Staff
John Catron - Director, Acting
John Catron is an accomplished actor, artist and musician active in the Twin Cities. An actor with a wide range, John is a company member with the Pillsbury House Theater and has stage credits at Park Square Theatre, The Illusion Theater, Theatre Mu, The Guthrie and many more. In addition to his coaching, John directs shows and designs and builds sets for TCTC.
Ellen Fenster - Artistic Director
Ellen Fenster is a professional theater director and teacher in Minneapolis. Ellen has worked with many Twin Cities theaters including Illusion Theater, Pillsbury House Theater, Gremlin Theater, The Guthrie, Park Square Theater, and South High School
Tim Kraack - Music Director
Tim is a musician and teacher from St. Paul. He teaches piano, songwriting and voice privately and at St. Joseph's School of Music and is the Director of Choirs at Saint Paul Academy. In addition to concertizing around the Twin Cities, Tim writes and performs music in a variety of genres. In 2022, TCTC premiered Tim’s original musical The Logic Pit.
Eric Sharp - Assistant Director, Dialect Coach, Acting Coach
As a professional actor Eric has been seen onstage at Theater Mu, Guthrie Theater, Alliance Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and many others. He has performed regionally and internationally in Minneapolis, New York, Atlanta, Toronto, Edinburgh, and once co-produced and performed a play in a full-size swimming pool. Eric has worked with TCTC students for many summers and we’re always delighted to have him back!
Lisa Arnold - Art Instructor
Lisa is a visual artist who lives in Minneapolis but works all over Minnesota. Specializing in mosaic, Lisa has works hanging across the state thanks to grants including the Minnesota State Arts Board and projects in Minnesota libraries. Each year, Lisa engages the TCTC students in a visual art project that relates to themes of the summer's show.
LaTia Childers - Dance Instructor and Choreographer
LaTia completed a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Dance from the University of Minnesota where she also studied American Sign Language. She began dancing at the age of three, and continued to express herself through movement throughout her education. In college, LaTia was a member of the Minnesota Dance Ensemble, amongst a myriad of artistic collaborations. She is an experienced dancer in a number of genres; LaTia feels that movement is an alternative means of conceptualizing the world, and her goal is to make those means accessible.
Visiting Instructors
Eliza Rasheed - Assistant Director, Acting Coach
Eliza Rasheed is a global and passionate theatre-practitioner dedicated to growing authentic and meaningful connections around the world. Eliza is the middle school theater teacher at Global Arts Plus in St. Paul and was a finalist for 2023 Teacher of the Year. She is also a freelance performer and director in the Twin Cities.