Spark Committee
Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spark Committee is a group of young professionals and artists dedicated to building engagement between Hennepin Theatre Trust and those in their 20’s and 30’s to ensure the future vitality of the Trust and Hennepin Avenue. This group works closely with The Scene, Hennepin Theatre Trust’s new group for young arts enthusiasts.
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Sasha Andreev
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Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Sasha Andreev is proud to be a member of the Twin Cities arts community. For the last 7 years, he has been working professionally on stage and on camera, having been named Outstanding New Face in Theater by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. |
| Nicole Donnelly
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Nicole Donnelly has been with The Scene from the beginning, as one of the original board members, and is looking forward to many more great years with this fantastic program. While persuing her professional career in sales and marketing, she been fortunate to stay heavily involved with the arts community through her contributions to several local organizations including Yellow Tree Theatre, Arena Dance, and the Blue Lake Dance Program. |
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Noelle Heaslip
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Noelle Heaslip is a public strategist for Minnesota Public Radio who has been a part of Hennepin Theatre Trust in different capacities since 2004. She is grateful to be a part of The Scene and is dedicated to bringing so much of what Hennepin Theatre Trust does to the next generation. |
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Tyler Ketterl
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Dr. Tyler Ketterl is from Lincoln, NE and studied biology at Creighton University in Omaha, NE then attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center for medical school. Tyler moved to Minneapolis in June 2011 and is currently completing a combined residency at the University of Minnesota in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. He has been involved in music and the arts since high school, studied piano throughout college, and shares the healing benefits of the arts with his colleagues and patients. |
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Ben Meents
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Ben Meents is a native of the Twin Cities and has been volunteering with the Hennepin Theater Trust since 2011. Ben studied Japanese and International relations in undergrad, but has worked in the field of marketing, branding and communications on everything from healthcare reform to investment securities. Ben’s favorite part of being involved in the Spark Committee is helping get more young professionals involved in advancing the Trust’s vision of advancing a thriving Hennepin Avenue cultural district in downtown. |
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Becca Mitchell
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Becca Mitchell is a senior account executive at Weber Shandwick, a leading global public relations agency, where she manages social media efforts and provide materials development and media relations support for a variety of financial services and government clients. Outside of work, she is an avid theater attendee, counting Les Miserables and Rent among her favorites. She also loves to travel, making frequent pit stops in Missouri to visit family members and embrace her Southern roots. |
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Richard Oknick
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Richard Oknick is a native of Chisago Lakes and studied marketing at St. Cloud State University. He now calls Minneapolis home. Like a few of his fellow Spark Committee members, Richard has been with The Scene from the beginning. He is also the General Manager of the Birchwood Cafe, and Director of Events for the Film Society of Minneapolis – St. Paul. In his free time, Richard enjoys cycling, running and eating. |
| Karin Ourada
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Karin Ourada joined The Scene in 2011 and is excited to be a part of the Spark Committee. She brings over 10 years of experience in marketing and brand management as a Director at EFFECT Partners, a Minneapolis-based marketing firm where she works with musicians and brands to develop campaigns that integrate sustainability and create positive social change. Karin is passionate about musical theatre and has enjoyed volunteering with Hennepin Theatre Trust since 2009. She looks forward to being a continued ambassador for the Trust through the Spark Committee. |






