Staff and Board of Directors

Sandy Boren-Barrett has been with Stages Theatre Company (STC) since 1990, allowing her to pursue her passion for theatre production and education, along with community building theatre serving young audiences. During her time in leadership STC has been awarded National recognition with the 2017 Harold Oaks Award for Innovative Contributions to the Field of Theatre for Young Audiences, as well as the 2018 – 50/50 Applause Award for promoting gender equity with playwrights. STC’s 2019-2020 season selection was highlighted in TYA Today Magazine as an example of “a promising increase in representation specifically in works that feature the stories of contemporary young people of color”. Sandy led an international performance tour and artistic exchange with “the egg Theatre, the Young Peoples Theatre of Theatre Royal” in Bath England. Collaboration is at the core of her work, and as an accomplished director has directed over 75 productions at STC which include many new works, dance-inspired productions, and world premieres. She directed the local premier, mainstage production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the musical which remains the highest attended production at Stages Theatre Company. Sandy remains on the Executive Committee, as former chair of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) and last spring worked with Racially Conscious Collaboration (RCC) to gain her certification in racial equity organizational leadership.

Susan Swenson joined Stages Theatre Company in 2014. In her role as Managing Director, she works in partnership with Sandy Boren-Barrett to manage the marketing, development, and administrative functions of the theatre, as well as providing leadership in strategic planning. Susan comes to Stages after a 30 year career in Finance at General Mills, where she held numerous leadership roles across the organization. Outside of work, she has been an active volunteer in the Minneapolis community with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Operation Bootstrap Africa, and Partners in Food Solutions. Susan currently serves on the Board of the Friends of the Hopkins Center for the Arts. She is a strong supporter of the arts community and is thrilled to combine her business expertise with her love of theatre.