Celebrating 25 years!
S.T.A.G.E.
Celebrating 25 Years of Theater
Please consider donating $25 for 25 and help us build our new home! We are still in need of additional funds to complete our new art center. Please help us out with your tax-deductible donation!
Use the QR Code below for your gift and Thank You!
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S.T.A.G.E. Inc is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization funded through donation, tuition, and business sponsors. Please consider becoming a part of S.T.A.G.E. with your gift to help us evangelize through the arts! New Location: 540 N. 31st Street, Lincoln The Sacred Heart Center for the Arts |
OUR MISSION
S.T.A.G.E. Student Theater And Godly Evangelization,
is a Christian student theater spreading the Word of God through the
performance of plays and dance.
S.T.A.G.E. CLASS INFORMATION
S.T.A.G.E. student theater, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, teaches the faith through drama. Sessions are set up for different age levels and are designed to fit within the school year schedule, or a shorter summer camp format. Students work toward a finished play at the end of each session that is presented to a live audience. Ranging from serious drama to the humorous and sometimes musical, the plays are unique in style, wit, and poignancy. Classes are geared for students eight years and up, and are separated into levels.
Tuition is based on level and length of session (see participant page). Our Tuition Package includes training with professional teachers in theater, dance, and music; production fees; costuming; and a professionally taped DVD of the show.
S.T.A.G.E. operates with a team of adult crew members who oversee backstage management, technical work, and cast needs. Parents or older siblings are asked to volunteer with performances in areas such as ticket sales and concessions to help the shows run smoothly.
S.T.A.G.E. embodies strong family values, along with a friendly atmosphere that creates lasting friendships. Older kids look out for the younger ones while still having fun and learning about their faith and the medium of theater. Many of our students come back year after year, graduating into more challenging roles. Students are expected to adhere to the S.T.A.G.E. Commandments (see participant page) which address good Christian behavior and stewardship. S.T.A.G.E. is a Catholic-based program but is ecumenical in its enrollment policies.
Service hours, as well as the John Paul II Award of Theater Excellence, are available for high school students.
On occasion, we even let adults perform! For more information, please contact the director Lee Hotovy ([email protected]).
Come join the Spirit of S.T.A.G.E.!
S.T.A.G.E. Student Theater And Godly Evangelization,
is a Christian student theater spreading the Word of God through the
performance of plays and dance.
S.T.A.G.E. CLASS INFORMATION
S.T.A.G.E. student theater, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, teaches the faith through drama. Sessions are set up for different age levels and are designed to fit within the school year schedule, or a shorter summer camp format. Students work toward a finished play at the end of each session that is presented to a live audience. Ranging from serious drama to the humorous and sometimes musical, the plays are unique in style, wit, and poignancy. Classes are geared for students eight years and up, and are separated into levels.
Tuition is based on level and length of session (see participant page). Our Tuition Package includes training with professional teachers in theater, dance, and music; production fees; costuming; and a professionally taped DVD of the show.
S.T.A.G.E. operates with a team of adult crew members who oversee backstage management, technical work, and cast needs. Parents or older siblings are asked to volunteer with performances in areas such as ticket sales and concessions to help the shows run smoothly.
S.T.A.G.E. embodies strong family values, along with a friendly atmosphere that creates lasting friendships. Older kids look out for the younger ones while still having fun and learning about their faith and the medium of theater. Many of our students come back year after year, graduating into more challenging roles. Students are expected to adhere to the S.T.A.G.E. Commandments (see participant page) which address good Christian behavior and stewardship. S.T.A.G.E. is a Catholic-based program but is ecumenical in its enrollment policies.
Service hours, as well as the John Paul II Award of Theater Excellence, are available for high school students.
On occasion, we even let adults perform! For more information, please contact the director Lee Hotovy ([email protected]).
Come join the Spirit of S.T.A.G.E.!
ABOUT THE DIRECTORS
Lee Ann Hotovy writes and directs Christian student plays to evangelize, educate, and entertain. To date, she has written and successfully produced dozens of plays that contain unique elements of creativity, while reaching out to its' audience with a Godly message of hope and love. These original scripts offer a variety of genres, from comedic to dramatic, with moral and Christian truths throughout. Lee has been the creator and director of S.T.A.G.E. since its beginnings in 1999. S.T.A.G.E. came in response to Pope John Paul II’s call to artists, to spread the Word of God through the arts.
As a mother, grandmother, artist, and writer, she has a great sense of integrating the faith into these productions and loves working with kids of all ages. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and received the Nebraska Young Artist of the Year Award in 1991. She has also performed in theater and dance, including high school, college, and the occasional adult role.
