Managing Director – Angela Bayler (she/her)
Angela originally hails from the state of Illinois. From 1996 to 2007, she served as Supervisor of Cultural Arts at the Decatur Park District. While there, she directed Storyteller Theatre, the children’s theatre company, administered and stage managed the Greater Decatur Chorale, and the Best of Summer Stock, the musical theatre program for kids. After leaving the Park District, Angela embarked on a stage management career, working in theatre companies in Illinois, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and the Seattle area. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association. In June of 2015, Angela earned a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Leadership from Seattle University. In July of 2016, the Centerstage Board of Directors hired her as the new Managing Director. Theatre credits include: Little Theatre on the Square: Chicago, Santaland Diaries (SM), The Full Monty, Hairspray, My Fair Lady, Crazy for You, The Sound of Music, La Cage Aux Folles (ASM). Shakespeare & Company: The Comedy of Errors, More Words! More Play!, Toad of Toad Hall, Pericles, Romeo & Juliet Tour, The Mad Pirate and the Mermaid, Cindy Bella (SM); The Canterville Ghost (ASM); Milwaukee Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, Cymbeline (ASM); Madison Repertory Theatre’s New Play Festival (SM).
Artistic Director – Trista Duval (she/her)
Trista Duval joined Centerstage as the Artistic Director in July of 2017. A resident of Federal Way, she has several Centerstage shows under her belt and is honored to be able to continue to build its legacy. Trista holds a BFA in Music Theatre from Elon University in North Carolina, and has performed up and down the East Coast, in Texas, and now in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where she first began to grow her experience as an arts team builder and director. She is married to a stellar guy and has two gorgeous boys who think they own this theatre.
Administrative Assistant – Rylie Latham (she/they)
Rylie joined the Centerstage crew around February of 2022 as a choreographer and joined as an Administrative Assistant soon after. She has a BA from Eastern Washington University in Theatre and a minor in Dance. They have been a dancer, actor, choreographer, assistant artistic director, assistant director, and director, they have a goal of learning all they can about all aspects of working in the world of theatre so they can give back to their community in the art form they love. Rylie lives with her forever scene partner and spouse, their dramatic and beautiful daughter, and their “meow meow.”
Community Engagement Manager – Jessica Anderson (she/her)
jessica@centerstagetheatre.com
volunteers@centerstagetheatre.
Jessica joined the Centerstage staff in June of 2022 after performing in her first Centerstage show, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The last three years she has worn many hats in the theatre administrative world. She is excited for the opportunity to grow and strengthen the Centerstage Theatre Volunteer Program and engage the community in creative ways in this new role. A native Oregonian, she now lives in Des Moines with her superhero husband and her overly-dramatic-Sondheim-obsessed 4 year old daughter.
House Manager – Mary Sawyer
Mary began volunteering as an usher more than 20 years ago. From then until today, she has supported Centerstage by stepping up to every role asked of her: from box office to backstage and volunteer coordinator to coffee maker. Her work extends outside of “business hours” as well. If you’ve enjoyed a cookie, Coke, coffee, candy or cup of wine while at Centerstage, you’ve probably got Mary to thank for it.