Artistic Team Bios

Christopher Herr

Dr. Christopher Herr (Producer). Herr joined the faculty in 2005 and is head of Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance. He currently teaches courses in theatre history and dramatic literature as well as Introduction to Theatre and Script Analysis. His published works include "Clifford Odets and American Political Theatre;" essays on satire in modern theatre in Blackwell’s "A Companion to Satire" and on American political theatre in "The Oxford Handbook of American Drama;" essays in “'To Have or Have Not': New Essays on Commerce and Capital in Modernist Theatre" and in "American Playwrights of the 1930s;" and a chapter on American director Harold Clurman in "Great North American Stage Directors." Herr holds a PhD in drama from the University of Toronto and an MA in English from the University of Toledo. He has worked as a dramaturge and playwright in both the United States and Canada.

Sarah J. Wiggin

Sarah J. Wiggin (Artistic Director and Director: "Mystic Pizza"). Wiggin is thrilled to continue to serve as Artistic Director for Tent and to celebrate its 62nd Anniversary. She returns this summer to direct "Mystic Pizza." In previous years, Wiggin directed "Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Story," "Moon Over Buffalo," "Beehive," "The Mousetrap," "Sherlock Holmes," "You Can’t Take It With You" and "Steel Magnolias." Wiggin also performed for Tent in "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," "The Odd Couple: Female Version" and "Crazy for You." Wiggin is a proud working member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. She has worked professionally in New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. with theatres such as The Shakespeare Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Ford’s Theatre, Everyman Theatre and Folger Theatre. Her on-camera work includes "Law & Order: SVU," "Gods and Generals," and the web series "Seek Help."  Wiggin directed at Venus Theatre in Washington, D.C. and assisted Aaron Posner in his Helen Hayes Award Winning production of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona."  Her own production of "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" earned Baltimore City Paper’s #4 slot in the "Top Ten: the Year in Theatre" list. Locally, Wiggin directed "Painting Churches" and performed in "The Other Place," "Good People," "God of Carnage" and "Rabbit Hole" with Springfield Contemporary Theatre (SCT) and Resident Artist Ensemble (RAE), of which she is a founding member and producing artistic director. Wiggin also performed in "Death Valley: A Love Story" and "Grounded" for SCT. Wiggin earned her MFA in Acting & Directing from the University of Arizona and is a Full Professor in Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance.

Mark Templeton

Mark Templeton (Managing Director). This is Templeton's 25th season with Tent Theatre. He is a 1987 graduate of Paris Junior College and a 1989 BFA recipient from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Prior to arriving at Missouri State University, Templeton served the Palestine, Texas, Independent School Districts for eight years as Theatre Director and Chairman of the Fine Arts Department. While in Palestine he directed over 30 productions, eight earning regional honors and two receiving state recognition ("Wings" and "Into the Woods"). Other directorial credits include: "The Rimers of Eldritch," "Johnny Belinda" and "The Diviners." Templeton joined the Missouri State University campus community in August 1997 as Assistant to the Marketing Director of the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts and moved to the Department of Theatre and Dance as Marketing Director in 1999. He has developed and instituted an annual fundraising/sponsorship program that has provided funding to the department’s productions and student scholarships. In 2003 he was promoted to Managing Director of Tent Theatre. He is an alumnus of the Commercial Theatre Institute of New York. Currently, Templeton serves as the University representative and negotiator to Actors’ Equity. In 2008 he served on a team that formally transitioned the Tent Theatre operation into a professional theatre company. He has provided insight for the programming, layout and “Tent Theatre aesthetic” of the new John Goodman Amphitheatre, which will ensure the design fulfills the requirements of the AEA contract.

Christopher DePriest

Chris DePriest (Production Manager). DePriest is excited to be celebrating another incredible season of Tent Theatre. As Production Manager, he has the opportunity to collaborate with so many wonderful theatrical artists, directors, choreographers, and designers from across the nation, including alumni from the Missouri State University Department of Theatre and Dance. As Scenic Designer for Tent, DePriest has been able to create such incredible productions as "The Mousetrap," "Peter and the Starcatcher," "My Fair Lady," "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure," "Leap of Faith," "42nd Street" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."  As Executive Director for the John Goodman Amphitheatre, DePriest works closely with MSU faculty and staff to produce events throughout the school year in the new venue. He also has the opportunity to collaborate with community members both in and around the Springfield area to produce quality entertainment at the John Goodman Amphitheatre. He would like to thank Stacy and his two wonderful daughters for their continued love, support and laughter.

