Board of Directors

Executive Director – Tami Kress

Tamra Clayson Kress and her family are Idaho transplants but are thrilled to call North Carolina home. Tami has her Masters Degree in theatre from Idaho State University. She taught high school for 9 years where she was selected as the State of Idaho Drama Teacher of the Year and directed the first high school production chosen to be a showcase performance at Festivention. Tami also taught at Idaho State University for 4 years. In addition to being the Executive Director of Studio 1 and directing many shows in the area, she loves teaching her 50 voice and piano students!! She has directed over 60 productions, and acted in over 40 productions—and thanks her beautiful family for supporting her in all of those. Tami started the American Falls Theatre Guild and the C.A.T. theatre program in Pocatello Idaho and both are still going strong today. Though she has lost both of her parents, she dedicates every one of her productions to them because they taught her to find a passion and pursue it—and then gave her the tools to enable her to do that.

President – Wayne Leonard

Wayne Leonard has been actively involved in community theatre since 2005 when he and his family joined the cast at Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre. That summer, he performed in The Sword of Peace, Pathway to Freedom, and Fiddler on the Roof.

He is an award-winning director with more than two dozen credits for Orange Community Players, Studio 1 (Burlington), Alamance Children’s Theatre, Gallery Players (Burlington), and Mebane Acting Company. In 2015, his production of Night at the Wax Museum with Alamance Children’s Theatre was recognized as the “Notable Children’s Production (community or professional)” by the Piedmont Triad Theatre Guide. He has twice been the recipient of the Gallery Players Pearl Award for Best Director of a Play.

Mr. Leonard has also appeared on stage in more than thirty productions with Gallery Players, Paramount Acting Company (Burlington), Studio 1, Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre, and Orange Community Players. He originated the role of Robert Harrill in The Hermit of Fort Fisher with the Paramount Acting Company and is a recipient of the Pearl Award for Best Actor in a Non-Musical for his performance in the Gallery Players production of Life With Father.

Mr. Leonard also serves as Studio 1 Board Liaison on the Snow Camp Board of Directors and is retired from Orange County Schools.

He is the host of Lights Up! on WHUP in Hillsborough. Lights Up! is a radio broadcast about theatre in central North Carolina and airs each Wednesday afternoon from 5:00 – 6:00. WHUP can be heard at 104.7 FM and streamed over the internet at whupfm.org.

Vice President/Director of Fundraising – Willy Fisher

Mr. Fisher is Partner/Certified Financial Planner at Fisher Wealth Management in Burlington, and has worked in the financial services industry for over 20 years. He has also been involved with performing arts his whole life; from taking dance and performing in high school musicals, to performing professionally on national tours, and now a parent to children who love the stage. “The performing arts are such a great outlet for many of our youth and adults in Alamance County and the surrounding areas. Studio 1 gives them another chance to become better students, humanitarians, team players, and people. People have experiences and form friendships here that will be with them their entire lives.”

Webmaster – Layla Micheo

Layla Micheo

Director of Education – Debbie Williams

Debbie Williams holds a BS from UNC-G in Early Childhood Education and is a retired Program Manager from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC. She was involved in theater and band during high school and re-caught the theater bug, thanks to her son Jay, at Snow Camp Outdoor Theater from 2002 – 2014. She has been a member of Orange Community Players in Hillsborough since 2011 as part of their artistic board. She has been involved with Studio 1 since 2014 and currently serves as Treasurer on the Studio 1 Board and President of the newly formed Studio 1 Snow Camp Board. Debbie is blessed beyond belief to be part of the Studio 1 family and thankful for the countless opportunities and even more thankful for a supportive family for putting up with her crazy adventures.

Director of Diversity – Erica Harris

Erica Harris is a North Carolina native and graduate of UNC-G’s American Sign Language interpreting program. Although life led her down that path, she has always had a love for performing arts. She has interpreted in many settings but theatrical interpreting is one of her favorites. Navigating the community theatre world has been an awesome new experience for her and she is so excited to join the Board and give back to Studio 1! She made her community theatre debut in the ASL shadow interpreted production “Into the Woods.

Director of Box Office/Front of House – Teresa Leiser

Teresa Leiser has a Masters Degree in Music Education from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. She taught vocal music at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She helped her voice students and choruses win awards at the New York State School Music Association competitions each year. Since moving to North Carolina, she has enjoyed staying at home with her 5 children. She now directs our elite choir, Voices@1, and teaches middle school history at The Burlington School. Teresa proudly serves as the Director of Box Office/Front of House for Studio 1.

