Staff
The folks who keep Firebird flying, our staff is currently 100% volunteer based.
Artistic Director
Tristan Buss
Tristan is a librarian by day, theatre practitioner by night. He is a current employee and alumnus of Western Colorado University, having received a History degree while serving as the first student artistic director for Western Theatre Company. After a long pandemic-induced break of three years, he returned to theatre with Firebird’s inaugural production of Twelfth Night. Since then, Tristan’s acted and occasionally directed in shows with Firebird like All in the Timing, Sleuth, Macbeth, and A Christmas Carol. He’s excited to show the Gunnison Valley just what Firebird has in store next!
managing Director
JoAnn Buss
Marketing Manager (Social Media)
Hannah Valian
Hannah is the offspring of a Crested Butte actress and a stage lighting designer who bestowed upon her the privilege of growing up somewhere between the hallowed walls of The Mallardi Theater and the tiny dressing rooms of the old Center for the Arts (RIP). Although she dabbled in acting in her youth, she prefers running around backstage, offstage, above the stage, or anywhere that isn’t the stage. She was recently part of the run crew for the local production of Silent Sky where she reignited her love for being around theater nerds. She has been a coordinator and marketing lead for several art shows and events at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and also spent a couple of years as the social media coordinator for the Rose City Hockey Club out of Portland, OR. She is also obsessed with her cats… who definitely also love her back.
Literary Manager
Jimmy Utley
Jimmy handles play selection and dramaturgy. He grew up in Kansas City, Missouri but has lived in Boston, Japan, Hawaii, and Taiwan. Having acted in high school and college, he rediscovered his love of theater in Crested Butte and has appeared in several plays there. Possessing a wide acting range, he is often cast as a nebbishy Dracula. Come ogle him at a theater, liquor store, or coffee shop near you.
Grant Writer