Meet the Team
Leadership
Keely Baisden Knudsen
Executive Artistic Director and Co-Founder
An award winning director, Keely has performed, directed, and choreographed internationally in plays, musicals, operas, and dance companies in hundreds of theatrical productions and has performed in 48 of the United States and in the UK. Realizing her vision of a new theater company on the Connecticut Shoreline, Keely’s ideals of inspiring, inclusive work that uplifts the human spirit and connects communities formalized in the creation of the Legacy Theatre with Co-Founder Stephanie Stiefel Williams, a performing colleague and dear friend. Keely has directed, choreographed, and taught a myriad of performing arts courses at such institutions as Quinnipiac University, Yale University, Fairfield University, Hartt School of Drama, Southern Connecticut State University, Westminster College, and was the Director of Education of New Haven’s acclaimed Elm Shakespeare Company for several years. Additionally a composer/lyricist and playwright, she is a member of ASCAP and a writer/curator for Rewls Productions (www.rewlsproductions.us). Her directing has been heralded by the Arts Paper as “…visually striking, emotionally moving” and “captivating” and of her direction of Hamlet it was said, “Knudsen has made the notoriously difficult Shakespearean language accessible.” Her creation of the Wheel Life Theatre Troupe has been an especially rewarding program as she acts and directs with those who ambulate with crutches and wheelchairs. Her BFA is from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, at which she graduated first in the class, and she received her Masters Degree in Drama on full scholarship from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Keely, her husband Brian, and five children (Saviah, Liviana, Wynter, Emery, and Reeves) reside in Guilford, CT, where she thoroughly enjoys running the Legacy with a tremendous staff and community support.
Stephanie Stiefel Williams
Co-Founder and Chair of the Board
Stephanie Stiefel Williams is an active and versatile performer in musicals, concerts, and plays and has appeared in numerous locations throughout the Northeast. A member of Actor’s Equity Association, she has appeared professionally in a variety of roles at venues such as Broadway’s Marriott Marquis, Legacy Theatre, Hartford Stage Company, Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre, Atlantic City’s Tropicana, Turning Stone Casino, and the Garde Arts Center. Among these roles, her favorites include Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Anita in West Side Story, Lola in Damn Yankees, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Guenevere in Camelot. Although her professional focus has been in musical theatre, she also has been engaged frequently as a concert soloist, as well as an a cappella ensemble singer. Locally, Stephanie is a proud founder, repertory member, and trustee president at Legacy Theatre where she recently starred in the critically acclaimed productions of The Musical of Musicals (the Musical!), I Do! I Do!, and Barefoot in the Park. She also appeared as a featured vocalist in the wildly popular Mack is Back!. In addition to her work with Legacy, Stephanie sits on the Performing Arts Advisory Council at the University of Notre Dame and has been a member of the Board of Trustees at the Goodspeed Opera House. She has become involved on a producing level with critically-acclaimed productions of Gypsy and Showboat in London’s West End, the revival of Sweeney Todd in New York, and Broadway’s Escape to Margaritaville. As a former Miss Connecticut, she represented our state at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Fairfield University and a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law. Stephanie is the proud mother of two adult children, Valerie and Rick, and lives in Guilford with her wonderful husband, Luke.
Staff
Anne Runolfsson
Development Director
Anne Runolfsson has worked professionally in the theater for the past 40 years, a career path driven by passion and a fierce belief in the importance and value of the arts. Having spent much of her career onstage with starring roles on Broadway, off-Broadway, National Tours, Regional theaters, and as a soloist with symphony orchestras all over the world, she has also produced, written and directed for the theater. Fueled by a fervent desire to help secure funding opportunities for live theater, theater education and theater artists, Anne joined the Legacy Theatre part-time in the role of Development Manager in 2022. While serving in that position, which included the launching of the Annual Giving Society, overseeing the annual appeal (surpassing the annual fundraising goal), securing institutional giving, grant writing, major gift cultivation, donor stewardship, CRM management, and the planning and execution of all fundraising events, she realized that her passion had shifted from being onstage to one of raising money for the arts. Anne is greatly honored to serve in the role of Development Director for Legacy Theatre and would love to meet you and hear YOUR story of why the arts matter.
Kiersten Bjork
Marketing Manager
Kiersten served as the Theatre Manager at Legacy for the past four seasons and is excited to step into the role of Marketing Manager as we move into 2025. She is a 2021 graduate of Fairfield University, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in Theatre and English.
