OUR TEAM - Enlightening the Dark

MEET OUR CREATIVE TEAM!

Kara Mckee
Program Manager & A/V Design
Jayden Lott is ETD Theatre Company's Runner and a part of the Costuming team. She takes all of the director's notes and "runs" quick tasks during rehearsals, while also jumping in for costuming when needed. Jayden has been a part of ETD Theatre Co. since 2021 but joined the production team in 2024. She has loved all the roles she has had the opportunity to fulfill. The busyness of show season keeps her head steady through the rough first few months of the year. Though, whether she is acting, helping with costuming, or taking notes, she will always be Bry's runner at heart. ❤

Emma Evans
Assistant Director
Emma Evans is Enlightening The Dark Theatre’s Assistant Director and Head of Hair and Makeup for this season’s production, So Much The Same. That is in addition to Phoenix 23’s Head of Costuming, Hair, and Makeup. Emma works to help Bry run and plan theatre rehearsals. She also designs the hair and makeup for the production, and runs that portion of backstage. Emma designs and sources the costuming for Phoenix 23, and on occasion alters them to fit the character’s personality. This is Emma’s second year in a Production team role after being in ETD’s Theatre and P23 programs throughout high school. Emma has enjoyed all of the experiences that being part of the Production Team has allowed her to have and loves to keep learning with each role.

Connor Adams
Head of Marketing
Jayden Lott is ETD Theatre Company's Runner and a part of the Costuming team. She takes all of the director's notes and "runs" quick tasks during rehearsals, while also jumping in for costuming when needed. Jayden has been a part of ETD Theatre Co. since 2021 but joined the production team in 2024. She has loved all the roles she has had the opportunity to fulfill. The busyness of show season keeps her head steady through the rough first few months of the year. Though, whether she is acting, helping with costuming, or taking notes, she will always be Bry's runner at heart. ❤

Zachary Parkerson
Stage Manager & Head of Set Design
Zachary Parkerson is the set designer, head of workshop, and stage manager for Enlightening The Dark Theatre Company. He has a passion for bringing the worlds in our shows to life, and connecting with the members of the company. He has worked with ETD since it began in 2017 as a student, and after graduation joined the production team. He has been in leadership for the past 3 productions, and loves to grow in his passion for theatre and ignite that flame in others. He believes that God is the original artist and Zachary uses the artistry of theatre as a worship to Him. Zachary has seen God shape this program in incredible ways, and hopes to continue to help Him do so in the future.

Ian Parkerson
ETD Well-being Advocate
Jayden Lott is ETD Theatre Company's Runner and a part of the Costuming team. She takes all of the director's notes and "runs" quick tasks during rehearsals, while also jumping in for costuming when needed. Jayden has been a part of ETD Theatre Co. since 2021 but joined the production team in 2024. She has loved all the roles she has had the opportunity to fulfill. The busyness of show season keeps her head steady through the rough first few months of the year. Though, whether she is acting, helping with costuming, or taking notes, she will always be Bry's runner at heart. ❤

Jayden Lott
Runner
Jayden Lott is ETD Theatre Company's Runner and a part of the Costuming team. She takes all of the director's notes and "runs" quick tasks during rehearsals, while also jumping in for costuming when needed. Jayden has been a part of ETD Theatre Co. since 2021 but joined the production team in 2024. She has loved all the roles she has had the opportunity to fulfill. The busyness of show season keeps her head steady through the rough first few months of the year. Though, whether she is acting, helping with costuming, or taking notes, she will always be Bry's runner at heart. ❤

OUR FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Bryanna Ruesche
Bryanna Ruesche (Mrs. Bry) is a lifelong lover of performance art and mental health advocacy. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in both Theatre and Psychology at Union University in 2016 and returned to her alma mater to gain her Master’s in Social Work in 2018. In 2022, Bryanna gained her LSSW. Bryanna founded Enlightening The Dark in 2017 as part of two branches within the Homeschool CARE Foundation’s Student Outreach Program. The small theatre program of ETD grew and in 2021, Enlightening the Dark Theatre Company was established. Bryanna is passionate about empowering the next generation of artists, fostering fun, and utilizing the therapeutic elements of theatre, all while creating an environment that inspires and encourages a sense of purpose and belonging. Through ETD, Mrs. Bry loves writing and directing original stories that highlight resilience, hope, connection, and the beauty of healing! When looking ahead to the experiences to come, “may we leave the theatre better than we entered.”