Our History
The Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company was formed in 2004. The original founders were Jamie Macsisak, Kelly Lucas, and Justin Lazenby. The three were frustrated by the lack of quality community theater in the area and decided to try and raise the level. All three of them brought their talents from regional and professional theater to the table and a group was formed. We are a volunteer organization. Justin and Kelly Lazenby, who live in Gresham and have ‘day jobs’, became sole owners of the company in 2006.
Our name comes from the idea of ‘building’ a show from scratch (without much scratch) and creating theater as art for art’s sake. We feel we are merely the “nuts and bolts” of theater now, but someday will plan to have a professional theater for everyone that can enrich the local community for generations to come! We strive to make each show a quality production. We feel that hard work, community outreach and dedication to the dying art of hand built stagecraft and ‘from the ground up’ stage performing will assure our growth. We invite anyone to ‘come and play’ with us. We are here for everyone, wherever we happen to be!
Our Home:
The Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company (or NNB) is currently in their sixteenth season at the Boring-Damascus Grange Hall. Through their partnership with the Grange (we are s Grange members) the group is making improvements to the historic building as well as mounting four mainstage productions each year.
We also teach classes and participate in local events in our community.
The Players
Kelly Lazenby
Artistic Director
Kelly Lazenby has been involved with theater since she was five years old. She has a Marketing MBA from SDSU and has a minor in Theater. She met Justin in 2005 and they formed the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater after performing in Gresham and Sandy. They later moved the Company to the Boring-Damascus Grange Hall in 2006 and have produced over 60 productions together. They have also written original plays for their stage, one of which has been published and performed by students across the U.S. Kelly is the Artistic and Managing Director of NNB and will not rest until all 7,000 people in Boring have attended a show at Nutz-n-Boltz.
Justin Lazenby
Technical Director
Justin’s not an actor, but he plays one in real life. By day, he is a mild-mannered digital-evidence forensic examiner. By night, he is the Technical Director and co-owner of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company where he’s been employed in nearly every aspect of theatrical production, soup-to-nutz. Born in Downey, CA and raised in Eugene, OR, Justin has performed in California, Oregon, and Minnesota including such roles as Starbuck in Rainmaker, Fagin in Oliver, Jacob Marley in Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Felix Unger in Odd Couple, and Harry Roat in Wait Until Dark. Justin has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Criminalistics, which have nothing to do with theater but sound really clever at parties. He is also a member of Mensa, has a lovely wife and daughter, and thoroughly enjoys engineering odd contraptions. But enough about him. How are you?
Tobias Andersen
Director Emeritus
Tobias Andersen has been working in the theater for the last 50 years or so. He’s played seasons with such theaters as Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Playmaker’s Repertory (N.C.), ACT (Seattle), Milwaukee Repertory, California Shakespeare Festival among others–as well as appearing on every major stage in Portland. Some favorite roles would include Atticus Finch, Scrooge, Falstff, Big Daddy, Henry Higgins, Prospero and King Lear. His acclaimed portrayal of American jurist Clarence Darrow in Darrow was selected by the USIA to represent the United StatesAmerica at the 2nd International Theater Festival in Lahore, Pakistan. Hollywood years include roles on such TV classics as Little House on the Prairie, Newhart, Knot’s Landing and Bonanza. His last TVappearance was on Grimm a a priest having a very difficult time with an exorcism.
Sadly, Tobias Andersen passed away in October of 2024. We will miss him very much.