Kathryn Adkins Board ChairKathryn Adkins has taught acting and voice at Cabrillo College in Aptos for 20 years. She is known for her creative interpretations of musicals including The Mikado, Seussical and Joseph and the Technicolored Dreamcoat. Her work has included teaching stage combat, voice and diction, stage movement, beginning acting technique, and private and class voice. Kathryn has performed many lead roles for Cabrillo Stage and has directed and performed for South Bay Musical Theater and Lyric Theater of San Jose. She sang with Cabrillo Music Festival, Santa Cruz Symphony, and toured with the Tandy Beal dance company.

Kathryn Adkins
Board President

Kathryn Adkins has taught acting and voice at Cabrillo College in Aptos for 20 years. She is known for her creative interpretations of musicals including The Mikado, Seussical and Joseph and the Technicolored Dreamcoat. Her work has included teaching stage combat, voice and diction, stage movement, beginning acting technique, and private and class voice. Kathryn has performed many lead roles for Cabrillo Stage and has directed and performed for South Bay Musical Theater and Lyric Theater of San Jose. She sang with Cabrillo Music Festival, Santa Cruz Symphony, and toured with the Tandy Beal dance company.

Supporting Cast

Phyllis Petrocelli
Bookkeeper

Christa Taylor
Media Team

Claire Paul
Venue Coordinator

Sally Bookman
NextStage Players

Faith Zack
Newsletter & Web Master

Brent Johnson
Social Media

Jean Mahoney
Print Advertising

Nancy Samsel
Volunteer Welcoming

Carole English
Historian Emeritus

Risa LowerI am so honored to serve as Board Chair for NextStage Productions. Coming from both a theatre and corporate background, I hope my skills will enrich the opportunities that NextStage offers to the community.While many people know NextStage for its musical and dramatic programs, less are aware of our educational and health care initiatives.As Board Chair, I am committed to bringing more creative aging to Santa Cruz County while expanding our programs for people living with Parkinson’s,TimeSlips for people suffering with dementia and early stage Althzeimer’s as well as multi-generational programs that bring children and the elderly together as well as offering classes to the public that enlighten and entertain.We welcome your participation. As Board President, I invite you to get to know us better through volunteerism, joining our Board, and being a donor. Come have fun with us while making a difference.

Risa Lower
Chair of Health & Wellness

Coming from both a theatre and corporate background, I hope my skills will enrich the opportunities that NextStage offers to the community.

While many people know NextStage for its musical and dramatic programs, less are aware of our educational and health care initiatives.

I am committed to bringing more creative aging to Santa Cruz County while expanding our programs for people living with Parkinson’s,

We welcome your participation. I invite you to get to know us better through volunteerism, joining our Board, and being a donor. Come have fun with us while making a difference.

Stacey Martell
Treasurer

Maggie Pierce
Sally Bookman
Ellen Mazaika
Christa Taylor
Board Members at Large

Colleen Stobbe
Secretary

I’m so happy to be Secretary for NextStage Productions!  I’ve been aware of NextStage Productions for years and have enjoyed seeing many friends in shows. 

The arts reside in our family.  I’ve written poetry all my life.  My husband is an artist whose focus is life drawing.  Our older son is a bass player living with his family in Capitola and our second son is a full time musician living in New Orleans. We are so lucky to have house concerts at least once a year! 

What a fantastic group of people on the Board.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this valuable non-profit in our community.

Lynn Knudsen Executive Director EmeritusLynn enjoyed a twelve year professional career in Broadway Theatre, after which she moved to Los Angeles to have a family. She retired to Santa Cruz in 2004 to be closer to her granddaughters and reacquainted …

Lynn Knudsen
Executive Director Emeritus

Lynn enjoyed a twelve year professional career in Broadway Theatre, after which she moved to Los Angeles to have a family. She retired to Santa Cruz in 2004 to be closer to her granddaughters and reacquainted herself with her love of theatre and performance. Over the past several years she has been a Santa Cruz Follies performer, assistant director, and director of productions at the Market Street Theater. At Cabrillo Stage, a professional theatre, Lynn helped develop the Cabrillo Theatre Guild. In 2012 she brought a replication of the renowned Stagebridge Senior Theatre to Santa Cruz, which has now become Next Stage Productions. Lynn is an artist, teacher, business professional and creative aging advocate.