Starlight Dinner Theatre Board of Directors
Linda M. Granger, Founder, President & Artistic Director
Linda is the Founder, President and Artistic Director of Starlight Theatre. She has either directed, produced or performed in all of the 43 shows Starlight has produced since opening in 2006. Linda's love for live theatre began while performing in shows at Waverly High School. Since then, she has directed 29 plays and musicals and performed in over 50. Linda has been awarded 13 Lansing State Journal Thespies and one City Pulse Pulsar over her theatrical career for acting, directing, props and set design. In June 2009 she won a Lansing State Journal Thespie for her “extraordinary work at building the Starlight Dinner Theatre into a successful and popular operation.” She received Best Director awards from Riverwalk Theatre for Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (which also won a Lansing State Journal Thespie), and Players Awards for Directing Carousel, Dearly Departed and The Foreigner at Lansing Civic Players. One of the highlights of her career was directing Camelot at Starlight which garnered nine City Pulse nominations and one Pulsar and Thespie.
Prior to opening Starlight Theatre, Linda was heavily involved with Lansing Civic Players behind the scenes where she served on their Board of Directors for eight years - five years as the board President and three years as the board Secretary. She chaired their Play Selection Committee, Awards Committee, Children's Workshops, New Location Committee, Publicity, Fund Raising, and Grants and Underwriting Committee. She was their Newsletter Editor, Costume Shop Liaison, and lead organizer of many fund raisers to include the Big Band Fund Raiser, Style of the Arts at the Lansing Mall and the Historical Marker Dedication/Ice Cream Social. While a member of the Board of Directors, she produced nine shows and directed four Annual Awards Night performances.
Linda has worked professionally as an actress, making over two dozen commercials, training videos and public service announcements. She is very proud of the nerdy secretary character she developed for a series of commercials for Richo Office Products, one of which won a Gold Award at the Houston International Film Festival, a Merit Award from the American Advertising Federation, Sixth District, a Gold Addy 14 at the 1989 Addy Competition held by The Marketing/Advertising Roundtable of SouthWest Michigan and a 1989 Telly Award, "Use of Humor".
During her avocation for performing and directing, she spent 36 years working for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), 24 of those years in "the General's Office" as an Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Adjutant General for Army. Linda retired from the DMVA in June 2008.
"All of the above has brought me here and I am grateful for the experiences. I would like to credit the wonderful staff, talented actors and my loyal family for Starlight's success."
Prior to opening Starlight Theatre, Linda was heavily involved with Lansing Civic Players behind the scenes where she served on their Board of Directors for eight years - five years as the board President and three years as the board Secretary. She chaired their Play Selection Committee, Awards Committee, Children's Workshops, New Location Committee, Publicity, Fund Raising, and Grants and Underwriting Committee. She was their Newsletter Editor, Costume Shop Liaison, and lead organizer of many fund raisers to include the Big Band Fund Raiser, Style of the Arts at the Lansing Mall and the Historical Marker Dedication/Ice Cream Social. While a member of the Board of Directors, she produced nine shows and directed four Annual Awards Night performances.
Linda has worked professionally as an actress, making over two dozen commercials, training videos and public service announcements. She is very proud of the nerdy secretary character she developed for a series of commercials for Richo Office Products, one of which won a Gold Award at the Houston International Film Festival, a Merit Award from the American Advertising Federation, Sixth District, a Gold Addy 14 at the 1989 Addy Competition held by The Marketing/Advertising Roundtable of SouthWest Michigan and a 1989 Telly Award, "Use of Humor".
During her avocation for performing and directing, she spent 36 years working for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), 24 of those years in "the General's Office" as an Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Adjutant General for Army. Linda retired from the DMVA in June 2008.
"All of the above has brought me here and I am grateful for the experiences. I would like to credit the wonderful staff, talented actors and my loyal family for Starlight's success."
Jane Goebel, Vice President & Secretary
Jane got her start 47 years ago doing dinner theatre for the Apple Kore players in Lansing. She performed throughout the community theatres in: Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of Penzance, Grease (Lansing Community College), Born Yesterday (Lansing Civic Players) and Heidi Chronicles (Riverwalk) to name a few. Jane was "Frankie" one of the Futrelle sisters in our Jones Hope Wooten trilogy (Dearly Beloved, Christmas Belles and Southern Hospitality). She also directed the comedy Accommodations for Starlight in 2008 which won her a Galaxy award for Best Director. Jane was a performer and an Associate Producer at the Thunder Bay Theatre in Alpena. For five years she co-produced dinner theatre for the Golden Rose in Okemos. Jane has traveled to schools throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio with her one-woman reading motivational shows for children. She taught drama for the GATE program at Lansing Community College for seven years. One of her proudest accomplishments has been leading the drama team at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Ledge.
