Administrative Director and Vice President

Gretchen Grassl has performed in many plays and musicals beginning at a young age.  Since joining the Kirk Players , Gretchen has performed in “The Glass Slipper”, “Enchanted April”, “David & Lisa”, “The Hollow”,  and “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily”. She has assistant directed “The Happiest Millionaire”, “Velveteen Rabbit”, “Jack and the Magic Beans”, “The Mousetrap” and “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up.”  She has co-directed “Becky’s New Car” with Kirk Players and has directed “The God Committee” and “Over the River and Through the Woods” with James Downing Theatre. 

 Artistic Director

 Jon Leslie Lynn, the eldest son of our Founder, was first a member of our Acting Company in 1969-72. His enthusiasm and hard work caused his fellow Players to name their annual performance awards after him. As an Honorary Player, he earned an “O.D.” award as Best Director. Les has served 13 years on our Board of Directors, won Best Actor “Leslies” for the title roles in Death Takes a Holiday and Liliom, and a Best Actor “O.D.” for The Lark. He has been on our stage in I Hate Hamlet, Rumors, It Runs In The Family, The Foreigner, You Can’t Take It With You, Jake’s Women and Harvey, four of which won him Best Actor “Leslie” awards. He has directed Romantic Comedy, Death of a Salesman, The Odd Couple (Female Version), Dracula, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Noises Off, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Up The Down Staircase.

Communications Director 

Marilee C.C. Rusiniak has appeared on stage as Mrs. Harper in Tom Sawyer, Velveteen Rabbit in The Velveteen Rabbit, Lady Caroline Bramble in Enchanted April and Fox in The Little Prince. Her performance as Stacy in A Nice Family Gathering earned her The Best Supporting Actress “Leslie”. Best Actress nominations include: Mother in David and Lisa and Honey Raye Futrell in Christmas Belles. Best Supporting Actress Nominations also include her role as Frances Egan in Up the Down Staircase. Backstage credits include Sound Design, Assistant Stage Manager, and Makeup Design. 

Financial Director

Mike Lieberman came to the Kirk Players with a love of theatre as a theatre-goer and a desire to be involved in the theatre as a participant. He performed in our Street Scenes productions at Carmel High School and is also active in our Summer Workshops as an actor and director. He performed two monologues in Voices Of Mundelein: George Rayand Chris’s Shirt. On our main stage, he was first cast as a guest performer in our production of You Can’t Take It With You, playing the part of Mac, a G-man. He followed this with the role of Turkle in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Peter Kershaw in Whose Life Is It Anyway? and the burglar, Selsdon in Noises Off which earned him his first “Leslie” Best Supporting Actor nomination. Mike played Jacob “Jack” Jerome in Brighton Beach Memoirs, the Reverend Duncan Wooley in Leading Ladies, and the Tin Woodsman in The Wizard of Oz, which earned him a “Leslie” Best Actor nomination. Most recently Mike was seen as Inspector Lestrade in Sherlock’s Last Case. ​

Membership Director

Brian Motyka is a native of Vernon Hills. His true beginnings in acting come from such roles as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny at local malls, and assorted characters at Great America. As a Player he appeared in Rumors, An Inspector Calls, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten and also took on several technical assignments. Most recently he has been on stage in Over The River And Through The Woods, Noises Off and Up The Down Staircase. Brian has earned five nominations for our “Leslie” Best Supporting Actor award for his stage performances. In addition he has served three years on our Board as our Sales Director. ​

Publicity Director

Jon Matousek majored in theatre at the University of Michigan and directed children’s theatre before entering a career in business. Jon’s Kirk Players debut as a guest performer in The Murder Room won him our “Leslie” award as Best Actor. He has since won the same award for performances in The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Rumors, and Blithe Spirit. Jon also won the “Leslie” Best Supporting Actor award for his work in Alice in Wonderland, The Odd Couple (Female Version), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, and as Lloyd Dallas in Noises Off. Jon returned to directing with the delightfully imaginative James And The Giant Peach. He also served as props assistant for Over The River And Through The Woods. He has continued his directing responsibilities too, having directed Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, The Wizard of Oz and Jack and The Magic Beans. 

Sales Director and President

Brenda Sparks attended Drake University with a major in theatre. She is Kirk Players foremost Set Designer and Decorator and her artistry has been seen on virtually every production since she joined the Players in 1993. Brenda has also been the creative person behind a number of our advertising posters and has appeared on stage. She performed several roles in our production of Comedy Tonight and earned a “Leslie” Best Supporting Actress nomination. She was seen as the delightful Humbug in The Phantom Tollbooth and received a nomination for a “Leslie” Best Actress award. The Players honored this talented lady by selecting her to receive our “Hazen” Most Valuable Player award in two consecutive seasons! ​