Susan A. Keady
Artistic Director
Susan Alison Keady, a native Washingtonian, directs productions, has taught classes, and continues to design, develop and implement Encore programs and productions. She worked at George Washington University for 16 years where she was an adjunct professor guest lecturer in the Theatre Department. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Susan works on local film projects. She has worked on the AMC Drama TURN: George Washington’s Spies, Showtime’s Homeland, and HBO’s VEEP. Recent films include Jackie and The Jason Bourne. Susan collaborated and directed over 100 episodes of a multi-award winning radio show, which garnered her a Peabody for her meritorious contribution as director. In addition to other awards, she collected the American Association of University Professor Elizabeth Campbell award for her work with Encore. Susan holds a BA in Dramatic Art, magna cum laude and an MFA in Acting, summa cum laude.
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.
Kevin A. Curry
Sound Consultant
Kevin A. Curry is currently retired from The Boeing Company. Over the last 40+ years, Kevin has worked on over 350 productions for both professional and community theaters. In that time, he has had ten Alliance of Community Theater nominations for Best Lighting, Set Design, or Special Effects. He has won four times, most recently in 2003 for Springfield Community Theatre’s production of Godspell, for which he also earned a nomination for Best Lighting from WATCH. He has also received a WATCH nomination for Special Effects. On other productions he has received two Special Judges awards for his Special Effects. He has worked on such productions as Little River Band, Drifters, Eagles, Fog Hat/Outlaws, Ice Capades, Ice Follies and Taylor Swift. After a 20 year hiatus, Kevin is happy to be back working with the wonderful kids from Encore.
Gary Hauptman
Lighting Director
Gary Hauptman has been Encore’s resident lighting designer since 2012. His first experiences with lighting were shortly after high school, running spots for community ice shows and for an AC Spark Plug sales convention. Design credits include dance companies, rock bands, cabarets, fashion shows and magicians. And locally, for Teatro de la Luna, Unexpected Stage, Pinky Swear Productions, The Arlington Players, Port City Players, Requiebros and Hexagon. Gary was a founding member and lighting designer for Detroit’s ground-breaking Attic Theater. Gary contends that the most important preparation for working with Encore’s talented young performers and technicians was his time as a counselor at Michigan’s Camp Tamarack.
Rachel Hynes
Director, Theatre for the Very Young Performer
Since Rachel started performing with Encore Stage & Studio (then The Children’s Theatre of Arlington) at the age of 9, she’s been smitten with theatre’s power to entertain and transform. Since then, she’s earned her MFA in devised theatre and teaches theatre to students ages 5-105. Her TYA and TVYA works include A Sidewalk Stroll and Circolo/Circle (Encore Stage & Studio), A Lump of Coal for Christmas (Adventure Theatre, Understudy-Performed), The Little Crane and the Long Journey (Crane Fable), and Balloon Plays (Babel Productions). Rachel is a four-time recipient of an Artist Fellowship from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and is a Producing Playwright with the Welders.
Kristen Jepperson
Technical Director, Set Design & Build
Kristen Jepperson is a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, with a BFA in Harp Performance. Since graduation she has toured nationally as a member of the New Christy Minstrels and with Ragtime, the Musical (Emma Goldman). Theatrical credits include: Daisy, The Adding Machine, Studio Theater; Reno, Anything Goes, Olney Theater; Agnes Gooch, Mame, Toby’s of Columbia; Reverend Mother Mary Regina, Nunsense, Toby’s Baltimore. Costuming credits include: Rapunzel, Miss Electricity, The 25th…Spelling Bee at the Workhouse Theater; Pirates of Penzance, Legally Blonde, Encore Stage and Studio. Having gotten her start in childrens theater as a child, working with Encore “on the other side of the table” makes a nice circle.
Debra Leonard
Costume Designer & Build, Make-up Designer
Debra Leonard is designing her 20th season with Encore Stage and Studio. She has designed costumes for many area theatres and film companies, with over 100 productions to her credit. Debra has also designed for American University, Prince George’s Community College, and Allentown College in PA. Additionally, she works as a Special Education teacher with Prince George’s County. Debra is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Kalamazoo College, with her graduate degree from American University.
Elizabeth Pringle
Director
Elizabeth Pringle is a director, playwright, actor, and arts & media producer/educator. She has written and directed plays, musicals, operas and zarzuela adaptations, and operettas. She has taught emerging playwrights and actors in DC (Theatre Lab, Kennedy Center, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Young Playwrights). Elizabeth was also the founding creator/director of The Shortie Awards: International Film and News Festival, celebrating and promoting youth-made media.