I never set out to start a business. As a mom of 2 boys ages 6 and 8, and a husband whose job took him to North Dakota 3 weeks at a time, my plate was already more than full.

 

In the winter of 2024, my sister threw me a birthday party in an old Cleary building on our property that had been sitting empty collecting dust since we bought the place, until we decorated it for that night. 

 

Somewhere between the dancing, the live Irish music, the candlelight, and the way the space breathed when it was full of people, I realized there was magic here. The workshop was no longer just a room; it had become a place that invited connection, creativity, and warmth.

 

Something in me knew I had to share that feeling. From there, the idea for In The Pines Studio grew, but also out of something very real and necessary: my need to create, and to give others a place to do the same.

 

The transformation was raw and hands-on. I did everything myself. There was no bathroom or plumbing attached, so I built a compost outhouse entirely from pallet boards and scrap wood. I painted half the interior of the studio black to replicate a stage area. I hunted for vintage furniture and strange little treasures to fill the space. Having no budget for any of this, most things were found on the side of the road, or at Goodwill. Blood, sweat and the odd tear brought it closer to what I could feel it wanted to be: a place for people to gather, to be inspired, and to create.

 

Over the next year, I hosted live music nights, a monthly cinema club, community gatherings and art galleries. But beautiful as it was, the effort was enormous, and the return - at least financially - was small. I began to wonder what else I could offer, something uniquely my own that the community might truly need.

 

That’s when the idea for drama and storytelling classes took hold.   

 

I quickly found that this kind of opportunity simply doesn’t exist here: professional-level drama and storytelling classes, taught by working artists.

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This is when I brought my husband on to help me. He is a professional filmmaker, and that is actually how we met: he cast me in his first feature film back in 2013. He has now come on as a teacher for the teen classes, and will be empowering them to take creative risks and lean into the unknown; along with on camera exercises and screenwriting opportunities.

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What motivates me to do this is the gap I see all around me. Kids and teens here have sports teams and after-school clubs, but they don’t have access to the kind of training and creative opportunities that could help them build confidence, resilience, and imagination. In this time when youth are struggling with anxiety and disconnection, these classes give them a safe place to explore, connect, and be seen. And because Matthew and I are also filmmakers, our students have the rare chance to take what they learn in class and step into our film projects. That bridge between training and professional opportunity is what makes our studio truly unique.

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I believe In The Pines Studio can become a birthplace of raw, fearless Midwestern talent - young actors and writers who might never otherwise discover their potential. We’re already planning to select a teen-written story to produce into a feature film in 2026, giving a young writer professional on-screen credit and mentorship. Our vision is to become a hub for creativity and artistry right here in the heart of the Midwest.

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But there are definitely challenges. Building trust in and around our community requires 24/7 hands-on commitment. Like other women entrepreneurs, I juggle raising my children, managing the household (with numerous pets), and running this business.

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Still, I know I am onto something transformative. My plan now is to expand our programs, reach more families, and give kids here the same kind of creative opportunities you’d find in New York or Los Angeles.

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In The Pines Studio, for me, is about creating a place where imagination is nurtured, and where the next generation of voices can rise.

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