Meet the Staff

Founder and Producing Artistic Director

Ms. Schleunes has adapted, compiled and directed more than 40 productions for Touring Theatre of North Carolina. Her stage adaptations range from educational programs for school children, to sophisticated and insightful productions for adults. When choosing material for adaptation, Ms. Schleunes often uses poetry and short stories.  However, Touring Theatre’s strong repertoire also includes productions based on short stories, poetry, diaries, interviews, letters, culturally significant music and a wide variety of documents. Her productions have been presented throughout the Eastern United States.

Ms. Schleunes holds an MA from UNC Chapel Hill in Communication Studies with a concentration in Performance Studies. At UNC she studied with Kenan Professor Beverly W. Long. She also studied theatre at Lakeland College (Wisconsin), the University of Minnesota, and UNC Greensboro.  Ms. Schleunes is the recipient of the 2011 Professional Achievement Award from Lakeland College, the 2008 O.Henry Award from the Greensboro Partnership, the 2005 Literary Laurel from the Greensboro Public Library and the 1980 Outstanding Scholarship award from the Department of Communication Studies at UNC Chapel Hill.

Production Coordinator

Kay Thomas holds degrees in vocal performance from Wheaton College Illinois and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She also serves as a Touring Theatre performer and RoadManager of several productions. She holds featured roles in Over the Edge, Duke Ellington Uptown,Star-Spangled Girls, Let Your Children Tell, and has appeared with the company in Lee Smith’s Tongues of Fire, The Soloist and Letters from Leokadia.