About Us
The Staunton Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) organization with the goal of creating a state-of-the-art performance facility by restoring and renovating two historic buildings in downtown Staunton. This will make an economic, cultural, and historic impact. The Staunton Performing Arts Center will be a 600-seat state-of-the-art venue for all kinds of live arts for audiences in the mid-Shenandoah Valley.
The Staunton performing Arts Center is governed by a Board of Directors and operated by an Executive Director and an Office Manager.
Volunteers are welcome to call the office at 540-885-3211 or to stop by to offer their help with mailings and events on an as-needed basis.
Current Board:
- Jane E. Ballurio, President
Janie has been involved in theater in the Shenandoah Valley for 35 years and has been part of Staunton Performing Arts Center since its inception. She feels honored to be President of the Board of Directors at such an exciting time of development. Janie owned the Bookstack in downtown Staunton for 20 years and has a special feeling of ownership for this historic city. With the completion of the performing arts center, Janie believes Staunton will truly become a distinctive tourist destination. The center will positively impact the city economically and will offer entertaining and educational events for residents state-wide. - Tom Cook, Vice President
Tom is an Augusta County native who has a special love of the area and especially Staunton where he and his wife now reside. His twenty-seven year Air Force career, culminating with the last eight plus years in the Pentagon and later as Division Manager and Head of Washington Operations of Space Applications Corporation, equip him with extensive Program Management experience. Tom is absolutely convinced of the positive quality-of-life and revenue impact on the area of this Staunton Performing Arts Center project.
- Linda Royster, Treasurer
Linda was born and raised in Richmond but has lived in this area for many years and is currently the assistant public defender. Linda became interested in joining the Staunton Performing Arts Center board because she saw how important it would be to have a performance space in Staunton/Augusta County in which programs could be low-cost or targeted to children who may not have the opportunity to see high-quality performances in a variety of the arts.
- Elizabeth Shreckhise, Secretary
Elizabeth grew up in Northern Virginia and moved to Staunton in 2007 with her husband. She was a School Counselor for 5 years before switching professions to her current job as Assistant Director of Camp Alleghany for Girls in Greenbrier County, WV, a family owned and operated business that she is proud of and passionate about. As a child and young adult, Elizabeth pursued ballet and fell in love with theater and performing art. She also was an Art History major at the University of Virginia, extending her love for all forms of art. Elizabeth and her husband have one son and enjoy spending time in the Shenandoah Valley together as a family. She is thrilled to be a part of this team and looks forward to the success she knows will come from all the hard work.
- Anne Armentrout
Anne and her husband moved to Staunton in 2008, drawn by the area’s natural beauty and exceptional cultural climate, and she quickly dedicated herself to making what was good even better by putting her talents to work in support of SPAC, where she is now chair of the Events Committee. Anne describes herself as “a bit of a peripatetic polymath,” having over a four-decade-plus career been variously: a writer, an editor, a graphic designer, a publications manager, a public relations specialist, a theatre director, a book store owner, a tour guide, a teacher, a fiber, paper and collage artist, a special events consultant, and a creativity catalyst.
- Brandon Collins
Brandon is a native of Staunton, the son of Margaret and Fletcher Collins, founders of The Oak Grove Theater and Theater Wagon. Brandon has been a consistent volunteer with five local arts organizations. He is one of the founding members of the Staunton Performing Arts Center, serving as President from 2002 thru 2005. He currently is Chair of the Development Committee, and strongly believes that this project is essential for Staunton to become a “destination” for tourism, as well as providing quality of life enhancements for residents of all ages in this area.
- Ray Cubbage
After thirty-three years in public education, Ray retired in 2001. From the classroom to the principalship to central office administration, he acquired extensive experience in working with the public. The love of history, architecture, and the arts led Ray and Pam to Staunton. They purchased the Miller House and began a B & B business. After seven more years of serving the public, Ray has retired again. The desire to be involved in the restoration of historic properties and his appreciation for the performing arts inspires him to be a supporter of the Staunton Performing Arts Center.
