Beth Rohn-Habhegger, Board President, moved to Wisconsin Rapids from North Dakota at the end of December 2018 to pastor the Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church (conveniently right across 3rd Ave from the theater). Theater has been a big part of her life from early childhood. She has been a part of church plays for longer than she can remember and school productions since she was in 2nd grade. She was a part of the outdoor drama Trumpet in the Land (one of the longest running outdoor dramas in America) in rural Ohio. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (theater concentration) and Religion from Moravian College and a Masters of  Divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary. She has helped to create “Team Thespian” for the Lake Mills High School (Lake Mills, WI), a group of students who create sketches about social norms and performs them for the elementary and middle schools, has helped direct school musicals and plays for both the Lake Mills High School and Casselton High School (Casselton, ND). In addition she has been a part of community theater in Lake Mills (where she met her husband) and North Dakota.  She and her husband, Seth Habhegger, co-founded a non-profit theater group Cass Act Players whose mission was to bring the performing arts to those who can not make it out and to support local playwriters in getting their work performed and published. She enjoys singing, dancing, acting, and participating in community events. She became involved with WRCT during the Covid pandemic, participating in the online production of A Christmas Carol and then Winter Frost. Her most recent role at WRCT was performing the role of Jennie Malone in Neil Simon’s Chapter Two. Her favorite role, however, is mom to two wonderful red-headed boys.

 

 

David Farmbrough, Board Vice President, moved to Wisconsin Rapids from London in 2008 and found WRCT a great place to meet like-minded people. He has acted in many plays here and in England, and has also directed, written, and worked behind-the-scenes. He is married with a blended family and is a Realtor/Broker with Coldwell Banker Siewert Realtors. He is also on the on the board of FRM Music Festival, and has been on the boards of McMillan Memorial Library (President), Central Wisconsin Literacy Council, and others. He enjoys local history, listening to and making music. He wrote for for The Voice newspaper for four years and was the founding editor of Wisconsin Rapids City-Times. He believes in Wisconsin Rapids and its people. His favorite role in WRCT was singing and playing “39” in Packer Fans From Outer Space. His 'wish list' projects are King Lear and Jesus Christ Superstar.

 

 

John Young, Board Treasurer, may not be a native of Wisconsin Rapids but after living here more than half his life, he certainly considers this beautiful town his home. It helps that he’s been involved with the local Wisconsin Rapids Downtown Farmers Market for the better part of the past decade and with the Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre for the majority of the past twenty plus years. Although he’s been acting and working backstage in and on shows, 14 or so of them,  since he was a teenager in high school; over the course of those twenty plus years with WRCT, he’s acted in a variety of shows, 18 so far, worked backstage as a stage manager, props manager, or lighting designer for a collection of other shows, nine of them; and will direct his sixth show, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” this coming season. All this time with these two groups and for the past five years working a job he loves in technical support at Skyward has just added to that feeling that he is home here in Wisconsin Rapids. He’s very happy to join the WRCT board in order to add his experience and knowledge to the already considerable experience and knowledge of the current board members.

 

 

Gretchen Powers, Board Secretary, is excited to serve as a WRCT board member. She is a solid believer in building and growing community organizations. Gretchen's involvement with WRCT began as a child when she would participate in children’s theatre. As she grew older, she was involved in several mainstage shows, of which she has fond memories. Gretchen has worked on backstage crews, helped with props and lights, and directed "It's a Wonderful Life". She has directed youth productions, written several children's plays, and is a co-founder of “HOPO” Productions. Gretchen has a degree in sociology/social work from UWSP, and works as a social worker for people with disabilities. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, writing, and spending time with her children, Amethyst and Finley.

 

 

Linda Garski, Board Director, has acted in 20+  WRCT productions and has directed 13. She also enjoys doing scenery and sewing costumes. She's been the WRCT Web Designer since 2004. Linda  served on the WRCT Board during the Capital Campaign, after which we built our beautiful theatre. Linda makes a living as a Senior Web Designer at Renaissance, where she's worked since 2000. She is married to Bob and has one son, Jordan, who with his wife Kayla gave Linda and Bob their first grandbaby, Eleanor Marie. Linda enjoys family time, putzing in her yard, and relaxing at their camper.

 

 

David Skibba, Board Director, first associated with WRCT in 2005 in "Escanaba In Da Moonlight." That’s all it took to get him hooked. He has appeared in two other main stage productions and plays Beetlejuice for the Haunted House fundraisers. But, he has since discovered that sound design and board operation are his passion. He has designed or run sound for more than twelve plays. He has also been involved in choosing and installing various pieces of sound equipment in the theater. David loves music and digital technology and started the DJ business Portable Soundz in 2015. He has played in several local rock bands during the years. His wife, a WRCT veteran, is also musically talented: they are part of the contemporary rock praise band at their church. David retired from Verso Papers Wisconsin Rapids Division in 2018 after more than 40 years of service with 18 years as a Storeroom Receiving Clerk. He intends to spend his “free time” with and helping his kids as well as volunteering his time at church and, of course, the theater.

 

 

Jeff Friday, Board Director, was introduced to theater in high school, and it became a passion. Then life happened, and theater just wasn’t an option. Jeff spent 29 years in the military as a radio operator, mechanic, engineer, law enforcement officer, instructor, inspections officer, and facilities chief, just to name a few. After retiring from the military in 2014, he spent a couple of years working at Bay Shipbuilding as supply chain supervisor and then facilities engineer before retiring for good. He was convinced by his mother to participate in a Silver Foxes play she was directing several years ago, which reignited Jeff’s love of the theater. Since then, he has received several roles in Silver Foxes plays and main stage productions, built multiple sets, and learned from so many at the theater. Jeff said he looks forward to continuing to grow with the theater and work to give everyone in the community the opportunity to enjoy what we have to offer.

 

 

Chris Williams, Board Director, moved back to the Wisconsin Rapids area with his wife, Pam, in 2019 after living 7 years in Madison and 23 in SE Minnesota.  Chris’ first acting experience was in the musical, “Oklahoma” while a student at Nekoosa High School in the 70’s. He has performed with Austin, Minnesota’s Summerset Theatre, Matchbox Children’s Theatre and Northwestern Singers. He was also a long-time member of the LeRoy, MN Community Theater and a drama advisor for the LeRoy-Ostrander MN School District. Chris is a true fan of musicals and has performed in many including Shrek The Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Damn Yankees and South Pacific. He is excited to be a part of the WRCT Board and looks forward to future acting and directing opportunities.

 

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