About Open Book Theatre Company
How do you get to know someone? Through their stories.
How do you let someone get to know you? By telling your stories.
Our Mission
To promote connection through theatrical storytelling.
Why Open Book?
How do you get to know someone? Through their stories.
How do you let someone get to know you? By telling your stories.
For as long as there have been people, people have been telling stories. Whether around a campfire, on a stage, on the page, or over a cup of coffee, stories are how we connect to each other. Theatre is a way for us to connect with each other through stories. You might recognize yourself or someone you know in a character on the stage. You might think “huh, I never thought of it that way before.”
What moves you more? Facts and figures or a story of human struggle or triumph? Open Book Theatre is for everyone who is moved by stories. We hope that you will come to the theatre to laugh and cry. We hope you come away with insights and questions. We believe we are telling stories that are important and relevant to your life.
Krista Schafer, Founding Artistic Director
Krista earned her degree in theatre from Northwestern University and has additional training from Arden Theatre Company, SITI company, Fringe Benefits, and Augusto Boal. Krista has performed on professional stages large and small across the country. Since returning to her home state of Michigan she has worked with AKT Theatre Project, The Abreact, Shakespeare in Detroit, Matrix Theatre Company, Drastic Theater Company, Broadway OnStage, KHOROS Inc., and the Gottlieb Music Festival. Krista also has over 25 years of experience directing, leading drama workshops, and teaching theatre to all ages. She served as the director at Grosse Ile High School from fall 2016-spring 2019 and has directed several Grosse Ile Boar’s Head Festivals. Krista won the Wilde Award for performance by a lead actress in 2018 the title role in Emilie and in 2023 for her performance as Lil' Bit in How I Learned to Drive. She won the Best Director Wilde award in 2020 for The Watson Intelligence and in 2022 for This Random World. When not at the theatre she loves to read, dance, play games, do jigsaw puzzles, and spend time near or in water. She is famous for her love of Prince and sharks.
Harley Miah, Resident Lighting Designer
Harley Miah (Lighting Designer) is a freelance artist for theatres, nightclubs, concerts, and festivals across the country, as lighting designer for IKO Global Productions. He has been Open Book’s resident lighting designer since its inception, earning Wilde Awards for Best Design – Lights for Open Book's production of RED in 2014, and THIS RANDOM WORLD in 2022. Harley's work has recently been seen at The Ringwald, Tipping Point, Detroit Public Theatre and the newly opened Inspired Acting Company in Walled Lake. Harley also designs lights for "Detroit Presents: Live from Marygrove" on Detroit Public TV, which airs Wednesdays at 7:30 on WTVS and St George's Academy in NYC. Harley spends spare his time with his loving partner Reyna spoiling their cats, traveling, and seeing as many shows as they can in this great theatre community we have in Southeast MI. He hopes you do the same.
Ashley Somers, Resident Scenic Director
Ashley currently serves as the Facility & Operations Manager at the Allen Park Center for the Arts, as well as co-owns Spectrum Staging, an independent technical theatre company. With over 16 years of theatrical experience, Ashley considers herself a jack of all trades and is versed in directing, costuming, choreography, lighting, properties, set construction, production management, stage management, and more. She has an extensive dance background, and was a competitive ballroom dancer at her alma mater, Michigan State University ('12). In her free time, she enjoys relaxing with her partner Valerie and their menagerie of animals.
Valerie Compau, Resident Scenic Director
Valerie is a self-taught Broadway World Award winning lighting designer, and is knowledgeable in a multitude of technical theatre elements. She has over 7 years of experience in lighting alone, and even more in general stage work. Her creative designs have been credited with a number of local theatre companies, both professional and amateur, including Shakespeare in Detroit and Obsidian Theater Festival, as well as various community theatres and high schools. Although Val specializes in lighting design, she has also been known to run soundboards, design sets, stage manage, and direct. She has a passion for teaching young minds the technical aspects of theatre and the importance of the backstage crew. Val co-owns Spectrum Staging, an independent technical theatre company, with her partner Ashley.
Open Book Theatre Company Board of Directors
Our volunteer board has a wide range of experience and is active in our community in many ways!
Our by-laws state that our board must be comprised of four to eleven members. We are looking to grow our board by adding individuals dedicated to working towards our mission. Board members are not paid, but serve as volunteers for the organization. Terms are for one year, but there are no term limits. The board is responsible for ensuring that the activities of Open Book support our mission and meet its legal and financial goals and obligations. We are particularly looking for board members who can bring diverse perspective to our work.
