About Us
Mounds View High School Theater produces three shows each year. Our productions include a fall play, winter student-directed Shakespeare, and a spring musical. Our students are dedicated to delivering quality performances that entertain and inspire our audiences.
Our program centers around three values:
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1. Building a safe and inclusive community.
2. Providing theater education for life.
3. Producing excellent shows.
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Artistic Staff
Colin Perucco
Co-Director
Colin Perucco teaches Language Arts at Highview Middle School and is the former director of their theater program. He brings two decades of acting experience and an overall passion for theater to Mounds View High School. In his free time, he enjoys performing in community theater, playing board games, and taking his dog for long walks.His favorite musical is Hadestown.
Dan Perucco
Co-Director
Dan Perucco teaches Language Arts at Edgewood Middle School. He has 10 years of directing experience. He was named the 2024 Mounds View Teacher & Citizen of the year and received the 2024 Leo Weiss Courage to Teach award. In his free time, he plays the viola, writes novels, and distance runs. His favorite musical is Come from Away.
Nina (Dylan) Gourley
Set Designer
Nina (Dylan) Gourley is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota with a bachelors degree in Theater Arts Tech and Design and a not-so-recent graduate of Mounds View High School in 2020. During their time at UMN, and working in the UMN scene shop, they have built sets for many UMN and Penumbra Theatre productions, and had the pleasure of being the Props Designer for The Brontide at Nimbus Theatre.
Emily Marx
Costume Designer
Emily Marx is a 2020 Mounds View High School graduate and is thrilled to be returning to work with the theater program. She is a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts and Strategic Communications. She has worked in the costume departments at the University of Minnesota, Abbey Theatre, Lyric Opera of the North, and Sharon Playhouse on numerous productions. She has also designed costumes for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (MVHS) and The Mother (UMN).
Spencer Heller
Tech Director
Spencer Heller is an audio engineer with years of experience in audio production, audio recording, live sound, and audio-visual operation and directing. He specialized in audio production at Hennepin Technical College. He works regularly as a recording engineer for local bands, a live sound technician for local concerts, and as the Creative Director of Worship Technology at Nativity Lutheran Church. He has a passion for teaching both audio and martial arts (2nd degree black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate).
Sarah Kitzman
Music Director
​Ms. Kitzman is the 9-12th grade choir director at Mounds View High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Originally from Eden Prairie, MN, she worked in Central Minnesota since 2016 before coming to MVHS. Ms. Kitzman enjoys working with students, creating music, and playing with dogs!
Bill Sucha
Pit Conductor
Mr. Sucha is the 9-12th grade band director at Mounds View High School and has been Mounds View District music since 1996. He is the recipient of several awards and honors including the 2001 Minnesota representative for the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” feature in the School Band and Orchestra magazine. He has been on the Minnesota Percussion Association, Royal Guard Drum and Bugle Corp, and Minnesota Brass Senior Drum and Bugle Corp executive boards.
Neal McIntosh
Rehearsal Pianist, Vocal Coach
Neal has been our rehearsal accompanist and played in the pit for our last two musicals. He has also worked with musicals at Hill-Murray, Saint Anthony Village HS, and for several years at Irondale. He also music directed for Theater 55. He has also been seen on stage with Mounds View Community Theatre and Lakeshore Players. Neal received his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from University of Northern Iowa.
