CONGRATULATIONS ALLYSON PARIS & CHLOE WESTENDORF
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2026
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre announces two permanent staff title changes today:
Allyson Paris has accepted the title of Artistic Director. Paris previously served Civic for more than eight years, first as Associate Director before being named the organization’s first sole Artistic Director in 2021. For two academic years between 2023-2025 at Muskegon Community College, she was a full-time theater faculty member; during those years she directed The SpongeBob Musical and Waitress as a guest director for Civic. She returned to the Theatre as Interim Artistic Director in August of 2025 to oversee the artistic process for Civic. Her primary areas of focus were programming for Season 99, strategically advising School of Theatre Arts performance selections and productions, supervision of artistic staff members, contractors and volunteers, guiding programming for the Centennial Season, and building the long-term vision for the artistic future of Civic Theatre; she also served as a major collaborator alongside the Centennial planning committee and sub-committees and played a major role in the development of Civic’s long-term strategic plan.
Chloe Westendorf joined the Civic staff in early February 2026 as Interim Volunteer Coordinator; previously she shared her production experience as Assistant Stage Manager for A Year With Frog and Toad, Waitress, and Disney’s Frozen. She assumes the title of Volunteer Coordinator after a successful second half of Civic’s 99th Season, where she supervised more than 700 volunteers, and updated systems and processes to usher the volunteer program into the Centennial Season.
We asked the two of them for their highlights during Season 99 and what they’re most looking forward to in the future as we celebrate 100 years of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.
Allyson shared “I’m excited and honored to be ushering Civic Theatre into our next century with this incredible staff, gifted community of artists, steadfast supporters, wonderful new and returning patrons, and wildly talented faculty, students, and volunteers. Not only do I love each and every show in our Centennial Season lineup, I’m also looking forward to the special events and projects we are planning – from the free Block Party in September to the Centennial Gala at Meijer Gardens in May, it is going be an epic season to be at Civic Theatre!”
SEASON 99 HIGHLIGHTS:
- Directing our Holiday production of Frozen, which involved hundreds of volunteers and was attended by nearly 20,000 patrons!
- Implementing our new Alternate/Swing program, allowing more opportunity for community performers and stability for our most highly attended productions.
- Leading the efforts to choose our Centennial Season with our Centennial Season Community and Staff Advisory Committees
Chloe said, “I’m extremely proudl to be coordinating our volunteer efforts during such a monumental time in Civic’s history. I feel so grateful to be working with such talented volunteers, and I’m looking forward to supporting them throughout the Centennial Season!”
SEASON 99 HIGHLIGHTS:
- Organizing this year’s Civic Celebration event, where we got to celebrate the 700+ individuals who volunteered this season along with so many talented and dedicated students in the School of Theatre Arts.
- Having the opportunity to work alongside the incredible company of Legally Blonde, whether it was handling dogs or set pieces; moments like these allow me to live out what our volunteers experience in real time, which provides both insight and inspiration.
- Updating our volunteer program in preparation for the Centennial.
The future of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is bright with these two women leading so many volunteer, patron, and community experiences with their passion, expertise, and love of the theatre arts.