Tony Ballard
Executive Director

Tony was born on Ft. Riley and raised in Junction City graduating from Junction City High School. Tony has a Bachelors degree from Emporia State University in Music Education and a Masters degree in Instrumental Conducting from Kansas State University. Prior to becoming the first executive director of the new C.L. Hoover Opera House, Tony was a band director in the Riley County Schools and the Stafford Community Schools in central Kansas. Tony and his wife Kelly are proud parents of two beautiful little girls Elise and Abby. When not working at the Opera House or promoting Opera House events you can find Tony and his family on the lake, in the park, or at home enjoying time together.

Jill Nelson
Director of Operations

Jill Nelson, a Junction City native, graduated from Junction City High School and then completed a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theatre at Kansas State University. She has appeared in numerous stage productions throughout the region, and has been very active with the Junction City Little Theatre as both a performer and director. Most recently she appeared as Marian Paroo in The Music Man, JCLT’s inaugural show at the C.L. Hoover Opera House. Jill and her husband David have four children: Kael, Isabelle, Emmalynne, and the late Luke Nelson. Jill is excited about all the wonderful opportunities to experience the arts the Opera House presents to our community and region! Jill feels very blessed to be the Director of Operations at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

David K. Laughlin
Technical Coordinator

David has a Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Technical Theatre Management although he started his college years at Kansas State University. During Dave’s professional career he has owned and operated a theatrical scenery shop, installed theatrical stage rigging and stage lighting for theatres in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Texas, and Kansas. He has coordinated technical theatre operations in Colorado, Washington, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Kansas. Dave also has consulted on the historical technical theatre restoration for McPherson Opera House, Emporia Granada Theatre, and the Colonial Fox Theatre in Pittsburg, KS. Besides consulting he has also helped reopen the Majestic Theatre in Gettysburg, PA, McCain Auditorium in Manhattan, KS and the C. L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City, KS.

Angela Seifer
Custodian

Angela was born in Ohio – although she is not telling what year. She grew up a little bit of everywhere including Colorado, Florida, Arizona and New Mexico. She has two children, that are bigger than she is, named Niki and Kyle. Both were born in Kansas and raised in Junction City. Her parents Sam and Tina Seifer owned an antique store called Red Door Antiques for many years on 6th Street in Junction City. Angela likes new and different things that are always changing and full of variety. She enjoys being creative in all aspects of life whether it be at work at home or at play. She likes working at the Opera House because of all the interesting people she gets to meet. At work there is always something new and different going on that makes it exciting and challenging.