Northglenn Arts Staff

We are a staff 14 members strong and we all wear multiple hats, bang the creative drum and are expert multitaskers.  And we all love what we do.

We do it for the kids, the community and our souls. If you see as running around the Parsons Theatre – take a minute and say hello.

We’d love to meet you!

 

Michael Stricker (he/him) Executive Producer

Michael is the Executive Producer for Northglenn Arts, a division of the City of Northglenn, where he oversees all programmatic decisions, fundraising, and business operations. He is the Director of the Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation, a separate 501(c)3 organization that raises funds for Northglenn Arts, and works more broadly as the Arts, Culture and Community Manager for Northglenn’s Parks, Recreation and Culture department, where he administers all public art programs and the senior center. He was the performing arts lead for the strategic plan, design, build and operations for the new 335-seat Parsons Theatre. He is also a member of the Front Range Executive Directors of Local Arts Agencies, Association of Performing Art Professionals, Western Arts Alliance, Rocky Mountain Arts Consortium, and works closely with the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) and Cultural Arts Adams County.

Michael has worked in the performing arts for over 30 years as an actor, director, producer, and administrator. He is deeply passionate about storytelling in all forms and has dedicated the majority of his life to the pursuit of connecting audiences to artists. He attended the University of Northern Colorado where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre. He was the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the award-winning and critically-acclaimed Denver-based Paragon Theatre for over a decade. He also worked in administration at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Arvada Center. Notable directing credits include Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune at Paragon Theatre (Henry Award Winner for Best Play), The Seafarer at Ashton Entertainment (Best of Westword for Ensemble), and Beauty Queen of Leenane at The Edge Theatre (Best of Westword for Best Drama). He has also worked extensively in Colorado and Chicago as an actor and studied with Tony Award-winner, Rondi Reed, at Steppenwolf Theatre.

While his family and the theater are home, you can also find him at a coffee shop, ballpark, used bookstore, Colorado trail, museum or making travel plans.

Patrick Berger (he/him) Artistic Producer

Patrick is an administrator, educator and artist, who has a passion for creating theatre that is community-engaged, community-supported, and actively engaging those who do not currently have access to the performing arts. He lives in Denver, CO with his husband, two girls, and two dogs, and currently works at Northglenn Arts, leading their theatrical programs.

Before joining the team at Northglenn Arts, he was leading the audience development initiatives at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, working to better engage the multitude of underrepresented communities in Denver with the performing arts thru artistic initiatives, ticket programs, outreach, research and internal assessment of current programming. Before moving to Denver, he worked in New York City at TDF as an Education Program Manager and Editor of SEEN magazine, which was NYC’s only theatre magazine written entirely by individuals aged 16-24. Through that work, he empowered young people across NYC to share their perspectives on live art, working to expand the voices engaged in theatre discussions. He developed the Youth Theatre Initiative, an afterschool program that devised new live performances with high school students, creating a platform to discuss issues important to them. He led the American Repertory Theatre’s Kids Company for four seasons, bringing kids aged 6-16 into relationship with Shakespearean language and performance. And he co-led Open Doors, the only arts education program to ever receive a Tony Honor, a mentorship program for NYC high school students to see shows and discuss with top theatre & dance professionals.

He is a 2020 cohort graduate of the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts – Leadership Arts program. In NYC, he co-founded and sat on the steering committee for YEA: Young Educators in the Arts, an organization dedicated to connecting with those new to arts education. He was a member of the programming committee for the NYC Arts-in-Education Roundtable, which enables arts organizations providing arts education in NYC to meet and share information about the field. He was an administrative consultant and teaching associate for Theatre of the Oppressed NYC, where he worked with LGBTQ+ homeless youth to create performances about their experiences. He received his MFA from Brooklyn College as a graduate of the Performance and Interactive Media Arts program, which focuses on interdisciplinary devising and technology integration in live performance. And he is a company member for Tut’Zanni Theatre Company, a six member physical theatre ensemble that researches, practices and performs interactive masked theatre.

Kimberly Jongejan (she/her) Cultural Programs Coordinator & Northglenn Youth Theatre Director

She has been with the City of Northglenn in the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services department since 1996.  She wears many hats as the programming and scope of the department grow from year to year – from concerts to productions, classes, events, workshops, and countless other projects.  Kimberly has directed over 80 productions in the past two decades and has had thousands of aspiring young actors participate in the art classes.  Her work with the Northglenn Youth Theatre (NYT) and the NYT Academy has garnered both local and national honors.

