Peppermint Creek Theatre Company is fortunate to be guided by a group of individuals who believe in the mission of the company, and are committed to its security, success, and longevity.
ADVISORY BOARD:
Ben Cassidy (Chair) - After living in the area for most of his life, Ben was exposed to Peppermint Creek when seeing his first Lansing community theatre show in 2011, Ordinary Days. He then made his Peppermint Creek stage debut not even a year later with Boy in the Bathroom. After these experiences, he quickly became infatuated with PCTC, the mission, and all those involved. Throughout the years Ben has continued to perform on the PCTC stage in shows such as Parade, Dogfight, Elegies, The Whale, and Bright Star. During this stint, Ben also performed with other local theatre companies and started to dip his toes into the directorial pond, having helmed [title of show], Falsettos, The Wild Party, and Gloria with PCTC. As a board member, he is excited to further his involvement with PCTC and contribute more to the encouraged dialogue the theatre company inevitably will bring with its wonderful, daring shows. Outside of the theatre, Ben studied Actuarial Science at Michigan State University and currently works for MSU Federal Credit Union as an AI Content Administrator. He is a lover of all things Mexican food, board games, and of course, theatre!
Kathleen Egan (Adviser) - Kathleen found her way to Peppermint Creek Theatre Company during her time living in Lansing while serving two terms as an AmeriCorps*VISTA. After a now legendary lunch meeting with Chad Badgero, what she thought would just be occasionally selling tickets, turned into a 2+ year residency as one of the PCTC Stage Managers. While living in the area she also started branching out and performed as part of the Over The Ledge Theatre Company's production of The 39 Steps. When life and career pulled her back to the Northville area, Kathleen remained a constant face at PCTC shows and passionate advocate for the theatre. Kathleen graduated from Albion College with a dual degree in Communications and Theatre, as well as interning with The Royal Court Theatre in London, and O’Connor Casting in Chicago. She now happily transfers her theatre savvy into the HR world working for Robert Bosch LLC. When not at the theatre she loves to cook with friends, read, and see as many movies as she can take in.
Matthew Eldred (Adviser) - Matt has been seen on the Peppermint Creek stage in productions such as Next to Normal, Secret Garden, Falsettos, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, and Elegies. A lifelong resident of the Greater Lansing Area, Matt currently works for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles as the Manager of Global Infotainment Planning. Prior to his work at FCA, Matt was the Director of Music for the East Lansing Catholic Community of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and St. John Student Center for seven years. Since 2002, Matt has also maintained an active career as a vocal soloist, performing with such ensembles as the Kalamazoo Youth Symphony, Musique 21, MSU Symphony Orchestra, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Matt holds an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in music, where he held the Helen Tretheway Endowment for Vocal Performance for three years. He also received his MBA from the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business in 2017. The power of Peppermint Creek Theatre is in its mission. Matt looks forward to supporting that mission any way he can and working to keep this vibrant and vital community arts institution thriving for years to come.
Karen Jennings (Adviser) - Karen appreciates the local theater scene and finds Peppermint Creek Theatre to be the most exciting and daring of them all! She is honored to serve as a member of the board. Karen is a proud MSU grad and spent her career in health care with an emphasis on women’s health. She retired from the Ingham County Health Department in the spring of 2014. Karen enjoys theatre, music, dance, reading, gardening and cooking and is wild about MSU basketball. She mostly loves spending time with her husband Jerry and her family and friends. Retirement is wonderful and being a grandmother is the absolute best!
Camara Lewis (Adviser) - As a Chicago native, Camara thought she was destined for big city living, but after completing her undergrad at Michigan State University, Go Green!, she quickly got swept up in the #LoveLansing community. She has been the social media and website coordinator at the Michigan Department of Corrections for the past three years. In spare time, Camara volunteers as a board member for Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America and Grand River Connection. She also lends her communications expertise to the Greater Lansing Food Bank communications advisory committee. Her hobbies include but are certainly not limited to traveling, cooking, reading, dancing, crafting and binge-watching comedic sitcoms. Two Summers ago Camara became involved with making costumes for Riverwalk Theater’s – Young Artisan Workshop and wished to get more involved in the Lansing theater community leading her to join the Peppermint Creek Theater Company board. Camara lives with her best friend Greg (Lansing’s very own Will & Grace), and is a parent to their dog F. Scott Fitzgerald-Grant “Fitz” and two guinea pigs, Squiggy and Einstein.
Joan Mattson (Adviser) - Joan is a retired physician who received her undergraduate and medical degrees at Northwestern University. In 2007 she retired from clinical practice at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI where she served as Director of the Hematology and Coagulation Laboratories for 23 years. She currently remains on the Bioscientific Research Staff at Beaumont which allows her to pursue her interest in blood clotting disorders. Joan and her husband Jerry have been devoted theater-goers since they met 55 years ago in Chicago. They feel privileged to live in an area with such a vibrant theater community and have been staunch supporters of Peppermint Creek since they saw their first PCTC production, The Shape of Things, in 2005. Joan serves on the Board of the Friends of Theatre at MSU and is excited to serve on the Peppermint Creek Advisory Board.
Karyn Perry (Adviser) - Karyn is owner and director of Karyn’s Dance Place in Holt. She and her Senior Company members have most recently performed for the 100th Anniversary of the Indy 500, and dance regularly for the Pistons basketball games and Orange Bowl game halftimes. Her students have also danced for the Detroit Pistons at Walt Disney World. Many of Karyn’s students are enjoying professional dance careers on Broadway, in movies and television. She has been awarded Pulsar and Thespie awards for her work on Peppermint Creek productions, as well as numerous other theatres in the Lansing area. Karyn is a lover of visual arts, food, and shoes.
Angela Robertson (Adviser) - Angela is a Lansing transplant originally from metro Detroit, passionate about the Lansing community she now calls home. With a background in theater, her career path directed her towards public relations but her love of the stage never stopped. After finding a wonderful friend in Chad Badgero, it was only natural that she would also fall in love with Peppermint Creek Theatre Company. PCTC not only provides a connection to the arts for Angela, but it gives mid-Michigan residents a chance to walk in someone else’s shoes with every show: something Angela is committed to encouraging more people to experience. Angela is a 2016 recipient of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce 10 Over the Next Ten award.
Webb Smith (Adviser) - A native of Lansing, Michigan, Webb completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University and received his juris doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School before joining the Foster Swift Law firm in 1963. Listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1994, and in Michigan Super Lawyers, Webb was distinguished as the recipient of the Leo Farhat Outstanding Attorney Award in 1997. He received the 13th Annual Excellence in Defense Award in 2005, from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. Webb is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and in the Litigation Counsel of America. He formerly served on the Michigan State University's Wharton Center Advisory Council. He and his wife Patricia have been long time supporters of PCTC and he has been on the Advisory Board for 5 years.
