Birgitta DePree, Artistic Director
Birgitta is a professional actor whose work includes performing, directing, writing, producing and teaching. She received her MFA from the National Theater Conservatory and has performed in theaters throughout the country. Along with her husband Jim Jackson, she is the Artistic Director of the Manitou Art Theatre. The MAT is committed to supporting the creation and production of original theater in the Pike Peak region.

Lynette Reagan, Play Festival Coordinator
Lynette enjoys working behind the scenes! Her past experience includes local and regional theatre in Baltimore, MD before becoming a Colorado Springs transplant in 2000. Working with talented people is so much fun! Thank you to everyone who has made this fifth Playwriting Festival bigger and better than ever.

Linda Nicholos, Play Coordinator
Linda Nicholos is a bookkeeper by trade and a lover of books (and now plays!) at heart. Colorado has been her home since 1973, where she and her husband raised two children. Linda managed Los Ninos, a non-profit import shop benefiting orphans in Guatemala, for several years, and has been coordinating the play reading for the 6 Woman Playwriting Festival since its inception.

Committee

Lucy Graff
It is a privilege this year to be a member of the 6 Women Playwriting Festival Committee. As well, I am proud to be one of the Founding Mothers, and plan to ‘read and give’ to this wonderful event for many years to come. Congratulations to the 6 women whose plays were chosen to be performed this year. You are an inspiration to so many that dream of following in your footsteps. Enjoy the show!

Wendy Mahncke
Wendy Mahncke is a native of Colorado Springs and a graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in English. She has owned several small businesses and volunteered with the Colorado Springs Junior League, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Auxiliary, and Colorado Springs Debutante Ball Committee among others. She is currently self-employed as an artist specializing in pet portraits. Wendy has been with the 6 Women Playwriting Festival since the beginning as a Founding Mother and a reader for five years.

Virginia Carlson
Virginia is so glad to be involved with the 6 Women Playwriting Festival since its inception in 2007. She is a Children’s Librarian who happens to be fascinated by all aspects of live theater and particularly by the involvement of the local community in this unique opportunity which attracts national attention. In her spare time, she bird watches, skis, attempts yoga, and generally enjoys life!

Donna Guthrie
Donna has been writing, teaching and "starting things" for the past twenty-five years. She co-founded The Rocky Mountain Film Festival with Jere Martin and 6 Women @ 60 with playwright Nancy Gall Clayton. In 2007, she started the 6 Women Playwriting Festival with the help of the people on this list and 100 Founding Mothers. Her latest project Meet Me At the Corner is a series of educational video podcasts for kids and can be seen at www. meetmeatthecorner.org.

Eve Tilley
Eve is also producer, actress, costumer, calligrapher, graphic designer, collector, conservator, cook, hostess, gardener, tourist, columnist, mother, daughter, friend, (kept) wife, community activist, PPAC president, teacher, eccentric, wannabe: dancer, singer, horseback rider.

Joan Schulz moved to Colorado Springs in 1974, attended UCCS to complete a Business degree as well as an MBA. She had a career in Defense Contracting that ended in 2007 with her retirement from Lockheed Martin where she had been a Program Manger for large ICBM programs. Soon after retirement she became the President of the Board for the Southeastern Colorado Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She is also on the BOD of TheatreWorks and she and her husband are founders of Hausmusik. She reads plays every year and enjoys seeing them come to life on the stage.

Rhonda Van Pelt is a writer and artist who loves live theater and thinks women are amazing. Rhonda is thrilled to be handling the publicity for the festival; in her spare time she likes to hike, read and do whatever she can to be creative every day.