KWC Staff

Deborah Jung, Founder and Executive Director
deborah@kidswhocare.org

Deborah Jung has produced and directed tours of 18 original musicals with Kids Who Care, previewing Off Broadway at the Lamb’s Theatre, and appearing at the Kennedy Center, Bass Hall, and Disneyland. Additional tours include venues in New York, Los Angeles, Italy, Germany, Washington D.C., Orlando, Nashville, across Texas and at 30,000 feet in the air on the American Airlines Wish Flight.

Deborah has produced and directed family musicals for Kids Who Care including West Side Story, Peter Pan, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell, Narnia, Wizard of Oz, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Under Deborah’s direction, Kids Who Care has produced Family Concerts with Peter Yarrow, Trout Fishing in America, Sara Hickman, Inca Son, Eddie Coker, Danny Wright, and Joseph Vincelli.

Prior to founding Kids Who Care, Jung was a member of Actor’s Equity and in the Resident Company at Casa Mañana from 1975-1989. While at Casa, she directed and/or appeared in over 75 productions and founded Casa Kids.

For ten years Deborah was the Company Manager for Fort Worth Shakespeare in the Park. During that time, she created the Shakespeare Acting Institute and appeared onstage. Television credits include producing and directing a national commercial for Milk Producers of America and an appearance on Dallas. In addition to her professional theatre credits, Deborah has worked with unique clients, including Mental Health Mental Retardation, Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center, Texas Gifted and Talented, Cook Children’s Hospital, & the Creative Drama Network. Deborah Jung received her BA in Speech and Drama from Trinity University.

Kathryn Albright, General Manager
kathryn@kidswhocare.org

Mrs. Albright received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Disorders and her Masters Degree in Audiology from the University of Texas at Austin. She practiced Audiology in a variety of clinical settings for over 15 years. She has published numerous professional papers and has conducted professional development workshops all over the nation.

In 2000, she joined the Staff of Kids Who Care as Development Director where she was responsible for grant writing and fundraising. She continues to assist with development, but is currently the Business Manager responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations of the organization.

Kathryn also contributes material for the original Kids Who Care productions. Her work has appeared in Earth and Soul, Deep in the Heart, Bridge to Freedom, Choices, Get Found Kid, and The Kite.

Chad R. Jung, Resident Lighting Designer and Production Manager
chad@kidswhocare.org

Chad R. Jung has designed more than 100 productions for theatre, opera, and dance. Off-Broadway: Leonce & Lena; NY Credits: Julia Pastrana at the Greenwich St. Theater, A Leopard Complains of Its Spots at the Pantheon Theater; International: The Bear at the Festival of Russian Drama in Togliatti, Russia. Chad has worked with many companies including: Ballet Austin, Bruce Wood, Caroline Calouche, Dallas Opera, FW Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Classical Ballet, and UNT Opera. In addition to being the Resident Lighting Designer for Kids Who Care and Amphibian Stage Productions, Chad R. Jung is the Lighting Director for Fort Worth Opera. www.chadrjungdesign.com

Jannice Fikar, Development Director
jannice@kidswhocare.org

Mrs. Fikar received a Bachelor of Business Administration from SMU where she was president of Pi Beta Phi. She was trained at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as a Systems Engineer in the areas of software development and programming. Professional experience includes Dallas Federal Savings as a Mortgage Loan Officer, EDS in Systems Development, Sun Oil in Systems Development, Bob Wertheimer and Co. in Residential Real Estate Sales, and Haynes and Boone as Director of Recruitment of Law Interns and Assistant Office Manager. While living in Odessa, Jannice owned and operated Holiday Expressions. She is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Texas. Community experience includes the Junior League of Fort Worth, Tarrant County Medical Alliance and Saint Andrews Catholic School Board.

Kate Lovelady, Resident Company Manager
kate@kidswhocare.org

Kate spent her childhood as a member of the KWC Resident Company from 1989-2000. In addition she has appeared onstage with Kids Who Care in West Side Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wizard of Oz, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Kate studied Musical Theatre at Texas Christian University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts. As a performer, Kate has appeared at Theatre Arlington in Grease and as the lead in the World Premier of Mildred at Stage West. She is thrilled to be back with Kids Who Care as the Resident Company Manager. In addition to her work with KWC, Kate serves as an Associate Artist with FireStarter Productions.

Kelly Kirkendoll Shafer, Public Relations Director
kelly@kidswhocare.org

A resourceful marketing and PR professional with more than 15 years of experience in marketing, corporate communications, media relations, product marketing/management and competitive analysis, Kelly is president of Shafer Communications, an independent PR, marketing and communications firm in Fort Worth. A graduate of Ohio University, summa cum laude, Kelly has led marketing and PR initiatives for companies including Ameritech Communications (now SBC/AT&T), TMNG, Sprint, VocationVacations, Invigorated Life, AAA Translation and FabJob. She is also the author of 29 Ways to Make Your Stepfamily Work.

Billie Kinlough, Administrative Assistant
billie@kidswhocare.org

Billie served as a key volunteer in Fort Worth’s PTA from 1990-2001. For nine years she worked for Fort Worth’s Party Palace in sales, customer service and merchandising followed by three years at the Sample House. Mrs. Kinlough has been associated with Kids Who Care since 1992. First serving as a Volunteer with Kids Who Care in Production, Resident Company Touring, and Cookin’ for Kids, Billie joined the staff in 2000. Billie is currently the Box Office Manager and Administrative Assistant. She has planned Kids Who Care tours to Italy, Germany, New York, & Los Angeles.

Marjorie McDonald, Accountant
marjorie@kidswhocare.org

A graduate of Baylor University, Marjorie has both a BBA and an MBA in Business. She and husband, Marc McDonald, have two daughters, Jennifer and Natalie. After taking time off to raise her daughters, Marjorie re-entered the workforce as the KWC accountant.

Teaching Artists:
Associated Artists: