About Us

Co-President – Wayne Vandenberg  

As a lifelong musician and music lover, Wayne enjoys bringing performances to our community. Taking advantage of numerous opportunities to both perform and present, he is energized by bringing enjoyment and value to his audiences. During his multi-decade career in high tech, Wayne has traveled across the world giving seminars to thousands of technical professionals.

Now, as LPA Co-President, Wayne brings his experience and a curious nature to bring affordable, quality entertainment to our community. Over the past couple of years, he has learned a lot from the all-volunteer board and now helps LPA complete its mission.

Co-President – Marianne Cruikshank

Marianne comes to us with a background in management and administration as well as fine and graphic art. Her formal training includes a degree from Montclair State University and a certification in Computer Graphics from The Art Institute of Colorado. After college she was active for many years in all aspects of community theatre including acting and design of both sets and promotional materials. Her first full time employment was with Nationwide Marketing Associates of New York City as half of their two person Art Department team. She currently works independently as an artist.

Marianne looks forward to working with the LPA board and the performing artists to bring our patrons great programs and experiences.  If you see her at one of the shows come on up and say “hi”; she’d love to meet you and get your feedback.

Vice President – Tim Webb

The dominant theme in Tim’s involvement in music has been that of a singer, beginning as a boy soprano in his middle school choir, then emerging as a bass baritone singing in choruses, small classical and folk groups and musicals throughout his student years. He took a long break from performing while he pursued his career as an attorney and business owner, but re-discovered his love of performing after moving with his wife, Francine, from Northern VA to Loveland in 2006. He sang with the Loveland Choral Society for 16 years (serving as president for 7 years), and sang occasionally in the chorus of Loveland Opera Theatre. Music continues to play a major role in his life, and he is delighted to continue his involvement in music as a board member of the Loveland Performing Arts Association. 

Treasurer – Dale Thurman 

Dale worked as an administrator in the health care industry for 35 years before retiring to Loveland.  He grew up with Rock n’ Roll as the music of the times and still loves to listen to many of those songs of the past and the legends who sang them. “Through the years we’ve seen lots of changes in music— some better than others—but music still soothes the soul, puts a smile on your face, keeps toes tapping, and generally brings happiness,” he commented.

Dale welcomed the opportunity to join Loveland Performing Arts to help bring great entertainment to our community. “It has been a joy to serve as the treasurer of LPA and work with all the great board members to accomplish our goal.”

Secretary/Communications Director – Susan Kelton

Kelton was a music and English major at University of Colorado and has been involved in music all her life as a performer, teacher, and director. She taught band and choir in several school districts and maintained a private piano studio. While living in Ogallala, Nebraska, she was the director of the Cowboy Capital Chorus barbershop chorus. She is enthusiastic about helping LPA continue to present first class productions in Northern Colorado.

Director – Fred Garcia

Fred is proud to serve as a board member with the Loveland Performing Arts.  His passion for music started in 4^th grade where he began playing the clarinet.  In senior high school, he transitioned to alto and bass clarinets.  In college he played bass clarinet in several musicals but had to sell his bass clarinet for tuition money to attend graduate school.  In 2011 he bought an alto saxophone and self-taught by joining a community band in Olympia, WA.  He currently plays with the Northern Colorado New Horizons Band. Fred’s other passion is community inclusion and social justice.  He hopes his membership with LPA invites other people of color to enjoy the rich variety of music that Loveland Performing Arts offers. 

Professionally, Fred has served several high-level leadership positions in the behavioral health field.  Altogether he has 44 years of experience in chemical dependency and mental health treatment and prevention in both Colorado and Washington States. In 1993 he was appointed by President Bill Clinton and approved by the U.S. Senate to serve as Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver and is a licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (retired).   From 2014 to 2023 Fred served as a board member with Summitstone Health Partners, six years as chairperson.  He has served on the Loveland Human Services Commission and is currently an enthusiastic member of Larimer County’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board.

Both natives to Colorado, he and Nancy have lived in Loveland since 2013.

Ticketing Director – Dick Anderson 

Dick Anderson, a retired computer and medical product development engineer, has always had a passion for music. His interests range from Sousa marches to Bluegrass; live sound mixing and recording, to jazz harmonica performance.  He has taught introductory and intermediate harmonica classes for over 25 years and plays with a variety of Jazz and Pop musicians spanning styles from Bach to Bacharach.  This opportunity will enable him to share these musical passions with the Loveland community.

Marketing Director – Michael Barbee

Michael spent the majority of his career in Publishing Media where he directed audience development, marketing and distribution for numerous consumer and B2B magazines. He grew up listening to music from a variety of genres including rock, R&B, folk, alt-country and classical. During his early twenties, he developed a passion for live music when he was manager and talent coordinator at a central Houston club that showcased local folk, rock, jazz, and Americana artists. Michael is pleased to be a part of LPA where he can help grow the audience base so more of the local community can enjoy quality live entertainment at an affordable price.

Sponsorship Director – Carolyn Childerston

Carolyn has been attending community concerts and theater performances since elementary school. She is also a musician and has taught and written music. Her desire is to make sure LPA brings first rate and diverse music to the Loveland community. Carolyn and her husband Jim travel extensively and have been on 7 continents and in over 65 countries in the world. They have spent the majority of their adult lives in the field of mental health.

Director – Marlene Thurman 

Whether it be Broadway musicals, concerts, dancing, taking piano lessons as a youth or simply listening, music has always been an important part of Marlene’s life. After retiring as a teacher and administrator in the Council Bluffs area, she moved here in 2006 and feels blessed to call Loveland home. A former president of LPA, Marlene enjoys sharing her leadership and organizational skills serving alongside the outstanding volunteers who make up the LPA Board.

Marlene looks forward to the LPA concerts, reconnecting with loyal patrons, and meeting new friends. Marlene wrote, “Still going strong, LPA has been bringing exceptional, affordable performances to our community for over 50 years! It’s a joy to be part of such a respected, time-honored organization, bringing a bit of happiness to others. See you at the concerts!”

Director – Timothy (Tim) Phillips

Unlike most of the LPA board members, Tim is not a musician.   Most of Tim’s background has been in live theater.  Tim is an actor, set designer, lighting designer, and a master carpenter.  His undergraduate degree is in theater and communications (television and radio broadcasting).  He was the lighting designer and assistant technical director for Arizona Opera (1980-1981).  Several more years were spent with the Omaha Community Playhouse as a scenic carpenter.  Later he moved to Estes Park, Colorado where he was in the restaurant business. Concurrent with his time in Estes he also became active with the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies.  Not only involved with many of their theater and other arts productions Tim also served on their board of directors.  Actually he is still on the Guild’s board as the current president.  He joined LPA’s board in the spring of 2024.

 “If music be the food of love play on.”