Sara Strehle Duke
Executive Director
Sara Strehle Duke, Executive Director, has led Northern Virginia’s largest, award-winning children’s theatre since 2010. During her tenure, she has quadrupled Encore’s annual operating budget and full-time staff, and the organization now serves 15,000 children and their families each year. In 2015, she was recognized as one of Leadership Center for Excellence’s 40 Under 40. Previously, she worked for the Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia and Round House Theatre in Bethesda. She is a Board member for Embracing Arlington Arts, a graduate of Leadership Arlington, Class of 2014, and a dedicated volunteer with several youth-serving organizations. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the College of William & Mary.
Madaline Langston
Education Programs Director, Flip the Script Director, It’s Elementary Summer Camp Director
Madaline Younger Langston has been with Encore Stage & Studio’s It’s Elementary Program for over a decade and is currently Education Programs Director. Madaline is a graduate of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts Advance Theatre program in Washington DC. She began developing her improvisation and classical skills performing at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Madaline later joined the Shakespeare Theatre Company under the Artistic Direction of Michael Kahn, followed by two National tours with the John F. Kennedy Center’s programs for children. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation Television Radio Artists, and Actors Equity, Madaline has worked on films, industrials, regional and national commercials. She is CPR and First Aide Certified. Madaline is also a VIRTUS certified teaching artist. Madaline Langston is a Children’s Theatre Foundation of America’s 2021 Corey Medallion Award nominee.
Aileen Pangan Christian
Director of Marketing and Design
Aileen Pangan Christian is delighted to be in her ninth season with Encore. Previously, she has taught dance at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center in Newport News, VA and was involved with BalletNova Center for Dance for Marketing. Aileen graduated from Leadership Arlington’s Young Professional Program and is an alum of Christopher Newport University. She enjoys taking hip hop and ballroom dance classes and workshops in the area.
Kelley O’Dell
Development Officer
Kelley O’Dell joined Encore in late 2019 to coordinate individual, corporate, and foundation giving. As Deputy Director of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, she was responsible for development, grants management, volunteers and community relations. Other positions include Coordinator of the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families and Director of Development at the Campagna Center in Alexandria. Kelley began her career in the federal government at the Social Security Administration, the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach, and the Department of Health and Human Services. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in nonprofit management from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
Maureen Bouda
Business Manager
Maureen Bouda joined the Encore team in 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive public accounting experience including several nonprofit clients. After her time in public accounting, she worked in London, UK for a large American multinational company focusing on financial statement consolidation, Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls and process improvements. At Encore, Maureen works closely with our Board of Directors and Finance Committee to ensure accurate financial records and organizational forecasting. Maureen has a strong knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and supports the organization on finance related matters.
Liv Wilson
Education Programs Coordinator
Liv Wilson (she/they) is a dramaturg, playwright, librettist, and theatremaker based out of Washington, D.C. Their work has been seen at The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Boise State University, The University of Texas at El Paso, The College of William & Mary and at The Premiere Theatre Playwriting Competition. Liv is the recipient of the Howard Scammon Prize for Drama and the Martin Jurow Theatre Arts Award for artistic excellence. She has worked as the dramaturg for Ford’s Theatre, Cadence Theatre Company’s Sitelines BLM series, and several independent works developed by artists across the country, including two new musicals at The Tank. Liv received their Bachelor’s degree in History from The College of William and Mary in 2021 and is a recent National Theatre Institute alum.
Cleo Potter
Cleo Potter they/she: Cleo is excited to be joining the Encore Stage and Studio team, as the new Production Coordinator, just in time for Annie Jr. Cleo grew up in the Alexandria and Arlington area and attended the College of Wooster, Ohio, majoring in Theatre and Dance. They specialized in stage management and lighting. They are excited to back in Arlington and getting involved with theatre in their hometown. Outside of theatre Cleo enjoys taking their dog, Lil, on walks around Arlington’s parks and trails.
Matthew Cibak
Matthew Cibakis a 2019 magna cum laude and Highlander Honors College graduate of Radford University, with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre. As an actor, he has performed in a number of productions including The Wild Party at Greenbelt Arts Center, Jack and Jill and the Wishing Well at Stagecoach Theater Co. and The Importance of Being Earnest at his alma mater, just to name a few. In college he gained his interest and love for education and has created lesson plans around various topics, including, the theories and work of Michael Chekhov, and a guide for high school students on what to anticipate in college theatre. He is more than excited to be working as an Education Apprentice at Encore this year!
Brielle Perry
Brielle Perry graduated from William & Mary, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature and a minor in creative writing. She led William & Mary’s Writing Resources Center as a Student Administrator and interned at an independent bookshop in Bath, England while completing a semester abroad. She also facilitated improvisational theatre workshops for elementary and secondary-aged students at the York County School of the Arts, mentored residents of the Merrimac Juvenile Detention Center by developing meaningful activities and poetry programming, and served as a summer camp counselor at Camp Highroad Christian Adventure Camp. Her writing has been featured on The Lovepost, a global platform dedicated to exploring social and environmental issues, and she was the 2020 recipient of the William & Mary David C. Jenkins Memorial Scholarship in Creative Writing and a two-time finalist for the William & Mary Student Literary Awards Academy of American Poets Prize. She has traveled to over fifteen countries and has a passion for spreading the joy and power of language and art with others everywhere.
Amanda Willis
Amanda Willis (She/Her/Hers) is a recent Alumni of James Madison University where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Performance and Theatre Education. She is a Teaching Artist and Actress who leads with empathy, collaboration, team building, and compassion. Being born and raised just outside of Boston, Amanda is beyond excited to begin her journey as an artist in the DC theatre community. Amanda believes that theatre has the capacity to impact the lives of many and create real world change, and it all starts with the youth.