Staff & Leadership
Doug Neithercott
Interim Artistic Director
Doug is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BA in Theater Arts and has been performing locally, nationally, and internationally for the past 30+ years. He has performed with Theater in the Round, The Children’s Theater Company, Mystery Cafe, Brave New Workshop, and CSz Twin Cities home of ComedySportz where he also acted as Artistic Director from 2001 – 2021. Doug came to Youth Performance Company as a college student in 1995, making his YPC acting debut as Pecos Bill in Pecos Bill and Other Tall Tales. Since then, has added teacher, choreographer, director, and now Interim Artistic Director to his YPC resume. Doug is married, has two cats, and is a loud proud Disney Adult.
Sherilyn Howes
Managing Director
A dedicated and accomplished professional with a proven track record of leadership in nonprofit theatre operations, Sherilyn has been keeping Youth Performance Company on track since 1992. Her multifaceted skill set encompasses strategy development, program management, and community engagement, while also taking responsibility for the day-to-day management of Youth Performance Company. Sherilyn wears another hat with equal gusto – that of a mom to a vibrant and busy 8-year-old boy. Balancing the intricacies of nonprofit theatre operations and the boundless energy of her son, she embodies the spirit of an “all hands on deck” approach in both her professional and personal life.
Grace Whiting
Education & Programs Coordinator
Grace Whiting is in her second year as the Education and Programs Coordinator at YPC, but she has been a YPC kid since she was 13 years old! After performing, stage managing, and interning for YPC for almost a decade, Grace loves working for the company she grew up at and has had so much fun creating a space for new generations of students to have the same experiences she did. Grace oversees all educational staff including teachers and interns, and plans and facilitates all educational programming throughout the summer and school year.
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Carey Chapdelaine
Lynn Ellingboe
Davey Gangler
Miriam Johnson-Dunkirk
Rich Knowlton
David Maggitt
Kristin Roemhildt
Erin Schneeman
Molly Snyder
Monica Sowden
Kari Xiong
Jacie Knight
Founder
Jacie Knight, the Founding Artistic Director has been known for her commitment to developing extraordinary artists and exceptional leaders from the young people of the Twin Cities community while providing highest-quality theatre experiences for families for the past 33 years. She has directed and produced more than 50 main stage productions and written 11 plays for YPC.
Other theatre organizations Jacie has worked with as a freelance director and arts educator include: History Theatre, Steppingstone Theatre for Youth Development, Child’s Play Theatre (now Stages), Children’s Theatre Company, Climb Theatre and Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Jacie has been a fellow with the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute and received her BA in Theatre from Augsburg College. Jacie is enjoying her retirement.