Our Board
Allyson Moon
President/Event Production Chair
Allyson Moon is an Emeritus Professor of Theatre at Southwestern College, having served the institution for 35 years prior to her retirement in 2023. She has worked extensively with Creativity Theory, which has led to an active pursuit of improvisational acting and Nitty Gritty Theatre (theatre for social and emotional wellness). As an actor, director, designer, and administrator, she has worked in professional, educational, and community theatres. She and her now deceased husband, Roger Moon, moved back to Winfield in 1988. Winfield was Roger’s home, and Allyson lived in Winfield while attending Southwestern College from 1974 to 1977. Allyson has four amazing adult children, Geoffrey, Garth, York, and Arden, who are married to four equally amazing spouses. She is thrilled to be grandma of five grandchildren and nine granddogs. Though she supports a number of non-profit organizations, her primary community support is through her membership with Grace United Methodist Church and the Marquee Performing Arts Center. She is a founding member of the Marquee and currently serves on the Event Production Committee and as the President of the organization’s Board of Directors.
Pat McCutcheon
Secretary
When Pat and Gary married in 1968, she was an English teacher at Abilene High School. While Gary served in Vietnam and while he later earned his degree from McPherson College, Pat taught English at McPherson HS. As they were raising their son, Jeff, in Inman, Pat expanded her writing skills: She worked as a newspaper editor/reporter/advertisement salesperson for the Moundridge/Buhler/Inman weekly paper, and she taught English at Cranford Business College, Hutchinson. In 1993, Pat and Gary moved to Winfield (Pat’s birthplace). Pat immediately began teaching English/Speech and coaching the Forensics team at Central at Burden HS. And she was an adjunct English teacher for Cowley College. After retiring in 2009, she became the Marquee Board Secretary. Jeff and Rebecca McCutcheon also live in Winfield with their daughter, Elizabeth.
Bruce Schwyhart
Treasurer
Bruce was born and raised in Winfield. He attended Winfield public schools through junior-high-school before moving to Oxford, where he graduated from Oxford High School. He received his B.S. in Business before working on his M.S. in Business Administration at Wichita State University. He taught Business subjects and coached football and track at Mulvane High School for two years before his employment with Farm Credit Services for twenty years. He then accepted the President and CEO position at First National Bank and led the organization through the name change to CornerBank. Under his leadership, the bank grew and expanded before being sold to RCB Bank. He has served on the Marquee Board of Directors since its inception in 2005 and currently serves as its Treasurer.
Kent Melcher
Kent grew up in central Illinois. After college, he worked in radio and in advertising and public relations. In 1975, Kent took a sales job in Kansas City and later graduated from Saint Paul School of Theology (1983). He served pastorates in eastern Kansas and served as Topeka District Superintendent. He retired in 2013 and then worked at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Homes in Topeka. Kent and Julie moved to Winfield in 2016. Kent has been active in the Cowley County Historical Society, especially “Voices of the Past.” He presented a paper to Celebrating Cowley County: “A Silent History: Civil War Veterans Who Helped Build Cowley County.” Kent helped organize the Private John N. Eckes Camp #10, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, in Winfield. Kent serves as a Director of Travel Ministry for Educational Opportunities, the largest provider of Holy Land tours in the U.S.
Gary McCutcheon
Facilities Chair
Gary McCutcheon was born and raised in Cowley County. He has a degree in Economics and Business from McPherson College and an MBA from Wichita State. He is retired from 20 years with the trust department of CornerBank, where he was a Certified Financial Planner and trust officer. Gary has been on the board of Marquee since the building was acquired from B&B Theatres, seeing it as essential for Winfield that the building be brought back to life. He has been married to Pat for over 55 years; and they have a son, Jeff, who lives in Winfield with his wife, Rebecca, and their daughter, Elizabeth.
Anthony Gropper
Technology Chair
Anthony Gropper is the Director of Academic Technology at Southwestern College, co-founder of Two Horse Productions, and lead singer of The Student Loans. He lives in Winfield with his wife, Amanda, and his two children. Growing up in Winfield and attending the Walnut Valley Festival from the age of 1, he developed a love for the arts and enthusiasm for performing at a young age that still continues today, though he now prefers to be hidden in the pit or behind the sound board instead of in the spotlight. Anthony is proud to be a part of developing and sustaining a state-of-the-art community venue like Marquee, Inc., here in his hometown.
Chance Alquest
Chance Alquest has been on the Marquee Board since September of 2019 and serves on the Event Production Committee. When not at the Marquee, he is the Organist and Bell Choir director at Winfield First United Methodist Church. He is also accompanist for the music department of Central USD 462, and he is a co-owner of Ace.Studios Videography based here in Winfield. Since 2022, he has been the Director of the Winfield Municipal Band, leading the concerts in Island Park during June and July. He looks forward to the events that will be and currently are happening downtown at the Marquee.
Chris Tyler
Chris Tyler is a born-and-raised Winfield, KS, citizen. After getting his Economics degree at Kansas State University, he moved back to Winfield and has owned several small businesses. Currently, he invests in Winfield real estate. He is part owner in several commercial properties downtown and has experience rehabbing buildings, both commercial and residential. He has a drive to see downtown Winfield continue to be a destination. Hobbies include bicycling, aviation, and LEGO. He has a teenage daughter who is an excellent performing artist.