Kimberly has served on a variety of boards and committees including the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition (current BOD), Colorado Theatre Guild, and Theatre for Youth Coalition.  She also is an adjudicator for the Bobby G Awards (DCPA), Henry Awards (CTG), and the National Youth Arts. Kimberly has a BFA in Theatre Arts and a BA in Communications from Dordt University (Sioux Center, IA).  She is thrilled to be part of the Northglenn Arts team.

When not at the theatre, you can find her out shopping, on picnics with her family, serving up a fondue feast, collecting oddities or kicking cancer’s tush.

Terra Mueller (she/her) Marketing Coordinator

Terra maintains the website, social media and marketing and advertising for Northglenn Arts.

Terra started her career with Tyson Foods International and Retail Marketing after finishing her B.S.B.A in International Business at the University of Arkansas.  After taking some time to raise a family she went on to broaden her experience in event planning, web design and operations in community management. She is an organized and creative spirit and is grateful for the opportunity to promote and help connect others to the beauty and wonder of the arts.

Terra loves hosting friends and family in her home in Broomfield along with planning hiking and skiing time with her family of 5 and their dog, Millie.

Candice Marchese-Duke (she/her) Patron Experience Coordinator

After spending over a decade in the pragmatic world of hotel management, Candice followed her passions and changed career paths moving into the colorful world of Arts Administration. In January 2016, she joined the already successful Northglenn Arts team. As a team member that wears many hats, Candice partners with the creative artistic teams, ticketing box office staff and theatre volunteers to create an exceptional patron experience.

At Northglenn Arts, Candice spearheaded the implementation and management of the online ticketing system across all programing. She also established survey protocols for participants in NYT Academy classes and theater patrons, ensuring valuable feedback channels. In addition, Candice takes charge of recruiting and organizing arts volunteers, all with a steadfast dedication to enhancing the arts patronage and fostering growth among NYTA students.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Candice extends her expertise and enthusiasm to various community initiatives. She generously volunteers her time with local high school music departments, contributes to organizations like the Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation, and serves on sculpture committees for the Thornton Arts, Sciences, and Humanities Council. Her commitment to education is evident through her involvement with the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Leadership Academy and Northglenn High School’s Problem-Based Learning Expert Panels.

When she’s not elevating patron experiences, Candice indulges in her love for nature and exploration. Whether tending to her flower and herb garden, scouring for rocks in distant locales, traveling the world in search of street art, or enjoying a cookout with her husband, beloved canine fur baby, and three adult children, she finds solace in all of her life experiences.

Dan Mori (he/him) Theatrical Technical Director

Dan is the Technical Director and resident designer for all the Northglenn Arts theatre programs.

Dan is a multi-disciplinary designer, director, and teaching artist, with concentrations in puppetry and early childhood education. He is a recent transplant from Washington, DC, where notable previous collaborations have included the Smithsonian Discovery Theater, Flying V Theatre, Library of Congress-Music Division, Capital Fringe Festival, Hillwood Estate, Museum, & Gardens, Adventure Theatre-MTC, Arts on the Horizon, Studio Theatre, Happenstance Theatre, Faction of Fools, and many more.

Along with serving the City of Northglenn, Dan also freelances as a director, designer, and production design consultant. He is a professional member of USITT and a proud company member of Flying V Theater.

Wren Tran Ryder (she/her) Assistant Technical Director

Wren Tran Ryder is the assistant technical director for Northglenn Arts theatre productions.

Originally of Denver, Colorado, Wren achieved her BFA in Theatre Design & Technology from the University of Northern Colorado, where she pursued her lifelong interest in the arts. Wren also studied Arts Entrepreneurship and German at UNCO. She has a passion for deep collaboration between different areas of design. In 2023, she and her fellow designers were invited to bring their interactive art installation, Can You Hear Me, to the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space as part of the [UN]Common Design Project. Other notable works include Lighting Design for The Laramie Project, Sweat, and “our love letter”, as well as Sound Design for Bernhardt/Hamlet. Wren also worked for Little Theatre of the Rockies’s 2022 season. She is a member of USITT and a published poet.

