Meet the New Prospect Team!
Suzanne Mackay
Program director
Suzanne Mackay is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance (London), she holds a BA in Fine and Performing Arts (directing and choreography) and a BA in Biology from WWU, and a M.A.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from NVU. After receiving her BA she was a resident and co-curator of the Show Off Gallery, and director/choreographer for the First Myth Theatre and Dance Troupe in Bellingham WA, before moving to Edinburgh Scotland. There she
produced and directed at The Bedlam, Stepping Stones, and Traverse theatres and for the February Festival, a festival of new writing. She returned to the states as a guest artist for the Green Candle Theatre Company where she met playwright Keefe Healy. Together they formed Firefly Productions Inc. and returned to Europe sixteen times performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Brighton Fringe Festival, Budapest, and the Prague Fringe Festival, as well as performing throughout New England and in NYC. They created a home base for Firefly in 2008, opening the Artful Cup Studio and Cafe in Cambridge VT, and offering classes in acting, improv, dance, playwrighting, puppetry, and production. Recently returning home to the Pacific Northwest, Suzanne is a teacher at the Whatcom Hills Waldorf School and has produced, directed, and acted at various theatres and film companies throughout Whatcom County, she is excited to celebrate the twenty sixth year of Firefly Productions Inc.
Keefe Healy
Technical director
Keefe Healy is a Playwright, Actor and Designer. Keefe apprenticed in Playwrighting and performance with the Open stage Theatre Company, Lost Nation Theatre and was a member of Green Candle Theatre Company. He was the resident Designer for Spielpalast Cabaret and Jeh Kulu Dance and Drum Theatre. Keefe is a founding member of Cabaret Guignol and Firefly Production which he started with Suzanne Mackay in 1996. Since then they have performed across New England, the Pacific Northwest as well as Fringe Festivals in England, Scotland, The Czech Republic. His play “Dogs of War” which Firefly Performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001 was called “…an accomplished piece…probably one of the most intriguing examples of American drama at the Fringe.” by the London Stage.
Ephraim Kurszewski
Music director
Ephraim (E-from) brings a wealth of hands-on experience to his role as an arts enabler. Early years in church choir, progressing through playing trumpet and french horn, majoring in musical theater at WWU, and then performing professionally as an Opera Singer, have all informed his artistic and personal development. In recent years, with more than enough pandemic induced time to contemplate, and being at home with two young boys, Ephraim has turned his energies to creating a place for live performance to occur. With his wife Laura and the combined efforts of Keefe and Suzy of Firefly Productions, Tanglewood Art Revival and Outdoor Theater was born in the Summer of 2021. Watching people come together to create The Midsummer Cabaret was his great joy to behold and a powerful reminder of the healing power that a community around theater can provide. It is his great hope that the New Prospect Theatre can continue to be a beacon for the performing arts in downtown Bellingham; A hub for theater, music, education and performing arts outreach. Ephraim currently works as a Forest School teacher at Wonder Mountain, french horn player and freelance carpenter.
Chris Coombs
house manager
Chris Coombs began acting in professional
theater, right out of high school, in Orange, California. He joined an acting
class taught by, Los Angeles-based, award-winning theater director, Gregory
Bach. Following his departure from college, he moved to North Hollywood,
continuing to work on his acting technique with Bach and experimenting with
other classes around Hollywood. Chris found regular work as a background actor
and a Production Assistant for various shows such as The Wayne Brady Show, The
World Stunt Awards, Around The World In 80 Days and others. He continued
performing in theater, from improv to drama, working on stage with actors such
as Wayne Brady, Kristen Wiig, and Jordan Black.Chris eventually moved to
Bellingham to raise a family and get some fresh air. He began working closely
with the local theater community, performing, writing, and even managing the
legendary Idiom Theatre. His curiosity about the local Bellingham film scene
led him into directing a few short films and a documentary series on racism. He
recently joined The New Prospect Theatre to ensure that the intimate theater
experience that Chris cut his teeth on in Hollywood, California continues to
exist here in Bellingham, Washington.
