Staff Bios

BJ has been a part of the production and administrative team at Theatre Arlington for 25 of the theatre's 35 years. Since starting as an actor and part time administrative assistant in the 1983-84 season, Cleveland has worked in every facet of the theater from box office manager to volunteer coordinator to assistant to the executive director. BJ became the theater's artistic director in 1994 and manages all aspects of the artistic end of the organization's programming. Cleveland budgets, manages and oversees the nine productions in each season working with designers, musical directors, musicians, and over 200 actors and technicians each year, as well as serving as scenic artist for the productions. He also teaches advanced classes for the theater school, as well as works with the senior reader's theatre program, The TAG Players. 

BJ is currently enjoying his 10th year of teaching the theatre’s successful outreach program ACT UPS (Applied Creative Thinking Using Performance Skills) at Speer Elementary. Cleveland has now taught over 1700 indigent and at-risk students through this program. He serves as an adjunct professor in the Theatre Arts department of the University of Texas at Arlington, teaching both acting for the camera and movement for the actor, and has made plans for a joint production with the University for the 2007-08 season. Cleveland volunteers many hours each year as a public speaker for arts advocacy throughout the North Texas area, leads workshops in improvisation, acting and directing for the annual Texas Nonprofit Theatres Youth Conference, and has taught public school teachers how to teach theater for a variety of organizations across the nation.

BJ currently sits on the Live Theatre League of Tarrant County board of directors, is a member of the Advisory Board of the AIDS Outreach Center, serves on the Arlington Arts Alliance board of directors, is an active participant on the Arlington 4th of July Parade and Arlington Holiday Parade of Lights committees.
In 2005 and 2006, BJ was nominated for an Arlington Star-Telegram Star Award and in 2006 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Live Theatre League of Tarrant County and The American Sokol Organization, the Circle of Success Award from the American Business Women's Association, and the Dallas/Fort Worth Critics Forum Award

Cindy is part of the Management Team at Theatre Arlington in the capacity of Education and Development Director. Cindy graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin with a BA in Theatre with an Acting emphasis. Upon graduation, she was fortunate to begin utilizing her degree as a member of Project InterAct, a children’s theater touring company based at Austin’s Zachary Scott Theatre. After spending two years with the company, touring Texas in a van with seven other performers and support staff, Cindy returned to her home in Fort Worth in 1992 to be closer to her family. Prior to joining the TA staff, Cindy served as Director of Education and Outreach at two other local theaters, Casa Mañana and CATS, where she spent nine years. A seasoned performer, Cindy has been seen in many area theaters, including Circle Theatre, Casa Mañana Playhouse, Stage West, Hip Pocket Theater, Thin Dime Theatre Company as well as performing in independent films and commercials. Cindy serves on the advisory boards of Hip Pocket Theater and Clayton YES!, and is on the Live Theatre League of Tarrant County board of directors.

Ana began her work with Theatre Arlington's first production, Light Up The Sky, and has continued her work as Resident Lighting Designer and serves as an AEA Stage Manager throughout the seasons. Her design credits also include: Granbury Opera House seasons from 2000-2004, The Waiting Room, All In The Timing, The Boys Next Door for Mountainview College, String of Pearls for Echo Theatre, Southern Baptist Sissies for Uptown Players in Dallas, A Wrinkle In Time for CATS, Dames at Sea for Texas Wesleyan College and Pippy Longstocking, Casa Mañana. Ana is a past recipient of the "Excellence in Technical Theatre Award" from the Live Theatre League of Tarrant County and "Best Lighting Design" from the Column Awards. Ana also stage manages for Kids Who Care's annual Christmas show, The Littlest Wiseman at the Scott Theatre in Fort Worth and has stage managed for the Fort Worth Opera seasons 1998 - 2001 at the Bass Performance Hall. She thanks all of you for supporting the arts in Arlington!

Emilie is a graduate of Midwestern State University and began her career at Texas Nonprofit Theatres. In 2003, she moved to New York City to work for Theatre Communications Group, then started as box office manager for Theatre Arlington. Emilie is an actor, lighting designer, stage manager and soon to be director. Her first show directing will be Lonely Planet for Grapevine's Runway Theatre in Aug. 2008. Emilie has a wonderful boyfriend, Jeremy Ferman, who is a theatre teacher at Legacy High School in Mansfield. They bought their first home last year in Bedford, and enjoy it with their three cats, Plummer, Sabrina and theatre cat Tucker (who some of you saw in Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus).

Emmy graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor of fine arts in theatre performance. She has worked at numerous theatres in the Metroplex, both onstage and behind the scenes, including Hip Pocket Theatre, Dallas Children’s Theatre, and Dallas Theatre Center. In addition to acting, her interests include running, reading, and spending time with her family. She accomplished a personal goal in April of 2007 when she joined Team in Training and trained for and completed a triathlon while raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She plans on doing more with TNT in the future. She also teaches Sunday school at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she is a member. Before joining Theatre Arlington’s staff, she worked at the Creative Arts Theatre & School as box office manager and marketing manager. She feels very blessed to be a part of such an amazingly talented staff. 

Kim Lawson is what one might call a “Queen of all trades.” She grew up in Arlington and still calls it home and loves everything that this wonderful city has to offer. Kim works full time for Theatre Arlington as the Special Events & Development Associate, but her real full time job as the proud mother of four talented children extends outside the walls of TA. It is no secret that she has shared her love for the arts with her children, as they are all incredible performers in their own right. In addition to working full time, acting part time and keeping track of her children, Kim has several other hobbies and interests. She was involved in Theatre Ministry in some form or fashion...whether as an actor, writer or director...for 20 years at different churches; served on the PTA for several schools, including the role of President; has directed many school talent shows; and in her “spare time” enjoys interior design and decorating, throwing parties and spending time with her friends. She is thankful for her wonderful husband, and amazing kids who bring so much joy to her life and make all of her crazy days and long hours survivable.