Our Team
Staff
Executive Director
A multifaceted individual with an admirable past, Denise is steeped in the experiential wisdom of a former dancer, executive assistant, teacher, small business owner, wife, mother, and grandmother. Denise dedicated the past 30 years to homeschooling her 5 children, volunteering for community churches, overseeing children's education programs, directing activities for children's youth theater curricula, and generally pursuing her passions for engagement with the youth, families, and non-profit organizations in her community. Following four years of service to Audience of One as program director, Denise was promoted to executive director where—in addition to leading the organization to over 60% growth in 3 years—she has expanded the audience and market for the message of the Gospel.
Diane Dodd
Finance Director
Diane Dodd is one of the founding board members of Ao1. A licensed CPA, she has been the finance director and box office coordinator at Ao1 since its inception. She has three boys that have grown up with the Ao1 family.
Kelly Evans
Administrative Assistant
Kelly has been with Audience of One since 2011 as a parent and since 2017 as a staff member. She is currently our Administrative Assistant, where she takes care of all the details and helps to keep everyone on track. Her skills from wrangling and homeschooling two children over the past 16 years are a natural transition to her role with Ao1. She has her bachelor’s in management from the University of Wyoming and her MBA from the University of Denver. Upon graduating, she spent nine years in human resources and recruiting before making the decision to stay home with her children. She has been married for 22 years to her high school sweetheart (Phil), has a 16-year old daughter (Grace), and a 12-year old son (Owen). If you can't find her, she's reading or listening to a book, walking her dog, or both.
Michelle DuMoulin
Program Manager
Michelle is excited to be a part of the Ao1 team as our program manager! She has previously been involved through programming lights and helping run tech for Ao1 since 2018. Her son, Luke, was a part of Ao1 for 10 years and did 36 shows with this amazing organization. He is now a freshman at Colorado School of Mines and is super thrilled to be giving back to Ao1 by assistant directing Anything Goes this session. Michelle is also a first grade teacher in Denver and has been married to her high school sweetheart (Mike) for 25 years. When Michelle is not at the theater, you can find her having fun with her amazing family and friends.
Crystal Williams
Rehearsal & Costume Assistant
Crystal has been costuming for Audience of One since 2019 and an Ao1 parent since 2018. She then joined the staff as Rehearsal Assistant in 2021. Crystal holds a bachelors degree in Fashion Design from Texas Christian University, as well as a Masters in Fashion Merchandising from Texas Woman’s University. In her former life, she has touched all areas of the fashion industry: buying program at Neiman Marcus, Store Manager and Merchandise Manager at Gap, as well as product development for Fossil Watches. She has never been happier and most in her element than creating costumes for Audience of One. She considers herself incredibly blessed and lucky to spend time with our amazing Ao1 casts and to help them all feel special on stage and off. Her motto is that of Academy-Award-winning costumer extraordinaire, Edith Head: “A designer is only as good as the star who wears her clothes.” Crystal is often heard telling the kids, “I provide the clothes, you make them shine on stage. Without you, they are just pieces of fabric.” Crystal has been married to her husband, Brad, for 19 years and has two daughters, Cameran and Gemma.
Cassidy Elmer
LIFEGuard Director
& Stage Manager
Cassidy Elmer has been involved with Ao1 since 2012. She is currently going to school for an elementary education degree with a theater minor at Colorado Christian University and has an Associates in American Sign Language.
She started at Ao1 as an actor and has been a Lifeguard, assistant director, intern, assistant choreographer, and now Lifeguard director and stage manager throughout her time here. Some of Cassidy's favorite activities include snowboarding, hiking, dancing, and anything sports related.
Cassidy is very excited to train the new generation of teen leaders!
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" ( Jeremiah 29:11)
artistic Team
LaCretia Gelley
Director
LaCretia Gelley is a director, teacher, producer, music director, choreographer and professional singer. Through her work, she not only nurtures aspiring artists, she also explores how theatre, and the arts in general, can challenge participants, both arts-makers and audiences, to embrace the idea of storytelling and the amazing power that stories have to remind us that we are all connected and have shared stories and experiences. Arts education exists to create more complete humans, who have curious minds, are critical thinkers, and are productive people.
