A Family Story That Became a Legacy

Ross & Jill Cunniff and 30 Years of Debut Theatre

For Ross and Jill Cunniff, Debut Theatre has never been just a place you go; it’s a place you grow into.

Their story began in 1994 with a single performance of The Snow Queen. Like so many Debut stories, it only took one moment. Their older daughter sat in the audience, and by the end of the show, she turned to them and said, “I want to do that.”

And just like that, everything changed.

What started as a single moment of inspiration and curiosity became a decades-long connection. One that would shape not only their family, but the broader community as well.

Eventually, both of their daughters joined Debut Theatre Company, moving through the classes and into Debut Players. Along the way, Ross and Jill watched something deeper than theatrical skill take root.

They saw confidence grow. Voices strengthen. Identities form. “They learned how to express themselves, how to stand in front of people,” Ross shared. “That kind of confidence stays with you.”

From the Audience to Behind the Lens

Ross and Jill didn’t stay in their seats for long. As their daughters became more involved, they found themselves drawn in too.

With a background in nature photography and a growing curiosity about digital cameras, they discovered their own way to contribute. At first, it was simple: capturing candid moments during performances—the blink-and-you-miss-it expressions that make live theatre so special.

Before long, that small offering became something much more.

They became storytellers behind the scenes, documenting everything from cast and group photos to full videography, preserving not just productions, but the memories families would carry with them for years.

“A theater show is a little like wildlife photography,” Ross says. “You’re always ready to click the shutter button.”

The comparison fits. Like nature, theatre is alive and unpredictable. A single expression, a burst of laughter, a perfectly timed line. These moments come and go in an instant unless someone is there to catch them.

For decades, that someone was Ross and Jill.

And their involvement didn’t stop behind the camera. During their daughters’ time in Players, they stepped into the technical side as well, helping build a boat and a self-propelled car for Wind in the Willows, and creating puppets for productions like The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The Little Mermaid.

They weren’t just capturing the magic. They were helping create it.

Why Debut — and Why It Matters

So what keeps someone connected to a place like Debut for more than thirty years?

For Ross, it comes down to something fundamental. “Artistic creativity is what genuinely separates humans from every other species.” It’s a bold statement, but one that speaks to the heart of what Debut Theatre represents.  

For Jill, the connection is just as personal. She found herself continually energized by the experience and the way it stretched her own creativity alongside the actors.

And that’s the heart of it. Debut isn’t just a place where kids perform. It’s a place where they create.

The troupe structure invites young people into every part of the process, from costumes and character development to set design and technical direction. They aren’t simply following instructions; they’re shaping the experience themselves and learning what it means to bring an idea to life as a team.

And interestingly, it’s not unlimited freedom that fuels that creativity; it’s structure.

“Creativity works better under some constraint,” Ross explains. “A little adversity sharpens it.”

That balance, freedom within limits, is where growth happens. It challenges young people to think differently, collaborate more deeply, and discover what they’re capable of, on stage and beyond it.

A Community That Stays With You

What Ross and Jill found at Debut wasn’t just a program; it was a community. A deeply local, homegrown community that brings people together across schools, backgrounds, and generations for a common purpose: to share an artistic vision.

Bringing people together from Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor, representing all high schools, charter schools, and homeschools, is, as Ross puts it,“...a little leveling. They’re all in it together.”

And that’s what makes it so powerful.

In a world that often feels divided, DTC creates a space where connection comes first, where kids collaborate, support each other, and build something meaningful as a team.

The Cunniffs didn’t just believe in that mission. They supported it. Through their time, their talents, and even financial contributions, they’ve worked to ensure Debut remains accessible so that more families, regardless of circumstances, have the chance to be part of something special.

Moments That Stay With You

After decades of involvement, you might expect them to name a favorite show. But that’s nearly impossible.

Ross recalls the atmosphere of Dracula, the costumes in Coyote Tales, and the set design in James and the Giant Peach.  The first production his granddaughter saw, Henry and Ramona, stands out for the joy he witnessed as she watched the story unfold on stage.  Each production holds its own set of memories, challenges, and triumphs. 

And sometimes, it’s the smallest moments that stick.

A single line from The Fall of the House of Usher–“Mad Tryst - how appropriate!”-- still makes them laugh. Some of Jill’s favorite moments were when something minor went wrong in the show, like a lost shoe, a missing wig, and the actors seamlessly adapted, never breaking the magic.

That’s the thing about theatre. It stays with you in the grand performances, and in the quiet, unexpected moments you carry long after the curtain falls.

Looking Ahead

After decades of climbing ladders, running cameras, building sets, and saying “yes” wherever they were needed, Ross and Jill are beginning to step back from the day-to-day work.

But they don’t see that as an ending. They see it as part of the process.

“It’s an opportunity,” Ross said. “For someone else to step in, bring new energy, new ideas.”

They’ve always believed that what makes Debut strong is its ability to renew itself. To make space for the next generation of leaders, creators, and volunteers.  And they’re excited for what’s ahead.

With a vision for an Arts Centre offering expanded space and broader community access, they see Debut continuing to grow—not just in size, but in impact.

“How do you make sure something like this lasts?” Ross reflected. “You build it so it can outlast you.” It’s a simple, but powerful idea. And one that their three decades of involvement have helped make possible.

The Legacy They Leave

Thirty years after that first performance, the Cunniffs’ connection to Debut spans generations. From their daughters’ earliest roles to their granddaughter’s first experience in the audience.

And while they’ve helped tell thousands of stories, their own stands as a quiet, powerful reminder of what’s possible when passion meets purpose.

They believe in Debut's vision for a new home, one that expands access, welcomes community partners, and ensures what's been built here doesn't just survive, but grows.

Ross and Jill were never trying to be the whole story. They were helping make sure the story continues.