Our Team

John Kaywood

Executive Director

John Kaywood has been involved in the world of theatre since 2009 starting in a high school (Sullivan South High School) production of Aladdin. Since then John has done most theatrical jobs possible in a lot of different locations. These positions include Lighting Designer, Assistant Stage Manager, Stage Manager, Assistant Director, Actor, Director, House Manager, Dancer, and now Executive Director. He has worked in over 115 productions including two of the nation’s outdoor dramas (Horn in the West and Trail of the Lonesome Pine) and served as a Venue Director for the New York City International Fringe Festival and Logistics Stage Manager for The Fresh Fruit Festival in New York City, both in 2015. Hailing from Kingsport, Tennessee, Kingsport Theatre Guild means so much to him in his heart. He also worked at several theaters in the region such as: Theatre Bristol, Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, Johnson City Community Theatre, and Two Pence Productions.

Caitlyn Morelock

Assistant Executive Director/Events Manager

Caitlyn Morelock has spent many years in the theatre, both on stage and behind the curtain. She has recently directed A Charlie Brown Christmas, We Will Rock You and Noises Off at Kingsport Theatre Guild. She has also recently worked as stage manager and assistant director for a variety of shows, including Bright Star, Cabaret, White Christmas, RENT, Little Shop of Horrors, Boeing, Boeing and A Christmas Cabaret. She has a great passion for the theatre and brings her enthusiasm to every show in which she is involved.

Tyler Bishop

Theatre Assistant

Tyler Bishop's love for theatre has only grown since his first production at age 12. Since then, he has worked to bring shows to life both on and off stage. Whether it's dancing in a musical or designing lights for a straight play, Tyler loves to help reach the Tri-Cities through the theatre arts. Some of his favorite roles include Jake (Jake's Women), Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Bright Star), and Oscar (The Odd Couple). Tyler loves his theater family and is proud to call KTG and the Renaissance Center "home."

Christian Coger

Technical Director

Christian Coger is honored to serve as the Technical Director for Kingsport Theatre Guild. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from East Tennessee State University, where he studied Theatre and Film. Christian is happy to call himself a true generalist within the theatre, one who keeps his hands in a bit of everything as the occasion warrants. He began his theatrical journey at the young age of 7 and has been enamored with its magic ever since. He is proud to have served local theatres across the region in all manner of positions both on-stage and off. From Actor to Stagehand to Director and more, Christian has also worked professionally as an Audio Engineer in New York City and locally. To date, Christian has helped to produce over 50 local theatrical productions including William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel, Grease by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Rent by Jonathon Larson, and Avenue Q by Jeff Whitty.

Maxine Poole

Media Specialist

Maxine Poole is a graduate of Emory & Henry College, where she received her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. As media specialist, Maxine helps Kingsport Theatre Guild to reach new audiences through social media, website management, online promotion and more. She is also an actress and has appeared in many productions. Some of her favorite roles include Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Maureen (RENT), Janet (The Rocky Horror Show), Margo (Bright Star), Lulu (Cabaret), and Blanche (A Streetcar Named Desire). More of her theatrical work can be found at maxinepoole.wixsite.com/2024.

Rebecca Nelson

Advertising Materialist

Rebecca Nelson graduated from ETSU with a degree in Digital Media. She and her husband run their own graphic design business called Creative Cat Graphics. She is thrilled to have found a place in the Kingsport Theatre Guild family both as an actress and a member of the Creative Team where she helps to reach new audiences through graphic design, photography, and videography. She hopes to see audiences both new and old enjoy this theatre as much as she does.

Jessica White

Properties Mistress

Jessica White has been performing since childhood, beginning with musical theatre, choral and acapella group performances. Once in college she added to that ballroom dancing and the circus arts. After college, she moved to Boston where she began a 12-year love affair with burlesque and incorporated that in with her singing and circus. Since moving to Tennessee, she has been focusing primarily on singing vintage jazz. Jessica is thrilled to be involved with Kingsport Theatre Guild, gathering and crafting props for all of the theatre’s shows.

Sarah Shanks

Front of House Manager

Sarah Shanks holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from ETSU, where she learned to be a well-rounded theatre artist, practicing everything from acting to stagecraft to management and more. This is where she developed an interest in theatre management through the student theatre organization, Patchwork Players. She furthered those skills as Front of House Manager for Johnson City Community Theatre. Now, she brings her passion for making theatre a wonderful experience from the moment patrons walk in the door until they leave to KTG while continuing to participate in the other facets of theatre she loves as well.

Brooke Bennett

Makeup Specialist

Brooke Bennett is so proud to be a part of KTG as a makeup specialist and a performer. Theatre has always been a part of her life and hopefully always will be. Some of her favorite roles have been Phantom (The Rocky Horror Show), The Grinch (Suessical), and Rosie (Cabaret). A special thanks to her mom and dad for always supporting her in all she does and a shoutout to her best friend for always being there.

Helen Pennington

Hair and Wardrobe Management

Helen Pennington is a native from Pennington Gap, VA, where she started acting with Lee Players when she was 17. Their love of theatre has only grown from that moment on, especially with meeting so many new people that she can call friends, and a place she lovingly calls her home. Some of her favorite roles and shows she's been in include: Storyteller/Sleeping Beauty in Into the Woods, Phantom/Ensemble in The Rocky Horror Show, ACDC/Ensemble in We Will Rock You, Lulu Depew in Till Death Do Us Part, Gloria Gulock in a three-act play called Everybody Loves Opal, and part of the Ensemble in Young Frankenstein! Helen would like to thank KTG for always being a safe place for all who are a part of it and being a place they can always call home.

Enelisa Sutton

Movement Coordinator

Enelisa Sutton is a young artist that has been performing for over 14 years. Previous roles at KTG include: Cinderella (Into the Woods), Maggie (Jake’s Women), Scaramouche (We Will Rock You), Texas (Cabaret), Spirit (Bright Star), and Alexi Darling (Rent). She also stage managed July House on KTG’s second stage. She has done major productions with Theatre Bristol such as: Chava (Fiddler on the Roof), Jovie Understudy (Elf the Musical), and Lady Tabby Belch (Twelfth Night). She wants to thank everyone who has supported her on her journey and given her the opportunity to be where she is today.

Board

Shane Christian

Interim President

Warren Adler

Treasurer

Kate Woodworth

Secretary

Bryant Christian

Member