Margaret Mackay
Empress of paperwork & Keeper of records
Margaret holds a BA in English Literature and an AA in Accounting. She is currently working as an Office Administrator and designed the database (which she has dubbed George) for a local engineering firm . She was the House Manager for the Mount Baker Theatre for five years and was involved in the day to day operations, concession management, recruiting and managing the paid staff and volunteer usher program. She established, booked and promoted the film programming. She was a travel agent for twelve years and helped arrange travel for various production companies. She has done costuming, marketing, stage management, and tour management for several companies and productions including the Bellingham Theatre Guild and Firefly Productions. She is an avid reader and enthusiastic audience member.
Frankie Miller
Education
“Frankie Miller grew up in a rural dairy town, and spent her youth reading Skakespeare in isolation, making trips to bigger cities to attend plays and music festivals, and working with local radio and TV stations. In 2002, Frankie moved to Bellingham and has immersed herself in its community and culture ever since. She volunteered and worked for local educational co-ops, art galleries, music venues, theatres, music festivals, farms, bike clubs, and film productions. In 2012, Frankie attended her first improv class and participated in her first theatre festival at the Idiom theatre, where she caught the community theatre bug. Most recently, Frankie completed her BA at WWU, where she studied Community Education at Fairhaven College and Entertainment Design in the Theatre department. Her involvement earned her the prestigious Kennedy Center award for her work in Projection Design. Now, in 2022, Frankie is excited to join the team on Prospect Street and spread the love, magic, and hope of community theatre.”
Amanda Timmins
fine arts and lectures
Amanda studied art at WWU and Emily Carr School of Design, but is mostly self taught. In 1990 after a trip to Spain, Portugal, France, England, and Ireland she and husband Patrick Timmins, immersed themselves in the study of Celtic history, culture, and art. They birthed First Myth Theater Dance Troupe employing Suzanne McKay as director/choreographer. Patrick wrote and Amanda produced several pieces locally. In 2000 Amanda created La Tene Tile and for 15 years created exquisitely crafted Celtic inspired tile in cold cast bronze sold all across the US. Retiring the tile business in 2015, Amanda began to focus on fine art sculpture inspired by Surrealist whimsy, African ritualistic objects, and Buddhist philosophy which has been shown in local galleries. Amanda is currently studying stop-motion puppet design and continues to work in mixed media sculpture.
Patrick Timmins
film
Patrick started out writing plays for the New Playwright’s Theater at Western Washington University. After graduating with an English degree, he became a founder of the First Myth Theater/Dance troupe, which took his play “A Necessary Sacrifice” to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. He has since written a number of feature length screenplays and moved to writing/directing/producing his own short films. He is known for the web series “Tin Can Odyssey” which built a following over three years. Other projects of note are “The Inadequates,” and “Morgan’s Sister,” which will premier at the Pickford Film Center on November 30. Patrick remains an active filmmaker and member of Bellingham’s vibrant film community.
Jayne Entwistle
Purveyor of Beverages and Sustenance
Jayne Entwistle is thrilled to have been struck by the Bellingham curse. After graduating from Western Washington University with a BA in Theater and English, she never in a million years thought she’d be back, happily living in Bellingham. She received an MA in Counseling Psychology from JFK University in the Bay Area and created Big City Improv, directing, teaching and performing improv in Oakland and San Francisco for ten years. In Los Angeles she discovered one could indeed get paid to read. Entwistle is an award winning audiobook narrator recording for Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Tantor, Audible and several local, Bellingham authors. When not reading for work or pleasure, she continues to pursue an acting career in television and film with credits such as; The Good Place, Grey’s Anatomy, Winning Time, You’re the Worst and Blockbuster. With New Prospect Theatre and the very special team that shepherds it, she finally feels like she’s “Home!”
Location
207 Prospect Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2344
Bellingham, WA 98227
Contact us
Email: newprospecttheatre@gmail.com