The Grounded Theatre

Artistic Team

Founders

David Lightner – Artistic Director
Grounded Theatre credits:
Director - The Odd Couple, Female Version
Adapter/Director/Photographer/Performer - Jared Smith's Lake Michigan as Thomas
Playwright - Guys
Creator/Director/Producer/Understudy - Justice is Served
Director/Producer - Spoon River Anthology
Director/Producer/Understudy - Animal Farm
Playwright/Director/Performer - The Ultimate Nightmare as Joe Young
Director - A Walk in the Woods
Performer - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? as George
Performer - To Kill a Mockingbird as Atticus FInch
Performer - Edgar Alan Poe Readings
Performer - Victorian Christmas Readings

David trained at The Second City Training Center, Players Workshop, and the Actor's Center. Other directorial credits include The Public Eye and I Wish My Boss Would Let Me Do My Job. David has appeared with the Free Associates (BS) and Metropolitan Productions (Elm Dale Homecoming '79). Other stage credits include Cauchon in The Lark, Ken Gorman in Rumors, Boolie Werthan in Driving Miss Daisy, Andy Ladd in Love Letters, Charlie Martin in On Golden Pond, and multiple roles in Sojourner Truth. David is also a writer. His works include The Ultimate Nightmare and Guys. He is currently writing on his new play, 6:54.

Karen Elyse Rosenberg - Artistic Director
Grounded Theatre credits:
Producer - The Odd Couple, Female Version
Producer - Luv
Producer - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Producer - Jared Smith's Lake Michigan
Performer - Guys as Marie
Performer - To Kill a Mockingbird as Miss Dubose
Performer - Animal Farm as Clover/Cat/ Narrator 4
Performer - The Ultimate Nightmare as Sara Wilson
Performer/Director - Justice is Served

Karen has extensive theatre training, including a B.A. in Theatre from Western Illinois University. In addition to her work with The Grounded Theatre, Karen does children's shows and adult murder mysteries with The Mystery Shop. As an ensemble member with The Free Associates, Karen performed in Back in the Shadows Again; the Lighter Side of Dark Shadows, BS, Big TV, That Sinking Feeling, Cast on a Hot Tin Roof; a Dysfunctional Dixie Christmas, and Blithering Heights. Other favorite credits include: Joan d'Arc in The Lark, Jill in Equus, Chelsea in On Golden Pond, Claire in Rumors, and Eunice in A Streetcar Named Desire.