Emily Taylor – Director
Emily Taylor is a theatre professional who works in almost all aspects of theatre. She has worked as a prop designer, sound designer, costume designer, set designer, projection designer, stage manager, actor, intimacy coordinator, fight choreographer, light and sound board operator, house manager, bartender, baker, and just about anything else someone needs. She holds a BFA in theatre from Texas Christian University and a MA in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. Theatre is Emily’s full time job. She serves as the Education Technical Director and Resident Designer at the Georgetown Palace Theatre, as well as working for theatres across central Texas on a contract basis.
Jesee Smart – Choreographer
Jesee is originally from Chicago, IL. She has been performing and choreographing at the Palace since 2006. In 2010, she began teaching for the Palace Education Department. The Palace Performance Company formed shortly after that and Jesee has been the PPC Manager since the beginning. Jesee is currently the Education Administrator, PPC Manager, choreographs for a variety of levels, and teaches many of the dance classes for the Palace Education Department. She has studied dance for more than 20 years under various professionals including Lisa Boehm (Ballet), Frank Boehm (Jazz), Randall Newsom (Ballet, Graham Technique), Judith Chitwood (Ballet, Horton Technique), Paula Frasz (Modern, Tap, Musical Theatre), Karen Williamson (Ballet, Modern), Lila Dole (Spanish), Danny Herman (Broadway Jazz, Tap), Rocker Verastique (Broadway Jazz), Kenney DeCamp (Jazz, Performance), and Joel Hall (Jazz). Jesee moved to Austin in 2006 after graduating from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (Human Resources) and a Bachelor of the Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Education. She currently choreographs and performs in and around Austin, including multiple performances per year at the Georgetown Palace Theatre. Jesee taught ballet, pointe, modern, tap, and jazz for ten years prior to moving to Austin. She was a founding member of the award winning competition group “Petite Feet” with DancEncounter in Geneva, IL. While attending Northern Illinois University, Jesee was the director and producer of Art for Life, an AIDS benefit concert associated with Dance for Life in Chicago.
Lucas Lindberg – Music Director
Lucas Lindberg (he/him) is a jack-of-all-trades musician based in Austin, TX. His first Music Director role came in a 2019 production of Company in Seattle, WA. Other recent credits include Fun Home, Shapeshifters: A Queer Comic Book Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, Next to Normal, The Addams Family, Into the Woods, The Drowsy Chaperone, Chicago, and Ride the Cyclone. In addition to music directing, he has enjoyed many years as a live musician, playing in countless musical productions, jazz combos, rock bands, and various world music ensembles.
Stage Manager –
Sarah Leho
Scenic Designer –
Steve Williams
Lighting Designer –
Faith Castaneda
Costume Designer –
Faith Castaneda
Properties –
Jen Gholson
Sound Designer –
Aaren Horak
