Meet the Team

Jeff Provost
Managing Director

Jeff Provost was a Founding Advisory Committee member of the Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC), eventually becoming their first Managing Director while successfully leading their “FTC Moves Downtown” capital campaign. He was the first Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Westport Country Playhouse during Joanne Woodward’s earliest seasons as Artistic Director and held the same title at Hartford Stage during Michael Wilson’s new artistic leadership. He created and managed the subscription-driven Family Broadway Series at the “new” Oakdale Theater, during the time that they became the largest theatre in New England. Jeff held management positions at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Yale Repertory Theatre, as well as Off-Broadway and on, with the 1994 Tony-award-winning production of Medea, featuring Dame Diana Rigg. As an arts marketing consultant, Provost was invited to be a guest lecturer/presenter for the Connecticut Commission on the Arts.

After holding management positions in the non-profit arts and commercial entertainment industries, Provost joined Red 7 Media in Norwalk where he helped launch the Event Marketing Institute. He founded PRO Management LLC in 2015 where he worked with a wide variety of clients including the Experiential Designers & Producers Association, the Healing NET Foundation, and McDonald’s.

He completed his undergraduate degree at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC., followed by graduate work at Yale University, where he earned his master’s degree in Theatre Management. When not enjoying his lifelong passion for live theatre, Provost volunteers his time with the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s CT Chapter where he performs magic under the stage name of “Mr. Jeffo”. Jeff and his wife Traci were happy to become Branford residents last year and are enjoying being a part of the shoreline community.

JProvost@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Keely Baisden Knudsen
Artistic Director and Co-Founder

An award winning director, Keely has performed, directed, and choreographed internationally in plays, musicals, operas, and dance companies in hundreds of theatrical productions and has performed in 48 of the United States and in the UK. Realizing her vision of a new theater company on the Connecticut Shoreline, Keely’s ideals of inspiring, inclusive work that uplifts the human spirit and connects communities formalized in the creation of the Legacy Theatre with Co-Founder Stephanie Stiefel Williams, a performing colleague and dear friend. Keely has directed, choreographed, and taught a myriad of performing arts courses at such institutions as Quinnipiac University, Yale University, Fairfield University, Hartt School of Drama, Southern Connecticut State University, Westminster College, and was the Director of Education of New Haven’s acclaimed Elm Shakespeare Company for several years. Additionally a composer/lyricist and playwright, she is a member of ASCAP and a writer/curator for Rewls Productions (www.rewlsproductions.us). Her directing has been heralded by the Arts Paper as “…visually striking, emotionally moving” and “captivating” and of her direction of Hamlet it was said, “Knudsen has made the notoriously difficult Shakespearean language accessible.” Her creation of the Wheel Life Theatre Troupe has been an especially rewarding program as she acts and directs with those who ambulate with crutches and wheelchairs. Her BFA is from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, at which she graduated first in the class, and she received her Masters Degree in Drama on full scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Keely, her husband Brian, and five children (Saviah, Liviana, Wynter, Emery, and Reeves) reside in Guilford, CT, where she thoroughly enjoys running the Legacy with a tremendous staff and community support.

Keely@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Stephanie Stiefel Williams
Co-Founder and Chair of the Board

Stephanie Stiefel Williams is an active and versatile performer in musicals, concerts, and plays and has appeared in numerous locations throughout the Northeast. A member of Actor’s Equity Association, she has appeared professionally in a variety of roles at venues such as Broadway’s Marriott Marquis, Legacy Theatre, Hartford Stage Company, Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre, Atlantic City’s Tropicana, Turning Stone Casino, and the Garde Arts Center. Among these roles, her favorites include Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Anita in West Side Story, Lola in Damn Yankees, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Guenevere in Camelot. Although her professional focus has been in musical theatre, she also has been engaged frequently as a concert soloist, as well as an a cappella ensemble singer. Locally, Stephanie is a proud founder, repertory member, and trustee president at Legacy Theatre where she recently starred in the critically acclaimed 2022 production of I Do! I Do!. Last year, she was a featured performer in Legacy’s Barefoot in the Park and she recently appeared as a featured vocalist in the wildly popular Mack is Back!. In addition to her work with Legacy, Stephanie sits on the Performing Arts Advisory Council at the University of Notre Dame and has been a member of the Board of Trustees at the Goodspeed Opera House. She has become involved on a producing level with critically-acclaimed productions of Gypsy and Showboat in London’s West End, the revival of Sweeney Todd in New York, and Broadway’s Escape to Margaritaville. As a former Miss Connecticut, she represented our state at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Fairfield University and a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Stephanie is the proud mother of two adult children, Valerie and Rick, and lives in Guilford with her wonderful husband, Luke.

