Meet Your Kansas City Area Liaison Committee !

Christine Dotterweich Bial is Program Manager with the Kansas Arts Commission focusing on Community and Artist Partnerships. Prior to her term with the Kansas Arts Commission she spent ten years in nonprofit theatre management working as an AEA Stage Manager and Production Manager for Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City, Southwest Repertory Theatre Company in Albuquerque, NM, and Kansas City Repertory Theatre Company among others. She earned her undergraduate degree from Franklin College in Indiana and her graduate degree from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Christine currently serves as the Secretary of the Kansas City Area Liaison Committee.

Herman Johansen is a Kansas City based actor, director and writer who has acted in shows as diverse as MY FAIR LADY, I'M NOT RAPPAPORT and AMERICAN BUFFALO. Kansas City acting credits include THE FRONT PAGE, OMNIUM GATHERUM, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and COPENHAGEN. Work at the Great Plains Theatre includes NOISES OFF, OF MICE AND MEN and HARVEY. At the Black Hills Playhouse he has appeared in MOON OVER BUFFALO, THE BOYS NEXT DOOR, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and THE SUGAR BEAN SISTERS (with Marcia Wallace). Directing credits include AGNES OF GOD, OUR TOWN, SWEET METIGOSHE, HOME SAFE and MY NAME IS RACHEL CORRIE. Herman has been in numerous TV and radio commercials and is a member of AEA, AFTRA and SAG.

Sarah LaBarr received a BS in theatre performance and a BA in music from Northwest Missouri State University. She also holds a Master of Music degree in voice performance from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She has performed at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Starlight Theatre, Musical Theater Heritage, Theatre for Young America, Quality Hill Playhouse, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City, and has understudied at New Theatre Restaurant. She also sang with the Kansas City Chorale for three years, and sang on their Grammy award winning Passion Week album. She also sings with the Dickens Carolers. Sarah is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, and the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Jennifer Mays has been a professional actress based in Kansas City for over 15 years. Her favorite local acting credits include ALL SHOOK UP, GYPSY, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK and LEADING LADIES at the New Theatre; A CHRISTMAS CAROL, GUYS AND DOLLS, LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES and LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre; THE NERD, SWINGTIME CANTEEN and MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS at The American Heartland Theatre; ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE at The Coterie; and MISS JULIE for Princess Squid Productions. Jen is also a teaching artist for The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Coterie and KC Rep. A proud member of Equity, AFTRA and SAG, Jen also works in television, voiceovers and movies. For more visit www.jenmays.com.

Kip Niven's professional theatre credits include Broadway, off-Broadway, regional theatres, summer stock, and numerous guest artist appearances. Additionally, he has appeared in numerous feature films, television mini-series, movies of the week, episodic series, and daytime dramas, as well as national, regional, and local commercials. He is also a member of the company of Right Between the Ears, an award-winning radio comedy show.

His recent stage work includes performances in virtually all of Kansas City's Equity theatres. Additionally, Kip has taught Musical Theatre Audition Technique Workshops at colleges and universities throughout the country.

In addition to his work on the AEA Liaison Committee, Kip is a past member of the Central Regional Board, a past member of the boards of the Kansas City Local of AFTRA, and a founding member and past chairman of The Professional Advisory Board to The Department of Theatre and Film at The University of Kansas, his alma mater.

Vi Tran began performing as a toddler in the refugee camps of Southeast Asia. His fellow refugees took pity on the young and literally starving artist, giving him what food they could spare.

Vi holds a MA in Theatre Directing and a BA in Theatre and English, both from Kansas State University. Kansas City audiences may recognize him as a theatre and commercial actor who has performed at Starlight Theatre, Coterie Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, and Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, among others.

Vi serves as one of the Coterie Theatre's "Reaching the Write Minds" playwriting-in-the-schools facilitators and as an artist/facilitator for Artist, INC, whose purpose is to educate professional artists on career development and taking their work to a greater level of exposure. Vi has also contributed his talents to the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, the Crossroads Theatre Company of N.Y.C., Playhouse on the Square in Memphis TN and the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts' Summer Playwriting Intensive in Washington D.C.

A singer-songwriter, Vi performs a form of melodic pop he calls Pacific Americana, which combines elements of folk, alternative country, power pop, and a breeziness that reflects both his Vietnamese heritage and his upbringing in southwestern Kansas. Information about his debut record, "Goodbye, Summer" is available at www.vitranmusic.com.

Dean Vivian has been a proud member of Actor's Equity Association for nearly 30 years, and a member of the KC Area Liaison Committee for most of those, including 8 years as Chair of the Committee. He's also a longtime AFTRA member and SAG member, and is currently serving his third 3-year term on the Nation Board of Directors for AFTRA, where he also serves on the Finance Committee and Health & Retirement Committee. Dean's a veteran of over 150 Equity productions, 1000 radio & TV commercials, 300 industrial and commercial films, and 200 photo shoots, including a baker's dozen Hallmark Cards.

Kathleen Warfel has worked in the Kansas City Theatre community for the past 30 years and has had the pleasure of serving on the K.C. Liaison committee as a member, secretary, vice chair and chair since joining AEA in 1986. She honored to return (after a 5 year hiatus) to serve on the committee, and is eager to learn, share and change with the union and its members!

Licia Watson has been seen on stage at the American Heartland Theatre, Starlight Theatre. Kansas City Repertory Theatre, New Theatre Restaurant, Quality Hill Playhouse, Unicorn Theatre and the Chestnut Fine Arts Center. She has also performed with the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre and Eubank Productions (now E-Gads Theatre) and toured with TOC Productions in the Midwest and along the east coast. A graduate of UMKC, Licia holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Her favorite roles include playing the adored wife of Rick Milton, the revered mother of Travis, and the cool stepmom of Matthew and Mary-Elizabeth. She is also proud to have just taken on the new role of Equity Liaison Chair for the Kansas City Area. Additional information available at www.liciawatson.com.

Dale Westgaard has been a member of AEA since 1973. He served for two years on the MAB and has been a member of the Kansas City Liason Committee sice 2003. Dale currently serves as the Equity Liaison Committee Vice Chair and coordinates the Kansas City area hotline. He has had to opportunity to work with labor theatre in New York and Chicago and has a great affinity for union passion.