Our Team
Staff
LaCretia Gelley
Executive Artistic Director
LaCretia brings over 20 years of diverse experience in the arts, along with a strong background in business management. Her extensive career includes directing, teaching, producing, music directing, choreographing, and performing, combined with a proven track record of successful business operations. She holds a Master of Arts in Education and has pursued extensive continuing education. She is currently working towards a terminal MFA degree, underscoring her commitment to ongoing professional development. Her qualifications also include multiple
certifications in the arts and physical movement, reflecting her holistic approach to arts education. Her commitment to lifelong learning and professional development underpins her leadership approach.
Since joining Ao1 in 2009, LaCretia has been pivotal in shaping the theater's artistic vision and programming, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that aligns with Christian values. Her dedication to nurturing young talent is evident in her direction and production of numerous local shows, including award-winning productions such as Mary Poppins, the Musical.
LaCretia’s philosophy centers on the transformative power of storytelling and the arts on personal and communal growth, believing they are essential for developing well-rounded
individuals who are curious, critical thinkers, and productive members of society with strong moral foundations. She is committed to helping young artists realize their God-given talents and inspiring the next generation of performers to grow in their faith and their craft.
Diane Dodd
Finance Director
Diane Dodd is one of the founding board members of Ao1. A licensed CPA, she has been the finance director and box office coordinator at Ao1 since its inception. She has three boys that have grown up with the Ao1 family.
Kelly Evans
Administrative Assistant
Kelly has been with Audience of One since 2011 as a parent and since 2017 as a staff member. She is currently our Administrative Assistant, where she takes care of all the details and helps to keep everyone on track. Her skills from wrangling and homeschooling two children over the past 16 years are a natural transition to her role with Ao1. She has her bachelor’s in management from the University of Wyoming and her MBA from the University of Denver. Upon graduating, she spent nine years in human resources and recruiting before making the decision to stay home with her children. She has been married for 22 years to her high school sweetheart (Phil), has a 16-year old daughter (Grace), and a 12-year old son (Owen). If you can't find her, she's reading or listening to a book, walking her dog, or both.
Costume Designer
Denise began her journey with Ao1 as a founding parent in 2008 and quickly took on roles as Program Manager and Costume Designer in 2009. She continued in these positions until 2013, when she transitioned to the role of Executive Director. For over a decade, Denise led Ao1 with dedication, all while continuing her work as Costume Designer until her retirement in June 2024.
But Denise’s story with Ao1 is far from over! She is excited to return for her third chapter, focusing solely on her beloved role as Ao1 Costume Designer. Denise’s interest in costuming began when her daughters were involved in dance and musical theater, leading her to discover that God had given her a passion for creating characters through costume design. Under the guidance of her mother, a lifelong seamstress, Denise honed her skills and together they crafted hundreds of award-winning theater costumes from 2008 to 2022. Denise has been honored to carry on her mom’s legacy since her passing. She believes that every child is precious to the Lord and puts her whole heart into creating the perfect costume for each one as an expression of God’s love.
Outside of the theater and sewing machine, Denise cherishes time with her husband of 36 years, their five grown children and their families, and their seven grandsons. The family enjoys boating, camping, paddle boarding, and the beaches of Cape Cod, as well as celebrating holidays together.
Michelle DuMoulin
Program Manager
Michelle is excited to be a part of the Ao1 team as our program manager! She has previously been involved through programming lights and helping run tech for Ao1 since 2018. Her son, Luke, was a part of Ao1 for 10 years and did 36 shows with this amazing organization. He is now a freshman at Colorado School of Mines and is super thrilled to be giving back to Ao1 by assistant directing Anything Goes this session. Michelle is also a first grade teacher in Denver and has been married to her high school sweetheart (Mike) for 25 years. When Michelle is not at the theater, you can find her having fun with her amazing family and friends.
Cassidy Elmer
LIFEGuard Director,
Stage Manager,
Rehearsal Assistant
Cassidy Elmer has been involved with Ao1 since 2012. She is currently going to school for an elementary education degree with a theater minor at Colorado Christian University and has an Associates in American Sign Language.
She started at Ao1 as an actor and has been a Lifeguard, assistant director, intern, assistant choreographer, and now Lifeguard director and stage manager throughout her time here. Some of Cassidy's favorite activities include snowboarding, hiking, dancing, and anything sports related.
