playbill vip

Jillian Febres

Director

Jillian Febres has been with HLT going on 8 years and has enjoyed every moment from being on the Board of Directors, working backstage, performing on stage and directing. In the past 8 years at HLT, Jillian has appeared in many productions from: Auntie Mame, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Proof, Lend Me a Tenor, The King and I, and played as Mrs. Cory in Mary Poppins, and recently sang and performed in A Streetcar Named Desire. In 2018 Jillian directed her first show in the Pavilion, Twelve Angry Men, and last year on the mainstage, Nana’s Naughty Knickers. She also assisted in last season’s Best Show production, Mamma Mia!. Jillian is married to a very supportive and loving husband and has two amazing kids God has blessed her and her husband with. Jillian is excited to be directing her first musical and working with a very talented cast and crew!

Kevin Hacker

Assistant Director

Amanda Mercer

Music Director

Amanda Mercer loves to be on stage, but equally loves the technical and backstage work. Amanda collected most of her experience in technical theater while working as a union stagehand,, providing assistance to national Broadway tours that visited Southwest Florida. Amanda has been a member of Highlands Lakeside Theater since moving to Highlands County in 2006. She directed the Zenon Award-winning Best Show of the year Hairspray and looks forward to directing The Addams Family musical this summer. Amanda enjoyed collecting props for this show. Her previous prop engagement included Mary Poppins, where she created several of the magical props. Amanda enjoys working with the youth theater program where she believes she tries to give the message that "theater is more than just the spotlight, backstage is where the magic happens!" She encourages everyone who loves theater, to have longevity in the art, find a technical field that you love as well and nurture it.