Historian – Lora Wilder

Lora Wilder is the Studio 1 Historian and longest serving board member. She has served on the Studio 1 Board of Directors since 2012 and was in the very first Main Stage Musical, Frog and Toad All Year. Some of her favorite roles on the Studio 1 stage are Miss Tweed, Something’s Afoot, Jack’s Mom, Into the Woods, Martha, Arsenic and Old Lace and Director for the Side By Side Theatre.

Board Member – Richard Phinney

I feel that it is an honor to be part of Studio 1. I am now retired after 40 years of teaching nursing in the Philadelphia area. I hold graduate degrees in both nursing and education. My beautiful and talented daughter Terry introduced me to the stage some 12 years ago. Since then I have been in 13 plays in support roles. I truly love all aspects of theatre. For me Studio 1 embraces the very essence of community theatre. It’s commitment to diversity which encompasses all ages, genders, and culture speaks to the very heart of our society. I particularly like working with teenagers as a fellow actor. I find intergenerational connections to be mutually rewarding and theatre has provided the opportunity for this to be actualized. Finally the mission of Studio 1 incorporates the values that I want to continue to support. Am looking forward to being a productive member of the Board.

Director of Production – Sarah Elizabeth Carroll

S. Elizabeth Carroll has had theatre running through her veins since she was a child. After attending Oklahoma City University and Northern Kentucky University where she studied musical theatre, and worked professionally in the Cincinnati area, she moved to North Carolina in 2011. Shortly after that she went to work as an art auctioneer on cruise liners where she met her husband. Elizabeth returned to North Carolina and the stage in 2013 and has since made a name for herself in the area as a performer on community and professional stages. She found a new family at Studio 1 and is proud to support the community as a member of the board.

Director of Communications – Carrie Sippy

Carrie Sippy holds an M.A. in English from UNC Charlotte and has been involved in community theater since the age of 6. She is the theatre teacher at Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill where some of her directorial credits include Sense and Sensibility, Beauty and the Beast, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Since joining Studio 1 in 2021, you may have seen Carrie onstage as a mermaid, a princess, a baker’s wife, and the mom to a demigod among a variety of other roles! One of the reasons Carrie believes theatre is so important is that it teaches both actors and audiences to be empathetic–to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and see the world through their eyes, if only for a brief moment. She is honored to serve the local theater community as part of the Studio 1 Executive Board.

Director of Engagement – Pat Holsclaw

Pat Holsclaw first experienced Live Theater while in college at ASU to see Fiddler on the Roof… which coincidentally was the song she played at her first piano recital at age 10! She has been in love with live theater at all levels ever since.

Pat is an Art Therapist and recently opened her Private Practice in Greensboro.
Art therapy uses active art-making, the creative process, and applied psychological theory—within a psychotherapeutic relationship—to enrich the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

Pat has 3 sons. Her youngest son Mitchell reawakened her love for Performing Arts 15 years ago. Pat’s passion is with Visual Arts, so you will likely not see her performing on stage. She does love being a part of the creative work that happens behind the scenes though. She prefers a paintbrush over a microphone every time.

Pat is excited to be a part of Studio 1 Board and reigniting her love for Performing Arts with this incredible organization. She has enjoyed watching the Studio grow over the years, and shares its enthusiasm of promoting the Arts in our Community.

Director of Marketing – Traven McClain

You might recognize Traven from bringing his daughter Treya to camps and rehearsals and lessons. Traven is from Burlington NC. He is married to his best friend and they have 3 kids: a set of twins age 24 and a daughter age 13. He currently works at Labcorp in the field of Information Technology. He has been with Labcorp about 17 years and enjoys the challenge and demand of working in a field where they get to deliver solutions and improve people’s lives. Outside of work he enjoys reading, sports and mostly saltwater fishing—which he enjoys whether the fish are biting or not

Director of Community Service – Stephanie Dawson

Director of Community Service – Noah Pieper

Noah Pieper has been involved with Studio 1 since the summer of 2019 when he played The SQUIP in Be More Chill. Since then, he has performed in many shows at Studio 1, where he made countless memories, friends, and met the love of his life, Stephanie. Noah couldn’t be happier to give back to Studio 1 by serving on the board and helping others experience the same joy that is truly “so much more than real life”. Outside of Studio 1, Noah is a research technician at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC Chapel Hill. He is also a proud parent of two cats (Lavender and Basil) alongside Stephanie.