Influential Women spotlights Orlando production veteran Kathy Wiebe

Influential Women is highlighting Kathy Wiebe, a 30-plus-year entertainment and production leader whose work spans lighting design, stage management, technical direction and education in Orlando. Her profile underscores both the demand for experienced live-production talent and the mentorship role veteran women play in a changing industry. Why it matters: - Kathy Wiebe’s career shows how technical expertise, adaptability and leadership can carry a professional across live entertainment, theatre, theme parks and education. - Her work also highlights a broader industry issue: experienced production professionals are trying to stay competitive as employers lean more heavily on younger, lower-cost talent. - Her focus on mentoring young women adds another layer of impact in a field that remains predominantly male. What happened: - Influential Women featured Kathy Wiebe, a veteran entertainment and production professional with more than 30 years of experience. - Wiebe currently works as an L1 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando. - She is also Opera Orlando’s 2026/27 season Production Manager. - Wiebe works with the City of Orlando at Lake Eola Amphitheater as a lighting programmer and lighting designer. - Her career began after a personal connection led to early roles at SeaWorld. The details: - Wiebe’s background includes lighting design, stage management, technical production and technical operations. - She has worked across live performance, theatrical production, theme parks, cruise ship new builds with Norwegian Cruise Line, regional theatres and educational institutions. - She co-owned an architectural and theatrical dimming and control business, building expertise in lighting systems and technical infrastructure. - As Technical Director at Montverde Academy, she created a conservatory technical theatre track aimed at preparing students for college and professional careers. - Students in that program went on to gain admission to top-tier technical theatre programs. - Her portfolio includes work with Orlando Shakes and the University of Central Florida. - Colleagues describe her approach as calm under pressure, hands-on and detail-driven. Between the lines: - Wiebe’s career path reflects how technical theatre often rewards broad, cross-functional experience rather than a single specialty. - Her emphasis on punctuality, integrity and accountability mirrors the expectations of live production, where missed cues and weak coordination can affect an entire show. - Her advice to young women — ask questions, seek mentorship, arrive prepared and build supportive networks — points to the importance of access as much as talent. - Her concern about ageism suggests the industry may be losing institutional knowledge when budgets prioritize short-term labor costs over experience. What’s next: - Wiebe is set to continue her work in Orlando through her roles at the Dr. Phillips Center, Opera Orlando and Lake Eola Amphitheater. - Her ongoing mentoring suggests she will remain part of the talent pipeline for future technical theatre professionals. - Her profile on Influential Women offers more background on her career and perspective: More information . The bottom line: - Kathy Wiebe’s profile is both a career retrospective and a reminder that seasoned technical leaders remain essential to live entertainment, especially when they also help train the next generation.