- Brent Douglass
Brent Douglass is currently Director of Facilities Management at Mary Baldwin College. His career as a project manager and facilities professional spans over 30 years, having served four educational facilities and Wintergreen Resort. Among the complex projects he has successfully managed from design through construction are a number of historic restorations and re-constructions, providing relevant experience to the Staunton Performing Arts Center building committee for the restoration of Staunton's most famous historic theater. Also an amateur musician with a commitment to permanently reside in Augusta County, Brent brings his passion for the performing arts as well as his technical expertise to the Staunton Performing Arts Center board.
- Marney Gibbs
Marney has loved theater since childhood, but has mostly been a fan, participated backstage and in administration. She was active with ShenanArts from its earliest days and wanted very much to help it find a home. In that process, she found out the Dixie Theater was in danger, crumbling walls, very leaky roof and she founded the Staunton Performing Arts Center with great help from a number of other people to save that building.. She served on the early board and as executive director for about five years, during which time the roof was replaced and the asbestos removed. She was active in running the Dixie Theater for 4 years while the plans for the Performing Arts Center were made. She is pleased to be back on the board and hopes to see this outstanding project to its fruition.
- John Higgs
John is a native of Staunton and received a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Virginia. He spent 27 years working for Philip Morris in various management positions. The last 10 years of his career he spent as an expatriate working in a number of countries in Europe and the Middle East. After retirement in Europe he and his wife Shelby settled back in their beloved Augusta County where he has devoted his time in establishing a winery on the site of his father’s apple orchard and working to enhance the cultural life of the area.
- Margaret McElroy
Margaret previously lived in Richmond where she had several business ventures and a decorating business. She moved to Staunton with her two children to be closer to her mother. Four years ago, Margaret opened her own shop in downtown Staunton, creating for the first time the combination of a home furnishing and accessory shop, a consignment shop, and her design services. She has spent many years in the past as a volunteer for The American Heart Association Heart Ball and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Council. With these experiences, she is looking forward to helping the Staunton Performing Arts Center reach its goals.
- Justin Reiter
Justin is a graduate of New York University Tisch School of the Arts. He has worked in arts management and business development for twenty-five years with such organizations as the Kentucky Opera, Kentucky Center for the Arts, The Arts Center Foundation, Victoria Theatre Association, The Actors Studio, and NETworks Presentations. He has served as Production Manager for segments on television shows, including Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Late Night with David Letterman, and The Tonight Show. He has toured the world with Broadway productions including Hairspray, Rent, South Pacific, and Annie. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Heifetz International Music Institute.
- James Robertson
James has worked as an Interior Designer, specializing in the area of Store Planning and Design, for the past 30 years, working on projects throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Each project required the integration of client's image, business plan, budget, and schedule into real spaces in a timely and cost effective way. He sees the creation of the Staunton Performing Arts Center as a key addition to Historic Downtown Staunton, believing it will be a major boost to cultural diversity offered in Staunton and will, through the increased traffic generated by our presentations, add to the economic vitality of the entire Historic District.
- Doug Roller
Doug has been working on our project since its beginning. It combines his interest in theater, history, and architecture. A graduate of the UVA School of Architecture, he worked in local firms, including many years at T.J.Collins & Son, the architects for both of the Performing Arts Center buildings. He has served as President of the Historic Staunton Foundation and the Oak Grove Theater and was on the Building Committee for the Blackfriars Playhouse, which opened in 2001. He is looking ahead to adding another downtown theater to enhance Staunton's appeal as a theater destination.
Staff:
-
- Jennifer Hudnall, Office Manager
Jennifer Hudnall is a proud lifelong resident of Staunton. She has an Associate’s Degree from Blue Ridge Community College with the ambition of completing her Bachelor’s Degree in the future. As the Office Manager she realizes what a privilege it is to be a part of something so meaningful and needed in our community. Jennifer is dedicated to making the Staunton Performing Arts Center a destination in which people can experience the charm of the Queen City.
- Jennifer Hudnall, Office Manager
