Roanoke Island Historical Association Staff

Bill Coleman

Bill Coleman has served as a senior management leader with nonprofit arts organizations in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. He was previously the executive producer of The Stephen Foster Story in Bardstown, KY, director of audience development at the Tennessee Repertory Theatre in Nashville, TN and executive director of the City Ballet in Knoxville, TN. He has also served as a consultant for numerous theatrical facilities including the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, KY., the Ruben Dario National Theatre in Managua, Nicaragua, and the Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center near Mansfield, Ohio. He also served on the Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s board of directors and was instrumental in bringing the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America’s annual conference to Nashville in January of 2007. Prior to joining RIHA, Coleman held the position of CEO at Dismas, Inc. network headquartered in Nashville, TN. Coleman received a BA from the University of Tennessee and a MBA from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.

Lance Culpepper

Lance may be a Georgia native, but he now calls the Outer Banks home. His first summer with The Lost Colony was in 1996. He spent two seasons with the Colony and toured as part of a children’s theatre before making the transition to television. He worked in television nine years as a costumer for a production studio in where he designed costumes for eight series and several movies of the week. Since joining the staff of The Lost Colony in 2007, he has served as Executive Assistant, Production Coordinator, and now Associate Producer.

Nancy Figiel

Nancy J. Figiel acquired a strong love of the theatre while growing up outside of New York City and attending many Broadway shows. She first saw The Lost Colony in the mid-1970s with her family who owned one of the flat top cottages in Southern Shores. “We loved everything about the Outer Banks, its beauty and beaches, and its history and culture.” After moving here in 1987, she attended the show countless times during Dare Nights, and her daughter, Ana, came to know it as an annual tradition. With a strong background in marketing, public relations and retail, Nancy is facing the challenges of fund raising and membership development with great excitement. She believes that The Lost Colony is an Outer Banks treasure and legacy, and that every visitor to the area needs to see it. Nancy’s background includes the New York City fashion industry, marketing and buying for Kitty Hawk Kites, public relations for the City of Richmond and the Dell Amphitheatre, buying for the North Carolina Aquariums and Jeanette’s Pier, and marketing, retail and design consulting. She has a BA from Virginia Wesleyan, with graduate courses from Old Dominion and Virginia Commonwealth, is Certified in Entrepreneurial Management and is currently studying for certification from Duke in Nonprofit Management.

Katie Stone

Katie has invested over 25 years working with community and professional theatres throughout the country. She began her career as a technical intern with Mill Mountain Theatre in her hometown of Roanoke, VA and later went on to stage manage with companies including The Barksdale Theatre, Theatre IV (National Tour), Firehouse Theatre, SHARD LPC, Triangle Players and The Lost Colony. Katie had the honor to serve as Managing Director for 14 years with Hugh Copeland’s The Hurrah Players in Norfolk, VA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Tidewater Community College‘s Academy for Nonprofit Excellence. Katie and her husband Ben are proud keepers of the dream.

Crystal Simpson

Crystal has spent most of her life on Roanoke Island, growing up in Manteo. She ran her own landscaping business for 6 years before being hired on as the Maintenance Assistant in 2006. One year later she was named Supervisor. Crystal says, “It is a privilege to work here at The Lost Colony. I enjoy maintaining the grounds and properties, making the theater and apartments a clean and safe environment for our artists and guests to enjoy”. She lives with her husband and son on the nearby mainland.

Crystal Bryan

Born and raised in Georgia, Crystal graduated with a Bachelor of Business from Georgia State University with a major in Hospitality Administration. In Atlanta, she worked and volunteered with many non-profits such as the Captain Planet Foundation, American Liver Foundation, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, HeadCount and more. Crystal has done marketing and events from coast to coast, mostly in the live entertainment industry at concerts and music festivals. Crystal says, “I’m thrilled and honored to be part of The Lost Colony and helping bring people to such a historically cool feature of the Outer Banks.” Crystal lives in Kill Devil Hills with her fiancé and two cats, Boo & Fee. You can typically find them at local music events and watering holes or traveling to concerts and music festivals.

Janelle Parrish