Stephanie Delk has been working in Austin Theatre for nearly two decades. She  has worked as a digital marketing professional at Swash Labs since 2014. Stephanie holds a Degree in Music Business and Management from Berklee College of Music, Boston MA. Her diverse experience spans numerous theater companies around Austin, Texas,  (Penfold Theatre, The Hidden Room, Whirligig, Fusebox, Shrewd Productions, and The Vortex.) providing her with a comprehensive understanding of theater operations from multiple angles. Delk has 3 B Iden Payne Award nominations and two wins for her stage management work on Penfold Theatre’s RED and Whirligig's DEUS EX MACHINA. She is delighted to join the Board of Crown Theatre to lend her expertise to the operations and development of their season.

Gabriel "Gab" Peña is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Southwestern University where he teaches Acting, Play Analysis, and First-Year Seminar courses. He holds an MFA in Acting from Pennsylvania State University and a BA in Theatre from Pomona College. Areas of research interest include Latine narratives, interdisciplinary frameworks for performance building, and somatic approaches to acting. He has served on panels and presented workshops at the Southeastern Theatre (SETC) and Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) conferences.  As an Actor, his performances have included stage, camera, and voiceover work. As a Director, his recent projects include The Heidi Chronicles, and Native Gardens.   

DR. BLANDINA CARDENAS retired as President of the University of Texas PAN AMERICAN after a 50 year career in education and public service advancing access to equal educational opportunity for all children. For thirteen years she served on the United States COMMISSION on CIVIL RIGHTS and prior to that as the COMMISSIONER for Children, Youth and Families in the administration of President Jimmy Carter. She also served as Director of the Office of Minorities in Higher Education of the American Council on Education in DC. She has represented the United States in Paris, Copenhagen, the PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, and as the official delegate to the InterAmerican Institute for Children of the Organization of American States. Dr. CARDENAS currently mentors emerging leaders and provides executive coaching to higher education Presidents.  

Angie Behnke is a talented grant writer and researcher at Texas State University, where she has dedicated the past decade to community engagement, program development, and educational outreach. With an impressive 15 years in the field of grant writing and development, Angie embodies a true passion for making a difference through her work. Her career showcases her unwavering commitment to enhancing community connections, fostering educational opportunities, and designing innovative programs. Armed with a Master in Education, Angie’s enthusiasm for working with youth shines bright, especially as she looks forward to collaborating with the Crown Theater to secure funding for exciting theater programs aimed at young audiences. As a proud mother of a self-proclaimed “theater kid,” Angie has developed a deep appreciation for the performing arts, making her a vibrant force in the world of arts education  

Julia Chereson (she/her) holds an M.F.A. in Acting from Pennsylvania State University and a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Mount Union. She recently moved to Austin after serving as the Theatre Director at Somerset Community College in Kentucky. Chereson performed and trained in Chicago where she studied improvisation and acting at the Black Box Acting Studio, Victory Gardens Theatre, and the Second City Conservatory. Following her graduate studies, she moved to New York City, where she concentrated on on-camera performance, which she now teaches at Texas State University. Chereson is currently in rehearsals for THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (Thelma) at Unity Theatre in Brenham. Recent acting credits include HOME I’M DARLING (Fran), EVERY BRILLIANT THING (Narrator), and CLYBOURNE PARK (Bev/Kathy). Recent directing credits include HAND TO GOD at Southwestern University, NATIVE GARDENS at The Stage Austin, and STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Somerset Community College.  

Cheles Rhynes is a seasoned production professional with international experience and a legacy of leadership in technical theatre. He most recently served as Senior Director of Production at the world-renowned Apollo Theater in New York City. His career also includes roles at Austin Community College as a Theatre Production Technician, and at the historic Paramount/State Theatres in Austin, TX, as a Production Manager. Prior to that, he was a Production Manager at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL—one of the largest performing arts centers in the country. Cheles is the Co-Founder and former Executive Director of MRP Inc., an organization focused on presenting, producing, and managing arts performances. His work has taken him to nearly every U.S. state and across the globe, including Brazil, Ireland, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. An award-winning designer and stage manager, his lighting and technical direction have supported performances by Alvin Ailey II, Andrea E. Woods & Dancers, Company E, The VORTEX, and many more groundbreaking artists and companies. His expertise enriches Crown Theatre’s commitment to high-quality, community-driven performance.