Mark Mann has been a theatre professional in Central Ohio for over 20 years, serving as performer, director, writer, and producer in over 100 productions. He has served as Education Director for Columbus Children’s Theatre, as well as Artistic Director for Stuart’s Opera House and The Arden Shakespeare Company. Mark has been a guest artist for Ohio University, Otterbein College, and Clark State College, and been nominated by the Central Ohio Theatre Critics Circle for Best Actor of the Year 7 times, winning the award 3 times. He has received a Greater Columbus Arts Council Playwriting Fellowship for his play The Orgy in 414. He shares a home with his wife and dearest friend Danielle, and an ever-expanding pack of critters.

Kathy Pingel has been the Director of Education and Youth Programming at The Des Playhouse for the past five years. She also serves as Artistic Director of the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Eastern Michigan University where she studied with Virginia Koste; a master’s degree from Northwestern University in Performance Studies where she worked with Frank Galati; and a Master of Arts in Teaching with certification to teach elementary school through high school.

In addition to directing and teaching, her proudest accomplishment is creating Spotlight: Literacy, a reading program at The Des Moines Playhouse that connects a field trip to the theatre with reading, writing and discussion opportunities. Currently, the program reaches over 1200 students in need every year.

SETC Past President, Secretary, and Board member Dennis Wemm has been an adjudicator/respondent for high schools, for community theatres and for KC/ACTF state competitions, and a responding critic for non-festival productions. A college faculty member in central West Virginia, he’s also directed for and acted in community productions.