Kiersten has performed with companies such as Legacy Theatre, Seven Angels Theatre, Shoreline Theatre Company, Theatre Fairfield, Brookfield Theatre, and more, having worked on dozens of productions both on and offstage. Favorite performing credits include Footloose (Ethel McCormack), The Spitfire Grill (Percy), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Enchantress, Madame D’Arque), [title of show] (Susan – BroadwayWorld Award Nomination: Best Performer in a Musical), Joan Joyce! (Young Joan Joyce/Teen Joan Joyce – BroadwayWorld Award Nomination: Best Performer in a Musical), Chicago (June/“Squish”), A Christmas Carol (Fan/Mrs. Fezziwig/Others), Something Rotten! (Announcer), and A Princess Tea (Evil Queen). Kiersten has also worked on numerous productions from the creative and technical sides, with favorites being Rabbit Hole (Scenic Designer), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Master Carpenter), and The Great American Mousical directed by Julie Andrews (Assistant Stage Manager).
In addition to her work with Legacy, Kiersten is also the Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Branford Community Foundation, an a cappella ensemble singer with the Royal Court Singers, a Book Reviewer for Booktrib, and a Theatre Critic with the Connecticut Critics Circle. You can read her theatre reviews at whitebirchblog.com. She also does freelance theatre work as a stage manager, technician, and carpenter for the Quick Center for the Arts and Theatre Fairfield.
Sarah Pero
Production Manager
Born and raised in New Haven, CT, Sarah has been involved with local community and professional theatre for 20+ years. Acting at the age of 10, and directing at 16, Sarah received her BFA in Theatre, with a concentration in directing from the University of Rhode Island. Right after college, Sarah was a part-time drama teacher in New Haven Public Schools and also taught theatre classes with Performing Arts Programs (South Windsor, CT). Sarah then worked at the Music Theatre of CT (Norwalk, CT) School of Performing Arts, wearing many hats as Administrative Manager, Teaching Artist, Director, Music Director, and Choreographer for the school. Sarah also managed the Box Office and was the Resident Sound Designer for MTC’s Professional Main Stage. Following MTC, Sarah worked as Administrative Manager at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre (Bridgeport, CT). As a Production Stage Manager for various Theatre Productions in Rhode Island and Connecticut, some of her favorites include: Tick, Tick Boom; Little Women: The Musical; and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Most recently, Sarah served as the Production Stage Manager for multiple Legacy productions in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, including I Do! I Do!, A Princess Tea, The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio Play, and more . Sarah started Stage Managing at Legacy Theatre in 2021 and officially joined the team as the full-time Production Manager in 2022.
Colin Sheehan
Associate Artistic Director
Colin is a local arts enthusiast and serves as the Arts, Culture & Special Events Coordinator for the Town of Branford, Director of The Branford High School Performing Arts’ Spring Musical, and Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Branford Parks and Recreation Shoreline Theatre Company. He graduated from Branford High School and continued his studies at Wagner College with a B.A. in Theatre and Speech Performance. In 2003, he made his Broadway debut in the closing night production of Les Misérables. In ’99, Colin appeared numerous times on The Rosie O’Donnell Show and worked for three seasons on The Wendy Williams Show. Colin has produced, directed, hosted, and performed in the tri-state area and abroad with Broadway Cruises, Nickelodeon Cruises, and R Family Vacations Cruises. Colin is a philanthropist and has hosted, produced and raised funds and awareness for many organizations in Branford and beyond.
Mary Lee Weber
Community & Employee Relations
Mary Lee Weber is a Marketing and Communications consultant who has lived in Branford since 1988. She held the position of Director of Marketing and Community Development for the ABC affiliate WTNH-8 for 17 years where she was responsible for non-traditional revenue and community partnerships. With a local creative team she Executive Produced a short documentary for the Stony Creek Museum called Born at The Water’s Edge. It features interviews and information about the Thimble Islands and the history of Stony Creek including brief segments about Legacy Theatre, the Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps and the Quarry. Mary Lee also helped with the Legacy Theatre productions while they were in residence at the Stony Creek Museum in 2018-19. She joined Legacy to help with Marketing and Community Outreach and is thrilled to play even a small part in helping Legacy bring theatre back to Stony Creek.
