Staff

Lisa Wagner-Carollo - Founding/Artistic Director

Lisa Wagner-Carollo is the Founding Director of Still Point Theatre Collective. She founded the company in 1993, motivated by a strong desire to combine ministry and theatre. Ever since, she has toured the country and overseas with Haunted by God: The Life of Dorothy Day. Among other productions, Wagner has also performed in and produced (for Still Point), the internationally toured Points of Arrival: A Jean Donovan Journey, a play that explores the life and commitment of one of the four North American church women killed in El Salvador in 1980. She is currently touring the United States and overseas with Strong Women, Haunted by God and Deep Listening (death and dying). Lisa also works as a facilitator in Still Point's outreach programs. Her education includes a B.S.E. from Emporia State University. Recently, she completed her certification as a spiritual director at Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin and has recently begun a spiritual direction practice in the Chicago area.

Awards: Outstanding Recent Graduate, Emporia State University, 1997

Seeds of Hope Award, Wheatridge, 2009.

Dena Hawes, Ph.D. - Executive Director

Dena has worked for nonprofits, international non-governmental agencies and universities for seventeen years. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Indiana University, a Master of Fine Arts degree from University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Masters and Doctoral degree from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University. From 2001-02 she was a Professional Development Fellow with the Institute for International Education doing Conflict Resolution and Security research in the Republic of Georgia. She is a visual and performance artist, a world record holder, and the author of a book entitled Why Art Matters: Artists and Peacebuilding, VDM Verlag, 2009, a book chapter entitled "Suzanne Lacy: Oakland Projects", Artistic Bedfellows: Histories and Conversations in Collaborative Art Practice, Eds Holly Crawford, Rowman & Littlefield, 2008, and has also published several journal articles and poetry. She began her position at Still Point Theatre Collective in September, 2011, is very pleased to be working with such an excellent staff who are passionate about our agency's important and necessary work with vulnerable and underserved populations.

Ben Gray - Development Associate

Ben Gray has worked as Still Point's Grants Coordinator since 2010. Ben has been involved in Non-profit Arts Administration for many years as a fund raiser, producer and facilitator. He has worked for The Jazz Institute of Chicago, the Velvet Lounge and the Candlestick Maker. He is currently Development Director for Experimental Sound Studio and is an active musician around the city of Chicago.

Judith Harding - Senior Facilitator

Judith Harding, Facilitator and Administrative Staff: A writer / performer whose credits include Sesame St and Blue Man Group, Harding makes original works for theatre and performances with folks of all ages with special needs, and loves every minute of it.

Tory Flack - Senior Facilitator

Tory Flack is a 2010 graduate of the University of Iowa with degrees in English and Theatre Arts, and is so grateful to be a Still Point Intern and co-facilitator with the Imagination Workshop. At night she balances out all the SPTC office work by acting, stage managing, and doing all sorts of fun backstage stuff at Corn Productions, where she is a company member.

Steve Grossman - Director, Technical Theatre Support

Steve has an M.A. in Theater and Film, and has directed scores of amateur and professional productions. In 1966, he was founding director of the Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, Colorado. He has been a Peace Corps volunteer and staffer, a screenwriter and journalist, and has taught at universities in Kansas and Missouri.

Gail Gallagher - Supporting Actor

Gail Gallagher graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in theatre performance and theatre management in May of 2010. She has been involved in projects that combine theatre and social justice work since her freshman year of college. She performed the one woman show My Name is Rachel Corrie as her senior project. She enjoys working the the Imagination Workshop and acting in the Still Point production, Strong Women. She is also a composer and improv piano player and has performed with improv groups around the city.

Sara Fisher - Senior Facilitator

Sara is so grateful to be a part of Stillpoint Theatre Collective, through working with the wonderful and talented adults with Developmental Disabilities Drama Class at El Valor, as well as the incredibly inspiring and supportive members of Stillpoint. Her training includes the Circle In The Square Theatre School's Summer Musical Theatre Intensive, Dance and Theatrical Training in Boston and Pennsylvania, Second City's Summer Musical Immersion, and currently studies Improv at the Improv Olympic Theater.

