Scott Daniel
Executive Artistic Director
Scott is an award-winning director/choreographer, playwright, designer, and actor (BroadwayWorld, Norton, and Edinburgh Fringe). Scott has been fortunate to create content for the Las Vegas Strip, theme parks across the nation, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Broadway. You may recognize Scott as the “better half” of the internationally acclaimed mother and son cabaret act, The Scott & Patti Show. Before coming to Highlands, Scott spent several years developing and designing shows for Norwegian Cruise Line. Scott is thrilled to now make Highlands, NC and Mountain Theatre Company his home.
Josh Helms
Development Director
Josh joined the Mountain Theatre Company team in May 2023, bringing varied non-profit experience from youth-serving, healthcare providing, and educational organizations. Josh has been a resident of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau for fifteen years. His most recent non-profit experience was as Executive Director of Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau in Cashiers, where he led the campaign for a multimillion-dollar facility expansion. In addition to performing arts, Josh also enjoys visual arts and outdoor recreation. He can often be found on a hiking trail in Panthertown or Black Balsam. He is drawn to organizations that enrich community life and is excited to be a part of this new chapter in Mountain Theatre Company’s history.
Emanuel Carrero
Company Manager
Emanuel is thrilled to serve MTC as the Company Manager. Emanuel came to Highlands from Tampa, FL where he worked in the arts professionally for over ten years. After graduating from The University of Tampa, he served as the Company Manager for The Patel Conservatory. He has also worked as a stage manager, professional wig master, and house manager for many arts organizations across the state of Florida. He has performed all over the country in regional theaters, national tours, cruise ships, and theme parks. Audiences will recognize him from recent MTC shows, including last season’s hit production of Jersey Boys. Emanuel is thrilled to call Highlands home as a full-time resident.
Erin Leigh Knowles
Marketing & Outreach Manager
Erin Leigh could not be more excited to join the MTC company as the full-time Director of Marketing & Outreach. After graduating with honors with a BFA in Musical Theater from the University of Tampa in 2016, Erin was fortunate to work as a professional singer, dancer and choreographer for multiple professional theaters and theme parks like American Stage, Alhambra Theater and Dining, Six Flags Over Georgia and Busch Gardens Tampa; as well as a Production Signer for Norwegian Cruise Lines onboard the Oceania Riviera. When Erin wasn't on stage, she was fortunate to work in other fields of interest including as a manager and instructor for Pure Barre, producer for the podcast, On Purpose Investor, a travel agent for Disney Vacations and social media manager for countless other businesses.
Erin enjoys exploring all areas of her creative interests whether that's on stage, as choreographer or behind a computer screen. You may recognize her from several MTC productions such as Music in Motion, Jersey Boys, Sentimental Journey, Home for the Holidays and Rock of Ages. She is excited to share her choreography to MTC audiences for this season's production of Catch Me If You Can.
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When not on stage, Erin enjoys being a dog mom to Sissandra Lou Ann Mayberry Knowles aka Sissy.
Julia Rifino
Graphic Artist
Julia is a freelance artist and graphic designer currently based out of Tampa, FL. This is her second season creating the graphic art for Mountain Theatre Company’s productions. As a graduate of the University of Tampa with a degree in Musical Theatre and Studio Art, Mountain Theatre Company has given her a beautiful opportunity to merge her dual passions of performance and design! Since childhood, Julia has found joy in mediums such as oil paint, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, graphite, charcoal, and most recently digital design. Her gallery credits include featured realism exhibitions at Your Arts Desire Gallery and Woodfield Fine Art Gallery in St. Petersburg, FL. Audiences may remember seeing Julia perform in the MTC’s 2021 production of Music in Motion. Julia looks forward to seeing Mountain Theatre Company’s artistic vision come to life this season and is so grateful to be a part of this creative team!
Lori Nielsen
Resident Music Director
Lori is a recent transplant to the Blue Ridge Mountains, after living in Los Angeles for 32 years. She is a formal Vocal Director for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and she has performed in musical theater productions throughout the U.S. Favorite credits include CAROUSEL (Nettie, Morgan-Wixson Theatre), MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL (Iowa Housewife, Earth Mother and Soap Star, TOC Productions), QUILTERS (Jenny, Morgan-Wixson Theatre), THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Sister Berthe, Fullerton Civic Opera and Glendale Centre Theatre), abd OLIVER! (Widow Corney, Morgan-Wixson Theatre). Lori sings throughout the greater Brevard, NC area, and plays keyboard for an outdoor summer chapel in Lake Toxaway. Lori also happens to be an attorney, and she hopes you won't hold that against her.
Beck Jones
Resident Costume Designer
Beck Jones is a costume designer and artist based in New York City known for his graphic style and textile work. He is excited to return to Mountain Theatre Company where he previously designed the costumes for ROCK OF AGES and THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. His work includes BROADWAY CELEBRATES OZ (Broadway Box) for the 80th Anniversary for THE WIZARD OF OZ. LOVE BIRD (Phoenix Theatre), HANSEL AND GRETEL (The 7th Artistry), LOVE OVER DOSE (REACT), PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (Gallery Players). Beck's work can also be seen amongst various drag queens from RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE and around the country. Beck has deigned with WeTv's BRIDEZILLAS, The Indianapolis 500 and Goodwill for PATTERN Magazine. Television: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, BRIDGERTON. www.beckjones.com
Bo Garrard
Resident Sound Designer
Bo is a sound designer, audio engineer, and musician based in St. Petersburg, FL and they are excited to serve the Western North Carolina community! Bo has been working on, underneath, or adjacent to stages for almost 15 years. Growing up on classic movie-musicals and 80s punk he would go on to become a classically trained composer and musician before sidestepping into audio and entertainment technology. He has been the resident sound designer of two theater companies, a projection designer, a master electrician, a baker, and music teacher.
When not mixing and designing theatrical works, performing on stage with local ensembles, or hitting everything he can to find a really cool sound that just might work if it were tweaked a bit, he is learning to tie knots, staring blankly into space, and trying to remember where he set down his coffee.
Recent shows include Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, and The Rocky Horror Show for Mountain Theatre Company, Ragtime at American Stage, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, RENT and The Wedding Singer for Eight O'Clock Theatre, and Falsettos for mad Theatre.
The MTC Team
Mountain Theatre Company is made up of a dedicated group of Staff and Board of Directors.
Our Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Clif Gottwals
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VICE PRESIDENT
Pam Carver
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TREASURER
Sandy Wyckoff
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SECRETARY
Jeannie Mullen
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DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
Becky Matheny
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DIRECTORS
Greg Copeland
Berney Kirkland
Who do I contact?
For Tickets & Box Office Information: boxoffice@mountaintheatre.com
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For Audition Information: auditions@mountaintheatre.com
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For Employment (posted jobs only): jobs@mountaintheatre.com
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For Sponsorship & Donation Information: development@mountaintheatre.com
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For Advertising Opportunities: marketing@mountaintheatre.com
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For Student Field Trips: marketing@mountaintheatre.com
For Volunteer Opportunities: volunteer@mountaintheatre.com