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WHO’S WHO

Cline, A Midnight Clear: A Musical Tale of KENN MCLAUGHLIN (Artistic Director)
Christmas, Alma en venta (Soul on Sale), The 2020-2021 season marks Kenn
We Are Proud To Present…, The Great McLaughlin’s fifteenth season as Stages’
American Trailer Park Musical (2018), artistic leader, following five successful
Swimming While Drowning, Panto Star years as the theatre’s Managing Director.
Force and Sex With Strangers. Assistant Kenn has produced more than 100
Stage Management Credits at Stages productions, including record-breaking
Repertory Theatre include: Big Fish. She hits like The Marvelous Wonderettes
would like to thank God, her amazing and Late Nite Catechism series; The
husband Craig, her wonderful parents, Great American Trailer Park Musical
family & friends for their constant love and and revivals of the theatre’s landmark
support. original musical Always…Patsy Cline; as
well as pivotal world and U.S. premieres
MARK FOLKES (Managing Director) Mark such as De Kus, Black Pearl Sings, An
Folkes joined Stages as Managing Director American Brat, Miss Teen nine original
in 2015 during an important time of growth Pantomime productions, and The Great
for the company. In the role of Managing American Trailer Park Christmas Musical.
Director, Mark leads Stages’ administrative He has directed over 30 shows for Stages.
functions with a focus on financial Highlights include: Auntie Mame, Road
management, fundraising, marketing and Show, Grey Gardens, Full Gallop, The
strategic planning. In recent years, Stages’ Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in
annual operating budget has more than the Universe, Mack and Mabel, Speech
doubled from $2.1 million to $5.5 million and Debate, The Man Who Shot Liberty
today, driven by transformational growth Valance, Stupid Fucking Bird, The Blonde,
in ticket sales and philanthropic support. The Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead
In January 2020, Stages celebrated the and the world premiere of Miss Teen.
opening of a three-theatre new venue, He has also written the book for two of
The Gordy, funded by a capital campaign Stages’ hit musicals: Panto Mother Goose
that has raised more than $35.8 million and A Midnight Clear both with music by
including one of the largest individual gifts composer David Nehls. This season, Kenn
to support the performing arts in Houston’s has directed The Doyle and Debbie Show,
history. Prior to joining Stages, Mark served Salt, Root and Roe, The Fantasticks and
as Senior Director, Development for the will direct the world premiere of Hook’s
Houston Symphony, and has worked for Tale. Beyond Houston, Kenn’s musical, I’ll
a variety of arts organizations including Be Home for Christmas (also written with
Canada’s National Arts Centre, the David Nehls) received its World Premiere
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the College- production at the Arvada Center for the
Conservatory of Music at the University Arts and Humanities in Denver and was
of Cincinnati, and Houston Grand nominated for a Henry Award for Best New
Opera. Mark is a Certified Fund Raising Play/Musical. Outside of Houston, Kenn
Executive and holds Master of Arts (Arts recently directed The Threepenny Opera
Administration) and Master of Business for The Santa Fe University of Art and
Administration degrees from the University Design and Sexy Laundry for the renowned
of Cincinnati. He studied theatre as an Peterborough Players. Prior to his arrival
undergraduate at the University of Waterloo at Stages, Kenn spent eleven years at
and the Canadian College of Performing Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland.
Arts. In 2018, Mark was recognized as At Great Lakes, Kenn helped to build the
a Houston Business Journal 40 Under largest theatre-based education program
40 Honoree. for a performing arts institution in the
state of Ohio. He directed the company’s