Our Team

Kristina Railsback: Co-President

As an educator for over two decades, Kristina loves sharing her passion for theater with others! She has music directed and directed several theater camps, youth, and mainstage shows for High Point Community Theatre and other theater organizations throughout the Triad. She also loves to perform onstage when the opportunity presents itself! Favorite roles include Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, Mrs. Brill in Mary Poppins, and Lucy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. When not on stage, she is a professor of education and teaches ESOL to adults. Kristina is glad to be serving as co-president of HPCT in pursuit of our mission to educate the next generation of performers and reach out to our community. She strongly believes that arts are for everyone, and being involved in theater can enrich our lives immeasurably!

Oliver Helsabeck: Co-President

A lover of theatre, music, and singing for all his life, Oliver was active in church choir, participated in musicals in high school, and directed two shows with a student group in college. But then he took a 25 year hiatus from theatre before auditioning for his first community theatre show, HPCT's "My Fair Lady" in 2017, thanks to the loving encouragement of his late wife, Susan, and musically-talented daughter, Elizabeth. At HPCT, Oliver discovered a creative outlet for his love of theatre, a second family, and another way of being in community. He happily joined the HPCT Board of Directors in 2018. A graduate of Appalachian State University and Duke University Divinity School, Oliver is Associate Minister for Congregational Care at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem.

“For me, participating in community theatre has shown me how vital and important the arts and freedom of expression are to our community as a whole. Through theatre, people from all across our communities can use their God-given talents to tell important stories, to provide joy and much-needed laughter, and to celebrate the human spirit. The arts reveal who we are, and maybe more importantly, who we can be.”

Courtney Lowe:
Vice President

The arts have always played a central role in Courtney Lowe’s life. Growing up in Virginia, she studied voice and dance and spent much of her childhood moving from one theatrical production to the next. While earning degrees in Public Relations and Psychology at Virginia Tech, Courtney stepped away from performing but continued her vocal training and began teaching private voice lessons. She also met her husband—and fellow HPCT Board member—Matt.

After graduation, Courtney joined State Farm Insurance’s Public Affairs Department in Charlottesville, Virginia. During that time, she performed with the Ash Lawn-Highland Summer Music Festival and several professional dinner theatres. She also founded Sunshine Generation of Charlottesville, a children’s performance group that allowed her to stay connected to her love of the arts.

A few years later, Courtney and Matt relocated to North Carolina, where she continued working in media, legislative, and community relations. After the births of their sons, Dylan and Christian, Courtney left the corporate world to homeschool them while teaching Kindermusik and private voice and piano lessons from their home.

In 2011, seven-year-old Dylan expressed an interest in theatre. Courtney found an audition notice for HPCT’s production of Oliver!, took him to audition—and so began the Lowe family’s relationship with HPCT. Courtney joined the HPCT Board in 2014, became Vice President in 2015, and served as President from 2016 through 2026.

Throughout her career, Courtney has directed, music directed, or performed in nearly 200 community and professional theatre productions across Virginia and North Carolina. In 2017, she founded HPCT’s award-winning Junior Theatre Festival team, The Troupe. In August 2021, she launched the middle and high school theatre program at Phoenix Academy in High Point. In January 2024, she received one of five Freddie G Fellowships from Music Theatre International and was recognized as one of the nation’s top theatre arts educators.

In 2025, Courtney was named Executive Director of Communities In Schools of High Point. She also continues to teach a select group of students through Courtney’s Voice & Piano Studio.

Courtney believes deeply in finding your passion and having the courage to follow it. To her, HPCT is so much more than a community theatre—it is home: a place filled with people she loves, sharing their passion for the arts and working together to bring a little magic to life.

Therese Armburst : Treasurer

Therese moved from New York to High Point in 2017 and serves as Controller at Smith & Jennings, a local construction company, where she leads the company administrative and financial operations. She began her career in nonprofit management before transitioning to the private sector in 2021, giving her a unique perspective on both nonprofit organizations and business operations.
Therese participated in theater during high school and is proud to support an organization that creates opportunities for others to experience the performing arts. Having worked in the nonprofit sector, Therese understands the challenges nonprofit organizations face in maximizing their impact with limited resources. She joined the High Point Community Theatre Board of Directors in July 2025 to give back by bringing her experience in accounting, administration, and organizational leadership to support the Theatre’s mission and ensure it continues to thrive for future generations.

Maria Schnaith-Ivan: Secretary

Maria’s love for the arts was instilled in her as a child through an appreciation for visual arts and theater productions. Her first venture on stage was in middle school, but it wasn’t until her children started performing that her love for theater was reignited. In the summer of 2022, her children participated in an HPCT summer camp and her family discovered the embracing, nurturing, and welcoming community of the organization, and never left. Since then, Maria has performed in several shows with her whole family and worked backstage. She joined the HPCT board of directors in June 2023. Maria is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. She grew up in Mexico and Brazil and speaks both Spanish and Portuguese fluently. Maria is excited to contribute to an organization that aims to inspire and educate the current and next generation in the area of performing arts, making it accessible to everyone.

