DIRECTORS
The Brown Grand Theatre is run by a board of Directors. Without the caring dedicated board of directors our theatre would not be what it is today, a historical landmark in North Central Kansas bringing quality entertainment to you!
Current Board Members:
Name: Monte Wentz, President
Job Affiliation: Wentz Eye Care, P.A.
Job Title: Optometrist
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
"Since 1999."
What is your favorite show?
"I have great memories of working back stage for Steel Magnolias when I was in high school."
What interested you in theatre?
"My passion is preservation of historic buildings."
What skills do you bring to the Board?
"I am on my second year as president of the board of directors. I hope that I am able to provide good leadership to the board, a general historical viewpoint of board decisions, and knowledge of caring for historic buildings."
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
"When I was seven, my grandfather was volunteering as construction supervisor during the restoration of the Brown Grand. I loved going down to the building to see him and watch the restoration process, and wishing that they would let me climb on the scaffolding that reached up to the proscenium arch."
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
"I would love to see the Brown Grand used more by the community. I also hope that in the near future we can replace the seats, making the theatre going experience more comfortable for all."
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working
member on the Brown Grand Board.
"My first real job in Junior Highschool was as a tour guide at the Brown Grand on weekends. I loved showing off the building and seeing the amazement on people’s faces when they walked into the theatre for the first time. Preservation of historic buildings is my passion, but I firmly believe that a good restoration includes those buildings being used. My hope is that the current board of directors can successfully balance the preservation of the building while making theatre and music come alive for the residents of North Central Kansas."
Name: Mikki Nelson
Job Affiliation: Retired
Job Title: Grandmother
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
"8 years."
What is your favorite show?
"Missoula Children’s Theatre."
What interested you in theatre?
"I love acting and creating characters."
What skills do you bring to the Board?
"Service, doing what needs to be done and rolling up my sleeves and getting it done."
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
"My first performance with the Brown Grand Players in Mame."
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
"I want to see the theatre become an even more important part of the community by bringing more quality shows to the theatre."
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working
member on the Brown Grand Board.
"Have been involved with many productions here as well as my grandkids being involved and I want to make sure this continues for future generations."
Name: Melissa Williamson
Job Affiliation: K-State Research & Extension – River Valley District
Job Title: Office Professional
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
"Since July 2018."
What is your favorite show?
"Children of Eden."
What interested you in theatre?
"Creativity and Play."
What skills do you bring to the Board?
"I have an extensive background in nonprofit fundraising and master’s degrees in music and in arts administration. For seven years, I lived and worked in the Boston arts scene before returning to my Kansas roots in 2018."
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
"Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas show."
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
"To have our community see what a gem we have here in Concordia, and to have the Brown Grand flourish as an arts center for North Central Kansas and beyond."
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working
member on the Brown Grand Board.
"I was in theatre all throughout high school and was involved primarily behind the scenes. I did make a few acting appearances in Man of La Mancha and Working to sing. Otherwise, I was in the light booth or was calling the show as a stage manager. Since then, I went on to pursue a career in music earning a Bachelors and Masters in Flute Performance. I went back to my alma mater, after grad school, to teach music and launch a Community Music School program at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. I moved to Boston in 2011 to work on a second graduate program in Arts Administration – learning as much as I could about how to run and manage non-profit organizations. After many internships with the Boston Youth Symphony, the Boston Center for the Arts, and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC), I took a full-time job in fundraising with CSC – bringing free Shakespeare productions to nearly 100,000 every summer. I then transitioned to an event and fundraising position at Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA where I worked for several years. There I wrote and won numerous grants, ran the largest fundraiser of the year – the School’s annual Gala – and worked with the development team to achieve our yearly fundraising goals. I’m excited to be on the Board of the Brown Grand because I feel I bring many experiences and talents to our team, and I can help generate ideas for the Brown Grand to advance in our community and in our region."
Name: Everett Miller
Job Affiliation: Retired from Cloud County Community College
Job Title: Choir/Great Society Conductor
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
"Since its inception."
What is your favorite show?
"Great Society."
What interested you in theatre?
"Its history."
What skills do you bring to the Board?
"Just a desire to see this building restored and used."
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
"When my wife Marlene and I attended a movie here and I looked around and said to her that this would be a wonderful performance venue."
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
"To keep it looking like new!"
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working
member on the Brown Grand Board.
"I was the one with the idea to buy, restore and get the Brown Grand back to its original glory. I talked to Judy Doyen, secretary to Leon Genette, head of the Chamber of Commerce, and asked her if she thought the community would support buying and restoring the Brown Grand. She said, 'I didn’t know it was for sale. If you’re going to buy something you had better know if it is for sale and at what price?' I called Jack Roney and he said it would be for sale if it were to be used as a performance venue. I said it would be a performance venue. He said in that case it is for sale at $20,000 and he would donate the first $2,000! The rest is history!"
Name: Richard Briggs
Job Affiliation: Easy G’s, Cloud County Community College
Job Title: Waiter/Bartender, Artist in Residency
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
"Since December 2018."
What is your favorite show?
"Annie Baker’s Circle Mirror Transformation."
What interested you in theatre?
"The feeling of freedom."
What skills do you bring to the Board?
"Experienced actor, writer and director."
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
"My nephews seeing me act for the first time in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
"To help usher the theatre into a new year of compelling story telling."
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working
member on the Brown Grand Board.
"I moved from LA in August when my partner was hired to teach theatre at Cloud County Community College. The Brown Grand offers a playground where I could only have dreamed of being a part of. With its rich history and exciting future, I am thrilled to be working with these folks."
Chad Miner
Name: Ty Gennette
Job Affiliation: Easy G Sports Bar
Job Title: Owner/Manager
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
"Since March 2019."
What is your favorite show?
"Soon to be Great White!"
What interested you in theatre?
"I would like to see the Brown Grand thrive."
What skills do you bring to the Board?
"I bring a passion for marketing and getting things done that seem impossible to accomplish."
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
"I remember attending middle school variety shows at the theatre. Sitting in the box seats like I was someone important. It just felt like a place that was larger than life."
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
"I would like to see a theater that is well know for its great shows for all ages. A theater that sells out its shows on a regular basis. Before becoming a board member, it had been fifteen years since I had stepped foot inside. We are so lucky to have a venue of this caliber in Concordia. We must do everything we can to attracted people of all ages into the theater."
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working
member on the Brown Grand Board.
"My Grandpa was a former director of the theatre. I carry on his passion not only for the Brown Grand but also for Concordia. The theatre is an intrical part of our town's success. I am excited to be a part not only of the Brown Grand's success but also Concordia's success."
Jason Grogan, Executive Director
If you're interested in serving on the board email us at director@browngrand.org to be sent an application form.