Before joining the staff in 2023, Merrie was part of Circle Arts Theatre for more than 20 years as a parent, patron, and volunteer. She earned her PhD in Educational Leadership and worked in public schools for 31 years. As a former school principal, she brings administrative experience, an appreciation of organized chaos, and a passion for people to the Executive Director role at Circle Arts. Merrie and her wife, Lisa, raised two amazing children in New Braunfels and are now bossed around by their bulldogs, Stella and Rocco. Life is good.

Robin is a New Braunfels Native and has a BFA in Theatre Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. She has been an active part of Circle Arts Theatre since she joined The Inner Circle in 1994. Her list of favorite directorial roles is almost as long as her list of accomplishments as our Artistic Director. A few of those favorites include My Fair Lady, Young Frankenstein, Always… Patsy Cline, The Producers, Murder on the Orient Express, Dear Jack Dear Louise, Dog Sees God, The Music Man, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Mary Poppins. Robin is also the head of both of our youth programs as our Youth Director. She leads our Klasses In Drama (Circle Arts KIDs) and is the director of The Inner Circle (our touring youth company). Having served in almost every capacity possible at the theatre at one time or another, her favorite role is teacher/director of The Inner Circle since that’s where she started at Circle Arts.

Heather is the thrilled to be a part of Circle Arts Theatre! She is the mom of two girls, Maggie and Hazel, and wife to Josh. For the past 15 years, Heather has been in education, teaching both reading and theatre.

Her passion for the stage started in high school, and she feels lucky to continue to be a part of the magic that theatre creates for everyone involved! Heather graduated from Texas State University with a BA in Communication in 2007 and is excited to help Circle Arts continue to grow and remain an important staple in New Braunfels.

Before Jessica joined our staff this year, she volunteered and worked at the theatre in some capacity for nearly the past two decades. Between being backstage and on stage, Jessica works as a tattoo artist. She has owned her own private studio since 2018 and has been tattooing since 2010.

Her first role on stage here at Circle Arts Theatre was in the nun ensemble in The Sound of Music twenty years ago! That grew into a wonderful- yet at times unhealthy- hobby of being in back-to-back shows for years at a time. Her favorite roles include Patsy in Spamalot!, Linoleum in The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Harlene in Southern Fried Funeral, Sylvia in All Shook Up!, Greta Olsen in Murder on the Orient Express, and Louise in Dear Jack, Dear Louise.

Jessica is a NBHS graduate of the class of 2004. Spending time over the years and collecting jobs like Pokémon has given her a long list of obscure and very practical skills. From balloon twisting to full-time carpenter and just about anything else in between Jessica really is a Jack-of-all-trades.

Jennifer arrived in New Braunfels in summer 2016 after her husband retired from serving 20 years in the Air Force.  The entire family quickly put down roots in their new hometown.  Jen and her two children Hailey and Drew found a home at Circle Arts right away….all three of them appearing on stage in “Inherit the Wind” by that August.  The kids then joined KIDs classes and both later fleeted up to the Inner Circle.  Jen found various ways to volunteer on or around the stage.  By 2017 Jennifer had joined the board of directors, and in 2018 she implemented the KIDs “Giving Circle” to include our youngest actors in the Circle Arts culture of giving back to the community.  Meanwhile, her husband Paul can often be found house-crewing or as videographer in the tech booth.  Jennifer holds a BS in microbiology and an MS in genetics.  Through her current work as a biology professor with Excelsior University and Texas Lutheran University, as well as her years of experience in serving and leading others as a military Key Spouse, Jennifer brings a knack for facilitating, innovating, and having fun.

Linda has been a NB resident for over 30 years. You can currently find her serving as a part-time ministry coordinator for Springs Community Church after retiring from managing her husband’s dental practice.

She has been involved in some capacity of NB community theatre since 2004. Linda has served on many local non-profit boards including NB Education Foundation, Comal County Child Welfare Board and NB Band Boosters. Her favorite theatre memory is when she directed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream-coat with many family members in the cast. Linda loves to cook, entertain and ride her bicycle all around New Braunfels. She is trying to become an avid gardener, but her thumb isn’t quite green yet!

