Mr. Stephens was appointed to the position of Executive Artistic Director on October 21, 2008 after spending 3 seasons as Director of Marketing for The Little Theatre On The Square. Before coming to Sullivan, John spent 10 years with The Decatur Park Singers serving as Road Manager and the Director of The Decatur Young Park Singers. From 2001 until 2006, John taught at St. James Catholic School in Decatur, IL and served as head choreographer for the Lincoln College Express in Lincoln, IL during that time as well. John was born and raised in Glasford, IL and graduated from Lincoln College with his associates degree and attended Millikin University majoring in Vocal Music Education. John’s passion for theatre started at a young age as the Ringmaster in the Illini Bluffs First Grade Circus program (the only speaking role in the entire show) and has grown from there. If you look really close, you might catch John on stage from time to time. John was last seen Grand Old Country in the Spring of 2022 and in The Full Monty in 2019. Other roles include Believe…The Miracles of Christmas, A Swingin’ Little Christmas, Jingle Bell Jive, Swing!, Melvin P. Thorpe in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas and Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. John is a frequent soloist at area churches and has recently directed 8 Track the Sound of The 70’s, All Shook Up, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound Of Music and Nunsense. More recently you will have seen John’s work on the stage as a costume designer. He was nominated for a Broadway World Chicago Award for costumes in La Cage Aux Folles in 2022. Other shows John has designed include Mamma Mia, Sh-Boom!, White Christmas, Million Dollar Quartet, Divas Through The Decades and many more. John currently resides in Sullivan and owns and operates the Arthur General Store in Arthur, IL with his partners Timmy Valentine & Tyler Mosier.
email: john@thelittletheatre.org