Kiersten Bjork
Theatre Manager

Kiersten has been the Theatre Manager at Legacy for the past three seasons and is excited for all to come in 2024! She is a 2021 graduate of Fairfield University, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in Theatre and English.

Kiersten has performed with companies such as Legacy Theatre, Seven Angels Theatre, Shoreline Theatre Company, Theatre Fairfield, and more, having worked on dozens of productions both on and offstage. Favorite performing credits include Footloose (Ethel McCormack), The Spitfire Grill (Percy), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Enchantress, Madame D’Arque), [title of show] (Susan – BroadwayWorld Award Nomination: Best Performer in a Musical), Joan Joyce! (Young Joan Joyce/Teen Joan Joyce – BroadwayWorld Award Nomination: Best Performer in a Musical), Chicago (June/“Squish”), A Christmas Carol (Fan/Mrs. Fezziwig/Others), and A Princess Tea (Evil Queen). Kiersten has also worked on numerous productions from the creative and technical sides, with favorites being Rabbit Hole (Scenic Designer), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Master Carpenter), and I Do! I Do! and The Last Five Years (Assistant Stage Manager).

In addition to her work with Legacy, Kiersten is also the Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Branford Community Foundation, an a cappella ensemble singer with the Royal Court Singers, a Book Reviewer for Booktrib, and a Theatre Critic with the Connecticut Critics Circle. You can read her theatre reviews at whitebirchblog.com. She also does freelance theatre work as a stage manager, technician, and carpenter for the Quick Center for the Arts and Theatre Fairfield.

Kiersten@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Sarah Pero
Production Manager

Born and raised in New Haven, CT, Sarah has been involved with local community and professional theatre for 20+ years. Acting at the age of 10, and directing at 16, Sarah received her BFA in Theatre, with a concentration in directing from the University of Rhode Island. Right after college, Sarah was a part-time drama teacher in New Haven Public Schools and also taught theatre classes with Performing Arts Programs (South Windsor, CT). Sarah then worked at the Music Theatre of CT (Norwalk, CT) School of Performing Arts, wearing many hats as Administrative Manager, Teaching Artist, Director, Music Director, and Choreographer for the school. Sarah also managed the Box Office and was the Resident Sound Designer for MTC’s Professional Main Stage. Following MTC, Sarah worked as Administrative Manager at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre (Bridgeport, CT). As a Production Stage Manager for various Theatre Productions in Rhode Island and Connecticut, some of her favorites include: Tick, Tick Boom; Little Women: The Musical; and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Most recently, Sarah served as the Production Stage Manager for multiple Legacy productions in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, including I Do! I Do!, A Princess Tea, The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio Play, and more . Sarah started Stage Managing at Legacy Theatre in 2021 and officially joined the team as the full-time Production Manager in 2022.

Sarah@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Anne Runolfsson
Development Director

Anne Runolfsson has worked professionally in the theater for the past 40 years, a career path driven by passion and a fierce belief in the importance and value of the arts. Having spent much of her career onstage with starring roles on Broadway, off-Broadway, National Tours, Regional theaters, and as a soloist with symphony orchestras all over the world, she has also produced, written and directed for the theater. Fueled by a fervent desire to help secure funding opportunities for live theater, theater education and theater artists, Anne joined the Legacy Theatre part-time in the role of Development Manager in 2022. While serving in that position, which included the launching of the Annual Giving Society, overseeing the annual appeal (surpassing the annual fundraising goal), securing institutional giving, grant writing, major gift cultivation, donor stewardship, CRM management, and the planning and execution of all fundraising events, she realized that her passion had shifted from being onstage to one of raising money for the arts. Anne is greatly honored to serve in the role of Development Director for Legacy Theatre and would love to meet you and hear YOUR story of why the arts matter.

Anne@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Colin Sheehan
Producer of Broadway Concert Series and Community Arts Coordinator

Colin is a local arts enthusiast and serves as the Arts, Culture & Special Events Coordinator for the Town of Branford, Director of The Branford High School Performing Arts’ Spring Musical, and Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Branford Parks and Recreation Shoreline Theatre Company. He graduated from Branford High School and continued his studies at Wagner College with a B.A. in Theatre and Speech Performance. In 2003, he made his Broadway debut in the closing night production of Les Misérables. In ’99, Colin appeared numerous times on The Rosie O’Donnell Show and worked for three seasons on The Wendy Williams Show. Colin has produced, directed, hosted, and performed in the tri-state area and abroad with Broadway Cruises, Nickelodeon Cruises, and R Family Vacations Cruises. Colin is a philanthropist and has hosted, produced and raised funds and awareness for many organizations in Branford and beyond.

