About Us

Artistic Director

Lori and Greg Bunce founded Bunce Backyard Productions in 2007 with the help and enthusiasm of their two children, Sharayah and Trevor.  Lori led directing, marketing, administration, and some set design for the first three years and found that all of her work experience over the years (performance, music degree, admin, human resources, payroll, event coordinating, and parenting) prepared her to start and run this non-profit organization, and she loved it!  However, once she began a full-time job at University of Northwestern-St. Paul in 2009, it was clear that a board of directors was needed to help keep the company going and growing.

Lori and Greg live in Maple Grove, where Lori began her own business as a Realtor with Keller Williams in 2016. Their two children performed in the summer shows starting in middle school. Sharayah and Trevor graduated from college with degrees in theater and are actively involved in theater and performance in Minneapolis and New York, respectively.

Technical Director

Greg Bunce is an IT professional with Wells Fargo in the Twin Cities. He began acting early in high school and has continued acting both professionally and in community productions ever since. After starting Bunce Backyard Productions with Lori, he has been a part of every Bunce production—either on stage, in the orchestra, or behind the sound board—and has loved each role he has played (though Scrooge may be his favorite).

As technical director, he brings his theater experience to each production and offers to coach the actors who might want more one-on-one acting advice.  He also takes on much of the sound and lighting design duties for each production and has been behind the soundboard for many shows.  Greg's home remodeling experience has been instrumental as he designs and builds the sets for almost every production.  With two kids both pursuing their own acting careers, Greg sees the theater bug has definitely bitten the Bunce family.

Pam Kolacz has had ties to Bunce Performing Arts since the summer of 2016 when her middle daughter was in the cast of Suessical. She and her husband, Jim, have supported the organization financially and through volunteer efforts at performances since that show all while watching 3 of their children grow in their theatrical prowess under the care of the talented and caring staff at BPA.

Pam joined the Bunce Performing Arts board in the spring of 2023 and is currently serving as board secretary. She and her husband have 4 children and live in Brooklyn Park. Pam is a family physician at MHealth Fairview Bass Lake Clinic in Maple Grove.

Rhonda Roe has been on the Bunce Performing Arts board since 2014 and is currently serving as Business Manager. She uses her degree in business management to help with the administrative side of BPA. She has a passion for working with non-profit organizations and she brings 40+ years of experience in fundraising and recruiting/coordinating teams of volunteers.

Rhonda was the driving force behind the development and implementation of The BEAT (Bunce Educational Adventure Theater) and continues to coordinate all BEAT programs.

Rhonda lives in Maple Grove with her husband, Andy. They have two daughters, a son-in-law and two granddaughters all of whom have a passion for music and performing. She has owned her own business with Mary Kay Cosmetics for 30 years and enjoys singing in the choir/praise team at church.

Mark joined the cast of Fiddler on the Roof back in 2009 and was hooked!  He has been on the Bunce Performing Arts Board of Directors since 2013.  He is currently serving as Board president. He has worked with youth for nearly 40 years in the public and private sector, bringing experience in large event production from his time in the Student Activities Department at Minnesota State University, and was a founding member of the youth missions organization Youthworks!

Mark is a Special Education Teacher at Anoka High School and spent over a decade advising the student council there.  He is a life-long member of Christ Presbyterian Church of Edina, where he has worked with the high school youth and sung in the choir and worship band.  He currently resides in Ramsey.

Artistic Director

Sharayah (previously Bunce) has been a part of Bunce Performing Arts since it began in 2007 (Nancy in Oliver, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella in Into the Woods, Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jane in Tarzan, and Yonah in Children of Eden), and she has directed five summer shows (Seussical, Peter Pan, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Shrek, and Newsies), and Bright Star in winter 2023, and soon Anastasia in winter 2025. She graduated with a degree in theatre from the University of Northwestern-St Paul. 

She has been a professional actor, director, choreographer, stage manager, and musician since 2015, and in early 2020 she co-founded LaMarca Theatre, LLC. She is very passionate about theatre and especially loves the growth that the actors and staff experience by learning to create something together. 

Her professional credits include work for the Children's Theatre Company, Old Log Theatre, Open Window Theatre, Bucket Brigade, 4 Community Theatre, Hennepin Theatre Trust, Lakeshore Players, and LaMarca Theatre.

Joe has been on the Bunce Performing Arts board since 2016.  He has a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.  Joe is the V.P., District Manager at Huntington Bank, and worked at TCF Bank for 30+ years.  His banking experience is a valuable asset to the board of directors.  

Joe and his wife Julie are the lead coordinators of BPA's annual fundraising event, and you'll find them both running the concession stand at the backyard shows every summer. Joe lives in Maple Grove with Julie and their two children, Maggie and Jack. Maggie has been involved in multiple Bunce performances.