About Us

LPA’s Mission is to bring high-quality, nationally touring acts to our Loveland and Northern Colorado communities at an affordable price. By purchasing season tickets, you’ll have access to five live musical performances at one low price plus you’ll support our non-profit, all-volunteer organization. Individual show tickets are also available at the door and online. And, if you choose to donate to our 501c non-profit, you may be able to get a tax deduction.

For more than Fifty years the annual concert seasons sponsored by Loveland Performing Arts have captured the HEARTS of young and old by bringing nationally touring performers to Northern Colorado. An all-volunteer organization, the Loveland Performing Arts board members donate countless hours to preview, choose and schedule a variety of domestic and international concerts that are presented on the stage of Thompson Valley High School. The Board organizes the details of digital & print media, ticket sales, and hosts the performers by preparing meals for them before each show. Because of the work of our volunteer board members, augmented by the generous contributions of LPA donors, our non-profit organization is able to offer reasonably priced tickets for our concert series.

Thompson School District is an important partner in our endeavor, where we rent Thompson Valley High School’s outstanding Roberta Price Auditorium to hold our concerts. You can expect highly entertaining performances with easy access, plenty of parking, open seating with wheel-chair access, and quality sound.

Student tickets cost less than a movie ticket, and we encourage families with school-age children, teenagers and young adults to attend our concerts. See below for the best prices in quality entertainment……

The best value to warm the heARTS in Northern Colorado!

LPA Board Members

  • President:  Wayne Vandenberg
  • Vice President:  Marlene Thurman
  • Treasurer:  Dale Thurman
  • Secretary:  Peg Isakson
  • Ticketing Director: Dick Anderson
  • Graphics Artistic Director: Marianne Cruikshank
  • Communications Director: Susan Kelton
  • Historian: Hank Thode
  • Sponsorship Director: Carolyn Childerston
  • Marketing Director: Michael Barbee

Care to Volunteer?

Being an all-volunteer organization, Loveland Performing Arts has opportunities for you to contribute to the affordable entertainment we bring to our community. Our volunteers are hands-on and they keep our mission alive.

There are two levels of volunteers. The first is what we call our “board” which is a collaborative group that sets strategy, selects performances, and works the shows. The second level helps greet our guests, hands out brochures, and ushers when needed. Having enthusiastic volunteers at each level is essential to do what we do.

Are you interested and want more information? If yes, please contact us via email at info@lovelandperformingarts.org. 

Board Member Bios

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 President, Wayne brings his experience and a curios 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.

Vice President – Marlene Thurman 

Whether it be Broadway musicals, concerts, dancing, taking piano lessons as a youth or simply listening, music has always bee 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!”

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 – Peg Isakson

Serving on the LPA Board has been a wonderful source of like-minded friendships for me during the past eight years.  I appreciate the opportunity to learn new skills in technology as a Director for Digital Communications. My background is in Education, teaching and consulting for 65 years!  (I started teaching Sunday School at age 15.)  I have degrees from Western Illinois University and the University of Colorado in Literacy with minor in music, Education Administration and Staff Development.   The thread of my life is my family, working with friends and colleagues in a common purpose of helping others learn and grow – and – enjoying music at every opportunity!

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.

Graphics Artistic Director – Marianne Cruikshank

Our newest Board member 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.

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.

Sponsorship Director – Carolyn Childerston 

Carolyn Childerston is fairly new to the Loveland area.  Growing up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, she was exposed to music from infancy.   Her parents had a wide range of interests, so she was exposed to many forms of music. As a child she began attending community concerts, theater productions, and church. At age seven, she began her own music lessons, practicing on the church piano until her parents could purchase one for their home.   In fourth grade, she began to play the trombone, which she continued well into adulthood—playing in symphonies, theater performances, marching band, jazz and swing groups, churches, and rodeos.   She has belonged to organizations like the Loveland Performing Arts while living in the Midwest as well as the east coast. While living in Maryland, she had the opportunity to attend many performances at the Kennedy Center as well as on Broadway.   She and her husband, Jim, enjoy traveling the world experiencing the arts in many countries.   She is excited to be on the Board for Loveland Performing Arts and believes that music in its various forms enriches all people’s lives.