Grace Reeves

Grace Reeves (Company Manager). Reeves is currently living in Springfield, Missouri. She received her BFA in Acting at Belhaven University. Some of her previous technical credits include Stage Manager for "Those Which Linger," "Skin of Our Teeth" and "Mrs. Warren’s Profession" as well as Props Design for "The Fantasticks" and "Little Women." She is thrilled to be working with Tent Theatre this summer. She would like to thank her parents and brother for always encouraging and supporting her.

Jake Cannon

Jake Cannon (House Manager). From St. Louis, Missouri, Cannon recently graduated from Missouri State University's MFA Dramatic Writing program and served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the MSU's Department of Theatre and Dance. This is his third year on the Tent Theatre operations team, and he is thrilled for another great summer in the John Goodman Amphitheatre! Cannon recently wrapped on writing and directing his own play, "Those Which Linger." Other film and stage credits include The Son in "Child of Blood," Frank/Holmes in "Friends of Fiction," Quinn in "Faberge" and Rossi Lomanitz in "Oppenheimer." instagram: @cannonball_

Matt Neff

Matt Neff (Vending Operations Manager). Neff, who is from Columbia, Missouri, is a recent graduate of Missouri State University, having earned his MFA in Dramatic Writing. This is Neff's second season with Tent Theatre, and he is thrilled to be back. Neff has previously worked with the Maplewood Barn Theatre Company and the Starting Gate New Playwrights Festival. His filmmaking credits include "How To F**k Up A Heist" (Writer/Director), "FU DW" (Series Creator), and "Friends of Fiction" (Producer). YouTube: @mattneff

Heather Chittenden-Luellen

Heather Chittenden-Luellen (Associate Artistic Director and Music Director, "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" and "Mystic Pizza"). Luellen is celebrating her 30th season with Tent Theatre and her fourth season as Associate Artistic Director. She is the Staff Music Director/Pianist for Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance. She joined the staff of MSU in 1996 where she has served as Music Director for mainstage productions since 2003 and Tent Theatre musical productions since 1998. In addition to her teaching duties, she directs music for the New York Musical Theatre Senior Showcase each year and serves as alumni liaison for the department, providing a central contact for MSU alumni working all over the world. Luellen is the 2024 recipient of MSU’s Curtis P. Lawrence Excellence in Advising Award in the Staff Advisor category. Select recent mainstage Music Direction credits include: "A Killer Party," "9 to 5," "Dreamland," "A Chorus Line," "Ordinary Days," "Working," "CATS," "Amélie," "Heathers" and "Pippin." Select recent Tent Theatre Music Direction credits include "The Prom," "Anything Goes," "Crazy for You," "Xanadu," "Beehive," "Catch Me If You Can," "Grease," "The Drowsy Chaperone" and "She Loves Me." Other credits include Music Director for Broadway Unlocked #Giveback Concert 2018 & 2019 (NYC); Music Director for Kyle Dean Massey’s solo cabaret (Feinstein’s at the Nikko); "Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief," a musical by Craig Carnelia and David H. Bell, which premiered at Goodspeed Musicals. Much love and gratitude to Tom and Jake.

Rachel Mayer

Rachel Mayer (Assistant Producer). From Springfield, Missouri, Mayer is thrilled to serve Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance and Tent Theatre, supporting operations from the main office. She is also an AEA Stage Manager and an Event Manager. Previous credits include The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental, Passage Theatre Company, Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival, and the 24-Hour Musicals in New York. She has also managed theaters at Georgia Tech and Georgia State University. She has her BA in theater from DeSales University.

Addie Barnhart

Addie Barnhart (Director, "Crimes of the Heart"). Barnhart is a theatre artist originally from Wichita, Kansas, and delighted to return to Tent after almost 20 years! Barnhart is an alumna of Missouri State University with a BFA in acting. She works as a multi-disciplinary generalist who shares her creative impulses as an actor, director and educator, intimacy choreographer and dialect coach. She’s worked across the United States with companies such as Virginia Repertory/Cadence Theatre, Richmond Shakes, Playmaker’s Theatre, TheatreLAB, Swine Palace, Great Plains Theatre Commons and many others along the way. Her passion for education and teaching life skills through theatre was the gateway to a master’s degree at Louisiana State University, where she earned an MFA in Acting. Barnhart is Assistant Professor of Theatre at Creighton University by way of Richmond, Virginia.

