wrct board of directors
We are passionate about theatre
David Farmbrough, Board 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.
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Chris Williams, Board Vice President, 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.
David Skibba, Board Secretary, 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.
Heather Sairs, Board Treasurer, Is very excited to be on the Board of directors. Born and raised in the Nekoosa area, Heather has been a firm believer in community first. She participated in high school musicals and even did a small role in My Fair Lady for WRCT back in 1995. Taking some time off to raise her family, she has came back to the theater in 2022 for a role in The Odd Couple and again in A Curious Savage. Heather loves to volunteer with numerous non-profit organizations. In addition to WRCT, she is President of the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Fest, Vice President of For Nekoosa (a non-profit organization that brings events to the Nekoosa Community), ambassador for the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, on the board for the Kautzer Park Project and a volunteer for the Nekoosa K9 Fundraiser. Heather works for the City of Nekoosa as the Activities Director for their Community Center. Though she is busy with her community involvement, she puts her family first. Heather is blessed with an amazing husband who supports her crazy schedule, along with their 5 children and one very adorable grandson!
Linda Garski, Board Director, is a lifelong resident of Wisconsin Rapids. She has acted in 20+ WRCT productions and has directed 14. She also enjoys doing scenery and sewing costumes. Linda has been a WRCT Web and Graphic Designer since 2004. She served on the WRCT Board during the Capital Campaign, after which we built our beautiful theatre. Linda recently retired with 23.5 years at Renaissance, where she worked as a Senior Web Designer. She is married to Bob and has one son, Jordan, who with his wife Kayla gave Linda and Bob their first grandbaby, Eleanor Marie (Ella). Linda enjoys family time, putzing in her yard, and relaxing at their camper. And. of course, conversation on current events and politics!
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.
John Young, Board Director, 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.
Phil Hartley, Board Director, is a “Maineiac” - born and raised in Northern Maine, moving to Wisconsin Rapids about 30 years ago. He is blessed to have an amazingly talented family, including his wonderful wife Ann and daughters Rebecca, Maria and Katherine (and now grandson Atlas). Phil has been a part of several WRCT productions through the years, and looks forward to helping with many more! If there is a microphone in the room, he is usually on it. He loves our community and looks to “pay it forward” whenever he can, volunteering and taking part in many community events. He gives a big thank you to all who support WRCT and to the wonderful people who volunteer their time to give our community the wonderful gift of theatre.
Judi Rinker, Board Director, began volunteering for WRCT with her husband Jim in 2022, working on sets. Despite having no theater experience since high school, she quickly became hooked and has since worked back stage with props and costuming. Judi is committed to community and also volunteers for Bluegrass at the Lake and Growing Friends Community Garden. Judi works in healthcare IT and looks forward to using her business operations experience to benefit the theater.