Marcie is a retired public school educator who has been involved with Circle Arts for many years. She has served as Secretary and Treasurer for the Board and is currently serving as Vice President for Business Management. Promotion of the Arts is a primary focus for her.

“I think the theatre is as essential to civilization as safe, pure water.” -Vanessa Redgrave

Patrick joined the Circle Arts family in 2001 after retiring with 40 years service with the General Electric Company. Over the years he has served as Marketing Director, President and Treasurer. He has appeared in many plays since 2001, portraying  every role on his “bucket list”. His favorite role was Tevye in “Fiddler On The Roof”.

His favorite pastimes are playing golf and making homemade ice cream!

Cody Huffman serves on the Board of Directors of Circle Arts Theatre and is passionate about the role the arts play in bringing people together, strengthening community, and creating meaningful shared experiences.

Professionally, Cody is the Director of Corporate Partnerships & Development for San Antonio Sports, San Antonio’s nonprofit sports commission, where he leads corporate partnership strategy, business development, and revenue initiatives that help advance the organization’s mission to provide free youth and community wellness programs across San Antonio. San Antonio Sports also works to attract, host, and support some of the largest sporting events in the country, strengthening San Antonio’s position as a premier sports destination while creating lasting community impact.

Cody brings more than 20 years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, marketing, sponsorships, media, and experiential programming. Prior to joining San Antonio Sports, he spent two decades with Simon Property Group, most recently serving as a Senior Vice President with leadership responsibility for the Simon Media Network and experiential marketing partnerships across Simon’s national portfolio. In that role, he helped shape and commercialize integrated brand platforms connecting advertisers and partners with consumers across some of the country’s most prominent shopping, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use destinations.

Personally, Cody is an avid patron of the arts and has performed in and hosted numerous corporate and community events. He is proud to support Circle Arts Theatre and its continued impact on the New Braunfels community through live theatre, education, creativity, and connection.

Joy Lindsey has been a member of the Circle Arts Theatre family since 1989 and a continuous Board member for more than 30 years.  Joy is passionate about Circle Arts Theatre’s mission and loves being a part of its magic both on and off the stage.  Joy is also passionate about living out her teenage dream and is LUVing being a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines for almost 8 years.  When not performing or flying, Joy loves to travel, especially if that travel involves hiking, cruising or taking one of her 4 grandchildren on an adventure.

Martie has lived in New Braunfels almost 40 years ( and yes, she knows she is still considered an Auslander). She is a happily retired educator of 37 years, having taught elementary education  at The American School Foundation in Monterrey, Mexico, Austin ISD, Alief ISD, and Judson ISD.  In 1990 she joined NBISD for 26 years as an Educational Diagnostician, Licensed Specialist in School Psychology and Director of Special Education. She holds a BS in Education and a MEd in Education and School Psychology, all from Southwest Texas State University. Her interest in Circle Arts Theatre began when she would watch her nephew, Paul, perform with Inner Circle and main stage production. Eventually, her son, Jason, was in Fantasy Factory, Inner Circle and the main stage. She eventually started acting herself with Circle Arts Theatre. Martie has been on the Circle Arts Board for many years serving as Secretary, Vice President, and as a General Board member. She is also involved in her community by serving on the New Braunfels Downtown Association Board (DTA). Previous Boards also included the MHMR Board and the Greater New Braunfels Art Council Board. While she loves all the work she does on the various Boards, her favorite things in life are her husband, Bobby, her sons and daughter-in-law, Marcos, Jason and Haley and the best dog ever, Tank.

Heather Stamper brings a professional background as eclectic as her taste in music. She holds a B.A. in Theatre and is currently completing her M.A. in Theatre, where her graduate work explores the integration of consent-based practices into performance organizations.

Through Intimacy on Stage, Heather draws on 200+ hours of specialized training as an Intimacy Director to work with performance organizations and schools. Her leadership experience spans performing arts organizations and corporate management, where she earned a Six Sigma Green Belt. Turns out getting people and processes moving in the same direction are pretty handy skills in theatre, too.

