Our Team

Barb Nichols has been involved in the Kansas City theatre world for many years. Most recently she co-wrote, co-produced and directed Overture, an original musical at the 2019 New York Music Festival. She has directed many shows for The Barn Players including Chess, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Secret Garden, Bat Boy, A New Brain, Urinetown (2006) as well as performing in August, Osage County and Urinetown (2018).

With 35 years of experience as a director, producer, choreographer, acting coach, tap instructor, and program manager—including 13 years managing a conservatory of the arts—Amy has directed or produced more than 100 full-length productions. Her work includes four award-winning shows at The Kauffman Center, RENT at Olathe Civic Theatre, 13 and Anything Goes at Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, and of course, The Secret Garden and Jesus Christ Superstar at The Barn. She is also thrilled to direct The Barn’s upcoming production of Big Fish! Amy approaches every production with the belief that theatre is an opportunity to share powerful stories that challenge audiences to feel, think, and leave transformed. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s sentiment that theatre is the greatest of all art forms because it allows us to explore and share what it means to be human, she strives to create work that resonates long after the curtain falls.

Denice currently serves as choir director at Santa Fe Trail Middle School in Olathe, is director of The Barn's summer youth production, and is a Teacher Artist on staff at Johnson County Parks and Recreation. She also enjoys being onstage, music directing, and playing in pits in the Johnson County theater community. She makes her home in Olathe with her husband, two children, and two cats.

Becca works as a branch manager for FNBO. Her degree is in Consumer and Family Economics from Kansas State University. She was raised in Marion, Kansas, a small rural community. While never a performer herself, she is raising two thespians that have graced the stage in Barn Kids and Barn Junior productions along with other community and school productions.

A licensed CPA with extensive experience across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, Brian has held finance leadership roles in Series A & B SaaS, public SaaS, and public energy organizations.

Eric has been a stage actor since 1985, appearing on university, community and equity theater stage in Emporia, Wichita & Kansas City. He has been a theatre teacher and director since 1991. Eric is the director of theatre at Shawnee Mission West High School (after a 24 year stint as the director of theatre at Frontier Trail Middle School in Olathe), and a Kansas certified speech and theatre teacher for grades 7 – 12. He has been a featured director and teacher for Legacy School of the Arts in Olathe, Olathe South High School & Olathe Northwest High School, has worked in radio and has been a private acting coach since 2006. Eric is a published playwright of six adaptations of Shakespearean plays, including Romeo & Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew (www.histage.com), which have been performed all across the country. A complete list of Eric's acting and directing credits can be seen on his private coaching website, “Acting with Magnitude” (www.ericmagnus.com). Eric has been the Artistic Director of The Barn Players since September of 2008.

Kathleen Marx is the Director of Sales Operations for a financial technology firm based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A proud Jayhawk, she earned her degree from the University of Kansas. As a child, her father teasingly called her "Sarah Barnyard (Sarah Bernhardt!)" due to her imagination and effusive personality. Once her children were old enough, Kathleen returned to the stage and has been in productions with Leawood Stage Company, Midlife Players, Theatre in the Park, Olathe Civic Theatre, The Culture House, The White Theatre, Black Repertory Theatre, and, of course, The Barn Players. Kathleen has worked in a volunteer capacity with the Johnson County Library (presenting webinars), as an officer with local chapters of the Association for Quality & Participation and the Society for Human Resource Management, and with the Federal Courts as a vocalist at naturalization ceremonies.

Kay is General Counsel for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a 501(c)(3) organization supporting state regulation of insurance. She was born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa and received her undergraduate degree in history and political science from Loras College. She received her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law and moved to Kansas City where her legal career has included private practice, corporate counsel in the pharmaceutical industry and her current position. She is active in community theatre as a performer and previously served two terms on the Theatre in the Park Advisory Council, including two years as Chair.

Lynn has a long history of involvement with the arts community in Kansas City. He has performed and served on the production staff of many theatres in town. He has served as chair of the board of the Heartland Men's Chorus and the Theatre In The Park Advisory Council. He now serves as the Assistant Artistic Director of the Barn Players. Lynn is the Director of Finance at North Cross United Methodist Church.

Vida was president of the Board of Directors for The Barn Players from 2007 until 2026 and Secretary of the Board for two years before that. She was also President of the Board of Directors for Camellot Academy from 1991 to 2009 and taught art classes at Camellot from 1972 through 1976. She retired in 2008 from a 31 year career as a Senior Professional Healthcare Consultant with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Vida has volunteered for several other not-for-profits including The Jackson County Free Health Clinic, Kansas City AIDS Research Consortium and the Jackson County Chapter of the Diabetes Association. Vida graduated from The University of Kansas in 1976 with a BFA in Sculpture.

Trevor has been in the banking and credit card industry for almost 30 years. He is currently with Bend by FNBO. He was born in Kansas City and was raised on a farm in Edgerton Missouri. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from UMKC in 2006. He has been actively involved in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion not only at work but within the community. He is also active in theater as a performer and has served on two previous boards including The Kansas City Diversity Coalition, and Blue Valley Industries.

Stephanie Laaker is a theatre and teaching artist and is thrilled to join the Barn Players Board! Stephanie is the theatre instructor for Mission Project, and has taught with Heart of American Shakespeare Festival, the Coterie, Kansas City Young Audiences, and the Barn Players. She also works full time at the Coterie, bringing teaching artists into the classroom. Stephanie loves teaching Shakespeare and language, and also loves exploring new ways to communicate and create with students and peers.

Shelley is an English Language Arts teacher for Blue Valley North High School. She has a degree in English and Secondary Education from Virginia Wesleyan College. In addition to being a teacher, she is a mom, a wife, an avid reader, an arts enthusiast, a GSA sponsor, and a deacon for her church. She was introduced to The Barn by former students and friends. Her daughter loves participating in the Barn Kids summer camp.

Daniel Vazquez (they/them) is a Latinx Director, Intimacy Director, and Stage Manager based in Kansas City. A recent graduate from Emporia State University, Daniel is incredibly excited to join The Barn board after having worked with The Barn since they were in high school. Outside of The Barn, Daniel has worked with The White Theatre at The J, Unicorn Theatre, and Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park. Website: dv.danielvazquez.art