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Chris Klaver, Treasurer
Chris has been involved with Starlight Theatre since February 2007 when he starred in the comedy "Send Me No Flowers." Though Chris is best known for his wonderful comedic abilities (most recently as Felix in "The Odd Couple", "Fox on the Fairway" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love") he has been a great asset to Starlight as our #1 Truck Driver, and Load In and Strike Organizer. He is always willing to lend a helping hand picking up and returning furniture and assisting with set construction. Chris is also a member of our Play Selection Committee. Chris was recently awarded a Galaxy Award for his performance of Felix in The Odd Couple.
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Starlight Dinner Theatre Advisory Board
Lori Arendsen
Lori has served on the Advisory Board for Starlight Dinner Theatre since its inception. She has been in love with the theatre her entire life, starting at the Okemos Barn Theatre as one of the Snow children in Carousel. She is now in her 30th year of teaching the performing art of dance and is celebrating the 25th year of her studios, Rising Star Studio of Dance Arts. Lori is the President/Founder/Owner of Rising Star which has three locations in the Lansing area with more than 500 families participating in the studios programs. Lori's students have gone on to dance, choreograph and perform for Warner Brothers, DisneyWorld, Cedar Pointe, Carnival Cruise Lines, Julie Andrews, Kenny Rogers, and Zendaya. She judges all over the United States for National Talent Competitions as well as pageants, talent shows, and theatre groups. She serves on the Weissman's Designs for Dance Costume Advisory Board, choreographed a flash mob event for CATA and has her students compete and perform all over the state. Lori has choreographed musicals for local community theatres winning awards for "Something's Afoot" and "110 in the Shade" both at Lansing Civic Players and she also choreographed Starlight's third production, the highly acclaimed musical "I Do! I Do!" Starlight Theatre and Rising Star have an ongoing partnership with Rising Star donating rehearsal and storage space and music and both groups sharing props, set pieces, and costumes. Miss Arendsen and Rising Star believe in family theater and believe that Starlight is doing the best job at delivering that in the Lansing area. Lori was recently awarded a Galaxy Award for her outstanding choreography in I Do! I Do!
Joseph Bauman
By day, Joe serves as the General Counsel to the Michigan Supreme Court and in his free time, Joe also serves on the Board of Directors of Riverwalk Theatre and acts in as many stage productions in mid-Michigan as his schedule (and local directors) permits. He has appeared on the Starlight stage a handful of times (Accommodations, Starry Night), most recently in Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced. Joe served a vital role in the original procurement of Stalight's 501c(3) status. While not involved on a regular basis with Starlight these days, Joe believes strongly in its mission and ongoing success.
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Susan DeRosa
Susan has performed in three Jones Hope Wooten comedies at Starlight ("The Hallalujah Girls", "The Red Velvet Cake War" and "Crazy Little Thing called Love"). She directed Season 9’s "Nunsense - The MEGA Musical" and was nominated for a 2014 Pulsar Award for best direction of a musical. She was the recipient of Starlight's "Step-Up" Galaxy award for her continuous willingness to always step-up to do whatever needs to be done for Starlight.