At Circle Arts Theatre, Heather recently appeared onstage in Deathtrap and served as Intimacy Director for Murder on the Orient Express and The Comedy of Tenors.

Heather firmly believes in the power of theatre to create meaningful human connection and is truly grateful to serve alongside others who believe the same.

When she isn’t at the theatre, Heather enjoys traveling, writing, cooking, and spending time with her husband and two sons who laugh at her while she dances in the kitchen.

Mike Singleton moved to New Braunfels in 2014 with his wife and two daughters from Houston to pursue a better life, and they found a home at Circle Arts Theatre. His move here was part of a semi-retirement from working full-time in the oil and gas industry in Houston. For several years, he owned and operated Naturally Café, and he now works part-time as a real estate agent. In his free time, Mike enjoys playing tennis, swimming in the river, and acting on stage!

James Cox brings more than 25 years of leadership, entrepreneurship, and business growth experience to the Circle Arts Theatre Board. He previously co-founded and helped grow a national training and professional development company that was later acquired by private equity.

Today, James is co-owner of New Neighbors Home & Lifestyle, owner of Growth Plan Partners—a small-business consulting and coaching firm—and an executive with Tairus Corporation, supporting franchise brands including Lawn Pride and 1-800-GOT-JUNK? of Texas.

James’s connection to Circle Arts began when his son, Connor, first performed there in 2020. Watching Connor grow in confidence, creativity, and friendship inspired James to become more involved and ultimately join the Board. James lives in New Braunfels with his wife, Stephanie, and Connor, and is proud to support Circle Arts Theatre’s continued impact on the community.

Noah is a local entrepreneur and loves karaoke, AYCE sushi, horror movies, and is honored to serve on the Circle Arts board. He moved to New Braunfels in 2019, discovered the amazing community in Circle Arts, and never looked back.

Since first appearing in a Wurstfest Melodrama (“Star Wurst”) in 2019, Noah has been in the cast of numerous shows (some his favorites including the “Lend Me a Tenor” series, “All Shook Up”, “The 39 Steps”, “Murder on the Orient Express”, and “Dear Jack, Dear Louise”), directed a melodrama (“HocWurst PocWurst”), served as a stage manager and a stagehand, and has begun performing in shows at other community theatres in the south and central Texas area, which he hopes can help bring new ideas and connections to grow Circle Arts’ rich history.

He affectionately refers to himself as the board’s “Resident Young Person” and wants to help bring a different view to the board from the new generation’s perspective, in order to continue and evolve Circle Arts’ mission of inspiring, educating, and entertaining the incredible community of New Braunfels.

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Lisa has called New Braunfels home since 1999 and has been active in the community ever since, volunteering with parenting groups and holding offices with PTA, Friends of NBISD P.A.C., the Greater New Braunfels Arts Council, and the Comal County Child Welfare Board. Her entire family has performed on Circle Arts’ stage at some point, and you may have even seen them onstage together from time to time! When not spending time at the theatre, Lisa enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs, traveling, and visiting her three children.

Alan is a passionate advocate for community theater and the opportunities it creates for audience members, and for those who participate in its creative processes!

He grew up in Utah in a family that valued the performing arts. He performed in a youth singing ensemble, singing in concerts at various events throughout his community. He also regularly attended plays & musicals in the vibrant community theaters throughout Utah Valley. Some of his fondest memories include braving monsoon thunderstorms as they passed over the Scera Shell outdoor amphitheater in Orem, UT during summer shows.

Alan left Utah to join the Air Force and attend pilot training in Del Rio, TX, where he and his wife, Susan, began their family. Serving over 20 years on active duty, he and his family spent over half of his career in Texas. They chose Texas as their adopted home and currently enjoy gardening and remodeling their home in Marion.

He spent his final assignment teaching USAF Instructor Pilots at Randolph AFB. Throughout his career, he gained experience helping organizations & individuals navigate institutional change. He is a combat veteran, having flown the A-10, MC-12, T-6, and T-38. Alan continues to work as a professional pilot.

In 2019, Alan returned to his passion for singing and began vocal training with tenor & vocal coach Timothy Birt in San Antonio.