North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie
9501 Skokie Boulevard
Skokie, IL 60077
Administrative Office: 847-679-9501
Box Office: 847-673-6300

Facility Contacts

Michael Pauken
General Manager
Mr. Pauken joined the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NSCPAS) as general manager in 2002. In the spring of 2008, Michael also assumed the responsibilities of managing Centre East, Inc., the Center’s resident non-profit presenting company. Prior to joining the NSCPAS, Michael managed numerous theatrical productions including the long-running Forever Plaid in Chicago, Milwaukee and Seattle. Other Chicago credits include Catch! with the Flying Karamazov Brothers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Fully Committed, and ART all at the Royal George Theatre, The Vagina Monologues starring Eve Ensler at the Apollo Theater, and the award-winning The Bomb-itty of Errors at both Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier and at the Royal George Theatre. Michael also produced the Chicago premiere of the musical Whoop-Dee-Doo! and booked and managed the popular Sing-a-Long Sound of Music in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.  Michael spent five years with the League of Chicago Theatres in various capacities including interim executive director, director of marketing and manager of the popular Hot Tix half-price ticket program. He has also worked for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Michael managed theatres and produced shows there as well as held jobs at the Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Michael has served on the board and executive committee of Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitor’s Bureau since 2002 and was chair of that organization from 2004 to 2006.

Carolyn Adams
Office Manager
Ms. Adams has been with the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NSCPAS) since August 1997. Carolyn assists the general manager in the day-to-day operations of the building as well as working with the various entities residing in the building.  Prior to her management duties, she began her career with NSCPAS as a box office representative and receptionist.  Previously she was employed by Bank One, Illinois, NA.  She earned her Bachelors of Science in Economics/Business Administration from Illinois College in 1994.  She enjoys spending time with her daughter.

Joseph Alaimo
Marketing & Communications Manager
Mr. Alaimo joined the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NSCPAS) in August 2002 and has held several positions within his employment at the Center. Joe earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University in 2001 and then served as Literary/Marketing intern for the 2001-2002 season at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater before joining the Center in August.  After Mr. Alaimo’s appointment to full-time employment in August 2003, his position has taken on a variety of new duties to include website management, internal and external communications, and coordinating the concessions operation of the facility.  When not at the NSCPAS, Joe is fortunate enough to be involved in the Chicago theatre community as the Front of House Manager at Infamous Commonwealth Theatre.

Betty Boduch
Events Manager
Ms. Boduch joined the ranks of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NSCPAS) team in 2003 and has served as the events manager since that time. Betty’s duties include scheduling and coordinating the calendar and event details for NSCPAS resident companies and rental clients. Ms. Boduch learned the art of managing last-minute changes and juggling details as Booking Manager for an educational touring theatre as well as having been the events and office coordinator for the Illinois Theatre Association, a statewide arts advocacy organization. While not at the NCSPAS, Ms. Boduch enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband.

Meghan Higham
Director of Development/Centre East
Mrs. Higham joined the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NCSPAS) in December of 2008. In her former position as area manager for the American Cancer Society, southeast division, Mrs. Higham raised over 3 million dollars in her tenure working in support of cancer resource and patient care.  As the director of development at the Heritage School, Meghan’s duties included gala activities, creation of an annual fund and grant writing that netted the school over $250,000. While serving as box office manager and guest artist coordinator at Dominican University, Meghan planned and created all fundraising and special events that surround performances at Dominican University Performing Arts Center. Meghan, and her husband Rich, are the proud parents of Maeve and identical twin girls Anna and Quinn.

Ronald RJ Inawat
Program Manager/Centre East
Mr. Inawat joined resident presenting company Centre East as Youtheatre/Showcase manager for the 2007-2008 season before becoming an employee of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NCSPAS) in August 2008. R.J handles all aspects of the Centre East Youtheatre series and Showcase, an annual trade show for educational entertainment, plus provides general show support for Centre East feature series performances.  Prior to his work at the NSCPAS, R.J. spent two and a half years working as the manager of theatres for the Onesti Entertainment Corporation, a for-profit entertainment company, headquartered in Chicago.  As manager of theatres, he oversaw the daily operations for two Performing Arts Centers while maintaining the company website and generating advertising materials.  In addition to his work at NSCPAS, Mr. Inawat continues to perform as a freelance pianist throughout the Chicagoland area.  R.J. is a Depaul University alumnus, having earned his Bachelor of Music in Performing Arts Management and minors in both Management and Business Administration in 2005.

Heather Packard
Assistant Box Office Manager
Ms. Packard joined the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie as a box office associate in 2002 and assumed the role of assistant box office manager in 2003.  Heather graduated from Concordia University in River Forest, IL in 1997 with a BA in Elementary Education with a specialization in Speech and Theatre.  Heather spent several years teaching preschool before working as a substitute teacher for grades Pre Kindergarten through sixth grade. 

Frank Rose
Technical Director
Mr. Rose has been at the North Shore Center for Performing Arts in Skokie (NSCPAS) since its opening in November 1996.  Frank received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University.  He has free-lanced extensively in the Chicago area as a technical director, a stage manager, and as a scenic and lighting designer.  Frank was the production manager for Light Opera Works in Evanston for several years.  Before working at the NSCPAS, he taught and was the technical director/resident designer at National-Louis University in Evanston.  A few years ago, he designed the renovation of the theater at the Mayer Kaplan JCC in Skokie.  Frank has designed lights for the Attic Playhouse for the past five seasons, and recently designed lights for the Children’s Theatre of Winnetka.

Ron Weaver
Box Office Manager
Mr. Weaver has been with the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NSCPAS) since September of 2001 and has held the position of box office manager since March of 2003.  Previously, he worked in the Chicago area and around the country as an Equity stage manager and advertising copywriter.  A graduate of the Masters program in the department of Design, Technology and Management of the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign, he has been a Chicago resident for nearly 10 years.

Ardelle K. Winston
Operations Manager
Mr. Winston joined the team at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Center in Skokie (NCSPAS) in 2007 and was promoted to operations manager in December 2008.  Ardelle attended Upper Iowa University and majored in Social Science and minored in business management; from there he worked as a Youth Counselor supervisor for delinquent youth ages 11-18 for three and a half years.  Mr. Winston is married and has two daughters.  Ardelle is currently attending Oakton Community College where he is studying for a B.A in Facility Management, which he will obtain by summer 2010.  Ardelle devotes all of his time to his family and he loves a good action movie.