Co-Founders

Steve Roenker

Steve Roenker, co-founder and program director of My Nose Turns Red Theatre Company. He has 30+ years of experience as a performer and arts educator. His childhood’s great clowns and physical comedians sparked Steve’s interest in the theatrical clown and youth circus. The list includes Lucille Ball, Desi Arnez, Red Skelton, Sid Caesar, and the entire cast of Your Show of Shows. He shares the photo with co-founder and director Jean St. John.

Jean St. John

Co-founder, and volunteer began working with Steve Roenker in Lexington, Kentucky in 1980. By 1984, they moved to Cincinnati and officially incorporated as My Nose Turns Red Theatre Company. Jean studied mime from E. Reid Gilbert and clowning with Avner Eisenberg. Together Jean and Steve toured for 15 years performing as Juice and Shootang, their clown characters, for schools, libraries, special events, performing arts series, and conferences. Their work included in-school residencies with the Kentucky Arts Council and professional development for teachers. Jean continues to be inspired by the youth as they learn new skills, become team members and share their talents with others. Having worked in youth circus long enough to see many students graduate high school, attend college and start their own careers, she is impressed with the values it instills by challenging physical skills, developing leadership and teamwork, and demanding dedication—all through the joy of performance. Jean was hired as the executive director on April 1, 2019.

Circus Youth in Action – Teen coaches 

Circus Youth in Action (CYA) is My Nose Turns Red’s teen leadership program. Members are a part of MNTR’s Advanced Circus Ensemble. They receive instruction on safety, giving instruction, etc. as well as developing solo and group acts. CYA members are valuable members of MNTR’s teaching staff. Many serve as assistant instructors at camps and after-school programs.

Coaching Staff

Natalie Murphy 

Natalie Murphy is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University where she has a theatre degree and a minor in dance. She has recently completed 80-hour social circus coaching training from Cirque du Monde at SANCA Seattle. Natalie has been studying circus since she was five years old. She likes circus because it is a non-competitive way to stay active. She also likes the opportunity to coach younger children. Natalie coaches the  4-7-year-olds, beginning circus class, wire, and hoop. She is the assistant coach for all of the after-school circus sites.

Dan Burkey

Dan Burkey designs joyful experiences to bridge academic and arts learning between the classroom, theatre, video space, circus ring, and game table. His classroom experience includes 8 years teaching with The Étude Group, a K-12 charter built on the principles of arts integration and visible thinking. In 2012, he founded Mad Yarn Theatre Company to bring offbeat, community-driven theatre to his then-home in Sheboygan, WI. As a circus artist, he collaborated with Warped Dance Company.

Mike Dixon

Mike started riding a unicycle in 1985 and joined the Triton Troupers College Circus in 1990. He has been an instructor with My Nose Turns Red since 2024. He loves seeing kids learn new skills and grow in their confidence, and the chance to pass on his love of circus arts to others.

Reid Elliott

Reid is an alumnus who graduated in 2024. He has been coaching the Hyde Park After-School and DCCH Center for Children & Families. Reid continues to inspire us with his creative circus skills.

Board of Directors

  • Product Developer & Sensory Scientist Proctor & Gamble

    Other Affiliations: None

  • Partner
    Robbins Kelly Patterson & Tucker LPA

    Other Affiliations: YMCA Adventure Guides Program, Cincinnati BAR Foundation 

  • Associate Senior Interior Designer Champlin Architecture

    Other Affiliations: Volunteer, American Heart Association Boardway Bound Graduate

  • Past My Nose Turns Red President Judicial Law Clerk

    Other Affiliations: President, Art League of Cincinnati

  • Lumin Digital, In-House Corporate Counsel

    Other Affiliations: Tiger Lily Press, Pro-Bono, Mentoring students at the UC College of Law Entrepreneurship and Community Development She is a Boardway Bound graduate

  • State of Ohio employee, former grantee of People Liberty. Mother of alumni John Dyehouse.

    Other Affiliations: None

  • She is a current parent of two students and one alumni student. Director of the Cincinnati Highland Dancers.

"MNTR provides a community of creative people with whom Tony feels free to try new styles or exchange creative thoughts. The co-founders often collaborate with specialty performers to teach skills such as trapeze and German Wheel. Tony has learned the responsibility of preparing his materials and supplies. He can adapt confidently to different venues and audiences. Most important to me is that he gives himself permission to fail, even in front of audiences, when he knows that he is pushing himself to master a new skill."

Greg Nelson

School Outfitters