HISTORY •TEAM• MISSION• EXPERIENCE

OuR HIStory

Lime Kiln Theater is rooted in and inspired by the magic of a natural, outdoor theater. 
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In 1967, two Washington and Lee University students produced “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in an abandoned, turn of the century limestone quarry and kiln in Lexington, Virginia. Fifteen years later, the landowner donated use of the site for the establishment of a nonprofit arts organization, and thus began thousands of volunteer hours to clear the brambles, thickets, and rubble to build a theater and concert venue. From a successful first summer season in 1984, Lime Kiln expanded to an annual series that spanned over 25 years, having to temporarily cease operations due to challenging economic conditions during 2012-2013. In 2014, a newly energized Lime Kiln board led by Executive Director Spencer McElroy undertook the challenge to bring the unique performance space back to life.  

Since 2014, Lime Kiln’s Summer Concert Series has provided unforgettable experiences for over 100,000 people across 125 concerts. The Bowl, Lime Kiln's main stage, has a sellable capacity of 675 guests, selling out nearly every show over the past 10 seasons with performances from notable national acts.

STAFF

We’ve curated some stellar staff who work tirelessly to create the Lime Kiln Theater experience at each and every show.

Spencer McElroy
​EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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​​Spencer has served as Lime Kiln Theater's Executive Director since its rebirth in 2013 and is a 2009 graduate in Physics from Washington and Lee University. He has been active in the music business as a promoter since his early days in college, co-founding Elysian Fields Music Festival in 2008. Along with his work in the music business, Spencer works locally with defense contractor Dynovis, Inc. as a Principal and Director of Operations. Above all, Spencer enjoys playing guitar, and is occasionally a special guest at Lime Kiln shows.

EMILY LANEY
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

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​Emily hails from Roanoke, VA and graduated with a business degree from Virginia Tech. In her role Emily works with the Lime Kiln team to execute a successful season; including live music events, festivals and private events. Emily has helped with Lime Kiln shows for the previous three seasons, stepping into the role of Operations Director in 2023. In her spare time you can find her traveling to see live music, reading, and spending time with her dog, Paul.

JON VANCE
SITE MANAGER

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Jon, a Fairfield, VA native, attained a degree in Forestry from Virginia Tech before working on our event staff team in 2022. In 2023 he transitioned to the role of Site Manager where he maintains the Lime Kiln property, including upgrades to structures and landscaping and upkeep of the trees and historic structures. Jon loves to see the progress of his work and have it appreciated by the community. In his spare time Jon enjoys his hobby as a musician, visiting new places, and hunting and fishing whenever he can.
 

JEREMY FRANKLIN
​MARKETING COORDINATOR

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​​Jeremy has been involved with Lime Kiln for the better part of the past decade, spending six years on the board and one year as managing director before recently rejoining the staff in a marketing and communications role. A North Carolina native and adopted Virginian, he also works with Main Street Lexington, and he
broadcasts and writes about local and regional college and high school sports. Jeremy spends his free time attending concerts and music festivals.

KAYLA AUSTIN
OPERATIONS MANAGER

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From just over the mountain in Covington, VA, Kayla offers over 15 years of experience working in production and live performance operations. Although her heart lives on the stages she manages, she has found a new excitement and passion for bringing shows and events to life at Lime Kiln. When she's not working hard to ensure top-notch artist and patron experiences, you can find her chasing her best life alongside her wife, teenage boys, rescue pups, and the tribe that is her chosen family.

BOARD

With their diverse backgrounds, experience, and shared love of local arts in Rockbridge County, our board is
​an incredible group of people all committed to preserving, improving, and promoting Lime Kiln Theater.

Chuck Smith
board PRESIDENT

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Chuck has been a supporter of Lime Kiln since moving to Lexington from Atlanta back in 1991. You might know him from Washington Street Purveyors, which he opened in 1996. Chuck is currently serving his third term on Lexington City Council, and he also pinch-hits as a substitute teacher. This is his second year on the Lime Kiln board, and he also serves with other organizations that promote recreation and tourism in Rockbridge County. Chuck enjoys hiking with his family, golf, travel, music, and cooking.

JAMES OWENS
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

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​James was born and raised in Augusta, GA. He moved to the Isle of Palms, SC, as a teenager. Having the opportunity to see bands perform in the various venues along the beach front led to his love of seeing live acts. He is a graduate of the College of
Charleston where he met his wife, Lucia.

He moved to Lexington in 1987 to start his career with Sigma Nu Fraternity and currently serves as the Chief Advancement Officer for the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation. James is an avid golfer and served multiple
terms on the Lexington Golf and Country Club board including the position of President.
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He listens to a wide variety of music genres and enjoys attending live music events.
James is member of “The Clarksdale Three,” a group of friends that make an annual
blues-immersion pilgrimage to Clarksdale, MS, the birthplace of the blues.

