Voting has concluded for the competition. The top 3 winners will be announced after May 8, 2013.

Curtains Up! Theatre Company is a long time dream coming true! I grew up in a small college town in Johnson City, Tennessee and have always dreamed of owning my own theatre company. Having lived in Northern Virginia for many years now, working full time in the senior living industry and still following my passion for acting and directing it became clear that there was no time like the present to give this dream some foundation. In December of 2011, while visiting family in Tennessee, I attended a production of "A Christmas Story" at my dear friend's theatre company, Blue Moon Dinner Theatre. I leaned across the table to my husband and said "I'm not sure how I'm going to do this or where the money will come from, but this is going to be Curtains Up! Theatre Company's debut show and I'm doing it next Christmas!"

So, in 2012 I started with nothing in my pocket but determination, a vision to produce the first show, great friends and of course...the dream!! Curtains Up! is still in the start up stages but baby, have we come along way! We found a temporary home and partnership with a local church and their Music & Arts Ministry and we did it, we produced our first semi professional production in December of 2012, with "A Christmas Story"! We were able to start with nothing and pay our own way at the end of the run. Now we have a little seed money to produce our second show, "Steel Magnolias" in May of 2013.

Another part of this dream is to bring Curtains Up! to the historic downtown that I currently live in. I grew up in one of the oldest towns in Tennessee and have always had a great appreciation for keeping them alive and creating a unique theatre space in one of the beautiful old buildings, if ever possible.

I have a degree in theatre and have worked with various community and professional theatre companies over the years as an actor, director, teacher, stage manager, etc. This is my passion!

Curtains Up! Theatre Company's long range goal is to be a thriving dinner theatre providing delicious food and quality theatre in the evening. We will have a "Brown Bag" Lunch Program for students and look forward to working with our local school systems to provide live theatre to our children during the day. We plan to provide a nurturing, creative environment for all those who work with us, whether being an Actor on stage or the Box Office Manager. Curtains Up! will be involved with the community and give back to local business. We will explore classics, contemporary, mysteries and more!

I am surrounded by people who support this crazy dream and business and I'm humbled each and everyday by all of the love and support! Without you, my dream is just a dream, because of you my dream is a reality and is validated by your hardwork!

I am a proud mom and wife who works full-time and continues to follow a dream of owning my own business. My goal is to simply share my love of the theatre with the community that I live in and be a part of our thriving historic town - all the while living my dream, showing my son the importance of following that dream and having the independence to be there for him.

Finishing first would mean the world to me and provide Curtains Up! Theatre Company with a little more in it's pocket to continue moving forward!

Thank you for your vote!