Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Siple.
Hi Cindy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For me, the stage has always been more than a place for costumes and lights — it has been the setting for nearly every chapter of my life. Today, as the Managing Director of The Players Theatre Company at the historic Owen Theatre in downtown Conroe, I continue my mission of inspiring others through storytelling, education, and the transformative power of the arts.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I discovered my love of performing at an early age. I trained with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and later apprenticed with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, experiences that ignited a lifelong passion for the arts. That passion guided me to Penn State University, where I earned a degree in Theatre, and then to the University of Pittsburgh for a Master’s in Teaching. My career soon expanded to regional and touring theatres across the country, including Flat Rock Playhouse, Asolo State Theatre, Southeastern Theatrical Productions, Patchwork Players, and GEM Productions. I also served as an artist-in-residence in South Carolina, where I shared the power of performance with young audiences. From the very beginning, my path has been about balancing education, inspiration, and artistry — cultivating both a life on stage and a legacy beyond it.
For more than 20 years, I was an educator, teaching students from PreK all the way to college seniors at Sam Houston State University. Most recently, I served as a music teacher in Montgomery ISD, where I directed choirs, mentored young teachers, and helped generations of children find their creative voices. Along the way, I was honored to be recognized as Region 6 Teacher of the Year, Montgomery ISD Teacher of the Year, Taco Cabana Teacher of the Year, and as an H-E-B Excellence in Education State Finalist. In 2024, I retired from teaching — closing one chapter of my life so I could open another: helping to guide the future of The Players Theatre Company.
The Players Theatre Company has been my second home for over 20 years. Audiences have laughed with me in Calendar Girls, cried with me in Steel Magnolias, and sang along with me in Godspell, among many others. In my time with The Players, I have been blessed to create over 30 different characters, and I have worked alongside brilliant theatre mentors including Joe Viser, Grace Thompson, Don Hampton, and Charlie Trotter. Throughout my career, I’ve also directed, choreographed, stage managed, and produced productions, always with a single goal — to educate, entertain, and bring people together.
But my vision extends beyond traditional theatre. One of my proudest achievements is bringing The Penguin Project to The Players Theatre Company — a program that pairs artists with disabilities with peer mentors to perform a full-scale musical. For me, it’s theatre at its most powerful: breaking down barriers, building confidence, and creating community.
My life has been full of adventure, both on and off the stage. Before teaching full time, I worked as an international flight attendant for Continental Airlines, traveling the world and — in Madrid — meeting the love of my life. My husband and I have been married for 31 years, and today we live on the Flying S Ranch in Conroe, raising cattle, goats, horses, and any other animal that wanders onto our property, while watching our three children flourish as an engineer, a trauma nurse, and a pilot.
Now, in my role as Managing Director, I have the privilege of guiding The Players Theatre Company into its 60th season and beyond. Theatre has always transformed me, and I believe it transforms everyone it touches. It teaches empathy, courage, and connection. I feel blessed to have lived my life in its light — and even more blessed to help ensure it shines for generations to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a nonprofit theatre company is both rewarding and challenging. Like many arts organizations, The Players Theatre Company relies on donations, sponsorships, and community support to survive — and producing quality shows is expensive. Between royalties, costumes, sets, and technical needs, the costs add up quickly. On top of that, we compete not only with other live entertainment but also with the convenience of streaming at home. One of our biggest hurdles is simply making sure people know who we are and where we are. After moving across the street and changing our name, there’s still confusion in the community about our identity — even though The Players has been here for nearly 60 years.
We also face the growing pains of balancing tradition with progress. It’s important to welcome new people and fresh ideas while still honoring the history and legacy of those who built this company. Serving a diverse and ever-changing community means finding the right balance between mainstream titles and innovative programming. Space is another challenge — we don’t own our building, so rehearsal rooms, storage, and smaller performance spaces are limited, and there’s always the uncertainty of what the future might bring.
On a personal level, I’ve had to learn how to balance my lifelong love of theatre with the realities of making a living and raising a family. Community theatre has been the perfect place for that. Despite the obstacles, the rewards are immense. Once people walk through our doors, they almost always return — because live theatre offers something streaming never can: connection, emotion, and inspiration shared in real time. And that’s what keeps me going — bringing theatre to anyone I can reach and keeping it alive for generations to come.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As Managing Director of The Players Theatre Company, I am passionate about using theatre to inspire, educate, and connect. Since 1967, The Players has enriched lives through the power of live theatre, producing diverse and engaging performances that entertain, educate, and inspire while fostering cultural vitality and community spirit. I oversee the company’s operations while focusing on its larger mission — bringing quality live theatre to the community. For me, the best part of the job is getting out into the community, sharing what the theatre offers, building relationships, and showing how the arts can transform lives. Through both the mainstage season and outreach programs like The Penguin Project, I try to work to ensure that theatre at The Players Theatre Company is more than entertainment — it’s an experience that educates, uplifts, unites, and strengthens community.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Houston is the passion and pride Houstonians have for their city. The diversity here is incredible — every culture brings its own traditions, food, and celebrations, and there are endless opportunities to share and learn from one another. I love the vibrancy of the arts community, from the world-class Theatre District to grassroots performance groups, the strong music and visual arts scenes, and of course the energy around our sports teams. And nothing beats good old-fashioned Texas friendliness — it makes Houston feel like home.
What I love least is hurricane season when the skies open up, the rain seems like it will never end. After losing our home and nearly everything we owned during Hurricane Harvey, the possibility of flooding will probably always sit at the top of my “least favorite” list. But, of course, I can’t be a Houstonian if I don’t say I hate the traffic….and I certainly do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.playerstheatrecompany.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playerstheatrecompany/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePlayersTheatreCompany/