Cassidy is very excited to train the new generation of teen leaders!
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" ( Jeremiah 29:11)
artistic Team
Jamie Johnson
Music Director, Au
Jaime is looking forward to another session at Ao1. She is the Music & Theatre Director at Ben Franklin Academy, a K-8 STEAM school in Highlands Ranch. She is responsible for directing 15 performances each year in band, choir, and theatre. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Redlands and a Masters in Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder. In addition, she has a certificate in vocal coaching from New York Vocal Coaching and a level I certification in Orff Schulwerk, an approach to building musicianship in every learner through the integration of music, movement, speech, and drama.
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Jaime has a strong passion for teaching. She believes music and theatre have the ability to create well-rounded students in a way that other subjects can’t always achieve. Through performing, she has seen students come out of their shells and embrace learning.
Joshua kirk
Director,
Production Coordinator
Joshua Kirk has been using theater to touch lives since 1995. He has worked as a Teaching Artist throughout the US, leading classes and corporate workshops through his company, Improv LEAP. He has transformed corporate cultures, church communities, and the lives of students in every grade (K- Grad) and age (5-85). "Director Josh" moved to Denver in 2002 to build a children’s theater program. He began working for Ao1 shortly after its inception. Joshua received a Masters Degree in Theater Education from the University of Northern Colorado. He is an award winning director and has led over 30 fully staged children’s musicals. Joshua also has a passion for giving back beyond the stage as an unpaid professional with Alpine Rescue Team, a mountain search and rescue team.
Director
Jeff, prior to Ao1, was involved in the theater group Way Out West in Sidney, Nebraska where he directed The Nifty Fifties and acted in Forgiven a Fairytale, Boise-Idaho, and as part of their improv group. Growing up he was part of a theater group like Ao1 and acted throughout High School where some of his favorite productions were Oklahoma, Bye Bye Birdie and Where's Charley?
Amy Summitt
Music Director
taylor Welling
Director
Taylor has been involved in theatre since she was four; storytelling quickly became her joy and biggest passion! Throughout the years, she acted in various productions across Colorado. She found a second home in Audience of One in 2015 and had an absolute blast acting in numerous shows there until she graduated high school. Her mom, Joni Welling, quickly became apart of the Audience of One family by leading many Ao1's make-up teams. Taylor hopes to continue her legacy by reflecting her impact on youth theatre. Beginning in high school, Taylor expanded into other aspects of theatre. She directed, choreographed, and produced many shows through her schools, her community, and the New York region. Taylor then got a degree in musical theatre from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. She is honored to have performed in a handful of Off-Broadway shows during her training in New York and made her London West End Debut in the summer of 2023. Taylor is excited and grateful to return as an Audience of One Alumni! She is so eager to work with the absolutely amazing Ao1 community and help with the next generation of artists! She believes that God is the greatest storyteller of all, that it is up to us to be the light in His story, and that we all have a part to play. When Taylor is not at the theatre, you might find her with her head buried in a book, learning some random historical facts, watching movies with friends, or jamming to her favorite band, Fall Out Boy.
Isabelle Blanken
Choreographer
Isabelle has been involved in the performing arts since she was 3yrs old. She trained in dance and music throughout elementary school and at 11 yrs old joined her first ever musical theater production. Needless to say, she was hooked. Musical theater was the culmination of all the things she loved so dearly: acting, dancing, singing and storytelling. In highschool she joined AO1 and it quickly became her happy place. Isabelle has been teaching dance classes choreographing, and assistant directing musicals for a local performing arts studio since 2021. She is currently pursuing a degree in Musical Theater with a minor in Dance from CCU. Isabelle is thrilled to continue to be a part of the company that helped to grow her into the performer she is today. In her free time, Isabelle is either paddle boarding, reading, playing music, or camping.
Ao1 Board of Directors
Sean McInturff, President
Casey Bauer, VP
Heather Haugen, Treasurer
Sara Bechtold, Secretary
Diane Dodd, Director
Denise Fenner, Director
LaCretia Gelley, Director
Katherine Price, Director
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We are always seeking new additions to our Board of Directors. Please contact LaCretia Gelley for more information on how to get involved.