As a mother, grandmother, artist, and writer, she has a great sense of integrating the faith into these productions and loves working with kids of all ages. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and received the Nebraska Young Artist of the Year Award in 1991. She has also performed in theater and dance, including high school, college, and the occasional adult role.
Anna Hanselmann is a lyricist and musical writer for S.T.A.G.E. She graduated in 1985 from the University of Nebraska -Lincoln with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. While attending UNL, Anna enjoyed a four-year membership in the Scarlet and Cream Singers.
From 1995-1997 she was the director of Ogallala's long-running Front Street Review. Anna Hanselmann is married with two daughters, and six grandchildren. She has been a private voice and piano teacher, and enjoys working with students to discover their musical potential.
From 1995-1997 she was the director of Ogallala's long-running Front Street Review. Anna Hanselmann is married with two daughters, and six grandchildren. She has been a private voice and piano teacher, and enjoys working with students to discover their musical potential.
Melanie Kottwitz, co-writer and assistant music director, has helped create many original STAGE musicals. She is a "child of STAGE", having performed in several shows before transitioning to directing and writing for the program. She is currently the Director of Operations at The Catholic Foundation of Southern Nebraska and is active in the St. Teresa's 10am choir.
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Felicity Suelter is pleased to serve S.T.A.G.E. as one of our Musical Directors. Felicity is a student at UNL and will graduate in December 2025 with a Bachelors in Education, with specialties in Music Education, Math, and Business. Having participated in numerous S.T.A.G.E. productions over the years, along with directing music for several S.T.A.G.E. shows, Felicity brings her talent along with her love for the faith-based theater to the program. "STAGE has been on of my favorite activities over the years. I participated as an actress from 2014-2021. My favorite thing about the shows are the little messages of God's mercy, grace, and love interwoven in the scripts. His Word and message affects not only the actors, but also the audience. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!".
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Megan Neal is joining the STAGE team as a musical director for our elementary aged students. Megan was a member of STAGE throughout her middle school years and performed in The Merchant of Tennis, Lil’ Red, and Flanagan’s Boys. She was also involved in show choir and theater throughout her time at Pius X High School. During college at UNL, she was involved with teaching CCD, leading discipleship groups, Pi Alpha Chi, and the chamber choir at the UNL Newman Center.
She graduated from UNL in May of 2025 with a Bachelors in Elementary Education. She currently teaches 5th grade at St. Peter’s. In her free time, she bakes chocolate chip cookies, bikes, runs, and spends time with God or friends. She is excited to continue this spiritual journey with STAGE on the director’s side! 
Joie Meador holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Nebraska. Prior to that, she danced for eleven years in the Briarwood Ballet in Birmingham, AL. She has performed with multiple companies in Minneapolis, MN and Lincoln, NE and danced with the Briarwood Ballet around the world, including in Russia and Kazakhstan. She has operated her own dance studio, teaching dance students of all ages as well as writing and directing multiple recitals. She also has had the opportunity to teach Modern Dance at UNL in 2013.
Currently she lives with her husband, Jake, and their four children, Davy Joy, Wendell, Austin, and Ambrose. They are members at Center Church in Lincoln, which is a mission church in the Presbyterian Church in America. She is passionate about sharing dance as a way to worship, seeking to help students grow in excellence in dance to bring glory to God. She is excited to join S.T.A.G.E. in this mission as Dance Director and Teacher. 
Lydia Hotovy, is one of our choreographers for S.T.A.G.E.. She is a student at Oklahoma City University, where she is a dance major. She has been a member of S.T.A.G.E. since age 2 and has performed in numerous productions both in the S.T.A.G.E. world, as well as, Pius High School, Wesleyan University, and Pinewood Bowl. She is an outstanding choreographer, teacher, writer, and performer and brings her many talents to S.T.A.G.E. to share with others.
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Tatiana Koenig is joining S.T.A.G.E. Dance as a teacher with a background in both lyrical and ballet training. Having danced from a young age through high school, under the tutelage of Sarah Brown and others, she brings her love for dance and performance to the new program.
Tatiana performed with STAGE in several shows, and remembers fondly the Fatima dance sequence. She is excited to work with beginners and beyond to share her love of dance and performance in STAGE's new space. She is a graduate of The College of Hair Design, and currently works at The Hair Lounge.
Tatiana performed with STAGE in several shows, and remembers fondly the Fatima dance sequence. She is excited to work with beginners and beyond to share her love of dance and performance in STAGE's new space. She is a graduate of The College of Hair Design, and currently works at The Hair Lounge.
