Richard Hitchler, Artistic Director, earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota and has been an administrator, teacher, actor, and director since 1987. Locally, he has worked with Illusion Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Cricket Theatre, Teatro Latino, and the Homeward Bound Theatre. Richard spent a number of years in Florida, working with Florida Studio Theatre, TheatreWorks, and the Orlando Shakespeare Festival. Hitchler was appointed Artistic Director of SteppingStone Theatre in 1997 where he has directed over 15 productions including Tasty Baby Belly Buttons, Young MLK, The Stinky Cheese Man, Ruby!, and produced more than 40 productions.

Ross D. Willits, Managing Director, has been working with SteppingStone Theatre since 1998. He was a member of the theatre’s Board of Directors for two years prior to joining the staff in 2002. He has held artistic and administrative positions at many Twin Cities theatre companies including the Guthrie Theatre, the Playwrights’ Center, Cricket Theatre, Penumbra Theatre Company and Triple Espresso Company. He earned a Ph.D. in Theatre History & Dramatic Theory and an M.A. in Theatre Arts & English Literature from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. in Theatre Arts & 20th Century Literature from St. Olaf College.

Christine M.P. Shyne, Audience Services Manager, has been with StepppingStone Theatre since 2004. Before working at SteppingStone, she worked at a variety of organizations throughout the Twin Cities. She is very happy to have "come home" to an organization like SteppingStone to be working with children and theatre both. Christine earned a B.A. in Theatre and Spanish from the University of Minnesota-Morris and is the proud mother to two aspiring young actresses.

Ericka Dennis , Education Director, more coming soon!

Julie L. Odegard, Production Stage Manager, has been the Production Stage Manager at SteppingStone since 2002. She has worked with Children's Theatre Company, The Playwrights' Center, Iowa Summer Repertory, and Cleveland Play House. She graduated in 1999 with an MFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Iowa, and she has a BA in Media and Theatre Arts from Montana State University.

Emily Kramer, Education Coordinator, more coming soon!

Sonja Mertz , Box Office Lead, has been with SteppingStone Theatre since spring, 2007. A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1999, she has stage managed at Bristol Riverside Theatre (PA) and BoarsHead Theater (MI). Before graduating from North Dakota State University, Sonja was the Box Office Manager at Lewis & Clark Theatre (SD). She is happy to be living in small-town Minnesota with Chris and Calvin.