About Us
Board of Directors
President: Misti White
Vice President: Stephanie Stewman
Treasurer: Don Carpenter
Secretary: Piers Bateman
Members
Win Emmons III
Melinda Adams
Ansuya Abnoussi
Katie Selman-Green
Cris Houston
Austin Hooper
Caelie Terrazas
Wanda Kennedy
Jocelyn Williams
Advisory Council
General Counsel Pro Bono: Matthew Wright
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Waco Civic Theatre, a non-profit organization, is to provide the Heart of Texas community with quality live theatre, to create an outlet for community education and participation in all aspects of productions, and to instill in the community a sense of pride and ownership in the theatre.
OUR History
The Beginning
The roots of Waco Civic Theatre date back to the 1920s when the work of many enlightened citizens combined to form Waco Little Theatre, which operated from 1925 to 1936. In 1945, then chairman of the Baylor University Drama Department, Dr. Paul Baker, and a team of WLT participants worked to reform the organization that would take the shape of Waco Civic Theatre (WCT) three years later. In 1955, Waco Civic Theatre was granted its non-profit status as a 501(c)(3).
Its own entity
Dr. Paul Baker collaborated with architect James Hull Miller of Shreveport, LA to design and build the new WCT at its current locale. So noteworthy was the success of their teamwork that the new theatre was commended in 1963 by the Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects as one of the three best-designed theatres of its kind in the United States. Over the years, WCT has undergone several additons and renovations, thanks to grants and donations by the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation; The Cooper Foundation; The Waco Foundation; and Mr. Frank Baird Jr. of Buffalo, NY in an endowment honoring his mother, Mrs. Flora Cameron Baird.
Currently
The Mission of the Waco Civic Theatre, a non-profit organization, is to provide the Heart of Texas community with quality live theatre, to create an outlet for community education and participation in all aspects of productions, and to instill in the community a sense of pride and ownership in the theatre.
OUR STAFF
Eric Shephard: Executive Director
Eric has been the Executive Director since 2013. He joined WCT after 13 years as Artistic Director of Killeen’s Vive Les Arts Theatre and holds a Master’s Degree in Theatre Directing from Baylor University. You may have seen him in a few of our productions, most recently, Outside Mullingar.
Chaz Macklin: Technical Director
Chaz is the set wizard! He joined the team in spring of 2021 and came on staff the following August. He programs the lights, designs the sets, constructs everything (with the help of volunteers), and is mastering the sound system. His most recent sets include The Light in the Piazza, Outside Mullingar, and Legally Blonde Jr., among many. His favorite show is Something Rotten but his dream role is The Carnival Barker from Assassins.
Kelly MacGregor: Executive Director
A Waco resident since 2007, and a formerly Professor of Voice in Baylor Theatre, Kelly MacGregor brings an expertise in directing and non-profit fundraising to Waco Civic Theatre.
Kelly hopes to foster an encouraging and educational environment, supporting WCT’s mission statement to allow everyone in the community to get involved in all aspects of productions. Her experience in traveling all over the world lends a fresh perspective on what it means to be a community striving to work together in a city you can believe in!
Piper McDonald: Box Office Manager
Piper began working at the Waco Civic Theatre towards the end of 2022. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Contemporary and Applied Theatre Studies from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland and decided to come back to Waco to learn more about the theatre arts scene here. Piper is also an Executive Member of Silent House Theatre Company and has also worked with Heart of Texas Children’s Theatre and Young Festival Stage. She holds a strong passion for scenic design and the Theatre of the Absurd.
Desiree Foley: Director of Community Relations
Desiree Foley is a Texas native and musical theater enthusiast. She grew up dancing and performing in productions throughout her youth and college, and she first performed with Waco Civic Theatre in 2016. Desiree has a master’s degree in Human Resources, and prior to her job at Waco Civic Theatre, Desiree worked at Baylor University’s Career Center for four years. Desiree is also an active member of Mosaic Waco church where she serves as a Deacon and on the HR Committee.
Lucy Appel: Director of Business and Operations
Lucy joined Waco Civic Theatre in the spring of 2024. A CPA and small business owner, Lucy is proud to use her accounting background to serve the Waco community. She is a graduate of Baylor University.