About us
Our Mission
Kennedale Community Theatre in the Park (KCTP) exists to provide community service and educational opportunities to the citizens of Kennedale and surrounding communities by promoting the arts and providing opportunities for individuals and families to engage in live theatre, dance, music, and public speaking. We at KCTP are committed to providing a safe space for people of all ages, faiths, and ethnicities to pursue their passions and give back to their community.
KCTP was founded in 2017 by former KISD educator Linda Graddy and then-Mayor Brian Johnson. KCTP is a non-profit organization and obtained 501(c)(3) exemption status in 2023.
Come join us! Whether you want to be onstage, backstage, or in the audience, KCTP has a place for everyone!
Our Core Values
At KCTP, we take pride in every production that bears our name. We hold ourselves to a rigorous standard where every performer, production, and event must reflect our core values:
- Art for All Ages: KCTP strives to give performances that are entertaining and enriching for the whole family. Whether you’re age 6 or age 60, come join the fun!
- Diversity and Inclusion: KCTP has a proud tradition of welcoming people of all races, religions, orientations, and social backgrounds. Unless it is central to the plot, we are always willing to flex a character’s age, gender, or race to fit the incredible talents we have available!
- Community Outreach: KCTP was founded by a group of people with an equal love for the arts and the Kennedale community. With every production, we seek to partner with Kennedale businesses, schools, and organizations to maximize the good we do for the little town we love!
Meet our leadership team
Linda Graddy
Founder, President, & Director
Linda Graddy is the visionary director who founded KCTP in 2018 along with former mayor Brian Johnson. She brings a wealth of experience to the KCTP team, having previously directed shows at James A. Arthur Intermediate for over 20 years. In addition to her role as President, Linda serves as KCTP’s head director and part-time choreographer for all of our shows, donating considerable time and energy to make sure our performances are something the whole community can be proud of!
Trisha Mata
Secretary/Treasurer, Actor, & Assistant Director
Trisha Mata is a former KISD teacher and Linda’s longtime partner in crime. Trisha has served as Linda’s assistant director for nearly every show dating back to their days at JAA. Although Trisha has since left KISD for other opportunities, her heart has never left the Kennedale community. In addition to her directorial work and occasional foray into acting, Trisha works tirelessly offstage as our Secretary & Treasurer, managing every aspect of KCTP’s finances. Trisha was a critical part of helping us obtain our 501(c)(3) status in 2023!
Pam Eason
Board Member & Technical Director
Another former KISD teacher and longtime Kennedale resident, Pam Eason has been involved in KCTP as a Board Member since the very beginning, serving an invaluable role backstage. Pam is the hands-on, jack-of-all-trades force that makes sure every single KCTP show is possible. Whether it is set design, building, helping run lights & sound, or transporting our sets and props, Pam is the woman for the job. Equal parts relentlessly positive and sarcastic, she is an irreplaceable part of the KCTP family!
Blake Stroncek
Board Member, Actor, & Assistant Director
Blake Stroncek is a veteran of the stage, having been a part of over 45 productions with various troupes. Blake has been involved with KCTP since 2019 and joined the Board of Directors in 2023. You will most often see him performing onstage, however, he is also very active behind the scenes, assisting with music, staging, and whatever organizational tasks may need an extra hand. Blake fervently loves the Kennedale community and can trace his family history in town all the way back to 1858!
Danny & Kara Lynn Greenfield
Board Members & Actors
Danny & Kara Lynn Greenfield are pillars of the Kennedale community and a shining example of the values KCTP espouses. Danny served as principle at James A. Arthur for over two decades, where he routinely appeared in cameo roles in all of Linda Graddy’s shows. Kara Lynn could always be found close behind, working behind the scenes to help out with anything and everything Danny and Linda might need. Danny and Kara Lynn, now retired, spend most of their time with their grandchildren, however, they are never far away and always there to help KCTP with whatever might be needed.
Chris Stroncek
Board Member & Actor
Chris Stroncek, a retired aerospace engineer, is the proud father of two KCTP performers – Kareah Wakeland and Blake Stroncek. Chris first became involved in theatre as an audience member while watching Kareah perform at KHS in the late 1990’s. Chris also served as the KHS Fine Arts Booster Club President from 2012-2014. Chris has been a long-time supporter behind the scenes, providing props, set pieces, and whatever else was needed for our shows, even stepping in last minute as an understudy for our 2025 Fall Show!