DIRECTOR
Kristen Rogers is the Managing Director of the Sarofim School of Fine Arts at Southwestern University, as well as an independent award-winning theatre director and teacher. She began her career fresh out of college as a Management Assistant at Richard Frankel Productions on the Broadway production of Swing! Since then, Kristen has lived and worked all around the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, and the Chicagoland area. She holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts from Texas Tech University and an M.F.A. in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School in New York City. Kristen considers herself lucky to have established a close, collaborative relationship with playwright and actor, Jaston Williams (of Greater Tuna fame). She has directed many of his recent works, including: A Wolverine Walks into a Bar, starring Jaston and actress Lauren Lane (best known for her role on TV’s The Nanny), as well as his newest one-man shows, Clear to Partly Crazy, Blame it on the Car!, Blood and Holly, I Saw the Lights, An Evening With Jaston Williams, and High Heels and Cowboy Boots. Kristen enjoys directing a wide range of works, from intimate plays to big Broadway musicals, from minimalist pieces to elaborate farces. Other favorite directing credits include: Frozen, Charlotte’s Web, and Sweeney Todd (Georgetown Palace Theatre), Ride the Cyclone (Southwestern University), Well by Lisa Kron (Austin Community College), Little Women: The Broadway Musical (Texas Tech University), Noises Off (LHUCA), Sarah Ruhl’s In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play ( Southwestern University and Texas Tech University), and Return to Roswell (Prague International Fringe Festival).
Kristen is also deeply passionate about arts education. Over the course of her career, she has taught students of all ages, from young children to adults, including university-level courses such as acting, voice for the actor, directing, theatre history, and theatre appreciation. Kristen served as the Director of Education at the Georgetown Palace Theatre from December 2019 through May 2025, where she oversaw more than 100 fully-produced school-year and camp shows, as well as countless classes, workshops, and special events.
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Julie Rhodes has been a choral music educator for over 20 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Lubbock Christian University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with honors. Julie is currently a Vocal Coach and Musical Director with her own studio, Rhodes Vocal Arts, and is also a vocal instructor for the Pre-Professional Company at ZACH Theatre’s North Educational Campus. Julie has music directed many shows including: In the Heights, Bring It On, Les Miserables School Edition, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Anastasia, Cinderella Broadway Version, and Newsies. She has also been seen in Georgetown as the music director for Southwestern University’s productions of The Spitfire Grill, Nunsense, and BKLYN. Julie was the music director for the Palace Theatre’s production of Beautiful: The Carol King Musical and she feels so blessed to have the opportunity to return to the Georgetown Palace Theatre this season.
CHOREOGRAPHER
Jesee Smart is originally from Chicago, IL. After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (Human Resources) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Theatre Performance and Education, Jesee moved to Austin and has been performing and choreographing at the Georgetown Palace Theater since 2006. In 2010, she began teaching for Palace Education. The Palace Performance Company (PPC) formed shortly after that and Jesee has been the PPC manager since the beginning. She is currently the Education Manager, PPC manager, choreographs for a variety of levels, and teaches many of the dance classes for Palace Education. Jesee currently choreographs and performs in and around Austin, including multiple performances per year at the Georgetown Palace Theatre. She also is currently the choreographer and coach for the Sun City Georgettes who perform more than ten times each year at a variety of venues, including local sporting events and at the University of Texas. She taught ballet, pointe, modern, tap, and jazz for ten years prior to moving to Austin. She was a founding member of the award-winning competition group “petite feet” with DancEncounter in Geneva, IL. While attending Northern Illinois University, Jesee was the director and producer of Art for Life, an AIDS Benefit Concert associated with Dance for Life in Chicago. Previous choreography credits with the Palace include: 42nd Street, Rock of Ages, Mary Poppins, Joseph and the … Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Singin’ in the Rain (just to name a few of 80+ she has performed and choreographed in during her tenure at the palace). She has studied dance for more than 20 years under various professionals including Lisa Boehm (ballet), Frank Boehm (jazz), Randall Newsom (ballet, Graham technique), Judith Chitwood (ballet, Horton technique), Paula Frasz (modern, tap, musical theatre), Karen Williamson (ballet, modern), Lila Dole (spanish), Danny Herman (broadway jazz, tap), Rocker Verastique (broadway jazz), Kenney DeCamp (jazz, performance), and Joel Hall (jazz).
CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM
Scenic Designer –
Nick Wigg
Costume Designer –
Alyssa Marquez
Lighting Designer –
Deanna Belardinelli
Sound Designer –
Dominic Blea
Production Stage Manager –
Mars McCulley
Assistant Stage Manager –
Courtney Satterfield
Properties –
TBD
Wig Stylist –
Brittany Koepp