Rylee Carpenter: Operations Manager

Rylee Carpenter joined HPCT in June 2025 and oversees the theatre’s social media, website, and database management. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2025 with a degree in Arts Administration, combining her lifelong passion for the performing arts with a commitment to nonprofit leadership. Outside of HPCT, Rylee serves as the Communications and Community Outreach Manager at Communities in Schools of High Point.
Originally pursuing degrees in Musical Theatre and Theatre Education, Rylee discovered her passion for arts administration after taking a nonprofit management course that inspired her to support the arts from behind the scenes. Her background includes performing in numerous theatrical productions, singing in chamber choirs, and contributing both onstage and backstage since she was 8 years old.
After moving from Los Angeles, California, to Charlotte, North Carolina, at age 15, Rylee rediscovered how theatre can became a constant source of belonging and community. That sense of "home" continues to inspire her work today, fueling her dedication to creating meaningful arts experiences for others.
When she’s not working, Rylee enjoys spending time with her partner, their dog, Elliott, and their adorable rescue rats, who never fail to keep life entertaining.

Linnea Bethany Beane

As a member of the High Point Community Theatre Board of Directors for the past five years, Linnea is passionate about fostering a love of youth and musical theatre within the community. By day, she is an elementary school teacher who believes in the power of creativity, collaboration, and the arts to inspire young people. She is excited to be part of an organization that brings together talented, dedicated individuals to create meaningful performances and lasting connections. She is proud to support High Point Community Theatre's mission of enriching the community through providing exceptional theatrical experiences as well as inspiring/educating future thespians!

Matt Lowe

Matt Lowe's love of theater began in high school. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Communication Studies and Theatre. While at Tech, he met and fell in love with his neighbor, Courtney. After graduation, Matt began working for State Farm Insurance and he and Courtney married in 1999. In 2002, Matt and Courtney moved to the Triad and opened the Matt Lowe State Farm Insurance Agency. Matt became involved with High Point Community Theatre in 2011 when his son Dylan was cast in "Oliver!" He joined the Board of Directors in 2013 and has been designing and building sets and props ever since! Matt spends just about every weekend at Centennial Station drawing, cutting, hammering or painting...and he wouldn't want it any other way. HPCT has become a second family for Matt and his family and he feels very blessed to be part of such a special group.

Ryan Schnaith-Ivan

Ryan became involved with HPCT through his children and their love for the stage. Their passion became a full-family affair with everyone getting out on stage, helping backstage, making costumes and sets, and simply being a part of the great community that HPCT is. Ryan has followed his children (and wife) onstage in multiple HPCT productions and loves being able to share that experience with his family. He has always had an affinity for the arts, being a visual artist as well as a percussionist growing up. Ryan graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts and has since gotten Masters degrees in Counseling and in Educational Leadership. When not spending time at HPCT, Ryan is a high school counselor in Guilford County as well as a soccer and swimming coach. He enjoys being able to utilize his creative and artistic skills with an organization that cares deeply about its people and the community.

Kristi WIRTH

Kristi Wirth is the Manager of a retail store. She joined the Board of Directors six years ago after moving back to the area and performing in Oklahoma with HPCT. She helped start and is the Choreographer and financial coordinator for HPCT’s The Troupe. With over 40 years of dance experience she can typically be found choreographing and stage managing shows with HPCT.

Sarah Carter

Sarah Carter is originally from Roanoke Rapids, NC where she participated in show choir and theater at her high school. She moved to Greensboro to attend UNCG for elementary education in 2003. After receiving her degree she stayed in Greensboro teaching for Guilford County Schools. Sarah is married to her husband Casey and has two daughters Claire and Sophia. In 2019, Sarah decided to audition for Mama Mia at HPCT to participate in the joy theater brought her in high school. When her daughter, Claire started to show interest in theater they began auditioning for shows together. Sarah joined the board in 2025 and has enjoyed bringing theater to the community in many ways.

Ryan Thompson

Ryan Thompson's first involvement with HPCT was in late 2025 when his daughter asked if he would audition for A Christmas Carol with her. Before that he hadn't been involved with theater. From the first rehearsal, he knew he and his daughter were in the right place! Ryan is a Tool Maker by trade, running a small Tool and Die shop in Greensboro that focuses on custom tooling/gages and apprenticeships. HPCT reflects those same values of inclusion and uplifting his community. When not on or behind stage, Ryan can be found out on the disc golf course or spending time with his daughter. He is honored to serve on the board to further our mission to inspire appreciation for the dramatic arts and further community involvement.