The Brown Grand Theatre is governed by a distinguished Board of Directors. Without our caring, dedicated Board members, 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: Dr. 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.”
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: Jasmine Conner, Vice President
Job Affiliation: Color Coordinations, LLC
Job Title: Owner / Lead Painter
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“6 months“
What is your favorite show?
“The reenactment of the Cloud County Robbery.“
What interested you in theatre?
“The beauty in the building.“
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“Being a local business owner, I want to see our community thrive in all kinds of ways. I believe being apart of the Board I can help with encourage a positive sense of community and help where I am needed.“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“Every time I am there is a good time!“
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“I would love to see the Brown Grand attract all different kinds of people from our community on a regular basis. I hope people take a chance to enjoy what we have to offer at the Brown Grand with the different events and shows we offer.“
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“I have lived in Concordia for 21 years. I have owned and operated a local painting company for 13 of those years. I enjoy our community so much and try to help out wherever I can. I’m excited to be apart of the Board to help encourage our community to get involved in local events and to help our community thrive. I also love the history of the Brown Grand and want to see it maintained and properly cared for.“
Name: Margo Hosie, Secretary/Treasurer
Job Affiliation: Retired K-12 Gifted Education Teacher
Job Title: My favorite title is Grandma Hosie, however I work behind the scenes in two family businesses and do volunteer work for my church and our community.
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“Since July of 2021.”
What is your favorite show?
“I enjoyed seeing “Cats” on Broadway, but the best was seeing the Broadway production of “Phantom of the Opera” at the beautiful Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I loved the Brown Grand’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” as well as every show we’ve seen with our daughter and son-in-law (especially “A Hunting Shack Christmas”) at the Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo, Minnesota.”
What interested you in theatre?
“I appreciate the physical theatre venue, and I greatly admire the amazing ability and talent brought to the stage by performers.”
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“I have a great deal of diverse experience from various jobs and volunteer work through the years.”
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“I had the privilege of teaching in Beloit, Kansas for 20 years. During the last seven I had the opportunity to teach the top readers in the 5th and 6th grade Guided Reading classes. My fondest memory is watching those 6th graders’ reactions every year on our annual field trip to Concordia which included visiting the Brown Grand. We prepared for the trip by reading about Orphan Trains, World War II, and of course the ghost stories of the Brown Grand. My students loved the Peanut Gallery and were always deadly certain they had seen a ghost!”
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“My dream is to see the theatre thrive while filling the seats with shows and performances that appeal to people of all ages. My goal is to maintain the physical beauty and integrity of the building itself.”
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“I am excited about working with the Director and other Board members to preserve this beautiful “link to our past.” These words actually belong to Thelma Workman in her Chapter I article about the Brown Grand on July 6, 1973. I believe Thelma’s words should have a great impact on all Cloud County residents as to why the Brown Grand matters. My experience with the Brown Grand goes from seeing a movie there before the restoration, to watching, for many years, as 4-H members modeled at the annual 4-H Style Revue, to working as a member of the Board of Directors of Concordia Concert Association as we sought performances for the members of the association. There have been many other times I have visited the Theatre for shows and events. I can sincerely say the Brown Grand has been a big part of my life since we moved to Concordia in 1974.”
Name: Dorothy Breault, MD
Job Affiliation: Cloud County Health Center/Family Care Center/North Central Kansas Medical Center
Job Title: Family Medicine Physician
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“Since August 2022“
What is your favorite show?
“Too difficult to pick just one! I saw a great show this past summer, Kinky Boots!”
What interested you in theatre?
“I have always enjoyed watching and performing in theatre since I was young.“
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“I come into contact with a wide variety of people and backgrounds in my work, and hope to be able to provide valuable insight into the desires of what our community would like to see and do at the Brown Grand.“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“The nervousness and excitement of hitting the stage again in recent performances of Mrs. Claus and the Chili Cookoff Caper and What the Herd Heard. The performance of What the Herd Heard was a particularly fond memory because I got the opportunity to be on stage with two of my daughters as well.“
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“My hope would be to continue to offer a wide variety of events and shows so that more of our community will take advantage of what a great venue we have here in Concordia, and help propel the Brown Grand Theatre to be even more of a regional attraction.“
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“I am a local physician here in Concordia. I attended Cloud County Community College when I was out of high school, and met my future husband, Dustin, who is a Concordia native. I was involved in theatre and forensics throughout my elementary and high school education. The rigors of college, medical school, and raising young children put a halt in my ability to schedule in time to perform, but never dampened my love of theatre. While scheduling is still hectic, I am happy to be able to get back into something that I am passionate about. I am also now a member of the Brown Grand Players.“
Name: John Paul Breault
Job Affiliation: Walmart, Inc.
Job Title: Team Lead – Food and Consumables
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“6 years“
What is your favorite show?
