OUR BOARD & STAFF
StageQ is currently run by a group of dedicated volunteers who meet monthly both as a board and as various committees. We are also fortunate to have a wide network of volunteers and staff who help StageQ's various committees and fill various roles within the company. All of these individuals are critical to StageQ's existence and have been since the beginning.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Abby Pawelski (she/her) - President
Abby is a proud butch lesbian who loves theatre! She originally moved to Madison to attend UW-Madison and stuck around afterwards because the city was so cool. She has been in several StageQ productions including Act a Lady and Secretaries. She also recently directed and playwright managed for the 2024 CapitalQ Theatre Festival. She wants to use her position on the board to promote fun and impactful queer stories for all of the Madison community.
Lu Meinders (they/them) - Vice President
Lu M. Meinders is thrilled to be on the StageQ Board and have the opportunity to encourage and support the theatre community in the Madison area. They received their Theatre Arts: Technical Design Management degree from Edgewood College in 2018. Since moving to Madison, they have worked with various theater companies including Edgewood College Theater Arts Department, Children's Theater of Madison, and KR Women's Theatre. When not stage managing or designing, they spend most of their time acquiring new crafting skills and stalking the local art stores for supplies.
Peter Turino (he/him) - Secretary
Peter is a comically inclined, queer, one of a kind nerd. He has loved the performing arts since a very young age. With a formal education in improv and a less formal education of life lessons, he has spent many years being involved in theater. Whether it be in the director’s chair or running the light board, ushering or running the concessions, Peter is the jack of all trades for theatrics. With this new chapter on the Board of Directors, he hopes to take a more active role in creating safe spaces for people like him in the arts he loves so dearly. Peter has been off the stage for a few years, but is predisposed to take up acting again if he gets the itch.
Kalea Bicoy (she/her) - Treasurer
Kalea is a queer woman with a long history of love for Theater. Since graduating from UW-Madison she has started to help StageQ both on and off the stage most recently starring Patty in The Secretaries and previously as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. As treasurer she takes her years of experience in the banking industry to the Board of Directors helping StageQ continue to prosper. Going forward, expect to see her either up on stage or in a corner hunched over some spreadsheets.
Shawn D Padley (he/they) - Member-at-Large
Shawn is a queer, transmasculine theatrical artist based out of Madison, WI. While primarily an actor and director, he's worked both on and off stage with Madison College Theatre, Edgewood College Theatre, Children's Theater of Madison, and Forward Theater; and he has undertaken work with nine productions in 2022 alone. Shawn's acting and backstage work have earned him numerous accolades, including three Irene Ryan nominations for outstanding performance with the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. They've worked with StageQ as a Director (Molinda Falls and The Agency), Assistant Stage Manager (CapitalQ Theatre Festival), and Lightboard Operator (Queer Shorts: Spirit of Stonewall) in the past and are very excited to join the board!
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James Van Abel (he/him) - Member-at-Large
James is queer, trans, and passionate about theatre. He has always loved theatre for its ability to build communities and provide healing/respite through storytelling, and was drawn to the StageQ theatre company by its additional mission for representation. Combining his love for the arts and social justice, James has a particular interest in making theatre equitable and accessible for all who wish to participate (as actor, production staff, audience member, etc.). He hopes to use his position on the board to help the theatre continue and grow into a space where all members of the queer/LGBTQ+ community can be seen, can be heard, and can just be.
Ren Kaspar-Tracy (they/them) - Member-at-Large
Ren is a pan, trans, disabled, theater loving silly goose! They grew up working in theaters with the family business, and have been doing theater productions consistently since 2007. They've done everything from producing, choreography, acting and even stage managing! As long as they're in a theater, they're happy. They've been working with StageQ since 2019, and are excited to continue working to make an impact with StageQ telling the queer stories that need to be told in today's climate.
STAFF & COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRODUCTION MANAGER:
Tatyana Nahirniak
ARTISTIC COMMITTEE
Lu Meinders - Chair
Brittany Loughman
Abby Pawelski
Shawn Padley
James Van Abel
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
James Van Abel
Kalea Bicoy
Peter Turino
Lu Meinders
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Lu Meinders - Chair