Krista Schafer, President
In addition to her work for Open Book, Ms. Schafer served as drama director for Grosse Ile High School and the Grosse Ile Boar’s Head Festival. She has a BS in Theatre from Northwestern University and additional training with Arden Continuing Training, SITI Company, and Augusto Boal. She has over 25 years of professional acting experience and over 20 years of theatre directing and teaching experience with various school, community and arts programs. Her board experience includes being a current board member of both Trenton Rotary and Grosse Ile Boar’s Head Festival and previous leadership on the boards for Bear Creek Camp (Wilkes Barre, PA) and the Downriver Council for the Arts.
William Jasman,Vice President
Mr. Jasman recently retired as a contract manager with DTE Energy, and holds a degree from Wayne State University. He’s very engaged with the community, including being active in Trenton Rotary (2011 member of the year, 2023 President) and chairing many events such as Turn Off The Violence. Additionally he works with Trenton Goodfellows, helps coordinate Trenton’s Jazz on the River, is on the advisory board for Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center, and has been a life long supporter of the performing arts.
Erin Shelton, Treasurer
Ms. Shelton is a financial advisor and co-owner of Key Concerns, Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan. She has over 10 years of non-profit experience, including start-up and grant proposals. She had developed educational programming for special needs children. She is a current board member of the Trenton Business Association and has served on various councils and committees at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Grosse Ile. She serves as an ambassador for the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber.
Diana Mente, Secretary
Ms. Mente is a retired Laboratory Technologist with BA Biology from SUNY Geneseo. She is Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Star of Excellence awardee and served on Service Excellence Leadership Development team at HFWH. She is very involved with the American Association of University Women. She has also been involved with the Childbirth Preparation Association, American Cancer Society, Reach-to-Recovery as a volunteer and trainer, Downriver cycling club, Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, and Thunderbird Ski Club. She was the owner and photographer of Artemis Studio Photography in Wyandotte. Ms. Mente is also a Certified Master Gardener, Wayne County and a member of Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor.
Madeleine GB Jones, Member at Large
Ms. Jones is a retired educator, working for 34 years in Southgate community schools. She has a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Education from Wayne State University. She has worked with many additional community and educational institutions such as Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, EarthWorks and Exchange City, American Association of University Women, Wayne County Community College, Episcopal Church Women, Grosse Ile Book Club, Grosse Ile Garden Club, and various tutoring groups. Madeleine is an active part of several choral groups, and an avid attender of theatrical productions.
Peter Poulos, Member at Large
After earning his Master of Arts in Organizational Communications & PR from Wayne State in 1995, Peter spent the next 26 years in leadership positions while marketing and fundraising on behalf of local nonprofits including United Way for Southeastern Michigan, the Detroit Historical Society, and the Michigan Humane Society among others. He’s proudly led large-scale fundraising and volunteer recognition events as well as successfully written grant proposals securing more than $15 million in support of missions he’s served. A passionate believer in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assertion that “everybody can be great because anybody can serve,” his volunteer service includes lending time and talent to the Belle Isle Conservancy, Crime Stoppers of Michigan, the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, the City of Trenton Civic and Historical Commissions as well as the AmeriCorps VISTA program. He currently serves on the board at Community Grown Gardens (Grosse Ile) and is a member of the Rotary Club of Trenton. And he is a mentor with the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Greater Detroit Chapter’s Marjorie S. Fisher Fellows Mentorship program, providing guidance to the next generation of fundraising professionals. His desire to serve Open Book Theatre is driven by his core belief that live performing arts is a catalyst for social justice.
Erin Chapman, Member at Large
Ms. Chapman holds a BA from Western Michigan University in English with an emphasis in creative writing, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University. She has worked in public libraries since 2004, holding positions from Library Page to Director. Her volunteer experience includes facilitating support groups for incarcerated women (Clayton, MO). She welcomes opportunities to link artistic expression with vulnerable populations. Over the past 30 years, Ms. Chapman has participated in poetry readings, published her poetry with New Pop Lit, and placed in writing contests (Trial Balloon Poetry Contest, in Kalamazoo, MI, C’Ville Weekly in Charlottesville, VA and St. Louis Writer’s Guild). She currently leads an Adult Writers’ Group at Trenton Veterans Memorial Library.
We're located just east of the intersection of West and Fort, across from the Dairy Queen.
Our facility is fully handicapped accessible.
Parking available in front. You may also park in front of our neighbors, The Lighthouse (they are closed during our show times). Additional parking in the DPS lot to the east of the building (take the service drive to the right of the bridge) or on William R Street (to the west).
Public Transportation: We are a stop on the SMART bus line, Route 160.
In the summer of 2016 we transformed two storefronts into a beautiful black box theatre, complete with spacious lobby, box office, bathrooms, dressing room, tech booth, storage, and more!