Will Farris

Will Farris (Company Stage Manager). Farris is very excited to be working with Tent Theatre this summer as the Stage Manager for "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" and "Mystic Pizza." He is from Springfield, Tennessee, which is right outside of Nashville. He received his BFA in Performing Arts with a concentration in tech and design from Western Kentucky University. Past Stage Management credits include Nashville Repertory Theatre, Surflight Theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre and Nashville Children's Theatre. He would like to thank his parents for always encouraging him to chase his dreams. 

Camille Jett

Camille Jett ("Mystic Pizza" Choreographer). Jett recently graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance from Missouri State University. She was the associate choreographer for the first staged production of "A Killer Party" at MSU. Regional credits include Bebe Benzenheimer in "A Chorus Line" (Music Theatre Heritage), Charity/Dance Captain/Erma understudy in "Anything Goes," Sheila in "Crazy For You" (Tent Theatre) and Silly Girl in "Beauty and the Beast" (Dallas Children’s Theater). 

Samantha Morrow

Samantha Morrow (Costume Shop Supervisor/Costume Designer, "Crimes of the Heart"). From ​Overland Park, Kansas, Morrow's previous credits for ​Tent Theatre include Costume Design for "The Prom," "Xanadu," "Beehive," "All Shook Up," "​Grease," "She Loves Me" and Wig Design for "Hairspray." Other credits include Costume Design for "The Rocky Horror Show," "A Raisin in the Sun," "Killer Joe" and "Good People" at Springfield Contemporary Theatre; Costume Shop Manager/Design for Maples Repertory Theatre; and Costume Intern at The Williamstown Theatre Festival. Morrow is a BFA Design, Technology and Stage Management graduate from Missouri State University and is currently the Costume Shop Supervisor for MSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance. 

Anna Hunt

Anna Hunt (Scene Shop Supervisor and Properties Designer). Hunt serves as the Scene Shop Supervisor for Missouri State University’s theatrical season, where she has supervised student employees and lab classes in the construction, painting and installation of scenery since 2008. She also mentors student properties designers. Some of Hunt's previous experience includes properties for Tent’s productions of "Cry-Baby the Musical," "Peter and the Starcatcher" and "The 39 Steps," as well as Scene Shop Supervisor for MSU’s productions of "Amelie the Musical," "A Little Night Music" and "Legally Blonde the Musical," among many others. Hunt holds a Bachelor of Science of Education in Theatre from Missouri State University. She thanks her husband Tom and her family for their support during Tent Theatre.

Casey Kearns

Casey Kearns (Scenic Designer). Kearns is pleased to be returning to the Tent Theatre for a second season after designing scenery for "The Prom" in 2023. Kearns currently resides in his home state of Nebraska as a freelance scenic designer. His production experience and design credits include well over 300 productions including Shakespeare, Opera, Ballet, Modern Dramas, Classical works and Musical Theatre. He earned his MFA in Scenography from the University of Kansas and a BA from Chadron State College in Theatre. He formally served as professor of theatre design and technology for 24 years at the University of Houston, the University of Wyoming, the University of Northern Colorado, Ohio State University-Lima and the University of Indianapolis.

Eryn BrooksBrewer

Eryn BrooksBrewer (Costume Designer). BrooksBrewer is a costume designer and technician. Since completing her MFA at the University of Alabama in 2017, she has been working professionally. Some of her favorite past credits include "The Music Man," "Cinderella" (Playmill Theatre), "The Merchant of Venice," "Carousel" (Texas Shakespeare Festival), "The Addams Family" and "Beauty and the Beast" (Ocala Civic Theatre). BrooksBrewer is a faculty member at Missouri State University and has very much enjoyed her second Tent Theatre season!

Leigh Anne Crandall

Leigh Anne Crandall (Costume Designer). Crandall is a graduate of Texas Tech University with an MFA in Design (Costume Design emphasis). She is currently an Assistant Professor of Theatre and the Costume Shop Manager at West Texas A&M University. Favorite costume design credits include "The Spongebob Musical," "Caucasian Chalk Circle" and "Our Town" at West Texas A&M University; "Newsies," "Into the Woods," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Aladdin Jr" at the ALT Academy; "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," "Much Ado About Nothing" and "The Comedy of Errors" for Shakespeare in the Canyon; "Little Women," "We are Proud to Present...," "Mother Courage and Her Children," "In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)," "Twelfth Night" at Texas Tech University; and "Young Frankenstein," "Addam's Family," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," "The Glass Menagerie" and "The Last Five Years" at Amarillo Little Theatre. Crandall has also had the privilege of working with several prestigious companies including Cirque Du Soleil's "O" in Las Vegas, Forbidden Broadway Chicago and Lookingglass Theatre Company. She is thrilled to return to Tent after designing "Catch Me if You Can" and "Crazy for You" in previous seasons.