Tatum Maley is honored to serve as a dance instructor at S.T.A.G.E. She is currently pursuing a degree in Theatre Arts at Nebraska Wesleyan University and is eager to share what she’s been learning. From a young age, Tatum felt called to perform—but it was when she joined S.T.A.G.E. in 2017 that she discovered her deeper passion: evangelizing through the arts. In a medium that can easily lose its way, she views dance as a powerful tool for spiritual realignment and renewal. Her creative vision is deeply rooted in Matthew 18:3 and the call to a childlike heart. Tatum hopes to cultivate zeal, curiosity, humility, and courage in her students—and she’s excited to see how the Holy Spirit moves through this season.
ABOUT US... |
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S.T.A.G.E. began in 1999, in response to Pope John Paul II’s call for artists to evangelize through the arts. Beginning with a very small cast, and a very limited budget, S.T.A.G.E. performed its first play in the basement of St. Teresa’s church. It has grown over the years, performing several plays each season in local theaters, churches, high schools, and even Benedictine College (The Outlaws of Ravenhurst, 2006) with casts ranging from 15-50 members per show. Our trademark Fatima play has been performed for over 20 years in conjunction with the annual Marian Mass and Rosary, which draws crowds of over a thousand people. More recently (2015), S.T.A.G.E. created and performed an original musical about Father Flanagan and Boystown in an effort to inform the public of his amazing work with boys and his potential canonization. This work traveled to Ireland and was performed in 2017. S.T.A.G.E. creates its' own original musicals with the creative talents of Anna Hanselmann, Melanie Kottwitz, Mike Zeleny, and Lydia Hotovy. Our plays carry a faith-filled message of hope and love, while offering humor, entertainment, and an invigorating social setting for youth. Parent volunteers have allowed S.T.A.G.E. to grow, by lending their talents in the areas of backstage management, costumes, lights, sound, and marketing. S.T.A.G.E. plays are reviewed in content by a diocesan priest, and spiritual guidance is offered when needed. S.T.A.G.E. Inc. is a non-profit organization with support from local businesses and patrons. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT S.T.A.G.E.: "There are many great benefits that my child has gained from being part of STAGE, but the greatest has been confidence. My daughter Addie has met some great friends and role models being involved in STAGE. They work hard with a common goal of putting on a show, but gain so many more skills along the way. Faith comes first in STAGE, the cast prays together, builds each other up, and gives the glory and honor to God for their beautiful performances! " Dawn Raun "STAGE has been a great gift to our family. I have seen my daughter grow in confidence as she has taken on new roles each time. She has found an encouraging environment for doing what she loves. My daughter has made great new friends and has been immersed in a culture that celebrates the truth, beauty, and love of Christ." Ashley Krienert "STAGE has given my daughter the confidence to share her gifts, the ability to collaborate and problem solve, and a focus and determination to accomplish a goal. Above all, she's been filled with joy and surrounded by a thriving Catholic community." Julie Johnson "STAGE has been an uplifting experience for our children who have a passion for drama performance and public speaking. For our kids who normally would not have had the desire to perform in front of others, it has been an amazing experience for them to get out of their comfort zone, and to see gifts blossoming that they did not know they had inside them. STAGE has helped aid them in their school presentations and public speaking in the classroom. It has inspired them to pursue hobbies related to music, dance and theatre. Most importantly, it has been wonderful to have them immersed in virtuous theatre where they begin and end with prayer. We love that the plays are guided by Christian principles and lessons, and that they learn to take instruction from directors and realize that theatre takes a team effort in order to be successful." David and Sarah LeBlanc “Our children have all benefited greatly because of STAGE. Especially our son, Nick as he headed off to high school and became totally involved in Pius Players. With the guidance of Lee and STAGE, Nick gained the confidence and stage presence he needed to continue acting at the next level.” Kim and Dale Theisen "We have had two of our children involved in STAGE over the years and it has been a wonderful experience. It has provided so many blessings! Our children have learned much about acting & singing, gained a great deal of confidence and formed many wonderful friendships! Our older daughter, Bridget, has gone on to be involved in her high school's plays and musicals and we attribute this greatly to opportunities she had in STAGE." Greg and Patty Lang "S.T.A.G.E. IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST THEATER! The benefits are immeasurable! S.T.A.G.E. has been the single most influential children’s activity in our family's life on many levels. Not only has it provided our children the opportunity to be a part of fantastic plays, it has given them a comprehensive experience in all aspects of performing arts; whether it is learning a complicated dance number, singing an original song, being fitted for a costume, working the backstage or blocking out scenes. For our family, the S.T.A.G.E experience has allowed our children to make friendships, develop self confidence, as well as, foster a lasting love for the performing arts. As a parent, I also receive the benefit of watching my children perform in a Catholic, professional, well run and incredibly fun organization. My oldest daughter wants to pursue performing arts in college. This honestly came about because of her involvement in S.T.A.G.E." Doug and Mary Koenig |