Your MTG Board of Directors Candidates
Please review the information for all seven candidates, then proceed to the voting area!
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Jerry Bredeson
An active member and volunteer for the past 5 years. He has acted in numerous plays and musicals, as well as designed and/or built many of the sets within that time frame. He is a cook in a Blanchardville restaurant, and self-employed as a talented handyman. Experience and leadership with other organizations includes as a Union Steward. He answered these screening questions as follows: What do you see as the Guild’s role in the area community’s future? The Guild’s role as a producer of live theater is so important right now. Live theater gives an audience the opportunity to escape the grind of daily life and go somewhere else, away from negative situations that we all seem to find ourselves in these days. The community needs a beacon of joy to guide them through these times and MTG is that beacon. What do you feel are the responsibilities of an MTG board member? A board member needs to be available to answer questions other Guild members may have, or at least be able to direct people on who to go to get their answer. Also, a board member needs to be aware of what the general community would enjoy as far as productions and future events. |
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Michelle Kister
Has been active with MTG for 7 years, earning roles in 4 plays and worked on the production crew for another. She has been a member for the past 3 – 4 years. She is a Spanish teacher at Monroe High School. She has served on the AFS Adult Board and is a Forensics Coach. Michelle brings the special skill of speaking 2 foreign languages, German and Spanish. With the latter, she feels she could help MTG to reach out to a more diverse portion of the community.She answered these screening questions as follows: What do you see as the Guild's role in the area community's future? I feel that the Guild's role is provide entertainment to the community. It is great to provide thought provoking theatre, as well as give the community a place to escape from everyday life for a few hours through a great performance. It is also important for the Guild to provide learning experiences for the community to develop their artistic side. What do you feel are the responsibilities of an MTG board member? An MTG board member should be willing to meet with the other members to develop and pursue ways to reach the community through theatre. A board member should make tough decisions about which performances are appropriate and feasible to produce for our community. A board member should brainstorm and come up with ways to support the theatre and community financially and be willing to help bring those things to fruition. A board member should be willing to support actors, directors, and members however he/she can. |
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Joe Leverton
Has been involved with MTG for approximately 3 years and has acted in three productions, plus helped backstage and volunteered as an usher. He became a member more recently. Joe is a self-employed contractor, but also holds a bachelor’s degree in Education Administration. He currently serves on the Monroe Public Library Board, and has also been active with various church and youth organizations. He answered these screening questions as follows: What do you see as the Guild's role in the area community's future? MTG has a good variety of plays--small casts, large casts, adult-oriented, family friendly, etc. That is something that should continue. As stated above, it would be exciting to see specific, quality, purposeful programming for the kids in the community. Of course, getting their parents, grandparents, and guardians involved would be awesome as well! MTG is in a great location. I think that MTG could reach out to other groups in the community who might have need of using the facility. I realize that this would take a broad avenue of work--insurance, staffing, upkeep, etc. (Groups that come to mind: Mainstreet Monroe, TUGS, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, YMCA, Literacy Council, Monroe City Band, etc.) The intent of this would not necessarily be to raise funds. Of course, we'd likely need at least a "break even" fee, but to me there is far more value in utilizing the facility for these groups (and more). It would widen our footprint in the community in a very positive way. I would like to emphasize that I would gladly help out in this area. I am not the type of person who presents ideas and then walks away! I would be excited to work with the board as I am certain that each member has insight and ideas regarding MTG's role in the community. What do you feel are the responsibilities of an MTG board member? An MTG board member should be kind, helpful, generous, positive and gracious. An MTG board member understands the necessity of confidentiality. An MTG board member always does his/her/their best to promote MTG in positive, appropriate, and accurate ways. An MTG board member cheerfully works in tandem with other board members, groups, volunteers, etc. An MTG board member--in a positive way-- may sometimes disagree with another member(s) regarding operation, possible plays, programming, etc. However, once a board decision has been made, it is vital that all board members follow the directive of the board without complaint or undermining MTG. An MTG board member is unafraid to explore new possibilities in an appropriate, positive way. |
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Jonah Levia
Has been active with MTG, appearing in numerous plays and musicals, over the past 4 years. He is a Baker at Colony Brands. He is the president of the local Homebrew club and has arranged many contests or educational activities featuring the art of home brewing beers and wines. He also teamed up the Homebrew club with MTG’s Oktoberfest fundraiser in 2019. He answered these screening questions as follows: What do you see as the Guild's role in the area community's future? To advance art appreciation and participation. To educate about theater and its importance. What do you feel are the responsibilities of an MTG board member? To support the community in recruitment for performances. To encourage those who would not normally branch out into performance art to take a leap of faith. To be a steward for the theater’s mission. |
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Mary Soddy
Incumbent. She has served on the MTG Board for approximately 15 years and has been involved with MTG for over 35 years. She has volunteered much time to MTG over the years in numerous capacities; as a professional photographer, as a pianist and accompanist for auditions or other MTG events, ushered for shows, served on numerous committees over the years, and was one of the committee chairs that helped to organize the Capital Campaign, which enabled MTG to purchase our current building. She also currently serves, or has served, on the boards of numerous well-known organizations in the community. She answered these screening questions as follows: What do you see as the Guild's role in the area community's future? To continue to put together performances for entertainment and enrichment of the community and be caretakers of a building downtown that can be rented/used for community members. To hold educational classes for all ages and abilities. What do you feel are the responsibilities of an MTG board member? To attend as many board meetings as possible. Volunteer as time allows & as needed by MTG. Support staff and other board members in decision-making for the good of MTG. Help make policy. Encourage community members to be involved and participate in shows and volunteer to help. |
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Dodi Westgard
An active member for over 15 years. Held a position on the MTG Board for about 6 years while MTG conducted our Capital Campaign to enable the purchase and major remodeling project of our current building. She is also our primary costume person and has costumed numerous shows over the years, and has also served as stage manager at times. She is the Manager of a specialty candy store. She answered these screening questions as follows: What do you see as the Guild's role in the area community's future? I see this as a place to entertain people. Nurture children’s creativity. A very viable space for events outside of our own productions. What do you feel are the responsibilities of an MTG board member? Being involved in many capacities of a production. Creating an environment that adults and children are entertained. Nurtured, and given a creative outlet. Promoting all kinds of fine arts. Maintaining fiscal responsibility for the theatre guild so it can maintain a healthy existence. |
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Breanne Wilhite
Has been acting in plays or musicals with the Guild since childhood. She recently returned to Monroe from college and works at Woodford State Bank as a Teller and Social Media Content Creator. She also works with a film production company on the side as a producer and publicist. In college she was President and Co-Founder of the Advocating for Women in Entertainment Club. She answered these screening questions as follows: What do you see as the Guild's role in the area community's future? I'm hopeful that the Guild will expand its influence in the community in the next few years. I would like to see it have some sort of "summer camp" or a selection of classes for children to start learning about theatre before just the middle school age. As well as more exploration classes for everyone (ex. Acting for Film, Building a Scene, Directing Actors, etc.) that would increase the skill level and the interaction between the Guild and our volunteer actors. Overall, the Guild has the potential to be a "one stop shop" like many other Guilds have become, a place to learn, grow, build, and perform; creating artists of all forms (actors, directors, producers, set constructors, costumer designers, set designers, etc.). What do you feel are the responsibilities of an MTG board member? A good board member goes above and beyond to improve MTG as much as they can during their time. They are active in the conversation, they offer their help to make community initiatives come to fruition, they research what other Guilds are doing and have done that works, and they place themselves in the shoes of someone thinking about theatre from afar, then figure out how to bring that potential into the MTG space. |