Michele Hentz
Board TREASURER

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​​A native of Sleepy Hollow, New York, Michele has lived in Lexington since 1997. While new to the board, her love for theater and music drew her to Lime Kiln right away, as she served as the Development Director from 1997-99 and then as a FOLK. Michele's previous board experience includes Hull's Angels, Woods Creek Montessori, and Rockbridge Area Department of Social Services. She was also a member of Lexington City Council from 2017-20. Michele has over 35 years of work experience in non-profit development and finance management, including locally for Habitat for Humanity and Rockbridge Area Hospice. She is currently CFO at Rockbridge Area Health Center. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, travel, and attending performing arts events.

MANDY MILLER
Board SECRETARY

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Mandy is a Rockbridge County native who attended James Madison University, earning a degree in Economics & Finance. She is currently the Office Manager at Southern Inn Restaurant and has worked there for over 20 years.  Mandy has previously served on the Main Street Lexington Board and is currently serving on several committees in the community including The Freedom Food Festival and the Bull & Oyster Festival.  She understands what a treasured asset Lime Kiln Theater is and is excited to be involved it’s development.  In her free time you will probably find her hanging out by the river at her home in Rockbridge Baths. ​.

SARAH CENTORINO
​​BOARD MEMBER

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Born and raised in New Orleans, Sarah first fell in love with the Rockbridge area when she attended Washington and Lee University. After graduating from W&L, she earned a master's degree in marketing from the University of Virginia, going on to pursue a career in public relations and marketing in her native Louisiana. In 2019, she and her husband, Scott, found an opportunity to return to the Shenandoah Valley, and since then they've been living happily ever after in Lexington. Sarah loves the area for its history, natural beauty, and its wonderful people and music. She is vice president of the board of the United Way of Rockbridge and the Rockbridge Alumni Chapter of W&L. ​

​​​TOM LOVELL
​BOARD MEMBER

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A graduate of Washington and Lee University, Tom returned to Lexington in 2000 by way of San Diego and his native Cleveland, OH.

​For more than 20 years, Tom planned major events, designed and led alumni chapter programming, and cultivated constituency relationships in W&L’s Office of Alumni Engagement. He co-founded and operated Blue Lab Brewing Company, cultivating a live music scene in Lexington during its seven-year run, and is currently following his long-time passion for rugby as a
consultant for several rugby organizations. He lives in Lexington with his wife, Wendy, and has two adult
children. Tom’s wide-ranging interests include music, travel, sunshine, rugby, and beer. He’s excited to support one of the best live music venues in the South.

BLAKE SHESTER
Board Member

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Blake is a Southern California native whose love of playing the banjo inspired him to uproot and move to Nashville after graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Biology. He and his family moved to Lexington from Tennessee in 2011 to work at W&L where his wife is a professor and he works in IT.

​In addition to music, Blake enjoys running daily, spending time outdoors, and being a member of the Lexington community. He serves on the local elementary school PTA, Boxerwood Education Board of Directors, and enjoys coaching youth sports. Though he has been an avid music fan his entire life and attended many great concerts and festivals, he feels nothing beats the “Lime Kiln Magic” of being in the Bowl with friends and community and experiencing the highest caliber artists at their peak performance.

monika dickens
​Board Member

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Monika holds degrees in Arts and Communications from the University of Munich, after which she owned an advertising agency in Germany before moving to the US. She's worked a variety of jobs including Manager of the Troubadour (W&L), Fundraising for VMI Foundation, and SVU. She also served as manager of the VMI Student Union for 20 years. Retired since 2018, Monika is still involved in special projects at VMI and has been a steadfast volunteer at Lime Kiln through the years. 

George Huger
Board Member

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George is a Lexington native who has been attending shows at Lime Kiln since its inception in 1984. He has worked to support the theater in several different capacities throughout the years, from serving on the board to feeding the artists who perform at the venue. George and his wife Sue Ann purchased the Southern Inn Restaurant in 1998, and he continues to work as the chef and owner for the Lexington institution. He supports Lime Kiln because "it is great to have such incredible talent in our small town."

CLaiboUrnE EDWARDS
​Board Member

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Claibourne is a Rockbridge County native, and has been attending Lime Kiln shows with her family since she was a child. Claibourne graduated from Meredith College, with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing, before returning to Lexington in 2006. She is currently an administrator and agent at J.F. Brown Real Estate Services. Prior to joining J.F. Brown Real Estate Services in 2017, she worked in land conservation for over eleven years. Claibourne previously served on the board for the Waddell PTA (2019-2022), and is currently serving on the boards for Lexington Lacrosse/ LexLax Lightning and Rockbridge Highland Realtors. In her free time she enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her husband, Michael, and their three children. 

