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Meet the Team
Jan Williams
President & Artistic Director
Jan is the Founder of the Hopebox Theatre and Owner/Director of Showstopper Productions, a performing arts academy for children. Jan is also part owner of Bright Star Academy preschool in Layton. She is a 4 time cancer survivor and with her husband Eric have raised 6 incredible children. (2 biological sons & 4 adopted daughters) She is also grandma to 3 beautiful grand daughters. Her favorite thing to do is be with her family. Jan has been a Producer, Director, Choreographer, Musical Director, Set Designer, & Costume Designer for countless shows since 2008. She studied Piano, Voice, Dance & Cosmetology. She enjoys painting, reading, board games, playing pickle ball, boat surfing and other creative outlets. Jan is a very active member in her church & community. She has a passion and drive for the mission of the Hopebox and loves working together with the amazing people she gets to rub shoulders with.
Email: JanShowstoppers@gmail.com
Curtis Dalton
Vice President
In the fall of 2015 Curtis and his wife Sally ran into Jan Williams at the Home Depot. She was still battling one of her many bouts with cancer. “So, I’ve found an old building and was wondering if you want to look at it with me?” Jan said. Her vision resonated with us because Curtis had lost his mother to breast cancer when he was nine. We have been all in from that moment forward.
It has been an honor and pleasure to help co-found an organization that turns our focus from ourselves to others who are fighting for their lives. I love reminding each of our Wall of Hope recipients and their families that we are all Angels. Sometimes, we help others and other times our lives are blessed by the empathy of truly great people.
Email: BuildDalton@gmail.com
Paul Nielson
Volunteers Director
Paul and his wife Jenny are happy parents of 3 children. Paul was introduced to acting in 2015 and since has performed in, stage managed, or set designed at least 3 shows per year. Theater has changed his life! He became the owner of a business to help people with mental stops using a metaphor of acting. This venture allowed him to be on the parks and rec commission for Clearfield City. Paul has served in many capacities in different networking groups to help businesses move forward over 30 years. Paul has performed in many shows at the Hopebox since 2016. To say that he loves the mission of the Hopebox Theatre would be an understatement. Seeing the changes it makes in the actors, volunteers and Wall of Hope recipients lives so many times, it has become a passion for him to do everything in his life to exemplify that vision. Paul says, "Loving people is a treasure we all could adopt for happy and peaceful lives." Volunteering for everything from church, business and government assignments is what Paul does.
Email: Paul@RememberYourRole.com
Tanaya Ropp
Secretary
I grew up in a talented theatre family, from set design and construction to being a performer on stage. My mother was often the music director and orchestra conductor, my dad was involved with set design and construction and my siblings and I studied acting and singing.
I ventured into the world of dance in 3rd grade which became my passion for many years, from teaching to choreographing. I love see my works performed on stage and performing myself!
Email: TanayaRopp@Yahoo.com
Natalie Erickson
Box Office Manager
Taylor Kurzius
Producer
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Taylor is excited to officially be joining the Hopebox Family!! Taylor has been a part of theatre for her entire life! From her homemade Talent Shows to being the “Drama Queen & Drama President” of her High School. In 2014, she graduated from the The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in California completing her Technical Certification to work in Equity Theatre & worked at the Solvang Festival Theatre as a Lead Carpenter and Deck Crew Member for their Summer Stock Seasons. Then in summer of 2017 acted as the Technical Director at the Canterbury Theatre in Michigan City,,IN.
It was in 2019 when she attended the closing night of a Hopebox Theatre show that she was so moved by the love and compassion in the room that she knew from that moment this Theatre was different from the other local theatre's and it was indeed special. She knew that she needed to be a part of this amazing Mission that the Hopebox has.
She is dedicating this Hopebox Season to her Aunt Lori Isel, who passed from Cancer in 2017.
Email: taylorisel@yahoo.com