Our Board of Directors:

Bliss Lanier

Founder

Bliss Lanier began her involvement with CYT in San Diego County in 1989, when her daughter started taking classes at the North County Coastal location.  Bliss served on the CCT/CYT Board of Directors before a move to the Pacific Northwest led her to a new locale and the opportunity to co-found the first affiliate outside San Diego in Spokane with Bryan and Amy Pitotti. In 2007, Bliss was led to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where she co-founded CYT North Idaho, and served as Executive Director from 2007-2018. In her 21 years of service to CYT, she has been a cast and crew parent, a production team member, a board member of three CYT boards, a director, an area coordinator, a teacher and also contributed in CYT fundraising.

Stephanie Orr

Founder & Executive Director

Stephanie began working for CYT in 1999, as an assistant to the Area Coordinator at CYT Spokane.  Through the next twelve years, she worked in varying capacities in the CYT organization – Teacher, Director, Office Manager, and Managing Director.  She was honored to be part of the founding board of CYT North Idaho, where she worked as Managing Director and started directing productions (Tom Sawyer, Annie).  Currently, Stephanie lives in Spokane while working as Artistic Director at a children’s theater in Canada.

James Wigdahl

Board Chair

James' involvement with CYT began as a student back in 1982. While enjoying the spotlight, he developed an interest in sound and began engineering and designing shows in 1990, leading to career #1 in the field of pro audio. That eventually gave way to interests in computers, but he continued performing and running sound through present day. Both of his kids did many CYT classes and shows, and his wife, Jessica, got roped into one show and served as props chair for several years. With over 90 show credits, he now lives in Hayden with his family, moonlighting as a patented technologist and real estate investor, serving on the CYT North Idaho board of directors and running audio for his church.

Anne Wigdahl Subia

Secretary

Member of the original CYT Board in San Diego with Paul and Sheryl Russell for 14 years beginning in 1982. Anne is a marketing professional and was the CCT house manager of San Diego’s Mt. Helix shows for many years, even in a couple of shows there herself, helped start San Diego’s Coastal division in 1989, was a member of a San Diego Tri-City Production Team as House Manager through 2020. Anne considers herself blessed to have had the joy of involvement CYT for almost 40 years, and of witnessing her son and her grandchildren being involved in the program.

Lisa Kelly

Treasurer

Lisa Kelly brings extensive experience in banking leadership and mortgage lending to the CYT North Idaho Board of Directors. As a Mortgage Loan Officer with CrossCountry Mortgage, she focuses on helping individuals and families navigate home financing with clarity, strong communication, and a relationship-driven approach. Her background includes senior leadership in banking, along with strengths in financial management, budgeting, and strategic planning, which support her role as Treasurer. Lisa has been actively involved with CYT North Idaho since moving to the area in 2015. She began as a parent volunteer, serving on various committees and supporting the organization in multiple capacities before joining the Board of Directors in 2023. She values the impact CYT has on the community, providing a positive environment where students build confidence, develop skills, and grow in character. Lisa is committed to supporting the organization’s mission and long-term success through thoughtful stewardship and leadership.

Leslie Johnston

Board Member

While Leslie did not grow up in theater herself, that did not stop her from encouraging her children to explore and fall in love with the stage. She has cheered her five children on from the house seats since 2009, with no plans of stopping. She and her husband, Rob, have both been heavily involved behind the scenes, with Rob utilizing his technical expertise as a member of the Production Team. Dedicated to both her family and her community, Leslie balances full time homeschooling with her nursing career at Kootenai Health, while still attending nearly every showing of the 50+ CYT North Idaho musicals her children have participated in. She is proud that her children have grown to be mentors and mindful members of both the theater community and society. As her teenage daughter still passionately performs on the stage, her older children have found ways of contributing through teaching classes, choreography, music, sets, tech, green room and costumes. Leslie is grateful for the CYT North Idaho family and is proud to be a part of the CYT Board of Directors, contributing to the arts community for Coeur d’Alene’s youth.

Jorge Vara

Board Member

Jorge brings over two decades of experience in sales and leadership to the CYT North Idaho Board of Directors. He is passionate about public speaking and coaching, using his skills to help individuals and organizations gain clarity and achieve their goals. Jorge has been involved in music since childhood, singing in choirs and participating in various ensembles and music groups. In recent years, he and his family have embraced theater, both on and off stage in a variety of roles. This experience has deepened their love for the performing arts and inspired Jorge to support CYT North Idaho by blending his passion for the arts with his expertise in organizational growth and development. For much of his life, Jorge has been on stage speaking or singing, and he also enjoys coaching basketball, boating, golfing, and spending quality time with his family. He is honored to serve on the CYT North Idaho Board, supporting its mission to develop creativity through theater arts.

Shana Starrh

Board Member

Shana Starrh is a dedicated educator, administrator, and community leader with a lifelong passion for education, the arts, and service. She holds a B.A. in Child Development with a Minor in Music and a Teaching Credential from California State University, Bakersfield. Shana's professional journey has blended teaching, arts administration, and family business leadership. She has served as an administrator for the Shafter Ford Theater and Tin Cup Coffee, supporting community arts and cultural programming, and is a partner and administrator at Black Rock Ranch in Harrison, Idaho, where she contributes to organizational planning and operations. Beyond her professional roles, Shana has been deeply involved in the performing arts, with performances at Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Bakersfield Civic Light Opera, Bakersfield Community Theater, and Shafter Ford Theater. She is also an active leader in her church, serving for many years as a choir member and praise and worship leader. Recognized as Bakersfield's Junior Miss earlier in life, Shana continues to inspire through her commitment to education, music, and community engagement. With her diverse experience and collaborative spirit, she brings creativity, dedication, and a heart for service to every board and organization she serves.

Melissa Cleveland

Board Member

Melissa Cleveland is an Idaho native with extensive experience working with boards and community organizations through her professional and volunteer roles. She brings strengths in organization, budgeting, strategic planning, and collaboration, along with a deep appreciation for programs that invest in young people. Melissa’s connection to Christian Youth Theatre North Idaho is both personal and long-standing. Both of her children have been involved in CYT, and she and her husband have volunteered for many years in support roles, including sets and costumes. She has seen firsthand how CYT provides a welcoming, faith-centered environment where students gain confidence, build skills, and grow in character, and she is passionate about helping ensure the organization continues to thrive.