Susan is the Co-Founder of Homegrown Productions in Clinton County Michigan. Homegrown Productions has donated over $30,000 to improvements in seating, sound, lighting, and historically correct interior design for the Wilson Center Auditorium that was built in 1924. She also served on Lansing Civic Players Guild Board from 1997-2003 and 2004-2006. She was LCP's President for two years (1998-2000). Susan has directed, written, produced, assistant directed, stage managed, costumed, dressed sets, operated sound, designed props, handled the publicity and designed show programs for over 50 productions for various local community theaters. She has received five awards for her outstanding backstage contributions to these shows. Susan has performed in over 30 musicals and plays with Starlight Theatre, Riverwalk Theatre, Bath Community Theatre Guild, Icarus Falling, Clinton Community Players, Homegrown Productions, Lansing Civic Players. She was also a member of and custom lyricist for “Victorian Voices,” a cappella entertainment featuring period dress and music. Professional Experience: Visiting International Professionals Program, Michigan State University. Instructor in public speaking course (2014) Grant Writing and Fund Development Co-instructor, Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University (2013). MSU College of Law Trial Practice Class , Fall 2004-2013. Work with third-year law students in trial practice class to improve their interviewing and communications skills. Participate in witness preparations and final trial presentations. Member, Board of Directors of Sparrow Clinton Hospital (SCH) (2007-2014). Sparrow Clinton Hospital Auxiliary representative on the Board of Directors. Member-at-Large SCH Board Quality Committee. Education and Employment: Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science Degree from Michigan State University. She has been employed at MSU as an academic adviser, communications specialist and instructor since 1982. |
Jane Goebel
SEE ABOVE. Jane became our Secretary/Vice President in late June.
Jane got her start 38 years ago doing Dinner Theatre for the Apple Kore players in Lansing. She performed throughout the Community Theatres in Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of Penzance, Grease (Lansing Community College), Born Yesterday (Lansing Civic Players) and Heidi Chronicles (Riverwalk Theatre) to name a few. She was an Associate Producer and performer at the Thunder Bay Theatre in Alpena. For five years she Co-Produced Dinner Theatre for the Golden Rose in Okemos. She continues to teach Drama for the GATE program at Lansing Community College. One of her proudest accomplishments has been leading the drama team at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Ledge. Jane was "Frankie" one of the Futrelle sisters in our Jones Hope Wooten trilogy (Dearly Beloved, Christmas Belles and Southern Hospitality). She also directed the comedy Accommodations for Starlight in 2008 which won her a Galaxy award for Best Director. |
Jim Lorenz
Jim is a lighting veteran of many community theatre performances and he spent many years on the Lansing Civic Players Board of Directors. He has served as Starlight's Lighting Designer and Technician for the last few seasons and has worked tirelessly to upgrade our lighting and sound systems at Waverly East over the last year. He has been the recipient of many awards for his work at Lansing Civic Players. He uses his expertise back stage to help make sure the action on stage is enjoyable. Jim was recently awarded Starlight's Board of Directors Galaxy award for his selfless hours and contributions to Starlight Theatre.
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Fran Ludington
Fran began her association with Starlight in 2013, when she choreographed and performed in Nunsense for which she received a Starlight Galaxy award for outstanding choreography. Since then, she has choreographed Nuncrackers and worked backstage for Camelot and Red, White and Tuna. Fran has choreographed and worked backstage for Riverwalk Theatre, and in Eaton Rapids for their community theatre. Fran is pleased to support Starlight and it's mission to bring quality theatre productions (and good food) to the people of mid Michigan.
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Dan Pappas
Dan is very active in the community, especially with community theater. He has been involved on and off stage with many theatrical groups over the past 35 years as an actor, director, producer and technical crew. He is a member of Riverwalk Theatre's Board of Directors where he chaired the Nominations Committee for five years. He lives in Delta Township with his wife Lisa, who is also active in community theatre. Dan is currently employed by the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) as the Associate Executive Director. He also is on the Board of the Delta Waverly Rotary Club and is very active with his church, the First United Methodist of Lansing.
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Guy Sanville
Guy is a professional actor, director and teacher. He celebrated his 18th anniversary as Artistic Director with Purple Rose Theatre Company last May. He has directed over 40 plays for the PRTC, including 27 world premieres. In addition, he teaches workshops and lectures at the Purple Rose and around the country. He is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, SAG/AFTRA, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. He is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the Chelsea Downtown Development Authority. He resides in Chelsea with his wife, Nancee, daughter, Rose, and amazing dog, Peaches.
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Lisa Sodman Elzinga
Lisa comes from a long background of theatre including Purple Rose, Second City, Riverwalk and Lansing Civic Players and is a member of Actors' Equity Association. Her favorite acting role is Louann in the world premier of Book of Days for The Purple Rose Theatre; but she loved improv at Second City as well. She has also performed in several movies, TV commercials, print and radio spots. Lisa directed It Had to Be You, Opal's Husband, A Murder is Announced (Galaxy award for Outstanding Direction) and The Red Velvet Cake War for Starlight and will be directing the female version of The Odd Couple in the fall of 2016.