Christine Smith - Senior Facilitator

Christine Smith has worked in theater since 2003 when she joined Forecast Productions, a theater company based out of Minneapolis, and toured around the nation with their shows. Since then, she's directed, acted and facilitated theater programs and workshops throughout her home state of New Mexico. Since moving to Chicago in 2009, she has studied improv at iO and Second City and is an ensemble member of One Group Mind. She has been with Still Point since March of 2011 where she works with the women inmates of Lake County Jail in Waukegan with the Persephone project.

Anita Dacanay - New Project Resource Coordinator

Anita Dacanay grew up in rural Ashtabula County and graduated from Wright State University's Professional Actor Training Program in 1988. She moved to Chicago where she lived and worked as an actress, performance artist, and arts educator for 13 years. She is currently living in Shaker Heights, Ohio with her husband and two children. She teaches Performing Arts classes for adults with developmental disabilities through the Cuyahoga County Board of D.D.. Anita is proud and happy to have worked with Still Point Theatre Collective in various capacities since 1993.

Dannis Matteson - Intern, Volunteer Facilitator

Dannis is currently earning an MA in Theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and has a BA in Cultural Anthropology and German Literature. She most recently spent 3 years working in the field of health care justice as an advocate for the uninsured in Rochester, NY where she is originally from. Dannis is passionate about social justice and is a strong believer in the impact theater has on social change. She was fortunate to intern at the Stuttgarter Staatstheater as well as the Berliner Ensemble in Germany where her interests in drama and literature inspired her to pursue social justice efforts.

Suzanne Goebel - Intern, Volunteer Facilitator

Suzanne Goebel is a senior at DePaul University studying Psychology and Peace, Justice, and Conflict studies. She has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations in Chicago working with children, refugees, and the elderly. Suzanne is excited to be working with Still Point and further exploring social justice issues in creative ways. She is eager to learn and grow with the Still Point community.

Kelley Ristow - Volunteer Facilitator

Kelley is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she received her BFA in Acting from The Guthrie Theater. Kelley's work as a theater producer, coach and teacher has lead her to explore ways to combined classical theater and social work. Outside of Still Point, Kelley co-founded The Back Room Shakespeare Project, an unrehearsed Shakespeare event that strives to rip classic plays from the grave, and has just a becomes a "Story Gatherer" for Erasing the Distance, a company that uses theater to shed light on mental health issues. Vocationally, Kelley works for Lift Consulting where she researches, develops and executes customized learning solutions for large businesses and corporations. All of Kelley's projects aim to improve the way we communicate and learn in our artistic, business and individual endeavors.

Cameron Starnes - Intern, Volunteer Facilitator

Cameron Starnes is a senior at DePaul University studying Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies. She has volunteered at several other non-profit organizations in Chicago and is excited to work with Still Point. Cameron is passionate about empowering individuals to connect with their inner peace through creativity and movement.

Briana Colton - Athena Theatre Works Program Development and Evaluation intern

Briana Colton is a graduate student in the Masters of Counseling: Art Therapy program at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. She is working with Still Point to develop and evaluate the Athena Theatre Works program, a collaborative effort with Breakthrough Urban Ministries, CLAIM, and Art Reach (of Lill Street) providing theater experience and direct services to formerly incarcerated women. Briana is a born and raised Midwest girl, having lived in Minnesota, Milwaukee (WI), St. Louis (MO), and Chicago. Although her educational and professional background is in fundraising, development, marketing, and public relations, Briana has found her vocation in the field of art therapy. She brings a wealth of personal experience in the visual and performing arts, and believes strongly in the healing aspect of creative endeavors. She is excited to share her knowledge and passions with Still Point and help make Athena Theatre Works a successful program!

Ben Leven - Volunteer Facilitator

Ben Leven has been happily volunteering for Still Point for two months. Ben enjoys the work very much. Ben works part time at NBC as a Production Assistant and as a free lance Martial Arts Instructor.