Staff & Board Profiles

Connar Klock is a queer, Michigan rooted director, producer, facilitator, and advocate, whose work puts new plays, queer and working class perspectives, and humanist values at the center.  In 14 years of theatre involvement, Connar has worked on over 60 shows, directed for 9 companies and 12 new play festivals. Recent credits include: ‘Art’ by Yasmina Reza at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre (Director) and Before the Shooting by Denise Miller at Queer Theatre Kalamazoo (Co-Creator) a one-act choreopoem exploring the effects of parents, white privilege, toxic masculinity, and gender roles on gun violence.

They are the Drop-In Center Facilitator at one of Michigan’s largest LGBTQIA+ resource centers, OutFront Kalamazoo, and currently serves on committees for Theatre Kalamazoo (Member, Finance), Farmers Alley Theatre (Play Selection), Kalamazoo Non-Profit Advocacy Coalition (Board Member, Tenant Relations), Kalamazoo County Opioid Coalition (Member, Harm Reduction), Bronson Cancer Care Equity Council (Member), and Ludington Area Pride (Board Member).

Connar holds a BFA in Theatre Performance (Acting, ‘18) from Western Michigan University where they contribute as a Cultural Competency Consultant in the School of Theatre and Dance.

They currently serve as the Artistic Director of Queer Theatre Kalamazoo.

"C" Heaps is a theatre artist and scholar who has worked on dozens of productions in every role possible, specializing in directing and translation/playwriting. Before moving to the Midwest, "C" helmed FACE Theatre Company as Artistic Director and New Play Project as Executive Director, both in Provo, Utah.

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They received their PhD in Theatre History, Theory, and Literature from Indiana University in 2019 before teaching at Kalamazoo College for several years. Their research specialties include postcolonialism, cognitive linguistics, translation theory and practice, virtual performance, and gender studies.

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After serving as a board member since 2019, "C" has moved into the position of Managing Director for Queer Theatre Kalamazoo. They are also currently an independent researcher.

 Syd West (he/him) is a student at Western Michigan University studying Vocal Performance. Syd is studying to be an opera singer and vocal coach specializing in transgender singers. At WMU he is a singer in University Chorale, and has performed the opera roles of Don Giovanni in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”, the Mayor in Bizet’s “Doctor Miracle”, Count Almaviva in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro”, and Sergeant Belcore in Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore”.  In November he will be performing the role of Aeneas in Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”. He also studied in Italy at the Brancaleoni International Music Festival in 2023, where he performed the role of Count Almaviva in their production of “Le Nozze di Figaro”. 

As a transgender man, he is passionate about creating more opportunities for classical music by trans and queer composers to be performed and shared. Syd would like to thank his family, friends, and Queer Theatre Kalamazoo for being so supportive of him and his work. 

Raquel Hellenga, MA, brings a lifetime of performing arts passion and nearly two decades of living, working, and relating, in Kalamazoo to the QTK Board. A lifelong resident of Southwest Michigan, she grew up steeped in performing arts culture as a competitive dancer, acting in upwards of 20 local theatre productions, along with vocal, piano, and pageantry experiences.

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She received a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from WMU where she participated in the Women’s and Grand Choruses. She has taught communication courses at various colleges and universities in Michigan for over ten years and utilized her deep knowledge of the Kalamazoo community across many roles and industries over the years. She also is very involved in chronic illness advocacy as a nearly-life-long Rheumatoid Arthritis patient and uses this experience to help make the arts more accessible.

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Being a proud, long-time member of Kalamazoo’s queer community, alongside her passion for the local performing arts scene, helps Raquel bring a focused and impactful voice to QTK’s board. She is currently also active with The Kalamazoo Civic, Crawlspace Eviction, and BSD Dance Studio.

Bio not available.

Karen Libman, MFA, BFA, recently retired after a 35-year career as a theatre professor, stage director, writer, and storyteller.  She joined the faculty of Grand Valley State University in 1999. Libman was named the 2010 Michigan Professor of the Year, and she received a 2016 Fulbright Fellowship in South Asia. She is currently Board President of Queer Theatre Kalamazoo.

Adam is an attorney (bar results pending) at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, graduating summa cum laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Adam has lived in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area for 13 years, having fallen in love with the community when he moved here to attend Western Michigan University for his undergraduate studies.

Adam believes strongly in the power that art and theatre have on its audience and community, having acted on stage and working on tech crews, Adam was drawn to Queer Theatre Kalamazoo by its values of inclusion and radical transparency, as well as its vision of a thriving, cultural community and the kind, passionate people that make up the theater’s staff and Board of Directors.

A proud member of the Kalamazoo LGBTQ+ community, Adam has served on the Queer Theatre Kalamazoo Board of Directors since 2019. Adam’s other pastimes include volunteering at Battle Creek-based non-profits E3 Achievement and Community Inclusive Recreation, studying marital arts, and playing board games.

Katelyn Vasicek is a dedicated health care provider serving the Kalamazoo area. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s in Biomedical Science and a minor in Chemistry. Thereafter, she earned her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies. Practicing since 2016, Katelyn has honed her skills in hospital medicine, surgery, and urgent care. 

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Katelyn brings a compassionate understanding and support of the queer community, influenced by her cherished relationships with members who are close friends and family. In her leisure, Katelyn enjoys running, playing piano, experimenting with culinary delights, and exploring new destinations through travel.

Ish Klein is a writer and performer whose latest poetry book is The New Sun Time (Canarium Books 2020). Her plays include The Orchids, Drummer 41, "In A Word, Faust", The Dee Men and The Restless Leg. The Orchids was published by What Happens Magazine, And The Restless Leg, which is a retelling of The Tempest from the perspective of the Island, was published by the Denver Quarterly in 2021.

She is a founding member of the Connecticut River Valley Poets Theater (CRVPT) and Anthology Poets Theatre (APT). She attended Columbia University, the Iowa Writers Workshop and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Lately she produces and hosts a podcast called "Wrestling with Poetry" which is about professional wrestling and poetry and can be accessed freely here.

Michael is an experienced technology leader with nearly two decades of demonstrated success in: Artificial Intelligence, Technology Strategy, and Technology Advisory.  He is based in Kalamazoo, Michigan with his wife.

Michael is skilled in guiding companies through tech-transformation challenges while delivering substantial business value through the advancements in AI, Analytics and Human-Centered-Change. He is adept at developing high-performing teams, cultivating strong C-suite relationships, and consistently exceeding customer expectations.

Michael has previously served on the Board of Directors at Bay City Players Theatre.  Additionally, he was one of two who developed the business plan & strategy for Shelterhouse of Midland (a women's a children's domestic abuse shelter) to create a constant and long lasting revenue stream, as well as a safe place for the residents to shop for free, through the creation of the Shelterhouse Resale Shop.  

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Volunteering and supporting local non-profits has always been a priority of Michael's.  His other past-times include traveling the world and social time / game nights with friends.