Lysa Fox

Lysa Fox (Director/Choreographer). Fox is back for her fourth show at Tent Theatre. She is currently the Head of Musical Theatre at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois, and has an MFA in Acting and Directing from California State University-Long Beach. Fox is a founding member of Venture Theatre in Billings, Montana, where she served 13 years as both the Education Director and Artistic Director. She has performed, directed, and choreographed extensively in that part of the country, including work in Wyoming, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, Colorado and California. Even though teaching is a true passion, Fox continues to pursue outside opportunities as an actress, director and choreographer. Some favorite projects include last year's Tent closer, "The Prom" (director/choreographer), "Ride The Cyclone" (director), "Falsettos" (director), "Ragtime" (role of Mother), "Mamma Mia" (role of Donna), "The Heidi Chronicles" (role of Heidi), "Hairspray" (choreographer), "Into the Woods" (role of the Baker’s Wife), "Singin’ in the Rain" (director/choreographer), "Guys and Dolls" (director/choreographer), "Working" (director), "Cabaret" (role of Frau Schneider) and "Always, Patsy Cline," a show she has done eight times in the role of Patsy. She extends much gratitude to Sarah and Heather and her stellar team along with this wonderful cast. She loves the pleasure and honor of being asked to be part of Tent!

Ethan Steimel

Ethan Steimel (Lighting Designer). Steimel has designed lights for "Masters of Illusion-Live!" (US/Canada Tour), "La Bohéme" (El Paso Opera), "The Cher Show" (Gateway Playhouse), "The Goodbye Girl" (J2 Musical Theatre), "The Baker’s Wife" (Theatre Row), "Othello" (New Place Players), "Julius Caesar" (Trinity Rep) and "Kinky Boots" (Forestburgh Playhouse). As a lighting director he has worked at CNN, Bloomberg and Broadway HD. He is a co-producer of Broadway’s "A Christmas Carol" and hosts "Artistic Finance," a weekly podcast about finance for artists.

Mary Louise Robinson

Mary Louise Robinson (Sound Designer). Robinson is excited to return to Tent Theatre after working on "Crazy For You" in 2022. Her love for sound and storytelling have allowed her to pursue audio projects in a variety of mediums, including theatre, audio dramas and games. She recently finished composing and designing for "The Lehman Trilogy" with Kansas City Actors Theatre and will be returning to them shortly to design for their production of "Trouble in Mind." She has also helped produce several audio dramas for the Kansas City Actors Radio Theatre podcast channel. Other theatre companies she has designed for include Heart of America Shakespeare, The Coterie and Webster University. Along with her theatre work, she enjoys working as a composer and producer for hire, creating content for clients in need of music tracks for their projects. Special thanks and much love to her theatre colleagues, as well as to her family and friends who have supported her and her work!

Mackenzie Privett

Mackenzie Privett (First Hand/Draper). Privett is excited to be returning for her second season of Tent Theatre. She is a Chicago-based Costume Technician. She has worked as a stitcher and dresser at Writer's Theatre, Marriott Theatre, and Northlight Theatre, where she is the resident Wardrobe Supervisor. Privett holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from West Texas A&M University. 

Estevan Rivera

Estevan Rivera (Associate Technical Director). This is Rivera's first year with Tent! He is currently a graduate student at Florida State University in the MFA Technical Production program. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Texas Tech University. Prior to grad school, Rivera taught high school theatre in Houston, Texas, where his students won many awards. During his last year of teaching, his school’s production of "Big Fish" was selected to perform at the Texas Thespians State Festival, where it won Best Mainstage Production, Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design. Rivera has also won an award in directing from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. After finishing his master’s degree, he hopes to work as a Technical Director at the regional theatre level before moving into higher education. Rivera is grateful for the opportunity to work at Tent this summer and happy to be joining the Tent Family.

CJ Steele

CJ Steele (Assistant Technical Director). Steele has traveled to Springfield from South Dakota for his first Tent Theatre season. He is pleased to have the opportunity to work with such a talented company and looks forward to a summer of great theatre!

Zephyr Osborne

Zephyr Osborne (Scenic Charge Artist). Osborne is an upcoming senior from West Virginia University. They have recently worked with WVU's School of Theatre and Dance on their show of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella." Osborne has also been a scenic for West Virginia Public Theatre for "The Mountaintop" by Katori Hall and "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure" by Steven Dietz. They are thrilled to be a part of Tent Theatre this summer and to travel and meet new people while doing what they love.