Emily Nelson
Executive Director
Emily is an experienced actor, director, and teaching artist. She studied acting at Columbia College Chicago and spent years training at the Goodman Theatre where she began her career as a teaching artist. Emily has spent most of her time working for the non-for-profit, The Beverly Arts Center. She held the title of Associate Artistic Director and streamlined a successful Youth Theatre Program. Emily is thrilled to be joining the Towle and is excited to become a part of such a wonderful community.
Jeff Casey
Artistic Associate
Jeff believes he began making an impact in the region when he created the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation in 1992. This organization serves as a conduit between community theaters throughout Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties and continues to thrive today even without his direct involvement. In 1999, Jeff accepted a newly created position with South Shore Arts (then Northern Indiana Arts Association) as Director of Regional Services. In this position Jeff was charged with providing services to arts providers all over the region as 1 of 12 partners with the Indiana Arts Commission. During this time he also served as a panelist for Indiana's Individual Artist grant process and presented at State-wide arts conferences. In 2003, Jeff served as a consultant/adviser for the New Jersey State Arts Council in a 3 county region that borders New York City, making it geographically similar to NW Indiana in relation to Chicago.
Jeff proudly served as Managing Director for the Towle Theater for 20 years. Taking nothing but a beautiful facility and a great deal of support, Jeff and his team have built the Towle into a leader in the arts community. In just a few years, the Towle has become synonymous with professional quality theater and mutually beneficial partnerships throughout NW Indiana and Chicagoland.
In addition to his duties at the Towle, Jeff has served on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Hammond Council, Munster Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Governors for the NW Indiana Society of Innovators.
Kevin Bellamy
Artistic Associate
Kevin has been employed at the Towle Theater since October of 2005. He has a degree from Indiana State University in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, Management & Insurance. Immediately out of college, Kevin took a job as a claims adjuster for State Farm Insurance. After three years at State Farm, Kevin was offered a job entertaining on a cruise ship and that started his professional entertaining career which lasted seven years. Following his professional acting career, Kevin decided to work locally and took a job at Master Tile Carpet One. He was employed there for eight years prior to the Towle Theater position. The position at the Towle Theater is a dream job. It combines all aspects of theater that Kevin loves.