Jeff Zeitlin
General Manager
A long-time resident of Guilford, CT, Jeff’s love of theatre was taken to the next level in 2016 when his daughter joined the Guilford High School Theatre Arts program. Jeff served as a Board Member of the school’s Theatre Arts Parents Support. He then became the GHSTA Box Office Manager and Front of House Advisor for GHSTA students. He continues in that volunteer role today. Prior to joining Legacy Jeff was an usher at The Ivoryton Playhouse, as well as a House Manager at The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (“The Kate”) in Old Saybrook. Upon learning of the development of The Legacy Theatre, he was taken by the plans for the historic building and the prospect of bringing high quality Broadway productions and performers to the shoreline in our intimate setting. He joined Legacy in 2021, prior to the start of our inaugural season. Jeff’s community involvement also extends to Guilford A Better Chance where he is a member of the Board of Directors, and as the Box Office partner for Guilford High School’s music department for their annual Holiday Concerts by the Green. In his Legacy role, Jeff loves to meet and greet patrons from nearby and far-away. From Jeff Z: “The complete theater experience starts when we welcome you to our theatre and doesn’t end until we have a chance to say thank you for coming and hope to see you again!”
Nick Fetherston
Box Office Manager
When not in the Box Office, Nick Fetherston is an actor operating out of the New Haven area. He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University with a degree in Theater Studies and is also an alumnus of The National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. His Legacy Theatre credits include playing Jonathan in The Play That Goes Wrong, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Rosencrantz in Hamlet. Other acting credits include playing Mack in Fairview (Collective Consciousness Theatre), Don John/ The Sexton in Much Ado About Nothing (Capital Classics), Albert in Goldfish (New Haven Theater Company), and Mr. Bingley in Pride and Prejudice (The Little Theatre of Manchester). Nick is also a standardized/simulated patient for Yale University and Quinnipiac University, where he uses his acting skills to assist in the training of medical students. Nick also teaches a variety of acting classes here at The Legacy Theatre. Website: nickfetherston.com
Nancy Kelly
Finance Manager
Nancy has criss-crossed her love of the arts and finance management throughout her career. Her passion for acting began the summer between elementary and middle school in the Theater Music Workshop production of Annie Get Your Gun at Amity High School, Woodbridge, CT, which eventually led to a professional dinner theater tour during college, subsequently graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Southern Connecticut State University. She has been a soloist with the Irvine Masterworks Chorale and SCSU University Choir, touring with them in Italy, England, and Scotland. She served as Youth Music Director for St. John Vianney Chapel, Balboa Island, CA, taking the choir on tour where they performed at Lourdes and the Vatican. She chaired the Balboa Island Day Parade in Newport Beach, CA, founded and directed The Merry Minstrels professional singing group, and directed the music for the annual Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club’s Christmas musical. Her financial career includes working in the private and public corporate sectors on the West Coast in positions such as Controller for a public company and VP Operations for a fifty-store video chain. After retiring early from corporate work and moving back to Connecticut, she has devoted her skills to supporting local non-profits, which happily brought her to the Legacy Theatre.
Aliza Ting
Box Office Associate
Aliza Ting is an honor student at Purdue Global University, pursuing a major in business and a minor in social media marketing. Aliza has a keen interest in the world of special effects makeup. Fascinated by the artistry and creativity involved, she spends her free time experimenting with makeup techniques and studying the latest trends in the industry. With a strong foundation in business coupled with her passion for makeup artistry, Aliza aims to carve out a unique career path where she can blend her analytical skills with her artistic flair.
Elaine Cappiello
Development Associate
Elaine joins the Legacy Theatre team after being an active member of the Madison, CT community, where she volunteered in the schools for several years. Prior to moving to CT, Elaine worked at New York Public Library, both in their Theatre and Performing Arts Archive (TOFT) and Development and Government Affairs offices; as well as the Alumni Relations offices at Parsons School of Design and Columbia College at Columbia University. She earned a B.A. in English from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA, and attended the Arts Administration Program at the University of Akron in Akron, OH before moving to New York City. Elaine’s interests outside of Legacy Theatre include genetic genealogy and supporting her children in the various music programs at Daniel Hand High School and along the Shoreline.
Board of Trustees
Stephanie Williams, President
Jana Shea, Vice President
Katina Gionteris, Secretary
Luke Williams, Treasurer
Damian Doria
Charles Grady
Brian Knudsen
Sonja LaBarbera
Kathleen Murphy
Mary Pepe
James Roday Rodriguez
Tom Shea
Keely Baisden Knudsen, Ex-Officio
Advisory Council
Bob and Maryann Babcock
Betty Ann Donegan
Carol and Tom Gagliardi
Melodie Lane
Eunice Lasala
Bonnie and Andy McKirdy
Bob and Jeanette Mobeck
Greg Nobile
Patrick and Stacey Ruwe
Barry and Patti Sinoway
Hal Spitzer
Guild Members
Lisa Courtney
Tina Ells
Katina Gionteris
Kristie Shanahan