Our MISSION
To produce youth musicals with an emphasis on process, teamwork, leadership and joy, while instilling a strong work ethic with high performance and rehearsal expectations.
Our VISION
Mountain Youth Musical seeks to encourage the love of music and theater by giving youth the opportunity to participate in a creative, nurturing and positive environment.
Our COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION
Mountain Youth Musicals is committed to offering a diverse, inclusive, and safe space for authentic and creative expression and mutually respectful teamwork. We believe in equity, justice, inclusion and belonging for all, whatever their age, sex, gender, identity, race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or identity, transgender status, native language, genetic information, marital status, physical ability, disability, affiliation, political service, military status, veteran status or socio-economic status. We value differing abilities in our productions to help create the vibrant community we all cherish.
Our Team:
Tonje Williams / Executive Director / Costumer
Tonje became involved with Mountain Youth Musicals over 10 years ago as a costumer, and has since joined the board, continued to costume our productions, and recently became the Executive Director for our organization. In her free time, Tonje enjoys the outdoors biking, snowboarding, hiking and camping with her family. MYM holds a special place in her heart because it gives kids a safe place to express themselves and try new things. Seeing kids come alive on stage is a gift.
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Trista Hertz / Board President
Trista first dipped her toe into the theater world when her older son joined MYM’s cast of “Cinderella” in 2018 and she signed up to help with props for the show. After seeing the joy in the rehearsal process, as well as the creative fun of crafting a monster’s arm and a stack of wax-sealed invitations for the ball, she was hooked! Outside of helping behind the scenes at many local theaters, Trista enjoys art journaling, nature walks, and trips to Disney parks.
Tom Barbour / Board Treasurer
Tom became involved with MYM as a proud parent several years ago. While the initial attraction was seeing kids in joyful and entertaining musicals he was struck by the profound and tangible related benefits to children including understanding commitments, team work, courage in trying new things, and learning new skills to name a few. Tom lives in Evergreen and when not working in the smart energy industry he enjoys spending time with his amazing wife and daughters including seeing kids in joyful and entertaining musicals.
Serri Miller / Board Secretary
Serri is a proud MYM parent and 15-year Evergreen resident. She is passionate about the power of theater to anchor and inspire young people, She has taught acting and movement to middle schoolers and served as a high school speech coach. Serri is currently a full-time paralegal. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, business planning, camping, and traveling with her children.
Jennie Page / Community Rep.
Jennie Page grew up in Conifer and enjoyed an inspirational public school music education. She remembers attending Center Stage productions and how the arts fostered a richly supportive mountain community full of fun and musical appreciation. After COVID, MYM provided an incredible experience and safe place for her daughter to build confidence. After volunteering to paint with the professional set designer for the exceptional Lion King production and seeing the positive impact it had on all the kids involved, she responded with an immediate yes to joining the MYM board. Jennie is excited to support MYM with her public management and development background.
Gretchen Moritz / Artistic Director / Community Rep.
Gretchen has been directing musicals for more than 20 years. She has a BA in music performance and a Masters in Education from University of Colorado. Gretchen just retired from teaching Music at Rocky Mountain Academy and is the mom of 3 boys. Both of these professions were the inspiration for her to help develop a musical theatre non profit organization. Gretchen feels very fortunate to be able to bring her passion for music and musical theatre to kids and is excited to help grow Mountain Youth Musicals! In her spare time, she enjoys travel, skiing, mountain biking, fishing, and everything outdoors.
Colleen Lee / Artistic Director
Colleen Lee is a theater/commercial actor, singer, photographer, and youth theater teaching artist. As a teacher, she works with both the Arvada Center and Miners Alley Performing Arts Education Programs, and has been a proud co-director for MYM’s Ascent Company for six years. As a performer, she has recently performed with Miners Alley Performing Arts in both their mainstage and Theater for Young Audiences productions, Benchmark Theatre, Town Hall Arts Center, Vintage Theater, and Performance Now Theater Company. She also works as a performance and portrait photographer in the Denver area. Colleen lives in Evergreen with her husband, Patrick, and two daughters, Stella and Alice.
Mackenzie Laun / Artistic Director
Mackenzie Laun is a Denver native. She holds her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She spent nine years as a public high school choir teacher in Jeffco, but now enjoys the life of a stay-at-home mom and freelance singer. As a high school teacher, she had great success in directing both her choral groups and the annual musical production; both of which received recognition for excellence at the regional and state levels. Mackenzie is a soprano and enjoys performing professionally all over Denver and the Front Range with groups like St. Martin's Chamber Choir, Elus Vocal Ensemble, Boulder Opera, Loveland Opera Theater, and Opera Fort Collins. Some of her favorite past engagements include soprano soloist for Mozart's Requiem with St. Martin's Chamber Choir, soprano soloist for Bach's Magnificat with Colorado Christian University, Pousette in Massenet’s Manon with Boulder Opera, and Sarah in The Ballad of Baby Doe with Loveland Opera Theater. When she's not singing, she enjoys spending time with her husband Cody and their son.
MYM Board of Directors
TRISTA HERTZ - PRESIDENT
SERRI MILLER - SECRETARY
TOM BARBOUR - TREASURER
GRETCHEN MORITZ - COMMUNITY REP.
JACK WALES - ALUM REP.
JENNIE ROGERS - COMMUNITY REP.
SOPHIE SAXTON - COMMUNITY REP.