When not in the theatre, Wren enjoys (re)connecting with the land through hiking, birding, and wildflowering, as well as cooking, and art. It is deeply important to her to leave the world a better place than how she found it.

Veronica Legler (she/her) Production Stage Manager

Veronica stage manages all NYT & NYT Jr. productions amongst a myriad of other tasks and projects as part of the Northglenn Arts team.

Veronica grew up in Colorado Springs and holds a Bachelor of Arts from MSU Denver in Theatre and Anthropology. She has been an Assistant Stage Manager and the Outreach Stage Manager for PCPA in Santa Maria, CA, as well as a freelance stage manager for various Colorado theaters including Phamaly Theatre Company, Curious Theater Company, and Loveland Opera Theater. Before joining the Northglenn Arts team full time, she was the stage manager for several NYT productions throughout 2023 including: Descendants, Newsies and Honk Jr.

Veronica served for 3 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the South Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu (2017-2020) where she worked in a primary school alongside local teachers on literacy initiatives. She also worked as a Youth Development Specialist and Program Manager for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver before returning to the world of theatre after the pandemic.

When Veronica is not working on a project, she can be found avidly reading, attending live performances (theater or music), or visiting her local library/bookstore looking for her next favorite book.

Kendra Layne (she/her, they/them) Patron Services Specialist

Kendra is a passionate film and media major at Metropolitan State University Denver. With a lifelong love for art, she’s found her way back to the theater after exploring various careers, including marketing and social media management for a publishing company, housing companies in Los Angeles, and comic book stores. Growing up in Fort Collins she has a love for the outdoors, small towns, and large festivals.  When she’s not immersed in her studies, she enjoys reading, playing board games, spending quality time with her  family and pets, watching old films, and growing houseplants.

Ian Guerra (he/him) Patron Services Specialist

Ian is a visual/teaching artist born and raised within the Denver Metro Area. Ian received his BA in Art History and Arts Practices from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2022. He has previously worked with several arts organizations such as ArtistYear, The Dairy Arts Center, History Colorado, and the Colorado Photographic Arts Center. Ian has a passion for working within the arts and engaging with the community at large. When not at work, Ian likes to create/look at art, attend concerts, tryout local places to eat, go thrifting, volunteer, as well as frequenting local movie theaters.

Russel (Russ) Francisco (she/her) Patron Services Specialist

Russel (Russ) Francisco, originally from the Philippines, has lived in Virginia since 1998. She holds an Associate degree in Management and has worked in the private sector. In 2021, she joined the IRS as a Shared Administrative Support, transitioning to the IRS Office of Independent Appeals in 2023. Recently, she accepted a reassignment as the team secretary for the Inspector General for Tax Administration-Investigation team. Outside of work, Russel enjoys exploring new places, hiking, staying active, and discovering new restaurants. She has a lighthearted personality and finds joy in engaging conversations, laughter with friends, and being a supportive presence.

Naomi Kumar (she/her) Patron Services Specialist

Naomi is pursuing her Associate’s degree in Applied Sciences at Front Range Community College, with goals to go on to a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. She has a Medical Office Administration Assistant certification, and a strong customer support background with experience as a retail store clerk and equestrian working student. Naomi is a people-person, and loves helping cultivate community spaces for everyone to have fun. Naomi loves animals, the mountains, and baking. Outside of work and school she enjoys hanging out with her friends (human and animal alike), family, and reading good books.

McCall Raftus (she/her) Patron Services Specialist

Originally from Austin, Texas, McCall earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Policy & Practice from Tulane University in New Orleans, graduating magna cum laude. She then moved to Nicaragua, where she resided for the next 5 years. During her time there, she worked as a Program Coordinator for youth leadership and community development organizations, and then served as the International Funds Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua. She relocated to Guatemala in 2019, where she gained experience in a variety of spheres, including hospitality, podcast production, marketing, and project management. After 10 years living in Central America, she moved back to the U.S. and settled in Denver in the Summer of 2024, joining the Northglenn Arts team soon thereafter.

McCall is fluent in Spanish, and is also a certified yoga teacher. When she is not working at the Parsons Theatre or in her other role supporting operations for a startup, you can find her hiking in the mountains with her partner and their dog Jack, cooking and discovering new restaurants, traveling, or reading a book for one of her several book clubs.