SLCT Recent Board Electees
Sun Lakes Community Theater’s (SLCT) board members are resident volunteers with diverse professional backgrounds and civic commitment. They include performing arts leaders, public servants, educators, financial experts, and community administrators.
Kate King-Turner, president, draws on an extensive executive background in managing 501(c)(3) organizations. Now retired, she leverages her administrative leadership with her versatility as a director, actor, and performer with the ImproVables comedy troupe. She has a deep passion for the performing arts.
Nancy Patterson, vice president, is like a “jack of all trades.” She’s been a national park ranger, registered dietitian, real estate broker, and river guide. Here in Sun Lakes, she helps where she can and enjoys the arts. Citrus picking time of year is her favorite, with her wonderful team, to donate Sun Lakes citrus to St. Mary’s Food Bank. She’s a native Arizonan and remembers long ago when she went to the desert parties out in the middle of nowhere—Shea and Scottsdale Road.
Barry Berger, director, built a 40–plus-year career in the lighting industry, including 34 years as the manager of the lighting department for L.B. Electric Supply in Brooklyn, N.Y. Now retired, he serves as committee liaison. A seasoned technician, Barry has shared his talents on SLCT’s productions for the past 20-plus years.
Dr. Anna McCauley, secretary, is a retired career educator with expertise in high-level administration and compliance. She previously served as assistant superintendent of accountability and student information, overseeing state and federal reporting. Her extensive background as a district director, high school principal, and English teacher brings a structured, analytical approach to the board’s governance and record-keeping.
Herman Young, director, is a retired Navy medical corpsman with 48 years of experience as a surgical assistant and educator, including serving as the director of surgical technology at the East Valley Institute of Technology. Transitioning from medicine to the arts, he is now a professional entertainer and the owner of his own entertainment company. A versatile performer, Herman is also a member of the ImproVables comedy troupe.
MJ Clement, technology liaison, is a skilled project manager who oversees the critical “behind-the-scenes” infrastructure. She manages SLCT’s lighting, sound, and digital systems for all productions, ensuring that the technical execution of each show matches the high quality of the performances on stage. She is also the organization’s graphic designer, creating all signs, programs, flyers, and other publicity-related materials. Additionally, MJ is the ADA coordinator for Sun Lakes Community Theatre.
Brian Haynie, webmaster, maintains the theatre’s digital presence, managing the official website and overseeing the online payment systems. A dedicated community leader, Brian and his wife, Denise, each recently received a prestigious Crystal Award for their untiring service to the Sun Lakes community.
Claire Likes in a recent performance of “Newsies.”
2025-2026 Scholarship Winner
The Sun Lakes Community Theatre (SLCT) has announced Chandler High School senior Claire Likes as the recipient of its 2025-26 scholarship, recognizing her exceptional dedication to the performing arts and her impressive record of achievement on stage and screen.
Likes has already built a résumé that many young performers only dream of. She has appeared in more than 23 theatre productions, showcasing her versatility in both dramatic and musical roles. Her experience extends beyond the stage as well, with credits in film and television that highlight her growing range as an actress.
Her training is equally extensive. Likes has studied acting, singing, dancing, and improvisation, developing the kind of well rounded skill set that fuels long term success in the performing arts. She has also competed at state and regional levels in both acting and musical theatre, consistently earning high marks for her work.
At the Arizona State Thespian Festival last November, Likes received superior ratings and was awarded the prestigious Open Jar Scholarship, a distinction given to standout performers with exceptional promise.
SLCT leaders described her as a “truly well deserving young actress” whose passion, discipline, and talent set her apart. With this scholarship, the organization hopes to support her continued artistic growth as she prepares for the next stage of her career.