Our Mission
Suwannee Valley Players is the only community theatre serving Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties (Florida, USA), providing a variety of live theatrical productions for our audiences and participants for over 40 years.
The mission of the Suwannee Valley Players is twofold:
To Bring Quality Live Entertainment to the Tri-County Area – We are committed to providing our community with cultural opportunities. With plays like 1776, Annie, and Oklahoma!, we learn more about our country’s history. Plays such as The Wizard of Oz, Twelve Angry Men, The Crucible, Little Women, and The Secret Garden explore great works of literature.
To Educate the Community in the Area of the Fine Arts of the Theatre – We teach many aspects of theatre craft and welcome any member of the community to join, learn and help in our shows. Over the years, we have watched “our kids” develop confidence, poise, and social skills even beyond those of their peers.
Members of the Board
Hailey Horrigan, President
Hailey first started at the Chief Theatre as the stage manager for The Addams Family Musical. She has also helped backstage for Anne of Green Gables, Much Ado about Nothing, and Dracula. She has continued to develop her leadership skills as assistant director for A Charlie Brown Christmas and Nana’s Naughty Knickers and as director of Robin Hood. She also took to our stage as an elf in A Charlie Brown Christmas and Narrator 2 in Game of Tiaras. Now we are excited that she is taking the helm of our leadership as President!
Lanette Six, Vice President
Lanette comes to the Chief Theatre with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and Theatre Education, also 62 years of both amateur and professional theatre experience. In the eight years that Lanette has been at The Chief, she has been involved in 20 productions either acting, choreographing, assistant directing, or directing. Some of her favorite roles have been: Vera in Nana’s Naughty Knickers, Dotty/Mrs. Clackett in Noises Off! Mrs. Hubbard in Murder on the Orient Express and Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Favorite shows she has directed are The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Grease. In her first show at The Chief, she shared the stage with her daughter, Sasha. Lanette is excited to be able to join her daughter on stage once again in Steel Magnolias this season. We look forward to another year with Lanette’s leadership perspective as Vice President!
Kristin Eckelmann, Secretary
Kristin has been involved behind the scenes at The Chief Theatre for several years. She made her on stage debut in the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and in Chief Theatre’s original Domestic Bliss. When not acting, Kristin is a realtor by trade, loves spending time with her five children, and taking care of all her fur and feathered friends.
Monieka Walbaum, Treasurer
Monieka began onstage with our production of The Addams Family and then multiple roles including Violet in 9 to 5. Monieka and her family have become an integral part of our SVP family. We are looking forward to another great year with the Walbaum Family!
Angie Acevedo, Board Member
Beginning as an ancestor in The Addams Family, Angie was seen as Dracula’s bride in Dracula. Recently, she has become an important part of our leadership on the Executive Board and in directing the classic Anne of Green Gables and hilarious comedy Game of Tiaras. She and her family have been a valuable addition to our SVP Family onstage as well as behind the scenes. We look forward to many more years as part of SVP’s family!
Dr. Eugene Gibbins, Board Member
Dr. Gibbins has been with SVP since appearing in The Addams Family Musical, playing the part of one of the ancestors. He has served as stage manager for Death Trap and assistant director for Noises Off. Before coming to Chiefland, he appeared in two different movies while living in California: Rehearsal, the Movie and Moneyball with Brad Ptit. In Rehearsal he played the grandfather of the bride at a wedding rehearsal dinner of a very dysfunctional family.
Elizabeth Phillips, Board Member
Elizabeth has served as photographer and archivist for several years as well as a member of the Executive Board. She began with SVP in The Sound of Music in 1989 and has enjoyed being involved in many shows since then including her favorite productions Godspell and The Fiddler on the Roof. She has also ventured into administrative matters including assistant/music director with Godspell and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and even directing with the beloved classic Little Women and high-energy favorite musical Grease.
Becky Gill, Emeritus Board Member
Becky was our beloved supporter and friend. She was a retired Navy physician. Since Becky adopted the Chief Theatre as her family, our theatre group has never been the same. She was our greatest fan and supporter, even joining us onstage as Kirby Plank in The Night We Knocked the Critic Dead, the Scarecrow in A Murder of Scarecrows, Queen Victoria in Annie Get Your Gun! and her final performance as Billie Grant in our original Jack & Grace. When you see the extraordinary renovations at the Chief Theatre, know that you are welcome to sit back and enjoy our shows in Becky’s House.
