Our Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Gary Andrews

Gary and his wife, Rosalie, moved to Eureka Springs in the Spring of 2002 and purchased the Brownstone Inn to fulfill one of their dreams of having a bed and breakfast inn for a few years. Accomplishing that and selling the inn in mid-2005 Gary also spent two years in marketing and sales with the Great Passion Play before taking on the Main Stage project. With an education in psychology he logged twenty-five years of his professional career as a human resources executive with two international telecom companies and a software startup. With these positions they have lived in California, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia before settling in Eureka. Gary & Rosalie now reside in Holiday Island.

COURSES & PROGRAMMING:
Melanie Linker

Melanie, recently relocated from Portland, Oregon to our lovely Eureka Springs. She began dancing at the age of 6 with studies in hip hop, cheerleading, dance team, and jazz.  Melanie has been trained in classical ballet and Graham/Limon/Horton based Modern Technique. She is additionally adept at teaching and performing musical theatre, African Dance and Tap. Melanie has performed in various Musical Plays and has recently directed and produced two Broadway "mini" musicals for her Broadway Jazz/Musical Theatre classes at Sherwood Dance Academy in Portland, Oregon.  Melanie has been teaching dance for several years in various parts of the country but for more than 5 years she has taught at some of the top studios in Portland, Oregon.  While in Oregon Melanie was a member of the Portland based Modern Dance Company, Agnieszka Lsaka Dancers, who performed many different tours throughout Oregon, Washington, and Baja, Mexico. She believes that dance is such an emotional and creative outlet for children and adults to express themselves. When she is not teaching or dancing Melanie enjoys yoga, photography, playing guitar and drums, hiking and the outdoors, gardening and cats!

CULTURE & ARTS:
Valerie Damon

Valerie Hubbard Damon graduated from Florida State College in 1967 with a BFA and a teaching degree in art. Valerie was a freelance card designer prior to founding Star Publications in 1975 which promoted and created high quality children’s books, teacher’s guides and related products while raising three children. She has written and published award winning children’s books such as Grindle Lamfoon and the Procurnious Fleekers, Willo Manicfoot and the Mugga Killa Whomps and Tea with Adella Dine Crow. Along with writing children’s books Valerie works with all things art searching new ways of incorporating social consciousness, culture, diversity and varied mediums into her projects. She incorporated three dimensional sculpture, pottery, metal, doll making, painting and drawing in her work with both children and adults. Valerie teaches at Eureka Springs School of the Arts, Main Stage and volunteers workshops to Eureka and Berryville schools.

MUSIC and ARTS:
Michelle Levy

Michelle Levy graduated from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a BFA in Illustration (2004), and has been working as an Illustrator, Puppeteer and Violinist/Violist ever since. She has worked with various theatrical groups, including Brown University's Department of Theater (Providence, RI), the Toe Jam Puppet Band (New Bedford, MA),and with internationally recognized Big Nazo Puppets(Providence, RI).

When not illustrating or performing larger-than-life puppets, Michelle performs violin/viola with local singer/songwriter Maia Archote, and also on medieval vielle with Houston Early Music Ensemble Istanpitta

ARTS:
Tasha Blehm and Blayne Thiebaud

Blayne and Tasha are both twenty-four years of age and reside in Eureka Springs, near Beaver lake. They are both advocates of nature, sustainable living, preservation of our environment, and world peace through unification of our communities. Loving children and a passion for art, inspire them to teach and create more while using less. Therefore originated Art through Recycled Materials Class.

Their hobbies include traveling, dance, learning history of ancient cultures, and most of all music. They are both thankful and highly inspired to be a part of the Main Stage Creative Community Center and hope to inspire children to build a better future.

Main Stage Mascot:
Pugsley Addams Powell

Pugsley Addams Powell  is the wonder pig.  He was recently made the honorary CEO of E-Motion Works, Inc. He is a valued member of the Powell Family and loves to snuggle in cold weather. 

He is often referred to as a walking stomach.  His feed is a sow pellet with dairy and he eats 3 to 4 times a day, of course he will eat just about anything you put in front of  him except onions and peppers.  During Eureka parades he walks for peanuts.