Meet the Staff

Michael Querio has happily called RMRT his artistic home for over 30 years. He first arrived in 1995 as pianist and music director for Nunsensein the old Community House. Since then, Michael has helped bring more than 100 productions to the RMRT stage and has seen that stage from just about every angle — from the orchestra pit as music director and pianist, under the lights as an actor (Forever Plaid2000, West Side Story1998 and 2017, Titanic), and from the front of the house as Artistic Director (where the view is excellent and the budget spreadsheets are less glamorous). This season he continues his long tradition as an RMRT understudy, always prepared and quietly grateful that he has only rarely had to prove it. Last year, Michael was honored with a Henry Award for Outstanding Music Director, as RMRT also celebrated a remarkable year, taking home an armful of Henry Awards across multiple productions. Favorite productions over the years include Hands on a Hardbody, Desperate Measures, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Chess, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Titanic. Along the way, Michael has worked as a conductor, teacher, arranger, and pianist, and has spent more than 25 years bringing music and theatre into schools and classrooms. Michael holds degrees from the University of Illinois and Illinois Wesleyan University and remains grateful to spend his summers making theatre in Grand Lake.

Jeff Duke feels fortunate to be part of this extraordinary company. He has directed and choreographed more than 40 productions at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, including Come From Away, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, A Chorus Line, Titanic, West Side Story, Almost Heaven: The Music of John Denver, among others. This year Jeff received the Henry Award for Best Director for Come From Away, which was also honored with Best Musical by the Colorado Theatre Guild. He is also a five-time Henry Award nominee and a Denver Post Ovation Award recipient for All Shook Up, shared with Jennifer Lupp. As a performer, Jeff has appeared in numerous professional theatrical productions in Chicago. He has been a featured vocalist with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and performed with the Chicago Symphony Chorus on the Grammy Award-winning recording of Verdi’s Requiem. He is also featured on the Grammy-nominated score for Steven Spielberg’s movie Lincoln.  Jeff conceived and directed the acclaimed concert series Second City Divas and has recorded and toured with the vocal ensemble Table for 5. A member of Actors’ Equity Association and the American Guild of Musical Artists, Jeff is grateful to the RMRT Board of Trustees, the Town of Grand Lake, and the audiences who make this work possible. Enjoy the shows!

Ethan Newman is excited to be returning for yet another season with RMRT. He brings over a decade of professional experience in theatrical lighting and production, developed during ten years working in New York City. During that time, Ethan designed lighting for more than one hundred musicals and plays, as well as numerous ballets, magic shows, and large-scale entertainment productions, including cruise ship shows. He is now based in Denver, where he lives with his wife, Suzanna Champion, and continues to work as a freelance designer while supporting Rocky Mountain Rep’s productions as both production manager and lighting designer. Learn more about Ethan’s work at eanewmandesigns.com.

Kathy Frazier has worked as an independent accountant and bookkeeper for many businesses and organizations in Grand County since moving here in 2007. This is her sixth year with RMRT, and she is excited about the upcoming season and working with the RMRT team.  Kathy would like to thank the Board of Trustees, Michael, Jeff, and the team of people that makes it all possible.

Jennifer Mace is entering her eleventh year with Rocky Mountain Rep as communications manager. She holds a degree from University of Colorado – Boulder where she studied advertising, English, and women’s studies.  Jennifer would like to thank each and every advertiser represented in our playbill — without them this piece would not be possible.  She would also like to thank her co-workers for all they do, the RMRT Board of Trustees, Michael, and Jeff.   Much love to her husband, Kelly, and two amazing daughters, Collette and Vallie.

Christal McDougall is delighted to be on the RMRT team for her tenth year. Although she has spent time as a performer, she’s most comfortable working behind the scenes; she currently also works as managing artistic director for Upstage Youth Theatre. She is grateful for her co-workers Michael, Jeff, Jenn, Dennis, and Kathy. And a million special thanks to the board members and patrons who support youth theatre in Grand County throughout the year.

Dennis Mills is entering his 16th year with Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre. He is a Colorado native and has been in Grand County for over 25 years. Prior to RMRT, Dennis worked for Mel Waggoner Construction, the Denver Broncos, International Entertainment Consultants, Technical Theater and Staging, and Feyline Presents. Special thanks to Michael Querio, Jeff Duke, Jennifer Mace, and Christal McDougall for putting up with him. Much love to Beth, Justin, Eliott, Blake, Rachael, Trey, and Aaliyah.