Mission Statement

Centre Stage Theatrical School and Company is a non-profit, community service organization dedicated to
the development of youth in the Lake Houston area through education in the theatre arts. We are committed to developing a sense of pride and self-esteem in children and teens through education in acting, vocal performance and dance, where teamwork, focus and a sense of community are brought together to stage high quality musical theatre productions to benefit the greater Lake Houston community.

Centre Stage is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation.

In The Beginning...

In 1984 Mike and Sheryl Rowland gave this dynamic trio, BARRY DEAN, KAREN ROMANO and LOIS YVONNE, the opportunity to offer spectacular “Broadway Season” musical productions to the Lake Houston Area. Individually, each was a show biz professional. Together, they became an unstoppable theatrical force.

They have delighted audiences with spectacular productions of: OLIVER!, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE, BABES IN ARMS, HELLO DOLLY!, BYE BYE BIRDIE, HALF A SIXPENCE, ANNIE, GUYS AND DOLLS, WEST SIDE STORY, PETER PAN, GYPSY, GODSPELL (which was also performed in Houston at the Wortham Center and the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts), OKLAHOMA, THE FANTASTICKS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and a myriad of musical revues, holiday specials and scholarship pageants.

Their “Children’s Enrichment Series” has included such wonderful shows as: YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, REALLY ROSIE, CHARLOTTE’S WEB and delightfully twisted versions of the fairy tales THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES and SLEEPING BEAUTY.

In 2002 Centre Stage lost their beloved Lois Yvonne to her long battle with illness and Karen Romano has taken a leave of absence to pursue her literary talents. Her first book, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MAKEUP! The Glamorous Secrets of Fabulous Dames, Divine Divas, Gorgeous Babes and Dazzling Broads is about to be released. Barry, joined by Carrie Warren now continues to carry on the Centre Stage tradition of training young performers and delighting audiences with professional quality musical theatre classes and productions.

BARRY DEAN began his career at the legendary Theatre Inc. performing in MY FAIR LADY, THE MUSIC MAN, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, MILK AND HONEY, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, BABES IN TOYLAND and 110 IN THE SHADE.

His dance experience includes training with Patsy Swayze (choreographer of Urban Cowboy) and Lee Becker Theodore (founder of The American Dance Machine). He toured the country in MAME with Ginger Rogers, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN with Barbara Eden and WEST SIDE STORY with Chita Rivera.

He has formally been employed as a cabaret artist and producer for Royal Viking Line’s Star, Sky and Sea and Norwegian America Line’s Sagafjord and Vistafjord which has taken him three times around the world and numerous cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean performing his solo high energy Vegas Act as well as staging major Broadway Musicals, Revues and Theme Nights. He has performed with celebrities Cary Grant, Vincent Price and Patrick Swayze. Barry’s act also played the famed BREAKERS HOTEL in West Palm Beach, The FOUR SEASONS in Albuquerque and THE GRAND FINALE in New York City.

For several years he has been guest director for The University of St. Thomas producing THE FANTASTICKS, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, GODSPELL, RUTHLESS, THE MUSICAL and a recent revival of STOP THE WORLD I WANT TO GET OFF. While directing at The Great Caruso Dinner Theater, two of Barry’s productions broke all former box office records in Houston with SHEAR MADNESS having run for 215 performances and AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ which closed after an eleven month run.

"My most satisfying experience has been the last twenty-five years developing the talents of the students at Centre Stage and the satisfaction of seeing so many of them achieving their goals and living their dreams." -Barry Dean


CARRIE WARREN joined the Centre Stage family as Resident Musical Director in 2002, after the passing of her mother, Lois Yvonne, a Founding Artistic Director. After graduating from The High School For The Performing And Visual Arts in Houston, Carrie went on to earn her degrees in flute performance and music theory at The University Of North Texas. She also spent several summers performing and studying music at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. When Carrie was seventeen she won the coveted Festival Of Schools Award that allowed her to perform with The Houston Symphony. In addition to her busy schedule at Centre Stage, she also performs and privately instructs many flute and voice students which includes the 2002 Miss Texas, Lisa Dalzell. Carrie dedicates her work on this production to the memory of her mother who so generously passed down her many years of musical and theatrical expertise.






SUSAN CHAMBERS CILIE' is a highly qualified teacher of jazz, tap and ballet with over 30 years professional experience. After majoring in dance at the High School of Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas, she traveled extensively, performing and choreographing revues in Las Vegas, Europe, the Orient and the Caribbean. She has taught for major studios in Miami, Dallas, Aruba and Houston, where she is currently choreographer for Kingwood Dance Theatre, Kingwood Youth Ballet and Centre Stage.

Her musical theatre credits include choreography for Annie, Guys & Dolls, Godspell, Hot Mikado, Once on This Island, The Boyfriend and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Her concert ballets have been performed at Regional Dance America Southwest Festival in 2000 and 2006. She also had her choreography presented at Young Tanzsommer Festival, Austria, in 2005.

Susan continues her personal training attending master classes, Soul to Sole Tap Festival, Austin, Texas and Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop at Colorado University. She is a member of Dance Educators of America, an adjudicator for regional and national dance competitions and recently completed her Advanced Pilates certification.

JAN BANKER has provided sound design and engineering for over 150 musicals and operettas during his theatrical career. His credits include sound design and engineering for twenty-one seasons with the Houston Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s productions in Jones Hall and Wortham’s Cullen Theatre and thirteen seasons with Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars in the Music Hall, Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall, Wortham’s Brown Theatre and Miller Theatre.

Jan has also contributed his skills to the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle, and several other venues, particularly in Texas and California. Included in Jan's accolades is designing and accompaning the national tour of Mame, starring Juliette Prowse. He has provided sound design and engineering for numerous Centre Stage productions beginning with Godspell in 1993.

Kathy Red, President
Mark Chambers
Barry Dean
Greg Hannah
Kim McLemore
Stacey Pierce