Our Mission Statement

 John Connelly 

John is a transplant from the Seattle area who discovered the Pend Oreille Playhouse in 2022 through an open audition for War of the Worlds radio play. What started as an audition quickly became a passion for community theater, and John has been an active part of the Playhouse ever since.

Over the past several years, John has acted in and directed multiple productions, including directing A Christmas Story and most recently starring as the Tin Man in the sold-out production of The Wizard of Oz. His involvement extends beyond the stage, where his background in I.T. and Project Management has led him to serve as the Playhouse’s Technical Director and contribute to the organization’s operations and growth.

The Playhouse has also become a family affair. John’s two sons, Jace and Ryan, are actively involved with the theater, making the Playhouse an important part of their family and their connection to the community.

As President, John’s goal is to build on the Playhouse’s strong foundation and make it a must-visit venue for the community—a place where people come not only to see great performances, but to participate, volunteer, support local artists, and experience the arts together. He hopes to help the Playhouse continue growing as a regional theater while maintaining the welcoming, community-driven spirit that makes this little theater special.

John looks forward to serving this community and helping the Playhouse reach its next chapter.

Tori Vooge

 Victoria (Tori) Vooge is proud to serve on the Pend Oreille Playhouse Board. She hails from South Carolina and has lived in Newport Washington for 7 years. Tori is a former USAF  Sargent who has her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Development.
A lifelong lover of the arts, Tori believes local theater builds confidence, leadership, empathy, and helps people of all ages come together to support and improve our community.
When not attending opening nights, handing out programs and greeting theater patrons. Tori enjoys sewing, crocheting, crafting, gardening and painting. But the most important aspec of her life is sending time with her husband of 22 year, three amazing children, a dog named Dutch, 2 crazy cats, a silly amount of chickens and the family tortious who will out live us all.  

Jackie Davis

   Hi, my name is Jackie Davis. I have lived in the area with my husband for 24 years. We have 4 daughters and 2 grandkids. I’m a cosmetologist, have had my license for 19 years. I have loved theater since I was in the 6th grade. I minored in college in theater. My favorite roll I have played was Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet”, ( the balcony scene) in college. I also played the ghost of Christmas present in “The Christmas Carol” with POPA. I have helped at the theater on and off for several years with costumes and make-up. I love to sew and love theater! 

Nikki Hendrickson

Hi! My name is Nikki Hendrickson. I have been married to Jeff Hendrickson for 17 years. I have been a licensed cosmetologist for 30 years. We have a 16 year old daughter named Joy that I homeschool. Mine and my husband's combined families have lived in Pend Oreille County for four generations. Pend Oreille Playhouse is a positive place for everyone and I have seen my daughter build self-esteem through drama. I encourage everyone to come, experience and support this wonderful program.

Terri Tomlinson

Terri  is an actor, director, and writer who specializes in research and performance of the works of Gerard Manley Hopkins. In addition to theater, Terri enjoys cooking for her friends and family and loves being a grandma. Previous favorite roles include Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown, as well as Tamora in Titus Andronicus. As a new resident of Chewelah, Terri is grateful for the warm welcome she has received at the Pend Oreille Playhouse, and she looks forward to contributing whatever skills she may possess to furthering our mission of bringing high-quality Theater to the Newport area.

Charlene Rawuka-Stigall

 Charlene Rawuka-Stigall has been passionate about classical voice and theater for over a decade. Her journey began with private voice lessons and continued at the Sandpoint Music Conservatory, where she spent eight years performing in student recitals and musical theater productions. She also interned at the Conservatory, working with the children's choir and summer camp program. A highlight of her time there was participating in the El-Sistema program in Mexicali, Mexico. Charlene continued her classical voice studies at Santa Monica College, performing in various operas. After earning her associate degree at SCC, she is now pursuing a bachelor's degree in education at Eastern Washington University. Theater and music have always been central to Charlene's life, and she is thrilled to share her love for both at the Pend Oreille Playhouse. She is deeply committed to community involvement and looks forward to contributing to local arts initiatives, fostering a love for music and theater in the community, and inspiring the next generation of performers. 

Barbara Bell

Barbara Bell is a retired instrumental director of forty years. Her most recent accomplishment as music director of 'The Wizard of Oz' resulted in a sell-out run. Previous to that show, she was instrumental in the Playhouse's success for 'Matilda, the Musical" leading the charge with her musical expertise. She wants to thank the community for its continued support of this valuable resource. 

Margot Casteel

 My name is Margot Casteel, and my family and I live right here in Newport, Washington. I enjoy all aspects of the arts, music, traveling, photography, thrifting, and the outdoors. I am the newest Pend Oreille Playhouse Board Member, and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to be more involved in our amazing community theatre we have! 

I’ve been volunteering/sponsoring with the Playhouse as their theatre photographer, Gogo Photo, for about 2 years now. My background consists of being involved in the theatre arts for over twenty years, so I am over-the-moon to have found this wonderful  group of people. 

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Technical Theatre Arts at California State University of Long Beach in 2006. After graduating, I worked in the Hollywood scene doing product placement on Warner Brothers and Paramount television and movie sets. From 2008-2013, I worked and toured with Cirque du Soleil’s North American Big Top traveling division in the front of house, public relations, costume shop, and backstage. Over the course of five years with Cirque du Soleil, I worked with four different live theatre shows— Corteo, Kooza, OVO, and Zarkana. When it comes to photography, I’ve had a love of it since I was very young, and I find catching memories through the camera lens so extremely priceless. I am a self-taught photographer, having used my eye for design and an art background to guide my photography journey. 

These days, you can find me spending time with my family, powering through my third year as a Special Education Para-Educator at Stratton Elementary, volunteering at the Pend Oreille Playhouse, and volunteering at the Stratton Elementary School PTO. I love supporting our community and the arts!  

Paulina Staab   

Paulina Staab is a lifelong resident of Newport and proud graduate of Newport High School. She went on to study Theatre and Performing Arts at the University of Idaho and has been a dedicated performer ever since. Local audiences may remember her standout roles as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical and Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz, along with many other performances that showcase her passion and versatility on stage.

As much as she loves performing, Paulina’s greatest joy comes from helping others find their light. She serves as the Youth Educational Director at the Pend Oreille Playhouse and is also the founder and acting coach of Center Stage Coaching, where she mentors young and aspiring actors through personalized training and creative development. Her coaching philosophy centers on confidence, consent, and connection, empowering students to grow both as artists and as individuals.

Proud wife to Nathan and mom of three daughters, Paulina is grateful to combine her love for family, theatre, and community in everything she does—continuing to inspire the next generation to take center stage.