Bekki Jo Schneider

Since 1985, Bekki Jo Schneider has been the owner and producer of Derby Dinner Playhouse, a year-round restaurant and entertainment center with more than 100 employees that hold performances for more than 200,000 people a year.  Derby Dinner and Bekki Jo is proud to be a member of the Southern Indiana Community.  She is seen throughout the area serving and enjoying the community.

A familiar face in area theatrical circles, Ms. Schneider has amassed an extensive career wearing every hat known in the theatrical world.  As a producer and artistic director, she has done stints at Lexington Children’s Theatre, Louisville Children’s Theatre, Metroversity Summer Theatre, and The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival.  She has directed more than 200 productions in the United States and England, including Actors Theatre of Louisville.  Her performances include more than 100 roles in theatre of all types in tours in the U.S.A. and England.  Ms. Schneider has choreographed 20 musical productions, and for two years hosted a weekly show on Metroversity television.

As a teacher, Ms. Schneider has taught theatre to students from kindergarten to college level at the Lexington School, Louisville Children’s Theatre, Jefferson County Schools, Kentuckiana Metroversity, University of Kentucky, Spalding University, and the Kentucky Department of Education.  Highly in demand as a public speaker, Ms. Schneider has given more than 80 speeches on women, youth, arts and personal management.  She frequently conducts workshops on personal goal setting, career selection, and personal management.

Currently, she is a board member of the Arts and Cultural Attractions Network and the Partnership for a Cultural Economy.  She also serves on the Board of The Louisville Store and is a commissioner sitting on the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Ms. Schneider is a past president of the National Dinner Theatre Association and a past board member of Leadership Southern Indiana and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre.  Along with being a mother of three incredible children and Nana to two incredible granddaughters, Ms. Schneider is a mentor and volunteer for Presentation Academy and several other student groups.