11/27/2025
🦃✨ This Thanksgiving, We Give Thanks to the Magic Makers of Dayton’s 8th Floor Holiday Shows ✨🦃
Today, as families gather in gratitude, we pause to honor the extraordinary staff from Dayton’s, Marshall Field’s, and Macy’s who brought the legendary 8th Floor Holiday displays to life. Your creativity, dedication, and artistry gave generations the gift of joy, nostalgia, and enduring holiday magic.
Dayton’s Leadership: Stew Widdess, Senior Vice President • Karen Bohnhoff, Vice President
Marshall Field’s & Macy’s Leadership: Jamie Becker, Vice President & Executive Producer • Michael Gansmoe, Group VP & Executive Producer • Robin Hall, Senior Vice President • William Schermerhorn, Vice President
Production Team: John Gantert, Production Director • Donna Bachman, Production Director • Todd Knaeble, Production Manager • Chris Levy, Production Manager • Paul Anthony, Production Manager • Liam Schaffer, Production Manager
Special Events: Judy Toback, Special Events Manager • Pauline Altermat, Special Events Manager
Design: Fredrick (Rick) Walsh, Lead, Sets • Jack Barkla, Lead, Scenic • Jack Edwards, Costume • Lyle Jackson, Costume • Dan Mackerman, Characters • Mark Coleman, Animation & Fabrication • Maggie Belle Calin, Props • Constance Crawford, Props • Michael Murnane, Lighting • Michael Gansmoe, Composer & Sound
Figures: Dan Mackerman, Lead • Kevin Noteboom • Keith Koefod • Ray Dodd • Mary Dodd • David Spaeth • Sandy Spaeth
Props: Maggie Belle Calin, Lead • Constance Crawford, Lead • Phillip Park • Veronique Johnson • Betsy Thayer • Rebecca Tendik • Natasha Drexler • Sasha Thayer • Ron Albert • Janet Lewis • Peter Tawficke • Katherine Gregory • Denise Dooley • Chris Drescher • Patricia O’Leary • Mary Zimmerman
Carpentry: Fredrick (Rick) Walsh, Lead (The Show Co) • Myron Mortell, Technical Director • Scott Vreeland, Technical Director • Mark Scamp, Technical Director • Randy Smith • Todd Knaeble • Todd Skallerup • Chris Eichrod • Dale Whiele • Kelly Newman • Don Watson • Ken Palko • Chris Drexler • Molly Diers • Cecilia Schiller
Costumes: Jack Edwards, Lead • Lyle Jackson, Lead • Ellen Roeder • Ellen Townes • Bill Henry • Beth Sanders • Yancey Thrift • Renalie Bailey • Rebecca Tendick • Molly Ryan • Jeanie Galioto • Gail Runge • Mark Caligiuri • Thea Ennen • Joseph Barrows
Animation & Fabrication: Gene Olson, Lead • Mark Coleman, Lead • Pete Bohlman • Rick Chessman • Rocko Macdougal • Zack Zniewski
Set Painting: Debra Jenson, Lead • Nance Derby-Davidson, Lead • Lilli Payne • Sasha Thayer • Goodrun Lock • Cathy Davis • Cher La Ferniere • Kate Sullivan • Norine Joy Francis • Monica Fogg • Constance Crawford • Denise Dooley • Dan Smith • Lois Rhomberg • Sarah Herman • Kay Blassingame
Set Sculptures: Fredrick (Rick) Walsh • Jimmy Van Norman • Dan Mackerman
Support: Michael Pittman • Chris Johnson • Phil Shell • Kevin Knaeble • Kirk Johnson • Zack Zniewski • W***y Devitt • Bill Devitt • Craig Langsdorf • Tom “Tippy” Roth • Greg Ross • Pete Torgerson
Scenic Art, Trompe‑l’oeil, Signage: Maggie Belle Calin, Lead • Michael Bolin, Lead • Jack Barkla • Dan Mackerman • Michael Schmidt • Davy Duke • Phil Docken • Lilli Payne • Nance Derby-Davidson • Todd Miska
Lighting: Michael Murnane, Lead • Diane Galvin • Chris Levy • Emily Bloudek • Evan Murnane • Cloe Murnane • Lutz Gock • Cory Shubert • Toby Tobias • Dwayne Schuller • Michael DeBlazzi
Sound: Michael Gansmoe, Lead • Jeff Pedersen • Rob Foy • Kevin Hovey • Jack Nunsinger
Show Maintenance: Zack Zniewski • Mark Coleman • Dan Smith
Writing: Tom Olson
🍂 From leadership to production, design to carpentry, costumes to sound—every name here represents countless hours of imagination and dedication. On this Thanksgiving, we honor you all. Your legacy continues to inspire wonder and joy in our community.
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