The Muni Story

Kevin Kulavic

Kevin began his Muni experience working on set crew while in high school and has since been involved in over 25 productions since 2005. Kevin has performed in 8 productions, stage managed 7 productions, and has held other titles including Assistant Director, Flight Coordinator and Master Builder. Want to get involved in this project? Email history@themuni.org.

Julie Ratz

Julie has been a choreographer and performer in a number of Muni shows. Julie made her Muni debut assisting Grace Nanavati with the choreography for Hans Christian Andersen in 1993. Since then, she has played Tiger Lily in our production of Peter Pan in 2001 and has performed in Chicago in 2006, Jesus Christ Superstar in 2010 and Crazy for You in 2012. Some of the productions that she has choreographed include our productions of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 2001, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in 2004 and Miss Saigon in 2007. She assistant directed/choreographed our productions of All Shook Up in 2014, West Side Story in 2015 and Legally Blonde in 2018. Julie recently left her position as the Artistic Director of the Springfield Ballet Company. Julie, along with fellow Muni alums Grace Nanavati, Ronda Brinkman and Gina DeCroix Russell are reviving the Copper Coin Ballet Company, which is rooted in Muni history. Want to get involved in this project? Email history@themuni.org.

Sandra Dehner Wheeler

Sandra was one of the Muni's first leading ladies when the organization was revitalized after the fire and returned to the site in 1965. Sandra actually made her Muni debut in the Tent at the Lake production of Carousel in the early sixties. When the Muni was revitalized and returned to the site in 1965, she was Nellie Forbush in the second production that year, South Pacific. Other roles that Sandra played include Ella Peterson in Bells Are Ringing in 1969, Maria in The Sound of Music in 1972, Margo Channing in Applause and Mame Dennis in Mame in 1975. Sandra stopped performing at the Muni when she got an Equity card. Sandra also had a supporting role in the 1978 miniseries, The Awakening Land, which starred Elizabeth Montgomery and Hal Holbrook. That miniseries was filmed at Riverside Park and New Salem. Sandra's family has also been heavily involved with the Muni, as her children and some of her grandchildren have also been involved. Want to get involved in this project? Email history@themuni.org.

Sara Baltusevich Goeckner

Sara has been a performer and vocal director for a number of Muni shows. She made her Muni debut as an orphan in Annie in 1998. Some of the roles that she has played include Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast in 2005, Cinderella in Into the Woods in 2010 and Nellie Forbush in South Pacific in 2016. She has also vocal directed our productions of Crazy for You and Disney's Beauty and the Beast, both in 2012, and The Wizard of Oz in 2019. Sara also has a very special connection to the Muni because she met her husband, Jeremy, during our 2010 production of Into the Woods. Sara is a private voice and piano teacher for children. Want to get involved in this project? Email history@themuni.org.

Dennis Rendleman

Dennis has been a performer in a number of Muni productions over the years. He made his Muni debut playing Che in our first production of Evita in 1985. Some of the other roles he has played include Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady in 1989, King Arthur in Camelot in 1990, Cervantes/Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha in 1992, Buddy in City of Angels in 1995, Judas in Godspell in 1998 and Luther Billis in South Pacific in 2002. Dennis has also been a frequent historical reenactor, most notably portraying Ulysses S. Grant. Want to get involved in this project? Email history@themuni.org.