Members

Debbie Brown, Co-Owner

An avid reader and researcher, Debbie has dabbled in poetry, memoir, and playwriting. She has had the good fortune of working with talented folks both on and back stage for several decades. Debbie has performed with the Eau Claire Children Theater, Chippewa Valley Theater Guild, Performance Anxiety, and other area groups. 

Beverly Olson, Co-Owner

A self-proclaimed "left-brainer", Beverly loves connecting with an audience. She has performed in many of Eau Claire Children's Theater's murder mystery shows and has been an actor for the Eau Claire Police Department's Crisis Intervention Training. She enjoys the challenges ECWIT provides: acting, adapting prose for scripts, and directing. 

Kathleen Sullivan, Co-Owner

Kathleen has lived and worked in the Eau Claire area for over 30 years. In that time she has  had various roles in productions  for Eau Claire Children Theater and Chippewa Valley Theater Guild.  ECWIT is a fun and challenging venture for this  book and stage fan.

Sara Bryan, Associate Member

Language Arts have always been Sara’s particular field of interest, whether as a poet, reader, book festival volunteer, or community theater actor. She graduated from UW- Eau Claire with an English degree in 1994. Over the years, she has performed roles with the Eau Claire Children Theater, and finds great creative and intellectual satisfaction as a working member of ECWIT since 2016.

Ann Pearson, Co-Owner

A global science educator and children's book author, Ann resides in Chippewa Falls and has enjoyed performing in shows for the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, the Eau Claire Children's Theatre, and different performing groups at the Heyde Center as well as serving as an actor for the Eau Claire Police Department's Crisis Intervention Training. ​

Kathi Baker, Associate Member

An experienced public speaker and training facilitator, Kathi was dared by her youngest child to audition for her first show in 2018. This led instantly to a love for the theatre and ongoing performances with the Eau Claire Children’s Theatre. Kathi is a relative newcomer to Eau Claire, relocating from Seattle with her family in 2017. She has also resided in California, Arizona, Massachusetts, and North Carolina but plans to call Eau Claire her forever home.

Jill Markgraf, Co-Owner

 Jill surprised herself by joining an improv team a few years ago. Delighted and energized by the intersection of work and play, she has been incorporating the elements of improv into her work as an academic librarian, and has facilitated applied improv workshops for librarians regionally and nationally. She is honored to join the ECWIT women in creative collaboration.

Cassie Pearson, Associate Member

Cassie is an avid arts lover, whether visual, theatrical, or musical. After a brief break, Cassie returned to the stage with ECWIT in 2022 in the role of Joan in Failure Is Impossible, and is now completely hooked on the unique and creative theater experiences that ECWIT offers. She lives with her partner and cat in Chippewa Falls, where she paints and plays Dungeons & Dragons with friends and family in her free time.

Judy Gilles, Associate Member

Judy owned and operated Cabin Ridge Rides in Cadott Wisconsin. During the 28 years of operation she welcomed thousands of national and international guests to the ag-tourism business. She wrote and preformed a one woman show entitled Ella, as well as directed murder mysteries for private visiting groups. In her 15 years on the Cadott School Board she worked to strengthen the Arts program. With Judy’s recent move to Eau Claire she is excited to become involved in the arts scene.

Marty Prince, Associate Member

 Marty is a recent returnee to the Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire area from Rice Lake where she worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years (among other professions). She has always been a fan of the arts - performance, literary, visual, or culinary- but she never seemed to take the time or have the courage to pursue her more creative side. Currently joyfully retired enjoying the area's outdoor activities - biking the Old Abe Trail, or hiking our beautiful state parks and the Ice Age Trail with her "wonderful" dog, Eva. She is so pleased and excited to be welcomed into ECWIT.

Marcia Jacobs, Associate Member

 Marcia has been hooked on theater since first performing in The King and I with her 10 year old son. (Thirty Years ago!) She has been on stage at The Little Theater of Owatonna (MN), the Northfield (MN) Arts Guild, and readers theater at the Senior Center. She also sews costumes. Marcia moved to Eau Claire two years ago to be close to her son who teaches bassoon at UWEC, and his wife and two children. She is ready to be involved with ECWIT, ECCT and CVTG.