Welcome to my website.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself.
I have been a Shikellamy Brave and a Penn State Nittany Lion since the 70's. I was born and raised in Sunbury and graduated from Shikellamy HS in 1971. I spent the next three years at University Park as a Communications/Theatre/Education major. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Penn State University in 1974, and began my teaching career at Shikellamy High School. During the late 70's through the 80's, I taught theatre, speech, and communication arts, directed more than forty plays, coached hundreds of forensics competitors, and served as the theatre liason to the Governor's Council for the Arts which fostered fine arts education throughout Pennsylvania.
In 1989, I left Shikellamy to pursue my dream of "a life in the theatre". I was privileged to spend the next eleven years working in the professional theatre as an actress, director, costume designer, and company manager. With my handsome husband, Jere, I have traveled coast to coast performing in many of the nation's most beautiful theatres. My touring experience included more than a dozen national tours and gave me the opportunity to perform in every state, except Alaska and Hawaii. Some of my favorite roles include: Mama Rose in Gypsy, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Miss Hannigan in Annie, and Rev. Mother in Nunsense.
My directorial and costume credits include Off-Broadway and regional theatres in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis.
Family concerns called me back to Central Pennsylvania in 2000, so I left "the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd" and returned to the classroom and my Shikellamy roots. The experiences I gained in the professional theatre were some of the most amazing moments of my life, and I am happy to have an opportunity to share them with my students.
Since my return to Shikellamy, I have directed another 20 shows, coached another 100 forensics competitors, won three state titles in drama and sent more than two dozen students to national championships. Currently I am teaching Freshman Honors English, Theatre Arts, and the H. S. Enrichment Program, and am the Director of Forensics and Theatre. I am incredibly proud of the Shikellamy Forensics team for its outstanding record both statewide and nationally. Shikellamy Theatre is
known throughout the state for quality productions and I am very proud of our students, staff, and parents for maintaining those standards in offerings such as Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, Me and My Girl, Crazy for You, Once On This Island, and The Wiz. In addition, there have also been plays and productions for children.
Thank you for taking the time to meet me and learn about my journey thus far. Please visit my other pages for more information about
Shikellamy Theatre and Forensics.
You can contact me at
