Staff & Creative Team

ARTS EXPRESS THEATRE TEAM

ADMINISTRATION, CREATIVE TEAM MEMBERS AND FACULTY

KAREN WIESE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Karen is a seasoned professional with 42 years’ experience in leadership, business management and consulting, serving as Executive Director/Producer of Arts Express Theatre for the last 16 years and previously as president and chief executive officer of five hospitals.

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She has a bachelor's degree in Business Management and an MBA in Statistics and has been a featured speaker before Congress as well as at national professional conferences. While going to college by day, Karen made a living as a pianist, vocalist, director and arranger/composer.  Throughout those years, she composed and arranged choral and orchestral music and directed various concerts and variety shows in Tennessee, Louisiana, Virginia and North Carolina, working with several soon-to-be-famous artists such as the Neville Brothers, John Cullum and Susan Powell.  After transitioning from a successful career in hospital leadership to Arts Express Theatre, Karen has demonstrably grown the company’s market reach 15-fold, produced over 125 shows, and developed collaborative relationships with Park Place, Broadway in Tucson, Fox Tucson Theatre and others.  With a specialty in strategic development, Karen applies her skills to unite all of Southern Arizona through “the Power of Musical Theatre.”

BEN WIESE

MANAGING DIRECTOR & ASSISTANT PRODUCER

Growing up in Tucson, Ben has a love for the community and giving back through a commitment to quality arts. This extends to an artistic passion both on and off the stage: working tirelessly

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in theatre, music, and film as an avid performer, cinematographer, writer, graphic/website designer, technician, creator, producer, etc..

After graduating from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management in 2017, Ben furthered his tenure with Arts Express – having been a core member of the administrative team since 2011. By fusing innovative business practices with creative aspirations; he has always strived to bring new ideas and charisma to the arts - a field necessitating industry change through creativity and strong leadership.

Moreover, Ben hopes to use his artistic involvement to be an inspiration, providing individuals with the tools take in the breadth of human potential. Though art may seem surreal, its powers to stir emotions and provoke thought are very real and motivate humans to act, change, give, hope or love. By unlocking a person’s emotions, the arts act as a highway to the mind, overcoming obstacles and uncovering true opportunities. In this way, art is one of the most powerful change agents available to mankind.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

SIMONE JOLIVET-MANUEL

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Simone Jolivet-Manuel is a native Arizonan and received her Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Masters in Education. Simone has worked as an educator...

Read More! ...in Tucson for over 20 years at the elementary and high school levels.  She is currently at Salpointe Catholic High School and has held many roles over the years as an educator, coach/choreographer, head of the fine arts department and financial aid specialist. Teachers and students enjoy collaborating through team building, creative projects and special events. Simone has also been with Arts Express since 2016 as a choreographer, assistant director and director.
 Simone began dancing at the age of seven and continued training over the years participating in dance competitions across the country. She attended workshops with high-end choreographers - Savion Glover, Mandy Moore, Paula Abdul, JT Hornstein, Denise Leitner, and many others.
Simone’s professional achievements include Salpointe Pomline, Arts Express, Pima Community College, Live Theater Workshop, Dance Force-1 Productions, Gaslight Theater, Danswest Productions and the 2001, 2005 and 2009 Links Cotillions. She thanks her husband Scot, children Lincoln and Maxine and her mother, for their support and love.

DIANA KNOEPFLE

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

A veteran Production Stage Manager, past Technical Director, with credits in freelance Light Design, Sound Design and editing,

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Diana brings her many years in theater, talent for organization and passion for mentorship to her new position at Arts Express Theatre as Director of Production.

Recently the Stage Manager for Grease at Arts Express Theatre, she is also currently the Production Stage Manager for Ballet Rincon. She continues her freelance light and sound work, speaking engagements and technical theater consultation. She will always be grateful to have spent many wonderful years as the Production Stage Manager at Invisible Theatre.

Favorite past productions in technical direction, stage management and design include GREASE, MEAN GIRLS, THE NUTCRACKER BALLET, THE BOOKSTORE, LAST FIVE YEARS, GODSPELL, TRUMBO, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, LET FREEDOM SING, and SWAN LAKE. She is now looking forward to all that is to come with her new theater home, and is forever thankful to all who have contributed in so many ways with their love and support over the years.

FELISHA MENA

DRAMA CLUB MANAGER

Felisha Mena is a versatile actor/technician from Tucson, Arizona.
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With over a decade of experience in theatre, Felisha has captivated audiences with a wide range of performances. Her dedication to her craft has been evident since her early roles in local community theatre.
Felisha's notable credits include playing Detective White in "Who Dunnit," and being a Stage Manager/Project Manager for Stories That Soar, The Sleeping Beauty Ballet, and many more. Her dynamic presence and ability to deeply understand and convey a character's emotions have earned her critical acclaim and numerous awards, including gaining superior in Stage Management and Solo Monologues.
In addition to her stage work, Felisha is passionate about theatre education and is frequently seeking opportunities to conduct workshops for aspiring actors. She believes in the transformative power of storytelling and is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive theatre community.
When not on stage, Felisha enjoys empowering local youth through community initiatives, cooking latin cuisine and spending time with her family and fur babies. She is thrilled to be part of Art Express Theatre and is looking forward to sharing her love of theatre with audiences old and new.

CAROLINE MURPHY

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

She has performed in several off-off Broadway productions, but her favorite NY moment was...

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... getting to be onstage with the cast of 42nd Street for the Gypsy of the Year Awards at the Palace Theatre. Favorite roles include Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls-Colorado), Valencienne (The Merry Widow—UA Opera) and La Fee/Fairy (Cendrillon—UA Opera). She has always loved the Titanic story and is humbled to be a part of the retelling with AE. She wishes to thank her husband and children for their support and love, and AE for all their amazing productions and programs! She has a Bachelor of Music degree from UA and studied with Professors Hirst, Roe and Swensen, and with Hilda Hirst at the Manhattan School.

KATIE POPIEL

BOX OFFICE MANAGER AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Katie Popiel brings a mixture of corporate and nonprofit experience to her roles as Box Office Manager and Volunteer Coordinator...

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... having been a medical software upgrade coordinator, a real estate transaction manager, and the Programs and Volunteer Coordinator at the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA). Her first career aspiration as a child was to be Dorothy Gale so becoming part of the Arts Express family felt like the culmination of a journey. She loves getting onstage in AET productions, typically performing in three to four productions per season and sometimes getting to use some of her performance specialties including clog dancing, Irish dance, and puppetry. Her artistic passions include choreographing and teaching clog dancing and musical theatre routines, directing two clogging exhibition troupes, and costuming. She is thrilled to help support musical theater in Tucson, and grateful to have the opportunity to be both onstage and behind the scenes at Arts Express Theatre.

KARL SCHMIDT

FACILITY MANAGER

Bio Coming Soon!

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Bio Coming Soon!