Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation: Ya don't say?

At the Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation, we believe the arts thrive when they are accessible, collaborative, and deeply rooted in community. While Community Playlist serves as the Foundation’s flagship project, the vision has always extended far beyond a single performance series. SPAf seeks to strengthen, promote, and support arts-based organizations and creative opportunities throughout the community for years to come. 

Created by Michael Beeck, with immense gratitude to Kate, Mags, Charlie, and the entire team at Paradigm Coffee and Music for taking a chance on the idea from the very beginning, Community Playlist was born from a simple question: how can theatre and live performance become more accessible for people whose schedules and lives don’t fit the traditional mold? Working nights and weekends himself, Michael wanted to create a space for performers, musicians, teachers, hospitality professionals, and community members who still longed for a creative outlet, but could not commit to the demanding rehearsal schedules often required in traditional theatre settings. 

With an overwhelming amount of trust, encouragement, and support from friends and fellow artists in those early stages, Community Playlist evolved into a volunteer-based, semi-rehearsed, thematic open mic and cabaret experience centered around storytelling, connection, and giving back to the community through the arts.

This blog is dedicated to shining a light on the people working behind the scenes to help guide, strengthen, and sustain the mission of the Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation. While audiences often see the performers on stage, the continued growth and longevity of both the Foundation and its flagship project, Community Playlist, are made possible through the time, energy, accountability, and belief of those helping steer the organization forward.

At the time of this writing, Community Playlist has presented six sold-out performances at Paradigm Coffee and Music, with its upcoming June performance selling out weeks ahead of the event itself. The project is also still riding the excitement and gratitude of welcoming over 600 audience members to its season finale at the Weill Center for the Performing Arts this past November. What began as a small, community-driven idea has continued to grow because people continue to show up, not only as audience members, but as volunteers, performers, donors, collaborators, and advocates for the arts within Sheboygan County.

The Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation remains deeply humbled by the trust and support the community has placed in this work, and immensely grateful for every conversation, contribution, and moment of guidance that has helped shape where the organization sits today, and where it hopes to go in the future.

Who We Are

Michael’s vision for the advisory committee was clear: bring together people who understand the community, have unique insights into the arts, and can speak openly to push the project forward. From its earliest days, Community Playlist was never intended to be the work of one person, but rather a reflection of what can happen when a community chooses to invest in itself.

The current 2026 Board and Advisory Committee for SPAf and Community Playlist includes:

• Michael Beeck -- Board President | Founder | Artistic Director

• Jess Childs -- Board Vice Chair | Treasurer

• Jenna Howell -- Board Vice Chair | Secretary | Advisory Committee

• Moe Green -- Volunteer Board Member | Advisory Committee

• Kurt Jensen -- Volunteer Board Member

• Kristal Klemme -- Advisory Committee

  
  

The advisory committee exists to ensure that spirit of collaboration remains at the heart of the organization. Their role is not simply to provide oversight, but to contribute ideas, challenge assumptions, identify opportunities, and help ensure that decisions are made with the broader community in mind. Lasting community impact is rarely achieved by any one individual. It is created when people come together, share responsibility, celebrate successes collectively, and remain committed to a common vision that is larger than themselves.

Jess serves as the Board Vice Chair and Treasurer for Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation. An avid fan of community theatre, she has volunteered for Sheboygan Theatre Company for over a decade in various capacities including performing on stage and serving on the Program Planning Committee. She currently teaches yoga in downtown Sheboygan and has recently retired from small business ownership. Jess is proud to be part of the inaugural board for Community Playlist and looks forward to helping nurture its future growth.