“Into the Woods” and “The Wizard of Oz“
What interested you in theatre?
“Live performances and the historic preservation opportunity“
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“Organizational – Clerical skills; Business practices; Intern Supervisor; basic art and design skills“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“Being on the Brown Grand Board of Directors as a High School student.“
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“Enabling the Brown Grand Theatre to be a strong performing Arts Center for the State of Kansas and throughout the MidWest.“
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“I’m a registered horticultural Therapist and retired working for the State of Georgia for 25 years with Activity Therapies. I was born and raised in Concordia, KS and returned home after retirement. The Brown Grand Theatre has been a great opportunity to be a working part of our community. I have been involved in theatrical groups/community
theatre both in Kansas and in Georgia. I’m a pianist and have performed at the Brown Grand Theatre numerous times over the years.“
Name: Julia Burr-Roveti
Job Affiliation: Cloud County Community College
Job Title: Instructor of English, Speech, & Theatre
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“Since October 2023 – just starting!“
What is your favorite show?
“Whichever I’ve seen most recently.“
What interested you in theatre?
“I was directing neighborhood kids before I’d ever even seen a play.”
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“Events organization“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“The first time I walked into the Brown Grand I got chills on my legs!“
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“To have lots of cool events, lots of attendance, and to have the Brown Grand as North Central Kansas’s vibrant go-to cultural hub.“
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“I trained and worked as a professional actress both in New York City and regionally. I have directed plays and designed costumes and props. I love all things theatrical, beautiful and historical; the Brown Grand is an exquisite living monument to all three.“
Name: Dr. Brandon Galm
Job Affiliation: Cloud County Community College
Job Title: Instructor in English and Speech
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“Two months.“
What is your favorite show?
“Avenue Q, Book of Mormon, and Les Miserables“
What interested you in theatre?
“Background in Literature and Criticism, and I’m a performer myself.“
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“Photography, audio technology and mixing, podcasting, video editing.“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“Too soon to have any yet!“
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“I think it would be amazing to bring in some nationally touring shows or artists, but I know that’s ambitious and challenging!“
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“I’m a fairly recent transplant to Kansas, having been born in Ohio and living in Pennsylvania from 2009-2019. I have a Master’s in English and PhD in Literature and Criticism, both from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I’m most excited to be working with Brown Grand to make a difference in my local community, while helping bring important arts and culture to our area.“
Name: Dr. Julia Galm
Job Affiliation: Cloud County Community College
Job Title: Adult Education and Communications Instructor
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“I have been a board member since March 2021.“
What is your favorite show?
“I was lucky enough to watch a staging of Waiting for Godot in Dublin, and it was bizarre and wonderful.“
What interested you in theatre?
“I helped to restart the drama club when I was in high school, and I have been interested in the theatre ever since.“
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“I have some experience with document design, so I think I could be helpful with marketing and advertising. Given guidance, I can also help with grant writing. I am also typically available to help with the physical setting up and running of events.“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“I really enjoyed the Cloud County Bank Robbery event, but I am also looking forward to learning Foley effects and being a small part of the Cloud County Theatre’s live radio play performance of Night of the Chicken, Episode 2.“
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“I think the theatre has an amazing opportunity and responsibility to link the community to history and to art. It can be a hub for people to gather and celebrate, and a historical site to educate, and a doorway to escape or reflection through music and theatre. In order to serve the community in all of these ways, however, the community needs to serve the theatre as well.“
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“I am excited to be more engaged in the community and our regional arts! I recently moved from Pennsylvania, so I think this is a great opportunity to learn more about my neighbors, the area, and arts in Kansas.“
Name: Whitney Jones
Job Affiliation: Brown Grand Players Board
Job Titles: Brown Grand Players Board President, actor, and one of the directors
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“I joined the board in March of 2020.“
What is your favorite show?
“Little Shop of Horrors“
What interested you in theatre?
“I have wanted to be on stage for as long as I can remember. I participated in theatre every opportunity I had growing up, and as an adult I have continued on that path with community theatre at the Brown Grand.“
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“I have several years of experience in live entertainment and performance, and I have a background in management and local theatre.“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“Over the past couple of years, I have been co-directing some of the local performances with the Brown Grand Players. I recently was given the opportunity to direct the play Three Squirrels and a Tray of Nuts written by my mother, local play write, Kristina Frost. It was easily one of the most stressful and rewarding experiences of my life. Susan Sutton (local director for more than 50 years and founder of the Brown Grand Players) ended up auditioning and was cast in the play, her first time performing in over 25 years. I certainly never thought I would have the chance to direct at the Brown Grand, let alone be directing Sue Sutton. Watching that play come to life on the Brown Grand stage was just so incredible and rewarding.“
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: Janet Pearson
Job Affiliation: Retired from USAA Financial Services
Job Experience: I managed insurance and banking teams when I was working. Now, I volunteer at my church and help with animal rescue.
