The Twin City Theatre Company began in September of 2015 as a result of creative collaboration between Garth Gersten, John Tilford, Angela Marcum, and Michael Galloway. The founding four were seeking a way to focus on diversity in the theater by diversifying the actors, staff, and productions brought to the stage in the Central Illinois Area.
The Company’s first production of the hit musical Nunsense played to sold-out audiences. The company’s success continued with its focus on diversity producing shows like For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf, Shotgun, Waiting for Godot, American Idiot, and Peter and the Star Catcher.
In upcoming seasons, the company will continue to focus on small cast classic plays which will entertain and inspire our audiences. The “Stars of Tomorrow” student production, cast staffed and produced entirely by students from the Central Illinois area, will continue our efforts of introducing young people to the art of theatre both onstage and behind the scenes.
Twin City Theatre Co. is looking forward to an exciting future.
Board of Directors
John Tilford, President
A longtime resident of Urbana, John has been involved with many, many theatre companies in the area: Twin City Theatre Company (current president), The Station Theatre, CUTC, The Rantoul Theatre Company, The Beefhouse Dinner Theatre, Danville Light Opera, Creative Dramatics Workshop, The Little Theatre on the Square, Bright Lights Theatre Company, and Parkland College Theatre. Other theatre organizations John has been a part of in through the years include The Educational Theatre Association, The Illinois Theatre Association, Illinois Thespians, and The International Thespian Society. Needless to say, theatre is John’s passion.
“Theatre excites me, and I am proud that Twin City Theatre Company is able to provide opportunities for people to not only get involved in, but experience quality theatre.”
Diane Pritchard, Treasurer
Diane has been involved in community theatre in CU since 1994, performing with CUTC, Parkland College Theatre, The Station Theatre, and Monticello Theatre Association. She has a Master’s Degree in Voice from the University of Illinois. She retired from Champaign Unit 4 Schools after 18 years as the Office Manager of Robeson Elementary School and hopes to bring some of the efficiency and organization required in that position to Twin City Theatre Company.
“I love the atmosphere of Twin City Theatre Company. We may be small, and operating on a limited budget, but we strive to value and express our appreciation for the talents of everyone who is involved in our productions.”
Marshawn Bingham, Secretary
Marshawn has been apart of the Champaign-Urbana community theatre scene for about 5 years. He is a local actor, Stage Manager, Producer, Director and occasionally Sound Designer. Marshawn has worked with the company since 2023 and joined the Board of Directors in 2024. His recent credits with the company are Brightmane/Princess Steve (My Little Titus Andronicus August 2023), Sound Designer (Leaves, January 2025), Director (If All The Sky Were Paper November 2025)
Claire Stenzel
(Bio coming soon)
Dustin Yocum
Dustin has been involved in the Champaign-Urbana theatre community for the last ten years. He works in research compliance and security at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds Master’s degrees in both gerontology and business administration. He lives in Monticello and has served on both the Monticello Theatre Association and Station Theatre boards in years past.
Mark Highland
Mark J. Highland has been a Twin City Board Member since 2022, where he has directed Seascape and The Shadow Box. He earned B.A.’s in Speech and Theatre Arts from EIU, and an M.A. in Theatre Arts from Wayne State University in Detroit. He has been teaching Speech and Theatre Arts at EIU and Lakeland College in Mattoon for over 30 years.