The Kentucky Theatre Association represents and promotes theatre on all levels in the state of Kentucky. KTA looks to increase awareness of theatre in Kentucky, improve communication among theatre groups, and raise the overall quality of theatre at all levels.

KTA Quick Facts

• KTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, first incorporated in April 1971.
• KTA serves as the sole organization connecting theatres at all levels across the state.
• The highlight of the year for KTA is the annual fall conference, bringing together theatres artists and educators ranging from high school to professional.
• On the national level, KTA works in conjunction with Southeastern Theatre Conference; Kentucky Alliance for Arts Education; and American Alliance for Theatre and Education (pending).
  The fiscal year for KTA begins December 1, annually.
• KTA's membership includes professional theatres, community theatres, college theatre programs, high school theatre programs, K-16 educators, actors, directors, writers, technical theatre professionals, and the general theatre-going public.
• KTA hired its first Executive Director in October 2007.

Doug Schutte, Executive Director

Doug joined the KTA as Executive Director in October 2007. In addition to serving as KTA's director, Doug also teaches in the English and art departments at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, KY. Prior to that he taught at the University of Louisville in the English department. Doug has been involved with theatre at the high school, college, community, and professional levels as a writer, director, designer, and actor. He looks forward to making the business of making theatre easier for Kentucky's players.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Alana Ghent, President

Alana is an Assistant Professor of Drama at Thomas More College, beginning her time there in 1994.  Born in London, Ontario, she earned her BFA in Theatre from Concordia University in Montreal, and then earned her MFA in Directing from the University of Mississippi.   In addition to her work with Thomas More and the KTA, Alana is also the Artistic Director for the Ovation Theatre Company in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Denise Vulhopf Watkins, Vice President

Currently an Associate Professor of Theatre at Morehead State University, Denise was the author of the first Theatre Education Certification Program of its kind in the state of Kentucky, and has taught for the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program.  She has also designed costumes for productions for such theatres as Summer Circle Theatre in Michigan, Emporia Summer Theatre in Kansas, Pleiades Theatre Company in Louisville, KY, and the Lexington Children’s Theatre, and spent one summer on tour with Circus Smirkus!, featured on the Disney Channel.. She has taught theatre at various levels, including a study abroad course in London, England.  She holds a BA from Morehead State in Theatre, French, and Secondary Education, and a MFA in Theatrical Production Design from Michigan State.

Jeremy Kisling, Treasurer

Jeremy Kisling, the Education Director at Lexington Children’s Theatre, has taught acting and theater arts to young people in Iowa, Texas, Washington, and Kentucky. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his Master of Fine Arts in drama and theater for youth from the University of Texas at Austin. Each year, Kisling directs two or three productions at LCT and assists in the development of the company’s original works. He also serves as the Playwright Network chair for the American Alliance in Theatre Education and on the board of the Kentucky Theatre Association. He teaches at the University of Kentucky and Georgetown College.

Amanda Cope, Secretary

Amanda Cope teaches English and assists with the drama program at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington.  She has an M. Ed. from Milligan College and a B.A. in drama and English from Carson-Newman College.  She is currently the site coordinator for the Poetry Out Loud program at Dunbar and a playwright.  She is married to Guy.

Kathi E.B. Ellis, SETC Representative

Kathi E.B. Ellis serves currently as the Kentucky State Representative to SETC.  She has also served as KTA’s Chair of the Professional Theatre Division, Secretary, and President.  Kathi is an independent theatre director, based in Louisville, whose Kentucky directing credits include Actors Guild of Lexington, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Bellarmine University, Centre College, Horse Cave Theatre (now Kentucky Repertory Theatre), Juneteenth Legacy Theatre, Kincaid Regional Theatre, Looking for Lilith Theatre, Pleiades Theatre Company, Public Theatre of Kentucky, Studio Players, and the University of Louisville’s Theatre Department and African American Theatre Program.  She is a member of the Lincoln Center and Chicago Directors’ Labs, an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and is listed on the Southern Arts Federation’s online registry, www.southernartistry/kathi_e_b_ellis.  Her productions of “Jekyll and Hyde” and “West Side Story” have received nominations for South Florida’s Carbonell Award. As the executive director of the Kentucky Alliance for Arts Education she administers the KTA/KAAE annual professional development day for K-12 teachers.

BOARD MEMBERS-AT-LARGE