OUR TEAM

Amy Fletcher

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Amy is a native New Yorker with 35 years of experience in professional theatre.  After performing on Broadway and in numerous touring productions, Amy began pursuing a career as an educator and mentor. She has worked at several high schools, as a professor of Theatre and Dance at Five Towns College and achieved her MFA in interdisciplinary arts and theatre education from Goddard College. She was thrilled to join the Venue Theatre, after relocating to Colorado with her amazing husband Michael and son Matthew. Venue director and/or choreographer credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, Urinetown, Anything Goes, Newsies, Venue on Broadway and Venue Through the Years. 

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Emery Pace Archer

INSTRUCTOR

Emery Pace Archer (EP) is a composer, musician, educator, performer, poet, singer-songwriter, playwright, collaborator & arts activist. EP has worked as a Teaching Artist with the Colorado Symphony’s Very Young Composer program, and as a professor of songwriting for the Lamont School of Music at DU. Most recently, EP signed on to teach both Vocal and Theater Arts at Conifer High School & joined the team at the Venue Theater as a creative coach and workshop instructor. With 25 years professional experience as a performing artist & both MM & BA degrees in Music, EP is the composer, lyricist and author of CRESCENT HEARTS, a new rock opera in progress. EP’s solo release UNDERNEATH is an album of songs currently performed on voice, violin, piano and guitar. EP is an advocate for neurodiverse students and the LGBTQ+ community.

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Lora Haimes

GRANTS MANAGER

Lora is passionate about theatre eduction as she has seen first hand how it benefits not only the students, but parents and families as well. She also loves the collaborative nature of theatre and working with a wide range of people to make things happen. ​ Lora served as the Education Director at Stagedoor Theatre from 2005 through 2011. After that she owned her own business with a staff of 20, which she grew significantly, then sold in 2017. Lora is excited to be back in the theatre world and to be working with the Venue community.

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Nelson Conway

FOUNDER

Nelson retired from a 25-year career teaching music and drama in 2007. He studied music under Dr. George Lynn at Loretto Heights College and Lynn Whitten at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He studied technical theater with Joseph Psuik, drama and musical theater under Richard Clark, Tom McNally and Jan Sullivan. Nelson started the choral and drama departments of Conifer High School in 1996 and has directed and produced countless shows. Nelson co-founded The Venue in 2013.

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Joni Havens

FOUNDER

Joni, a certified K-12 teacher, found her interest in theater while performing in elementary and high school productions. In college, she became a professional pantomime and circus aerialist, performing on stages across the U.S. and on television. She has directed over 30 community theater productions and founded a performing drama club in a Colorado high school. She loved performing but her heart's delight is in directing children's theater.​ Joni is a cofounder of The Venue.