Leadership & Advisory Groups

Kirsten loves building community through the arts and no better community than with the Coll Street Players! She serves as the Producing Artistic Director for the Coll Street Players as part of her job as Director of Music & Arts at First Protestant Church. Other career highlights include positions as Director of Worship & Arts at Truro Anglican Church, Fairfax, VA, Producing Artistic Director for The City of Fairfax Theatre Company, teaching tiny humans, and music directing for High School theatre programs. In her spare time, she plays piano for her friends in ATX Musical Theatre Collective (@ATXMusicalTheatreCollective) and attempts to text the correct group chat.

Kaia has had the theater bug since 4th grade when she played an Eskimo Doll. Very active in high school theater, she achieved notoriety as “Best Actress” in her senior year at a very small town high school in the Pacific Northwest. However, knowing she could act but was not as gifted a dancer or singer, she opted for a regular paycheck and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Baylor University in 1979 (her parents’ alma mater) and retired from nursing in 2012.

As a member and former council-member of First Protestant Church, she was well aware of the classic stage in Seele Hall. She saw that it needed to feel the warmth of the spotlight again. She shared her vision of a Christian based community theater similar to that of The A.D. Players in Houston with Rev. Dr. Andrew Keuer when he came to First Protestant as its new pastor. It was he who asked Kirsten Boyd, our Director of Music if she knew of anyone who could/would be able to help bring the Seele Parish House stage back to life. Fortunately for all of us, Kirsten is truly a Godsend with a wealth of previous firsthand experience running a community theater back in Virginia and the D.C. area.

Kaia and her husband, Gordon were cast in CSP’s inaugural play, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as Mrs and Mr. Beaver.

She is grateful to all who have helped and contributed their time and talents to bringing uplifting community theater back to this historic building and its stage. May God be magnifi ed through our efforts and all Glory to Him through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Jodi Butler has worked in public education for over 30 years. While she doesn’t have a theater background, she loves the theater and has had Majestic Theater Season tickets for over 20 years. Jodi enjoys volunteer work and, with a background in art, she was recruited to begin helping with the artistic aspect of set design for the Coll Street productions. Working on sets has been a huge learning curve for her, but she has enjoyed this tremendously.

Jodi serves as Vice President of the Leadership Group.

As a practicing public accountant since 1980 (with previous IRS training), Jeff Albrecht has been involved in all areas of tax, including individual, corporate and partnerships.

Jeff graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1979 and resides in his hometown of New Braunfels where he uses his skills for the greater good. He is a council member of the First Protestant Church of New Braunfels and actively involved in an array of local organizations.

Jeff serves as the Finance Chair of the Leadership Group.

Jenna serves as the Church Connection Chair, helping strengthen the connection between Coll Street Players and First Protestant Church. Her love of theater began with special family outings to see plays and continues today as a season ticket holder at the Majestic Theatre.

Supporting her daughter’s passion for theater led Jenna to help with costumes, props, makeup, backstage fun, and hosting cast parties! She loves how theater brings people together, builds friendships, and spreads joy throughout the community. Jenna is delighted to be part of Coll Street Players where faith, community, and the magic of theater take center stage!

As a founding member of Coll Street Players, Judy Borger has proudly supported the company from the ground up, contributing across multiple areas including set construction, props, box office management, and concessions. Looking ahead, Judy is excited to watch the company continue to flourish.

Judy’s previous theater background includes participating in the Red Stocking Revue, alongside performing in and supporting numerous church productions over the years.

Amanda Brant brings extensive experience in public policy, strategic planning, and community engagement to the Coll Street Players. She is the Legislative and Policy Coordinator at the Texas Department of State Health Services, where she focuses on statewide health initiatives and legislative strategy. As a teen and young adult, Amanda danced with ballet companies across the country, giving her a deep understanding of and lifelong appreciation for high-quality arts programs. She also volunteers as a guest lecturer and practicum instructor, sharing her expertise with emerging professionals. In her strategic planning role with CSP, Amanda is dedicated to supporting sustainable growth, strengthening community-based arts opportunities, and advancing the organization’s mission to inspire, connect, and elevate the performing arts in New Braunfels.

Amanda Nolin is passionate about theater and the sense of community it creates. She is actively involved behind the scenes and currently serves as Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator, where she values organization, collaboration, and supporting both people and productions. When not at the theater, she is an elementary school computer teacher, where she fosters creativity, confidence, and problem-solving in young learners. Amanda believes theater is a powerful space for creativity, confidence, and connection, and is proud to contribute her time and heart to helping it thrive.

Denise Kopecki has called New Braunfels home for the last 20 years.  A once theater kid herself has enjoyed being able to share her love for theater with her two daughters, Sarah and Shelby.

Prior to starting her family, Denise had worked with the Alley Theatre in Pasadena, community theater, and Hoffman Community Theater.  She took a break to start her family and career in helping the hard of hearing across Central Texas.  Once Denise‘s daughter showed interest in being involved with theater, she found her home with Coll Street Players, helping with everything from costumes to set dressing and props.

Denise serves as the head of house operations Director for the LAG.

MelRae brings a lifetime of stage experience and technical rigor to the arts. Her journey began at age five, spanning nearly every facet of performance—from musical theater and dance to voice, modeling, and broadcast commercials. This foundational understanding of the performer’s perspective eventually led her to the “other side of the curtain,” where she transitioned into directing and technical production during her college years.

With a professional background in Information Technology, MelRae approaches the sensory experience of theater through a lens of systems engineering. Since 2011, she has provided essential AV/IT support and training for churches, schools, and professional conferences. Her technical repertoire includes audio & visual design through soundboard programming, live mixing, microphone management, and lighting design as well as digital innovation with custom projection programming and digital illustration.

As an advanced-level seamstress, MelRae specializes in high-complexity builds that require both artistic vision and mechanical ingenuity. Her portfolio includes crafting the iconic “reveal” dresses for Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, and Elsa; collaborating on the multi-limbed rigging for Squidward (SpongeBob) and the fluid, structural tentacles of Ursula (The Little Mermaid); and the intricate, opulent components required for the iconic leads in Beauty and the Beast.

Driven by the values of excellence, integrity, and open communication, MelRae thrives in the collaborative environment of the theater. She is honored to partner with Coll Street Players, leveraging her diverse skillset to foster fellowship and bring transformative stories to life.

First Protestant Church is seeking an organized, relationship-driven Production Manager & Music School Director to oversee our daily administrative and operational needs. The ideal candidate will blend strong organizational systems with a heart for people and a passion for Christ, ensuring our day-to-day ministry runs smoothly and effectively.

Click here to read the Job Description