Producer, Asst. Director, Manager, Media & More

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Jenna grew up in a family of musicians. She played violin for 8 years, sang in choirs all through school and even did a year with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus after she had her 3 children. She coached cheerleading for 4 years and helped choreograph their showcase dances. Being a DJ for 20 years for weddings has given her the confidence to deal with high stress situations and the knowledge to make things fun. She has also done studio and bridal hair/makeup for the past 16 years. She's the Assistant Theatre Director at Crown Point High School and is having a blast at Royal Drama Society creating a space for kids to shine.

Stage Director, TikTok Content, Class Director

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Nikki is a passionate thespian and educator with a rich background in community productions, including The Odd Couple (female edition), Fiddler on the Roof, and many more. Nikki’s experience includes being the former president of Purdue Calumet’s 50-year-old theater company, studying at Columbia College in Chicago for Performance Arts Management. Dedicated to nurturing creativity, she founded a school improv club and guided students in writing, producing, and performing two original plays. Thrilled to be part of Royal Drama Society!

Vocal Director/Choreographer

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Kelly Staton is a local theater artist and director that is thrilled to be joining the Royal Drama Society team! She currently works at Hanover Central as the choir and theater teacher and helps with their musicals. She is also Lake Central's vocal director. When she's not on the directing side, she can be seen performing in local productions.

Beetlejuice Vocal Director

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Mr. David Markley is a graduate of Valparaiso University where he received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. While there he sang with the Concert Choir and the University Chorale under Eldon Balko, Marcia Lewis and Christopher Cock. He studied voice with Ralph Klapis and Christopher Cock, Organ Performance with Martin Jean, and conducting with Dennis Friesen-Carper. Mr. Markley has performed with Laudate, the Valparaiso University Bach Choir, the Vocal Camerata Ensemble and Voix d’Etet. Mr. Markley has also worked extensively with community theatre companies throughout Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois on a variety of productions and has been nominated for Outstanding Vocal Direction for Into the Woods, Ragtime, Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, Follies, and Assassins and is the recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Musical Direction award for Grey Gardens from the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation. He has most recently directed Little Shop of Horrors at the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso.
In addition to his work in the community, Mr. Markley is the Minister of Music and Organist at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Highland. He also serves as the co-sponsor for the Highland (HS) Theatre Company where he is vocal director for musicals including Les Miserables, Little Women, Into the Woods, Disney’s Lion King Jr., The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Wonka, Jr., Frozen, Jr., Shrek, the Musical and Once Upon a Mattress.

From 2011-2013, Mr. Markley co-produced the Unity Event Productions partnering with the Carnegie Arts Center of East Chicago and the South Shore Orchestra that presented combined professional, community & amateur performers in productions of Evita, Miss Saigon, and Ragtime. For his work in education, Mr. Markley is the 2004 Crystal Apple Award recipient for excellence in teaching as well as a recipient of the “Realizing the Dream” Lilly endowment professional development grant.