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Starlight Dinner Theatre Production Associates
John Goergen
Virginia Granger
Sadly, Virginia passed away on September 8, 2021. We are thankful for the outstanding support she provided to Starlight Theatre and her daughter, Linda.
Virginia has assisted in many areas since Starlight opened serving on our Play Selection Committee, as a Dining Room Volunteer, Seamstress and Meeting Hostess. Her decorating expertise is always called upon for set decorating and dressing. She enjoys seeing many of her friends and family at the shows, and all of the new friends she has made through Starlight, so she never misses a performance! At our Galaxy Awards ceremony, she was awarded with the "Volunteer of the Decade" award. |
Sherin Grossi
Sherin, a friend of Diane Erley's, joined us in March 2011 for "A Murder is Announced" and has been with us ever since. She is great at collecting props and set dressing and willing to help backstage wherever she is needed. Since retiring from the State of Michigan almost three years ago, she has enjoyed volunteering and spending time at their lake house in Georgia with her dog, husband, family and friends.
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John Herrbach
John has served as our Sound Designer and Operator since 2009 when his son, Aaron, recruited him. He is from New Buffalo, Michigan with a background in theater going back to the mid-1960's in SW Michigan/NW Indiana and includes lighting, sound, sets, and a little on-stage experience. John was involved in music, and played French horn and bass guitar, and also worked in radio and television at various mid-west stations, doing both engineering and on-air work. He retired from HP/EDS, and is now working at Liquid Web. John is always looking for sound opportunities. :-) John was the recipient of Starlight's Galaxy award for Outstanding Sound Design for Fox on the Fairway.
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Mary Herrbach
Mary has worked with Starlight since 2009. She has served in many varied positions such as Dresser, Backstage Assistant, Stage Manager, Box Office Staff, Props and Set Pieces Designed and most notably as our "crafty" creator of our table centerpieces. Mary is an employee of Waverly Community Schools and is currently working at Waverly East Intermediate where, in addition to her regular job, she assists with their annual spring musical.
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Mary Pomeroy
Mary has been with Starlight for six seasons as a Backstage Crew Member. She helps wherever she is needed and is usually in charge of props during tech week and productions. "I LOVE being a part of this awesome crew of technicians and actors. They are the best! Thanks to everyone working backstage for being patient with me and showing me the ropes. Thanks to my husband, Michael, who has been patient with me being gone for so many evenings during rehearsals.” Mary has worked as a receptionist for a dentist (Dr. Atkinson) for 33 years and enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and five grandchildren. Mary was the first recipient of Starlight's Diane Erley Award for her outstanding backstage contributions to Starlight Theatre.
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Steve Scarborough
Steve has been a life-long friend of Linda Granger's and has been working in community theater since 1982. He has loaned many of his talents to a number of Linda's productions. For Starlight he has taken wonderful publicity and dress rehearsal photographs, painted murals (Butterflies are Free) and designed the sound.
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Elizabeth Todd
Elizabeth has worked on all of Starlight's shows since we opened. She has served as Dining Room Hostess, Stage Manager, and Lighting Operator. An excellent actress and choreographer she assisted with the choreography for It's a Wonderful Life and performed in Southern Hospitality and Crazy Little Thing Called Love at Starlight. She was the Choreographer of Riverwalk's Annie and Lansing Civic Players Fiddler on the Roof (Pulsar), Gypsy (Pulsar nomination) and 110 in the Shade. She also won a Best Lead Actress award for her performance in Plaza Suite directed by Winifred Olds at LCP. Elizabeth was awarded a Starlight Galaxy award for Outstanding Choreography for her work on Camelot.
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Bill Woodland
Bill has been designing and building sets for fifty years, first starting with Lansing Civic Players. He has built sets for floats, high schools and community theatre and enjoys being a part of the productions. He has been with Starlight Theatre since we opened in February 2006. His beautiful set for "Picnic" at Starlight Theatre won a Lansing State Journal Thespie Award. Each new show presents its challenges and Bill is always up to the challenge! At our "Decade of Excellence" Galaxy awards ceremony, Bill was the recipient of Galaxy awards for Set Design for Butterflies are Free, Set Construction for Fox on the Fairway and the Winifred Olds Award for Lifetime achievement and contribution to Starlight Theatre.
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