Staff

Brandon Smith, Producer/CEO

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Brandon Smith has spent the past two decades dedicated to the idea that the arts can change lives.  A Chillicothe native, he began his first summer season at Tecumseh! in 1994 as a ticket taker.  Within two years he was Theatre Manager and over the next 5 summers he and Marion Waggoner created a template for operations that is still being used at theatres all over the country.  Between summers at Tecumseh! he studied acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory with the likes of Elaine Stritch, Yoshi Oida, Tony Randall and James Tripp.  After graduation he looked to combine the practical skills from Outdoor Drama with the artistic sensibilities learned in New York.  Over the next decade he served in a variety of capacities from the smallest regional theatres in New England to new Outdoor Dramas in Ohio and the Catskill Mountains.  In New York, he worked both on and off Broadway in marketing, management and box office.  Following the summer 2005 season of Johnny Appleseed Outdoor Drama, he turned his attention to symphony orchestras.  He oversaw a period of unprecedented growth at the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra as its General Manager.  During his tenure, the orchestra tripled its number of concerts, doubled its fundraising dollars and established a major education program.  He was thrilled to have the opportunity in 2010 to go to the birthplace of Outdoor Drama and became theatre manager at The Lost Colony in Manteo, NC.  During his four seasons there he also served as interim CEO and guided the organization through its landmark 75th Anniversary season.  It was honored with the Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre, the only historical outdoor drama in the country to be honored in such a way.  Brandon is happy to be home now as CEO of Tecumseh!  He looks forward to building on the foundation laid by his predecessors and taking the organization to a new level of excitement, artistic excellence and financial stability.  He is a proud member of Rotary International, the Human Rights Campign and the NAACP.  He lives, quite literally on Sugarloaf Mountain, with his husband, Kody.

Marcia Holton – Director of Finance & Personnel

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This will be Marcia’s sixth year with the outdoor drama Tecumseh! She is a graduate of Chillicothe High School, and she has studied Psychology and Social Sciences at Ohio University in Athens and the Columbus State Community College. Marcia helped to form the customer service department at Mill’s Pride Cabinetry in Waverly, OH, and has worked for the corporate division of Petland. Things that keep Marcia coming back to the mountain are the beautiful story of the drama and the chance to meet and greet people from across the country and the world. She loves to spend time attending her youngest daughter’s basketball games and sporting events. She also participates in community theatre with the Chillicothe Civic Theatre.  Marcia sends her love to her children Lauren, Katie, Ben, Jenna, and her wonderful grandchildren Noah and Hadley! She would also like to thank Sue Spears and Beth Beatty for the opportunity to work on the mountain, Marion Waggoner for the tremendous working experience, and the cast and crew for all of their patience and enthusiasm over the last several weeks. Marcia is from Chillicothe, OH.

Karen Bright- Director of Retail Sales & Services

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Karen is thrilled to be coming back to the mountain for her 15th season.  She graduated from Jackson High School and has multiple years of experience in customer service and accounting.  She has worked in the box office and the gift shop.  She enjoys the atmosphere and patrons at Tecumseh!  “I really enjoy seeing all of the regular customers come back each season; but, I love meeting new friends even more!  It always seems like one big family every summer.”  In the off season, you will find her at the Tecumseh Trading Co. in historic downtown Chillicothe.  Karen would like to thank her husband, three children and six grandchildren for their support over the years!  Karen is from Jackson, OH.

Lee Crouse- Associate Producer

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Lee is excited to return for an eighth season at TECUMSEH! He has appeared on stage in the roles of Reverend Wood, Captain Dawes, Captain McDonald (US), and additionally worked as an Assistant Director, Stage Manager, and as the production’s Fight Captain. Lee holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Performance from The University of Southern Mississippi. Directing credits include Frankenstein (Scioto Society); Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf (Tennessee Williams Tribute); Silent Sky (Mississippi University for Women); Schoolhouse Rock Live (MUW); Taming of the Shrew (MUW); Almost, Maine (MUW); Wait Until Dark (MUW); Twelfth Night (MUW); Lysistrata (MUW); The Good Doctor (MUW); and Night of the Living Dead (MUW). Theatre performance credits include Jenny Wiley Theatre; Southern Arena Theatre; Theatre West Virginia; BLUEJACKET Outdoor Drama; Bravvo! Productions National Tour; and the Showboat Becky Thatcher. TECUMSEH! is a doubly special place for Lee, as this is where he met Pauline, his wife. They have a son and daughter, who they hope will be future cast members. Lee is a proud Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.