Neighborhood Theatre Group
Voted “Best Theatre Company” in Current Magazine’s Best of Washtenaw: 2022, 2021, 2018
Meet The NTG Company
Kristin Anne Danko* – Artistic/Executive Director
Kristin Anne Danko moved to Ypsilanti from Chicago in 2013. She holds an MA in Arts Administration from EMU and BA Degrees in Theatre and Music from Converse College. In Chicago, Kristin trained at iO, The Annoyance, and Act One Studios. In New York City, she completed the CAP 21 Professional Musical Theatre Training Program. Kristin has performed with Detroit Opera, UMGASS, Shakespeare in Detroit, Upstate Shakespeare Festival, Actor’s Theatre Company, and the Jeff Award Winning Quest Theatre Ensemble and Polarity Theatre Ensemble. As a teaching artist, Kristin has worked with Dream Big Performing Arts Workshop and Chicago Kids Company. Kristin is a part-time lecturer at Eastern Michigan University and a private voice and piano instructor. She is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Kentucky in Arts Administration. Fun fact about Kristin – Every winter she falls at least once on the ice. Ouch! kristin@ntgypsi.org
A.M. Dean* – Literary Manager
A.M. Dean is a writer, actor, and musician. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Michigan State University. He was the runner-up for “Best Writer” in Current Magazine’s Best of Washtenaw 2018 and 2021. His first musical, Beaver’s Long Strange Trip was performed in June 2015 at The Back Office Studio in downtown Ypsilanti. He’s had numerous plays produced in Michigan and Chicago including Thoughts and Prayers (Ypsilanti), Cryptic (Ypsilanti), Carl, Baby (Ypsilanti), The Former Things (Ypsilanti and Chicago), Escape from the Haltzburg Boy’s Choir and 15 Minutes (Chicago) and his second full length musical, Dispatches from the Dumb Decade (Ypsilanti). In Chicago, he was a company member with Brain Surgeon Theatre and Literary Manager for The Ruckus Theatre Company from 2009-2012. Originally from Whitehall, Michigan, A.M. Dean is a proud resident of Ypsilanti and the Literary Manager and co-founder of Neighborhood Theatre Group. Fun fact about A.M. Dean – his top walking speed has been clocked at 5 mph. aaron@ntgypsi.org
Kylista Geiger – Development Director
Kylista Geiger made her NTG debut in Black Cat Cabaret in 2017 and then originated the role of Linda Barrett in Cryptic. She has also starred in Dispatches from the Dumb Decade, A Man for Christmas, and Trending Now. Kylista grew up in a family of performers, but it wasn’t until a hesitant performance of a Dan Fogelberg song when she was 13 that the performing bug bit. Since then Kylista has performed, directed, and stage managed. After taking a break from theatre for six years to sing with a local jazz band, she is beyond pleased to have found Neighborhood Theatre Group. Kylista has a BS in Literature and a Master of Library and Information Science. Fun fact about Kylista – her name came from a gravestone her mother saw while pregnant with her. However, her mother can’t remember which cemetery it was in, so Kylista is on a constant search for the correct tombstone. kylista@ntgypsi.org
Dawn Peterson* – Production Manager
Dawn Peterson has been with Neighborhood Theatre Group since our first show in 2015 and is a founding member of NTG! You probably haven’t seen Dawn on stage because she’s usually doing something behind the curtain. She’s stage managed nearly every NTG show! Dawn is also a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a BS in Speech Language Pathology and Linguistics. Fun fact about Dawn – She has an amazing collection of toe socks and her name is the MOST fun to sing!! dawn@ntgypsi.org
Greg Pizzino – Technical Director
Greg Pizzino is a multi-talented theatre artist originally from Dearborn, Michigan, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University and a certification from the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan. As NTG’s Technical Director, he successfully built the set for A.M. Dean’s original musical Dispatches from the Dumb Decade which included two revolving platforms and several other large moving set pieces. He has also constructed storage units for our stage lights and cables and is responsible for our technical production inventory. On the NTG stage, Greg has appeared in Black Cat Cabaret and as Bud Steeves in Cryptic. His first one-act play, Whatever Happened to Captain Future? was performed as a staged reading in December 2018. Fun Fact about Greg – In addition to performing with Neighborhood Theater Group, Greg also hosts the bizarre film podcast Cinema Guano (available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify). greg@ntgypsi.org
Crysta Coburn – Marketing Manager
Crysta joined the NTG Ensemble in June 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University and is an award-winning author. Her 10-minute play, Letting Go, was selected for NTG’s Virtual 10-minute play Festival, Inspired By. Her first short story was published at the age of sixteen after winning runner-up in a local writing contest. Crysta works for the Ann Arbor Public Library and writes for their publication, Pulp. She also has a regular column “Crysta Goes Visiting” with the Crazy Wisdom Community Journal. Crysta is an experienced journalist, fiction writer, poet, editor, podcast co-host, and blogger. Crysta serves as the dramaturg for many NTG shows including Thoughts and Prayers and Headlines. crysta@ntgypsi.org
Kim Gray – House Manager
Kim Gray is originally from Los Angeles, but has moved to Michigan twice, finding herself drawn in by the people and fabulous sunsets. She volunteered for NTG for several seasons, but finally bit the bullet and joined the company during their seventh season. Kim co-hosts the podcast Haunted Mitten (under the name Kay) along with fellow company member Crysta Coburn. She has two short stories published with a book on the way, and regularly contributes to other paranormal and strange podcasts, spouting her crazy ideas and yelling at no one in particular. kim@ntgypsi.org
The NTG Ensemble of Artists
The NTG Ensemble consists of local theatre artists and community members who call NTG their artistic home. Ensemble members are invited in after participating in at least one NTG production, onstage or off.
The 2024-2025 NTG Ensemble of Artists
Kenn Bishop, Mimi Blackford, Karl Brosius, Crysta K. Coburn, Kristin Anne Danko, A.M. Dean, Marisa Dluge, Cole Hunter Dzubak, Andrea Evans, Maia Evans, Zac Fosler, Myah Gaither, Kylista Geiger, Kim Gray, Mo Hoeffell, Aaron Isett, Jen Jakubowski, Muthu Jayatissa, Sasha Masters Jones, Danielle Kropveld, Patrice Linman, Jason Maes, Michelle Marin, Meg McNamee, Maegan Murphy, Barbara Jean Nagel-Raphoon Dawn Peterson, Fel Phillips, Greg Pizzino, Courtney M. Rice, Rodney M. Rice, Sandee Rodriguez, Malaya Rood, Jayna Schmid, Debbie Secord, Josh Stewart, Drew Tallquist, Alan Terlep, Jessica Terlep, Eric Thornburgh, Aeron C. Wade, Kevin Werner, Jen Whaley, Cynthia Wilson, and Robert Wiszowaty
The NTG Board of Directors
Susan Whitlock, Board Chair
Susan Badger Booth, Treasurer
Aaron Dean, Secretary
R. Darrow Bernick, Member at Large
Dianne Bernick, Member at Large
Kristin Anne Danko, Member at Large
Jason Eyster, Member at Large
Adrienne Frank, Member at Large
Christopher Zavac, Member at Large
*denotes founding member