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Meet Our Team
AUSTIN SHAY, M.A.
Artistic Director
Austin Shay is an IT professional. He has previously directed two Pharmacy Theatre Productions in cooperation with Penn State Harrisburg’s Capital Players, Hamletmachine and Falling in Love With Your GBF. He received his B.Hum. in English from Penn State Harrisburg in 2017 and received his MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities with a focus on Creative Writing and Theatre. He is currently the Executive Director of The Paragon Press.
Theatrical Specialties: Light Design, Intimacy Choreography, & Directing
JOSH GERST, M.A.
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Operations Director
Joshua Gerst, M.A. is a professional Polymath that earned a degree with a trans-disciplinary focus in Phenomenology, Dramaturgy, and Sci-fi Screenwriting. Josh currently serves as a Substitute Teacher (K-12, all subjects) for Central PA School Districts. In 2018 he lectured 2 sections of English and 1 section of Technical Writing at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology while completing his theses, after his Philosophy teaching and research internship at Penn State Harrisburg. Josh never forgets to remind us of his time as a laborer and line-cook. He is an experienced Actor, Singer, and Musician. Favorite Past roles: Director (CINDERELLA’S GLASS SLIPPER Musical), Medical Patient/Background (Schimberg’s 2018 film CHAINED FOR LIFE), Uncle Ben (DEATH OF A SALESMAN), Brian (AVENUE Q), Robert (PROOF), Franz (PRODUCERS Musical), Roy Cohn (ANGELS IN AMERICA).
Theatrical Specialties: Directing, Dramaturgy, & Stage Management
SARA VOLK, M.A.
Resident Dramaturg
Sara Stevenson drinks copious amounts of coffee in order to keep up with her six children. She received her B.Hum in English and and her B.Hum in Interdisciplinary
Humanities from Penn State Harrisburg in 2017, and she received her Master of Arts in Humanities from Penn State Harrisburg in 2018. While she plans to attend graduate school to get her PhD in the future, she is looking forward to time off where she can spend time with her children and work on writing her next book.
Theatrical Specialties: Dramaturgy
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NICHOLAS NEIDER
Social Media/Marketing Manager
Nicholas Neider has been involved in community theatre since his role as Fender in Antietam High School's production of Hairspray in 2013. Most recently he stage managed A Doublewide, Texas Christmas with the Hershey Area Playhouse. He is a current student in Southern New Hampshire University's Social Media Marketing Bachelor's Program and works as a Treatment Coordinator at Grove Dental Group.
Theatrical Specialties: Stage Management & Costume Design
Meet Our Board of Advisors
JOYCE GERSTENLAUER, MMEd
Joyce Gerstenlauer has always supported community creative arts. She has over 40 years of teaching school and college choral music & directing music theatre and plays on many levels. Joyce has sung professionally and continues to direct choirs and perform on piano and pipe organ at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Dillsburg.
RITA SMITH
Pharmacy Theatre credits: Boys Go to Jupiter, The Breast Monologues, and Stripped. Hershey Area Playhouse favorites: A Doublewide Texas Christmas, A Christmas Carol, The Winter's Tale, and The Apple. Open Stage: EFF (erotic fan fiction) Live! Rita can also be found sharing stories and creating content at the Hershey Public Library as their children's and teen librarian. She lives in Hershey with her husband, sons, and cats.
RACHEL TELLER
Rachel Teller is excited to join the board of The Pharmacy Theatre! Although her daily life has nothing to do with the art world, she has always been fond of the performing arts. Rachel has experience both on stage and back stage, mostly participating in productions while growing up. She looks forward to becoming more involved in community theatre and spreading the importance of having a creative outlet.
CHRISTY QUEZADA
Christy Quezada is honored to join the Board. She has always enjoyed the arts and watching local theater. When she is not working, she loves to read, spend time with my granddaughter and traveling. She is looking forward to being part of and supporting local theater.
KELLEIGH STEVENSON
Kelleigh Stevenson is a 22 year old actress from Central PA. She's been acting since 14, doing a variety of plays and musicals in high school and at Penn State Harrisburg. Constantly busy with work and obtaining her MFA through Drexel University, Kelleigh has been involved in three projects with The Pharmacy Theatre.