Strauss Theatre Center

Jon Baccarini, General Director

Jon Baccarini joins the Strauss Theatre Center after a successful run of Thoroughly Modern Mille (Guest Director/Musical Director). A native of Winnsboro, Louisiana, Jon is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University with a B.B.A. degree in Management and Marketing. He pursued post-graduate studies in marketing at Michigan State University and received his CMD (Certified Marketing Manager) designation from the International Council of Shopping Centers in 2005. For over 15 years, Jon worked in the shopping center industry and most recently was employed by General Growth Properties, Inc. as Senior Marketing Manager at Pecanland Mall. Jon is a full time pianist/vocalist and is employed by St. Mary's Catholic and First Baptist churches. A past Operations Director for the Miss Louisiana Organization, he has worked on the local and state levels of the Miss America Organization and America's Junior Miss. Jon's numerous theatre credits include God's Favorite (Ben - Best Newcomer Nominee ), A Chorus Line (Greg) , 42nd Street (Bert - Best Supporting Actor in a Musical Nominee), The Wiz (Lion), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Doc Robinson), Grease (Danny/Teen Angel), The Odd Couple (Jesus), The Music Man, (Musical Director), The Sound of Music (Musical Director), Steel Magnolias (Director), Seussical the Musical (Nyack, NY), and Footloose (Yorktown Stage - NY).

Steve Barton, Young Troupe Artistic Director

Steven Barton joins the Young Troupe family as a native of Pineville, Louisiana where he received a BA in Theater from Louisiana College in Pineville. Steven directed several plays and musicals in the central Louisiana area at City Park Players, The Family Playhouse, and Les Theatres des Bon Temps as well as Louisiana College. He was a founding member of Spectral Sisters Productions in Alexandria, LA, and directed their inaugural production of Waiting for Godot. Also a playwright, his first play, Castles in the Playground, was produced at Louisiana College and The Brown Grand Theater in Concordia, KS. Most recently, his original play Making a Deposit was produced at the University of Louisiana Monroe as well as his play Standing Still at Eckerd Community College in Saint Petersburg, FL. Directing is Steven's first love, though, and he had the honor of being introduced to the Young Troupe community as the director of Swiss Family Robinson. He is proud to be a part of one of the state's most prestigious theaters for young actors and looks forward to being a part of the history of exciting, electric, and entertaining theater that the Young Troupe has provided. 

Scot Baronet, Technical Director

Scot comes to the Strauss Theatre Center with more than 35 years experience in professional and community theatres, including both management and artistic experience.  Scot has an Associates degree in Theatre Management/Marketing from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a BFA (Bachelor's of Fine Arts) from New York University.  Scot was an instructor at Bossier Community College, teaching Theatrical Arts and Technical Theatre from 1995-1997.  Before that, he worked as a choreographer with the Ice Capades from 1972-1995.  Scot has too many credits to mention them all, but here are a few:  Dancer/performer on the Carol Burnette Show; Stunt double on Charlie's Angels; Assistant choreographer for the Miss America Pagent; and last but certainly not least...Choreographer for five Ice Capades specials, seen on HBO, NBC, and ABC.   Strauss Theatre Center is very fortunate to have a man of his talent and experience on board!