PRODUCTION STAFF

Index of Production Staff:
Daniel Sheridan (Performing Arts Supervisor & Artistic Director)
Rachel Shipley (Dance Studio Coordinator)
Kristin Meyer (Front Desk Clerk, Board President)
Tyson Danner (Theatre Coordinator)

Production Staff:

Daniel DP Sheridan
Performing Arts Supervisor & Artistic Director

Daniel is proud to have grown up in Davenport. He comes from a family of two parents, four younger sisters, two brothers and a couple cats. He is not afraid to say that he is used to constant negotiation and patience. A graduate of West High School, he was a longtime member of Davenport Junior Theatre (1994-2001). At Junior Theatre, he was a mainstage performer, teacher and on the Junior Staff. He would continue to come back and teach at Junior Theatre during college.

Daniel received his B.A. in Theatre from St. Ambrose University. While at St. Ambrose, Daniel had the chance to practice in theatre as an actor, designer and director. During his tenure, he spent a semester abroad at the University of London Queen Mary studying performance art. He also spent a couple summers directing and acting at Theatre L'Homme Dieu in Alexandria, Minnesota. Daniel was fortunate enough to win the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship through the American College Theatre Festival and move on to the final round at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, where he competed against 13 of the nation's finest student actors for various scholarships. He was also a professional performer at ComedySportz (Rock Island) for five years.

Daniel then focused back on performance at the University of Connecticut, where he earned his MFA in Acting. While there for three years, he studied Vocal Technique (Linklater, Fitzmaurice, Houseman, Stern), LeCoq Movement, Suzuki, Comedia, Clown, Shakespeare, and a variety of acting styles.

As an MFA student, Daniel was a company member of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre and was seen in many productions. He also worked in the Connecticut Repertory Theatre's management office for three years.

Daniel spent the summer of 2007 at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Studying alongside 13 other students who were selected out of the nation's top 15 MFA acting universities, he had the chance to work with national and international theatre artists. One of those artists, Andrew Wade (former head of voice for the Royal Shakespeare Company for 12 years), has come to Junior Theatre as a guest instructor.

Daniel directed Hamlet at the Antioch Classical Theatre Company, just outside San Francisco. He has directed multiple productions for the Curtainbox Theatre Company (Davenport, Iowa) including Three Viewings and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. He also was seen onstage in Glengarry Glen Ross. Daniel is a company member with the Curtainbox.

At Junior Theatre, Daniel has directed Bunnicula, The Adventures of Aesop, Alice in Wonderland and most recently the 30-hour Play Project: All I Really Need to Know I Learned by Being in a Bad Play. He has acted as a designer (lights, sounds, scenic, tech director, etc.) on many shows at Junior Theatre and in the community.

Recently, Daniel directed Jack Frost Saves Christmas at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse. He also directed the world-premiere of the children's musical Dakota Jones and the Search for Atlantis in the Fall of 2011 at the St. Ambrose University Theatre Department.

Daniel is currently the Artistic Director of Davenport Junior Theatre and the Performing Arts Supervisor for Davenport Parks and Recreation. Daniel also loves finding time as an instructor whenever he can. However, with a growing Junior Theatre program those opportunities have been far and few between, which is a good thing!

Rachel Shipley
Dance Studio Coordinator

Rachel began dancing in a non-competitive program in Bettendorf, IA at age 8. This recreational activity quickly became her lifelong passion and led her to more competitive programs throughout her high school years. Rachel received competitive awards and recognition from numerous Midwest dance competitions and conventions. At age 15, Rachel began to share her passion for dance through teaching classes in ballet, tap, jazz, & hip-hop at the Bettendorf Family Museum for 3 years. She then moved to River City Music and Dance where she continued to teach classes throughout her college years in ballet, tap and jazz while also becoming a licensed Zumba Instructor.

During college, Rachel returned to a recreational dance program and became a member of the Augustana Dance Company and Augustana Vikettes (Pom Squad). Here she served as the Costume Chair and President–elect for the company. After the relocation of River City Music and Dance, Rachel accepted a position with Davenport Junior Theatre School of Dance in the fall of 2011 to teach classes in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. Rachel continues to pursue dance and choreography opportunities within the community. She is a member of the Quad City Motion Dance Company and performs at Quad City Raiders and River Bandits games as well as other events throughout the Quad Cities. Rachel continues to choreograph dances for the Augustana Dance Company and has served as a judge for multiple dance team auditions throughout the area.

Rachel recently accepted the position of Studio Coordinator for the DJT School of Dance and is thrilled to be here! She is excited to expand her passion and love for dance to continue building such an amazing program. Rachel says, “I believe this program has huge potential for expanding knowledge of the performing arts in the Quad Cities and is built to provide students with confidence, dignity and enjoyment from a fun learning environment!”

Kristin Meyer
Front Desk Clerk, Board President

Kristin began her involvement at Davenport Junior Theatre as a child, growing up through the program. She has taken and taught classes, acted in and directed mainstage productions, served as a Junior Staff member, and now as an adult staff member, and holds the distinction of being the first teenager to be Showtime Pal for a mainstage show!

After being away in Kansas and Colorado for a few years, Kristin returned to Davenport. She has since served and Vice President and President of the Board of Directors of Junior Theatre, Inc. and does costuming work for DJT's various programs. Kristin has also costumed shows at Playcrafters, Quad City Music Guild and The Curtainbox Theatre Company.

Kristin is proud that all three of her children have been Junior Theatre kids!

Tyson Danner
Theatre Coordinator

Tyson holds a B.A. in Music Performance at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, where he was involved in numerous aspects of the university's music programs. During his years at the university that he produced and music directed his first theatrical production, a concert version of the musical Ragtime, followed the next summer by The Secret Garden.

After graduating from St. Ambrose, Tyson was a founder of The Green Room Theatre in Rock Island, where he acted as Artistic Director and as director or music director of many acclaimed productions, including Into the Woods, Carousel, john & jen, Doubt and Assassins.

Locally, Tyson has had such directing and music directing experiences as The Wiz, Neil LaBute's Bash: Latter-Day Plays and Gypsy. He recently directed the Circa '21 production of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and The Curtainbox Theatre Company's Time Stands Still.

His most recent project is the creation of a theatre on West Locust Street in Davenport, known as the QC Theatre Workshop, where he directed John Logan's Tony Award-winning RED.

Tyson is also a private voice instructor and coach, focused mainly on musical theatre repertoire. His studio is on the upper floor of Cottage 15.

Related Links
Teaching Staff
Guest Staff