Colin@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Mary Lee Weber
Community Outreach

Mary Lee Weber is a Marketing and Communications consultant who has lived in Branford since 1988. She held the position of Director of Marketing and Community Development for the ABC affiliate WTNH-8 for 17 years where she was responsible for non-traditional revenue and community partnerships. With a local creative team she Executive Produced a short documentary for the Stony Creek Museum called Born at The Water’s Edge. It features interviews and information about the Thimble Islands and the history of Stony Creek including brief segments about Legacy Theatre, the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps and the Quarry. Mary Lee also helped with the Legacy Theatre productions while they were in residence at the Stony Creek Museum in 2018-19. She joined Legacy to help with Marketing and Community Outreach and is thrilled to play even a small part in helping Legacy bring theatre back to Stony Creek.

MaryLee@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Jeff Zeitlin
Front of House Manager

A long-time resident of Guilford, CT, Jeff’s love of theatre was taken to the next level when his daughter was a part of the Guilford High School Theatre Arts program. Jeff served as a Board Member of the school’s Theatre Arts Parents Support. He then became the Box Office Manager and Front of House Advisor for GHSTA. He continues in that volunteer role today. Along with his wife, Alyson, he was an usher at The Ivoryton Playhouse. Most recently, he was a House Manager at The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (“The Kate”) in Old Saybrook. He first became aware of The Legacy Theatre when attending a couple of fundraisers a few years ago. He was taken by the plans for the historic building and the prospect of bringing high quality Broadway productions and performers to the shoreline. Jeff’s community involvement also extends to Guilford A Better Chance where he is a member of the Board of Directors. When not at the theatre, Jeff is Loyalty Manager for IKEA in New Haven, focusing on Public and Community Relations. Jeff looks forward to welcoming theatre-goers from near and far to The Legacy Theatre!

Jeff@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Nick Fetherston
Box Office Manager

When not in the Box Office, Nick Fetherston is an actor operating out of the New Haven area. He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University with a degree in Theater Studies and is also an alumnus of The National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. His Legacy Theatre credits include playing Jonathan in The Play That Goes Wrong, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Rosencrantz in Hamlet. Other acting credits include playing Mack in Fairview (Collective Consciousness Theatre), Don John/ The Sexton in Much Ado About Nothing (Capital Classics), Albert in Goldfish (New Haven Theater Company), and Mr. Bingley in Pride and Prejudice (The Little Theatre of Manchester). Nick is also a standardized/simulated patient for Yale University and Quinnipiac University, where he uses his acting skills to assist in the training of medical students. Nick also teaches a variety of acting classes here at The Legacy Theatre. Website: nickfetherston.com

Nick@LegacyTheatreCT.org

Melissa Starkweather
Box Office Associate

An enthusiastic theatre lover, Melissa Starkweather has accrued a wide variety of experiences throughout the country and abroad. From her early years performing children’s roles with Tulsa Opera to her current work as a choral singer and music teacher, Melissa is dedicated to the advancement of live performance in our community. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in Theatre from Belmont University, where she interned with Nashville Opera's education department. During her time in Nashville, she worked as a Box Office Assistant at Tennessee Performing Arts Center and developed a love of helping to provide community members with an all-around positive theatre experience. She then sought out a Master of Music degree in Opera Theatre at University of South Carolina, where she began working as an administrative assistant and stage manager for FBN Productions, a local children's opera company, and furthered her box office and front of house experience at Koger Center for the Arts. After graduating, Melissa has worked as a freelance stage manager, performer, and classroom music teacher. Recently, she served as a Production Management Apprentice for Berlin Opera Academy's productions of Le Nozze di Figaro, The Crucible, and Die Zauberflöte. Some of her favorite roles include Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus (Belmont Opera Theatre), Susannah in Susannah (Opera at USC), Ham in Noye’s Fludde (Tulsa Opera), and Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (American Theatre Company). Additionally, Melissa will soon be singing in Handel’s Messiah with New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Melissa is so excited to join the team at Legacy Theatre and hopes to continue to provide patrons with an excellent, uplifting experience at the theatre. 

Board of Trustees
Stephanie Williams, President
Jana Shea, Vice President
Katina Gionteris, Secretary
Luke Williams, Treasurer
Damian Doria
Charles Grady
Brian Knudsen
Sonja LaBarbera
Kathleen Murphy
James Roday Rodriguez
Tom Shea
Jeff Provost, Ex-Officio