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
Head Speech Coach
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.

Erin Schmidt

Summer Theater Programming Costumer

A 2021 graduate of Centennial High School, where she was involved in the theater program from 7th through 12th grade. She is currently studying Elementary Education at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities.

Each summer, Erin enjoys returning to the Centennial theater community as a co-director and costume designer for the Centennial Summer Youth Theater productions, as well as the costume designer for the C.A.S.T. Summer Shakespeare shows. She loves helping young performers build confidence, grow their love of theater, and have fun creating memorable productions together. Erin is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the program that inspired her throughout her own time at Centennial.