Our Directors
Molding the Community Leaders of Tomorrow
We are committed to creating a safe environment where all students of all backgrounds and experiences feel safe, supported, and respected.
We are an inclusive program from the directors, cast, and crew to the parent volunteers and boosters.
There's a role for you here.
Eric Webster
Director and Coach for High School and Middle School Theater programs
HIGH SCHOOL
- Fall Play Director and Tech Director
- Improv Coach
- Spring Musical Co-Director and Tech Director
- One-Act Director
- Cougar Football Stadium Announcer
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Fall Play Co-Director and Tech Director
- Improv Coach
- Speech Coach
- One-Act Coach
- Spring Musical Co-Director and Tech Director
Laurie Tangren
Middle School Fall Play Co-Director
Middle School Musical Co-Director
High School Costume Director
- Has taught at Centennial since 1993.
- Took over the theatre programming at the Middle School in 1999.
- Has been involved in theatre since she was nine years old.
- Minored in theatre with an undergraduate degree from
Augsburg College. - Holds a MN teaching license for Speech/Theatre.
Mary Rudquist
Middle School Musical Music Director
High School Musical Co-Director
Mary (Palazzolo) Rudquist has been the choral director at Centennial Middle school since 2013 and music director since 2018 (Mary Poppins, Singin’ In The Rain, Frozen).
She has also been director and co-director of the high school musical since 2020 (The Addams Family, The Dance, Into the Woods).
She studied music education at the University of Minnesota Duluth and performs professionally as an actor in the Twin Cities in many shows including Legally Blonde (Paulette), A New Brain ( Lisa), Footloose (Lulu Warnicker), and Company (Marta).
Melissa Krieger
High School Musical Music Director
Centennial Theatre Beyond Director
Melissa has been involved with Centennial High School Theatre since 2015 as a director, musician, and Boosters member.
Melissa has a degree in vocal and instrumental music education from The University of Minnesota. She is a private lesson instructor, substitute music teacher, church music director, and freelance musician.
Melissa enjoys photography and traveling with her husband and three sons. Her favorite part of being involved with Centennial Theatre is getting to share her passion for music and theater with amazing, dedicated students.
Kris Schmidt
Middle School and High School Play and Musical Set and Props Design and Director
Kris attended MCAD and has learned most of what she knows from working in the sign industry for 25+ years and trying new things that interest her. Kris has dabbled in woodworking, stained glass, sculpting, and various other hobbies. She learns best by doing and never stops learning. "Don't be afraid to try something new."
Theater was Kris's favorite part of high school and she is happy to be involved with this program at both schools. She enjoys the challenge of figuring out the prop and setlist on new shows and how to make them work with materials that aren't necessarily the standard. She loves seeing the end result of everyone's hard work when the whole show comes together.
2025 - 2026 Student Leadership
Centennial Theatre Student Co-Presidents
Eden Cutts / Svea King
Centennial Theatre Student Crew Lead Presidents
Sam Berens / Kaymin Waldemar
Centennial Theatre Student Co-Vice Presidents
Crow Pinsonnault / Sophia Smith
Centennial Theatre Student Board Executive Officers
A.J. Basara / Jae Berres
Centennial Theatre Student Board Members
Lily Olson / Virgil Russel / Ozzie Montgomery / March Towey
Centennial Theatre Student Improv Captains
Svea King / Jae Berres / Hannah Hudzinski
Centennial Theatre Student Marketer
Addi Cramer