Corinne Woods

Managing Director

Dedicated to building a healthier and more stable performing arts field, Corinne (she/her) recently served as the Director of Programs at A.R.T./New York overseeing public programming to support non-profit theatres. During her tenure, she led the implementation of major funding initiatives focused on small and mid-sized theatres in New York City and across the state, created A.R.T./New York’s Body Autonomy program to address harassment and abuse in the field, and supported innovative initiatives to increase accessibility for theatre-makers and audiences with disabilities and further anti-racism and anti-oppression programming in NYC’s theatrical community.

Prior to joining A.R.T./New York, Corinne worked as the General Manager of Ma-Yi Theatre, and the Managing Director of All For One, where she started as an intern before the company had produced its very first show. She worked in various roles with a range of small to mid-sized performance arts organizations including Ars Nova, Keen Company, Thrown Stone Theatre (Ridgefield, CT), and Untitled Theatre Company No. 61. A self-proclaimed database and spreadsheet nerd, Corinne also provides guidance and education through consulting and teaching on budgeting, building sustainable financial systems, and navigating the complexities of being a business to small and mid-sized performing arts companies, centering the company’s unique ways of working while meeting the requirements of a system that can be challenging and hostile to arts organizations and workers.

Jeff Downing

Artistic Director

Jeff is originally from Chillicothe, Ohio and received a BFA in Theater Design and Production from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Jeff has been directing, teaching, and designing professionally since 2003. Some of his directorial credits include Into the Woods, A New Brain, Zanna Don’t!, Urinetown, Grand Hotel, Seussical, The Laramie Project, A Man of No Importance, Pippin, Marvin’s Room, and Captain Louie. He has written two original musicals for PGT with collaborator Barry James; Once Upon a Time and Toby and Walter. At Grandstreet, Jeff has directed The Secret Garden and Lucky Stiff. He has played some of his favorite roles on the Grandstreet stage, including the Baker in Into the Woods, Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Chip in Spelling Bee and Man One in Songs For a New World. Jeff has served as Artistic Director at Grandstreet since 2012.

Marianne Adams

Director of Education

Marianne received her BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Marianne has directed many mainstage productions for Grandstreet, some favorites include Frozen, Jr Elf Jr, Tarzan, Rock of Ages, The 25th Annual Putnam Co. Spelling Bee, Big River and Ragtime. She teaches acting classes for the Theatre School (greatest kids in town). She has also worked as a mentor and artist-in-residence in the Helena Public Schools and surrounding areas.

Marianne was the 2015 Runner-up for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award presented by The Broadway League and Carnegie Mellon University at The Tony Awards. She is also a Freddie G. Fellowship award recipient for 2018.

Paige O’Neill

Technical Director

Paige is from the Pacific Northwest, most recently Missoula, and holds a BFA in Technical Theatre from the University of Montana. Paige is thrilled to be the new Technical Director at Grandstreet Theatre. Previous theatrical credits for Technical Direction include Arsenic and Old Lace at Fort Peck Summer Theatre and Barefoot in the Park for the Montana Repertory Theatre. She has also been a tour actor and director with Missoula Children’s Theatre. Paige would like to thank Denise Ness, Gary O’Neill and Lilly Olson.

Meghan Bahn

Director of Marketing & Sponsorships

Born and raised in California, Meghan spent the last 18 years in Lawrence, Kansas before moving to Helena and joining the Grandstreet Theatre team. Meghan holds a BFA in Drawing & Painting from the University of California at Santa Cruz (Go Banana Slugs!) and an MFA in Expanded Media from the University of Kansas. Having spent many years in a variety of marketing roles, she found her heart in nonprofits where she can put her skills to work in service of her community. Meghan is loving her role as the Director of Marketing & Sponsorships at Grandstreet Theatre. She also enjoys hanging out with friends & family, attending live music, arts & crafts, kayaking, camping, and dancing.

Jackie Hanson-Felber

Box Office Manager, Administrative Assistant

Jackie Hanson-Felber is a hometown girl, whose love of theatre was developed very early on with a performance at Grandstreet of ‘Bridge to Terabithia’. She has done volunteer stage work for Gypsy and Honk. She also did Theatre throughout High School, both at Capital and Helena High. She is over the moon to join the Grandstreet family as the new Box Office Manger/ Administrative Assistant!

When she’s out of the Box Office she enjoys her other full time job as a mom to three amazing kids, cooking, painting, gardening, shopping with her mom and mining for sapphires with her wonderful husband.

Karen Hicks

Finance Manager

Karen joined the Grandstreet family in 2015 as the Finance Manager bringing absolutely no artistic skills, but she can at least keep the books straight! Karen graduated from the University of Montana with a B.S. in Business and Accounting and then moved to Helena. Karen retired from Heritage Propane in 2013 as its Vice President of Finance and Administration after working there for over 25 years. Karen now spends her time working part-time at Grandstreet, is currently on the Board at St. Peter’s Health and on its Finance Committee, on the Board at First Security Bank of Helena and is the financial accountant/treasurer for Saint John’s Lutheran Church. Karen and her husband Garry are avid supporters of the Helena Arts Community, but especially partial to Grandstreet. Their children’s involvement in Grandstreet’s Theatre School Program introduced them to Grandstreet 20 years ago and they have been involved ever since.

Selena LeBoutillier

Audience Services Coordinator

Selena is a Helena native and proud Grandstreet Theatre School alumna. She has spent the last 5 years working at Bloom Montessori School, enjoying the most recent 3 years as a Lead Primary Guide. Selena is Mama to Andrew, Wife to Tyler and Tia to 6 amazing nieces and nephews. Selena is honored to be given the opportunity to contribute to the magic of Grandstreet Theatre.

Theatre School Faculty

Retta Leaphart

Retta Leaphart holds a BA in Acting and Directing (Middlebury College) and an MFA in Theater (Sarah Lawrence College). Retta is the Education Coordinator for the Myrna Loy Center and an Artistic Consultant for Trusty Sidekick Theatre Company. She has taught for the New Victory Theater, Disney Theatrical Group, Brooklyn Arts Council, and Sitka Fine Arts Camp. Retta directed Sense and Sensibility, The Giver, Speech and Debate, Our Town and Still Life with Iris at Grandstreet Theatre.

Julia Harris

A veteran of Helena stages, Julia is excited to return to GTS. She is mom to two boys, an adjunct theatre instructor at Carroll College, where she also coordinates the Staged Health program, and is a certified yoga instructor. Julia has previously been on the summer faculty, this year at Beanie Camp and recently returned to the stage as Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music.

Colleen "Binky" Watson

Board of Directors

Grandstreet Theatre is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. We are steered by a superb Board of Directors, and are always grateful for their advice and guidance.

2022-23 Board of Directors

Jennifer Davis, President
Hope Morrison, Vice President
Dr. Will Snider, Secretary
Meghan Bronec, Treasurer
Stan Kaleczyc, Legal Advisor
Kate Dramstad
Alvaro Freyre
Heather Higgins
Jon Miller
Jamey Petersen
John Rausch
Jim Tucker Jr.
Shawn Whyte
Michael Everett, Student Representative

Staff and Board of Directors