Jenna serves as Board Vice Chair and Secretary for Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation. She lives in Plymouth with her husband, Dave (known to many as the drummer for Community Playlist), and their three boys. A dedicated music educator for more than 15 years, Jenna taught Elementary music at Random Lake Elementary School, as well as middle and high school band and choir in Oostburg. Beyond the classroom, she is an active performer, sharing the stage with Dave and her sister, as a member of the band Sister Winchester. Jenna is passionate about creating safe, welcoming spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to collaborate, create, and experience music. She believes the sense of connection, belonging, and shared purpose found in the performing arts -and projects like Community Playlist- is one of humanity’s most meaningful and enduring qualities! She is committed to helping ensure those opportunities remain accessible for future generations.

Moe is a lifelong Sheboygan resident and active community member. Moe began her music journey in high school singing in choir and continued throughout college. Moe has performed in several musicals with the Sheboygan Theatre Company. Though not technically a professional, she has found personal success in performing especially in this community. There were not many prominent black women in the community for Moe to look up to so she became that very person! Performing locally has also allowed Moe to become more connected to this community and has made lifelong connections. As part of SPAF, Moe hopes to bring this sense of community and belonging to others just like her.

When she is not performing, Moe is a policy social worker for the state of Wisconsin, a mom to the coolest 11 year old, and is on the board for the Black American Community Outreach here in

Sheboygan.

Kurt was raised in Sheboygan and introduced to the theater at a young age. From Camp Y-Koda Theater camp and the stages at Urban, North/South, JMKAC, and the Sheboygan Theater Company to an incomplete major in theater at UW-Madison along various stage roles and producing musical variety acts, the stage has always had a place in my life.

The important part of theater and live music is that it is for everyone. Being part of the stage since a young boy opened my eyes to every sort of person you could imagine and I never at any point thought that being different was actually different. Theater and music accept who you are and allow you to accept who you are yourself. My hopes in joining the Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation and Community Playlists are that participants and audiences can experience that same acceptance. It is a chance for those who do not have time to commit to full shows to enjoy a small piece of the welcoming arms of the stage.

Rev. Kristal is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and serves as Pastor for First Congregational UCC in Sheboygan, WI. A passionate advocate for community engagement, education, and the arts, she believes the performing arts have a unique ability to bring people together, foster creativity, and deepen our understanding of one another. In addition to her ministry, Rev. Klemme is active in civic and nonprofit leadership throughout the Sheboygan Area, supporting initiatives that strengthen connections across generations and cultures. As a member of the Advisory Committee for the Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation, she is honored to help advance opportunities for artistic expression and enrich the cultural life of the community.

Michael is a Sheboygan native, local musician, and hospitality professional currently serving as beverage manager at Catering with Culinary Artists (Black Pig Restaurant and the Berkshire Event Space). A proud product of the area’s music and theatre programs, Michael grew up immersed in the arts community through school ensembles, Sheboygan Symphony and Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Sheboygan Theatre Company, and the guidance of countless educators, directors, and professional musicians whom he now gratefully considers friends and collaborators. When not juggling rehearsals, events, or hospitality, you’ll most likely find Michael tending to his garden, somewhat aimlessly running throughout the city, or relaxing with a book centered around creativity, community-building, and finding new ways to continue fueling the passions that inspire him to create more.

What We’re Doing Beyond Community Playlist

While Community Playlist is the foundation’s flagship project, the advisory committee is already discussing ways to expand the foundation’s reach and impact. Some of the initiatives under consideration include:

• New Performance Venues: Exploring partnerships with local venues, parks, and businesses to host performances in varied settings.

  
  

• Community Collaborations: Building alliances with other nonprofits and cultural organizations to broaden programming and audience reach.

  
  

• Sustainability Planning: Developing long-term strategies for funding, volunteer engagement, and operational growth.

  
  

These conversations are happening behind the scenes, with the advisory committee acting as a sounding board and strategic partner to the board.

The Sheboygan Performing Arts Foundation’s advisory committee represents a thoughtful blend of experience, passion, and community connection. Their work behind the scenes is crucial to the ongoing success of Community Playlist and the foundation’s broader mission. By fostering open dialogue and embracing diverse perspectives, they are building a strong foundation for the arts in Sheboygan for years to come.