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“I became a board member June 2023.“
What is your favorite show?
“It is hard to pick one! I love Fiddler on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors, and Miss Saigon.“
What interested you in theatre?
“My daughters were both involved in theater in High School. Amanda continued in college and earned a bachelor’s degree in theater and drama from K-State. I gained respect for all parts of live production.“
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“I have experience in finance, team building, and marketing.“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“One of my first memories of the Brown Grand was when I was a child. There were free summer movies shown and my brother and I spent many afternoons at the theater. I recently attended a community church service held on Palm Sunday and this was an inspiring event.“
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“This is a magnificent building with so much history. I want to help keep her structure in good condition and bring more live events to town. We need to bring people in with a variety of shows.“
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“I feel blessed to be asked to become a working member of the Brown Grand Board and be back in my hometown of Concordia. I lived in Concordia from the time I was born until 1986 when I married and moved to Colorado. I started working for USAA in 1992 and managed teams of insurance and banking individuals until my retirement. I have a bachelor’s degree in business from Regis University and a master’s degree in leadership from Grand Canyon University. I am anxious to learn all I can about the Brown Grand and help keep the legend alive and well!“
Name: Charles Patrick Roveti, MBA
Job Affiliation: Medical and Pharmaceutical Sales
Job Title: Independent Sales Representative
How long have you been a Member of the Board?
“I joined the Board in October of 2023.“
What is your favorite show?
“My favorite show was a production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.“
What interested you in theatre?
“My interest in theatre stems from the cultural attractions and teachings that theatre brings to a community.“
What skills do you bring to the Board?
“The Brown Grand is a tremendous asset to Concordia for its historical relevance to the golden era of the town and the performances that bring the community together. My sales, marketing, and financial management background will bring perspective and experience from a wide array of applications. Having managed many aspects of independent sales organizations will allow me a broad view of growth potential for the Brown Grand Theatre.“
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“My fondest memory of the Brown Grand was when my wife and I first visited Concordia and one the board members gave us a tour. We were in awe of the heartfelt restoration and provenance the theatre exuded.“
What are your goals and dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“My dream for the Brown Grand is to continue to grow in its ability to attract a continuous stream of new and dynamic performances that will be appreciated by a supporting community far and wide.“
Tell us a little about your background and why you are excited to be a working member on the Brown Grand Board.
“My wife’s lifelong love of theatre and acting combined with my love of live musical entertainment make this position an exciting opportunity to share in the Brown Grand’s future.“
If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, email us at director@browngrand.org.
About Our Director
Name: Melissa Swenson
How long have you been a part of the Brown Grand Theatre?
“I served on the Board of Directors from July 2018 through March of 2021. I then became the Director in April 2021.”
What is your favorite show?
“Children of Eden.”
What interested you in theatre?
“Creativity and Play.”
What skills do you bring to the Brown Grand?
“I have an extensive background in non-profit 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 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.
“I was in theatre throughout high school, and I 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 calling the show as a stage manager. Since then, I went on to pursue a career in music earning a Bachelors and a Masters in Flute Performance. I went back to my alma mater, after grad school (Oklahoma State University), to teach music and to launch a Community Music School program at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. I moved to Boston in 2011 to work on a second graduate degree program at Boston University in Arts Administration – learning as much as I could about how to run and manage non-profit arts organizations. After many internships with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, 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 audience members every summer. I then transitioned to an event and fundraising position at Longy School of Music of Bard College 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 annual fundraising goals. I’m excited to serve as the Director at the Brown Grand, because I feel I bring many experiences and talents to our community. I can also help generate ideas for the Brown Grand to advance in our community and in our region.”
About Our Intern
Name: Luka Hayes
Job Title: Intern
What is your favorite show?
“Good Omens!”
What interested you in theatre?
“The atmosphere. Theatre naturally pulls all of the members together and it creates friendships that will last, even off of the stage.”
What skills do you bring?
“Running light and sound boards, prop making, set painting, you name it, I have done it or I am willing to learn how to do it!”
What is your fondest memory at the Brown Grand?
“While I have not been here for long, my very first time being here, I felt like I belonged.”
What are your goals or dreams for the future of the Brown Grand?
“My goal is always for growth. I hope that the Brown Grand becomes more than a name, but a special place in people’s hearts and memories.”
Background and why you are excited to be a working at the Brown Grand:
“I am from Salina, Kansas and my love for theatre started in 8th grade. Finally, in my junior year of high school, I did my first school play and in that same year, I ended up doing my first musical at the first theatre I’d ever been a part of, Great Plains Theatre. The summer of my senior year, I interned at that same theatre and now I am excited to be a working at the Brown Grand, because I know that with working comes a family. I know I will leave this internship with new family and new memories.”
