Theatre 605’s mission is a simple one: Telling Stories. Changing Lives. The work behind that mission is anything but.
It takes dedication, artistry, and a genuine belief that theatre has the power to transform. The staff at Theatre 605 are living proof of that. Their passion doesn’t clock out when the curtain falls, and it doesn’t stay neatly within a job title. These are people who have shown up across programs, across stages, and across the state, lending their talents wherever the story calls them.
The careers of Theatre 605’s staff aren’t linear. They’re layered, shaped by every role they’ve stepped into and every program they’ve helped build.
That’s what makes this organization what it is. Not just a mission statement, but the people who live it. We asked our staff at Theatre 605 to share a little about their passion. Hear what some of them have to say!
Artistic Director – Black Hills Playhouse, Dan Workman
Dan’s connection to Theatre 605 goes all the way back to 1990 when he performed in his first play at the Black Hills Playhouse. Since then, Dan has performed in or directed more than 60 productions at the Black Hills Playhouse.
He met Debra Kern (now Workman) at the BHP the summer of 1992, and they were married before the summer of 1993. Together, they started the Children’s Theatre Company of South Dakota, an outreach of the Black Hills Playhouse. This became Dakota Players and now Theatre 605 Tours, celebrating its 27th year in 2026. Dan has also been a professor at Augustana for almost 20 years, where he teaches theatre and currently serves as the Chair of the Theatre Department.
We asked Dan what he loves most about working at Theatre 605, and he shared,
“Getting to know all the people that I hire to be a part of this wonderful place. I love the artistic sensibilities and talents that are part of it. Collaborating to bring theatre to life. The organization has such a long history and legacy, and we are doing our best to preserve it as well as send it into the future.”
Development Director, Jeff Kingsbury
Jeff has graced the Black Hills Playhouse stage for 18 seasons now, performing in countless productions. If he’s not on stage bringing life to a production, he’s at the theatre’s entrance greeting patrons and ensuring the show always goes on. Behind the scenes, Jeff is a pillar of Theatre 605’s development, wearing many hats, including Actor, director, choreographer, Olio writer/performer, groundskeeper, and fundraiser. Knowing Jeff means knowing what a true passion for theatre looks like.
We asked Jeff what he loved about his work with Theatre 605, and he shared,
“I love the staff camaraderie, building prosperity, relationships with patrons, and the true teamwork of theatre.”
Artistic Director – Tours, Jr. Camps, Expanding Stage, Jen Luke
Jen has been connected to Theatre 605 for ten years now, sharing her expertise in nearly every corner of the organization. She has toured with Theatre 605 Tours and worked administratively in the education office. Jen has also served as company manager for the BHP and as a customer service lead managing the box office and snack bar. On stage, she performed as Miss Lynch in Grease at the BHP in 2017. She later worked as a contract director for the Expanding Stage program, and now she serves as Artistic Director of educational programming. We love the energy Jen brings to Theatre 605.
We asked Jen what she loved about his work with Theatre 605, and she shared,
“I love getting to do what I love in the place that I love and connecting people to the arts throughout the whole state.”
Development Associate, Kassi Blue-Scates
Kassi has been an integral part of the Theatre 605 family for over 4 years, and has a deep connection to the Black Hills Playhouse, going back to her childhood.
Kassi grew up attending productions at the Black Hills Playhouse, sometimes seeing a single production 4 or 5 times! She also has fond memories of attending dress rehearsal performances with her grandma.
In college, Kassi auditioned for the BHP and was offered a position with Dakota Players. However, due to scheduling conflicts, she wasn’t able to join the tour. But she always knew she would find her way back.
Kassi may be a familiar face behind the scenes, but she has also been in three productions on the Black Hills Playhouse stage. Kassi has acted in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Legally Blonde”. Famously, her dog, Seymour, also appeared in “Legally Blonde”. Most recently, she performed in “1776” this season.
We asked Kassi what she loves about working with Theatre 605, and she shared,
“I used to dream of performing at the BHP and being part of the Black Hills Playhouse family, and I am honored to have seen those dreams come true. And to have my husband, Liam [Theatre 605’s Operations Director], along for the ride with me is beyond words. I also love interacting with the patrons! Theatre is pure magic. I love everything about it.”
Operations Assistant, Gretchen Lindenberg
Gretchen has seen a longtime dream come true by joining the Theatre 605 family. She has worked with Theatre 605 for one year as an operations assistant, after first joining Theatre 605 as a Customer Service Intern at the Black Hills Playhouse’s Box Office and Snack Bar.
Having grown up and spent most of her life in and around the Black Hills, she’s had many friends and mentors who have had the pleasure of working at the historic BHP. She has always been entranced and intrigued by the magic out at the little theatre in the woods, long before joining the staff.
We asked Gretchen what she loves about working with Theatre 605, and she shared,
“Last year I finally got to realize my dream of working at the Black Hills Playhouse, and now I get to call Theatre 605 home! One of my favorite things about this job is the people! Getting to form connections—not only with the other year-round staff, but also with patrons and all the new faces I get to meet every summer—is really what makes a working environment thrive for me. What I have always loved about live theatre is the ability to share a story with such passionate and dedicated artists alongside you.”
Edu Program Associate, Alex Newcomb Weiland
Alex officially joined the full-time staff at Theatre 605 earlier this year, but her connection goes back as far as 2017, when she first appeared on the Black Hills Playhouse stage.
Alex was involved in the 2017 BHP company in Peter & the Star Catcher, Young Frankenstein, and Grease. She has also performed as a voice actor for Expanding Stage performances in Sioux Falls. Now Alex is an integral part of our educational programming, and we love having her along for the ride!
We asked Alex what she loves about working with Theatre 605, and she shared,
“The people! Each artist in this organization works SO hard and is so good at what they do. It’s inspiring to see how much passion they have for the mission of Theatre 605. I love theatre for the impact and the opportunity it gives to allow ourselves to break free and live authentically. I think the world can feel very limited and stifling at times, and theatre gives us a space to go beyond and explore outside of those boundaries. In this exploration, we can find the truest version of ourselves and follow our passions to live a fulfilling, purposeful, and creative life.”
These are just a handful of the amazing year-round staff telling stories and changing lives through Theatre 605. Head to our About page to meet the full staff.