LaCretia has been a part of AO1 since 2009 and also teaches at area schools and programs, as well as designs curriculum. She has directed and produced dozens of shows locally and has acted in many shows like Antigone, Pirates of Penzance, and Guys and Dolls. She holds a MA in Education, many certifications in the arts and physical movement, and was voted best director for Mary Poppins, the musical. She has a private studio for voice, acting, and audition prep. She is a life-long student and has spent years completing continuing education and is currently working on her terminal MFA degree and Hair and Makeup certification. Her passion is helping artists to understand how truly unique and special they are, encouraging them to let His light shine through them while realizing the full potential of their God-given talents.
Carolyn Jordan
Choreographer
Carolyn Jordan has loved choreographing (and directing) at Ao1 since 2015! Carolyn grew up in Cleveland, Ohio performing wherever and whenever she was able. She then went on to earn her BFA in Theatre - Acting from West Virginia University. Thanks in large part to the 2.5 years she spent traveling the country as a Tour Actor/Director with Missoula Children’s Theatre, Carolyn has taught and directed in 31 states!
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When not at Ao1, Carolyn teaches Middle School Theatre at Parker Performing Arts School (DCSD Charter) and teaches Music Together in Denver. She has also performed locally at THAC, Aurora Fox, Foothills Theatre Company, and PACE. Carolyn shares her passion for the arts with students as they create together.
Thank you for supporting live theatre!
Whitney Dayberry
Choreographer
Whitney Dayberry is an accomplished professor, choreographer, director, and performer. She received her B.A. in Dance and completed her M.S. Degree in Kinesiology. She has studied under many artists, like Gregory Hines, danced with several professional companies, has performed in numerous full-length ballets and a variety of musical theatre productions. Her passion for dance led her to found and co-direct a pre-professional dance company, and has won a National Championship with her choreography along with many other specialty awards. Since moving to Colorado in 2016, she has choreographed for Evergreen High School and directed and has choreographed for StageDoor Theatre’s Junior and Senior companies. Whitney feels blessed to share her passion for theatre, musical theatre, and dance with characters of all ages, and is beyond excited to be working with a talented creative team and wonderful students at Ao1 since 2019!
Joshua kirk
Director & Production Coordinator
Joshua Kirk has been using theater to touch lives since 1995. He has worked as a Teaching Artist throughout the US, leading classes and corporate workshops through his company, Improv LEAP. He has transformed corporate cultures, church communities, and the lives of students in every grade (K- Grad) and age (5-85). "Director Josh" moved to Denver in 2002 to build a children’s theater program. He began working for Ao1 shortly after its inception. Joshua received a Masters Degree in Theater Education from the University of Northern Colorado. He is an award winning director and has led over 30 fully staged children’s musicals. Joshua also has a passion for giving back beyond the stage as an unpaid professional with Alpine Rescue Team, a mountain search and rescue team.
Amy Summitt
Music Director
Amy Summitt is delighted to be a musical director for Ao1. A native of Colorado, Amy grew up performing in numerous shows around the country and studied opera, musical theater, and vocal performance during college. Her background and experience led her to become the Assistant Director of Bands for Boston College, a piano and voice teacher, and a touring vocalist with the Continental Singers. More recently, Amy won Best Supporting Actress from the Nebraska Association of Community Theater for her performance in Way Out West Theater Company’s Boise, Idaho. She worked alongside her husband Jeff to direct Way Out West’s youth theater performance of the Nifty Fifties, and she is now honored to work with the talented youth, parents, and staff of Ao1.
Jeff Summitt
Director
Jeff, prior to Ao1, was involved in the theater group Way Out West in Sidney, Nebraska where he directed The Nifty Fifties and acted in Forgiven a Fairytale, Boise-Idaho, and as part of their improv group. Growing up he was part of a theater group like Ao1 and acted throughout High School where some of his favorite productions were Oklahoma, Bye Bye Birdie and Where's Charley? He is looking forward to another session with Ao1 and directing The Wizard of Oz.