​Clark SimCOE
BOARD MEMBER

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Clark has been visiting Rockbridge County since 2002 and he graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2011. He has lived in New Orleans, Seattle, and Denver but Rockbridge County has always been his second home since his parents retired to Lexington in 2010. In the summer of 2022, Clark and his family made the permanent move to Lexington. He has always been passionate about music and is excited to help grow and preserve the unique and remarkable venue of Lime Kiln. He works as a Registered Dietitian at Washington and Lee University and enjoys skiing, biking, cooking, gardening, winemaking, and general tinkering. 

JENN COX
​Board Member

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Born in Southern Illinois and raised in Upstate New York, Jennifer was drawn to New York City to study urban and regional transportation planning. Holding both a Masters in Geography and Urban Planning and a Doctorate in Earth and Environmental Science, Jenn has worked in public, private and nonprofit planning and policy positions leading the sustainable movement of goods and people. She currently works at EnergySolutions as the Logistics Market Lead, designing transportation and disposition programs to support environmental clean-ups. 

Jenn first discovered the Shenandoah Valley when she worked for Norfolk Southern Railroad in Roanoke. She moved to Lexington in 2022 and quickly experienced the magic of the Lime Kiln Theater. Jenn is also a Board Member of the Rockbridge County SPCA, as well a member of the Lexington Golf and Country Club, serving as Secretary of the Ladies Golf Association. In her spare time, Jenn enjoys hanging with her two corgis, traveling, cooking, and gardening. 

​​erica ingersoll
BOARD MEMBER

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Erica was born and raised in coastal Maine. After graduating from Washington and Lee University, she stayed in Lexington to work with small businesses. In 2021, she started working at the W&L School of Law. Erica has previously served on the boards of Yellow Brick Road and Lexington Lacrosse. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and listening to live music.

​​CLIFF JARRETT
BOARD MEMBER

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Cliff grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and is a graduate of the Washington and Lee University School of Law. He and his family moved to Lexington in 2014, where he worked in the Law School’s career office for 10 years. While a lawyer in his former life, Jarrett is currently a legal recruiter for an international law firm and is fortunate to work from his home in Rockbridge County. 

Cliff has been drawn to music his whole life - from playing the saxophone in school bands to taking voice lessons, which ultimately paid off in his one (and only) on-stage appearance singing lead in Gimme Three Steps with a local Charlotte band. Cliff and his family have been attending Lime Kiln events for over a decade and have fallen in love with watching the variety of music and theater in such a unique venue.

​MIKE ORRISON
BOARD MEMBER

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Mike relocated to the Rockbridge County area in 1997 from McLean, Virginia. He and his family currently live on a farm in Natural Bridge. Mike has always enjoyed music, and he began his relationship with Lime Kiln as a patron and volunteer. As Lime Kiln gained energy and momentum and the music became more lively and fun, Mike grew more involved.

His business, Orrison Tree Service, was a season sponsor for several years. Mike joined the board in 2025, and he looks forward to continuing to help the venue grow. In addition to his love of music, Mike enjoys his work being outdoors and being involved in his community.

Our mission

Lime Kiln Theater is a non-profit organization that enriches the community's culture by producing and presenting the arts in our unique historic spaces.

THE LIME KILN EXPERIENCE

Attending a show at Lime Kiln is a unique and immersive experience. The natural stone walls, trees, and stars overhead blend perfectly with the folk, roots, and bluegrass tunes that cast a spell and get toes tapping in our audience every season. Our Bowl venue holds 675 guests on our wooden benches and grassy spaces, giving you the option to bring your own chairs and blanket and get cozy.

​Each season we host area food trucks and open our doors over an hour before the show begins, giving you time to catch up with friends over delicious local fare. We also partner with local breweries and wineries to provide a wide assortment of beer, wine, and cider. More than just a concert, attending a show at Lime Kiln Theater is a one-of-a-kind experience, and one we hope you enjoy over and over again.

Lime Kiln Theater is rooted in and inspired by the magic of a natural, outdoor theater. ​

"At Lime Kiln, you're surrounded by trees and mountains and chirping birds. It's an exception to the usual outdoor or festival gig."

WATCHHOUSE
​(MANDOLIN ORANGE)

"The combination of a  natural kind of music with a natural setting, you've got that at Lime Kiln, it's just a
slam dunk." 

DARRELL SCOTT

MORE INFO?

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