Nevada desert!


Cathie Shaughnessy, Business Manager
Cathie is enjoying her fourth season on staff at Capital Playhouse. She graduated from Capital Business College and was a downtown business owner for several years. Cathie has dedicated much of her free time over the years to community organizations and to her children's schools and activities. She loves sharing the world of theatre with her son Gordon and appreciates the fact that her family is so understanding of her crazy and demanding schedule. In her ever diminishing free time, Cathie enjoys spending time with her family in their Westport cottage. 


Stephanie C. Nace, Marketing Director
This is Stephanie's third year as a member of the full-time staff with Capital Playhouse. She has a BA in theatre from Jacksonville State University in Alabama and worked for an accounting firm for four years where she held the position of marketing coordinator. After the 6 o'clock whistle, Stephanie loves spending time on stage as well. Stephanie has previously been seen at Capital Playhouse in Nunsense as Sister Mary Amnesia, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as Shy, Six Women With Brain Death, and 2008’s Page to Stage production of Peter Pan as Wendy.

Bruce Haasl, Set Designer in Residence
Bruce has been designing, building and painting sets for more than 10 years. His work has been seen at The Black Hills Playhouse, The Black Hills Community Theater (both in South Dakota), The Virginia Stage Company, several high schools, and in more than 30 productions at Capital Playhouse. His favorite designs include Free to Be You and Me, Smokey Joe's Café and Man of La Mancha. He has spent a considerable amount of time in front of the curtain as well. Capital Playhouse audiences may remember him as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Terry in Side Show, and Cain in Children of Eden.

Dennis Kurtz, Technical Director
Dennis is pleased to be on staff with his family at the Capital Playhouse as Assistant Technical Director. Dennis got involved at Capital Playhouse at the age of 14 after working for several years as a props and technical artisan for the renowned Haunted Yard near Olympia High School. For the Playhouse he has served as a carpenter, props master, sound technician, lighting technician, and has even appeared on stage as Juan in Man of La Mancha, Stanley the sound guy in The 1940's Radio Hour, and the gifted violin playing waiter in She Loves Me.


Audra Merritt, Costume Designer in Residence
Audra is happy to join the staff of the Capital Playhouse. She has had the pleasure of working in many different locations such as the Springer Opera House in Columbus, GA, the Mac-Haydn Theater in Chatham, NY, and the Muhlenberg College fine arts department in Allentown, PA as the costume shop manager. Audra enjoys helping to create the character and the change that falls over an actor when s/he puts on the costume and steps completely into their role. She loves the grandeur and excitement of musicals and hopes to continue the excellent tradition here at the Playhouse.