Seneca Rayburn
Choreographer
Seneca is thrilled to be apart of Ao1! She has worked in just about every area of theatre from set design, acting, singing, dancing, to stage management, choreography, tech design and more. Growing up in Las Vegas and apart of a musical family she was always working on a show or at the theatre. In 2019 she began teaching theatre, ages preschool up to seniors in high school. Next year she will graduate from Colorado Christian University with a B. A. in Performing Arts Education, training with directors and choreographers like Jennifer Stafford, Erin Buterbaugh, and Dean Steven Taylor. She has choreographed around Colorado for organizations like Denver Christian School, Englewood High School, Colorado Christian University dance, Colorado ACTS, and is now delighted to work with the team and students at Ao1!
Meghann Evans
NightLight Director
Meghann is so excited to join the Ao1 team as NightLight Director! She has worked with children's theatre companies since high school, and has performed in dozens of shows herself. Some of her past performances include The Odd Couple, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes, and Anne of Green Gables. As a production stage manager, she has helped with numerous performances as well, and is very excited to make her directorial debut this spring! Meghann is an elementary school teacher in Douglas County, and loves working with kids. When she's not teaching, Meghann loves spending time with her own sweet kids, her husband, and their two rambunctious puppies.
taylor Welling
Choreographer
Taylor has been involved in theatre since she was four; storytelling quickly became her joy and biggest passion! Throughout the years, she acted in various productions across Colorado. She found a second home in Audience of One in 2015 and had an absolute blast acting in numerous shows there until she graduated high school. Her mom, Joni Welling, quickly became apart of the Audience of One family by leading many Ao1's make-up teams. Taylor hopes to continue her legacy by reflecting her impact on youth theatre. Beginning in high school, Taylor expanded into other aspects of theatre. She directed, choreographed, and produced many shows through her schools, her community, and the New York region. Taylor then got a degree in musical theatre from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. She is honored to have performed in a handful of Off-Broadway shows during her training in New York and made her London West End Debut in the summer of 2023. Taylor is excited and grateful to return as an Audience of One Alumni! She is so eager to work with the absolutely amazing Ao1 community and help with the next generation of artists! She believes that God is the greatest storyteller of all, that it is up to us to be the light in His story, and that we all have a part to play. When Taylor is not at the theatre, you might find her with her head buried in a book, learning some random historical facts, watching movies with friends, or jamming to her favorite band, Fall Out Boy.
Elise Haagenson
Music Director
Elise Haagenson is a recording artist, singer and songwriter who has been in the music industry for over 15 years. She has recorded vocals on over 200 songs, has amassed millions of streams on various streaming platforms, has signed multiple songs to labels around the world and continues to be sought after by producers to record her vocals on their tracks.
Elise has been involved in Ao1 since 2021 as a parent volunteer, as her two youngest daughters performed in multiple shows. Elise and her family absolutely fell in love with musical theater. Her family feels blessed to have found such a wonderful theater company and community at Ao1. Elise just knew this was an organization she wanted to be a part of when the time arose, so she is excited to be the music director for The Little Mermaid team this session.
Elise enjoyed many years performing in various bands around Colorado. Now she is thrilled for the opportunity to work with your kiddos as they embark on their own journey, where they will be learning, performing, singing, dancing and acting at Audience of One! Music and performing are a huge passion of hers and she feels honored to be a part of such an incredible organization. She hopes to ignite a passion and love for music while inspiring kiddos to never give up on their dreams and to continue learning and growing along the way.
Ao1 Board of Directors
Sean McInturff, President
Casey Bauer, VP
Heather Haugen, Treasurer
Elisa Gray, Secretary
Sara Bechtold, Director
Diane Dodd, Director
Denise Fenner, Director
Katherine Price, Director
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We are always seeking new additions to our Board of Directors. Please contact Denise Fenner for more information on how to get involved.