DEBRA DANESE
Program Director
Debra has an extensive performing arts background and holds degrees in both Dance and Arts Administration. Her professional credits have taken her throughout the U.S. and across the globe. She has been featured in Dance, Dancer, Dance Studio Life, and Dance Teacher Magazines for her work. In addition to her role at Uptown, she continues her work as a teaching artist, choreographer, and published writer.
Debra@uptownwestchester.org
THERESE WALDEN-MURPHY
Education Director
Director of West Chester Studio for the Performing Arts, which she founded in 2009, Therese is a professional actress who has performed in New York City, Los Angeles as well as regional theaters across the country. She holds an MFA in Classical Theatre from the Old Globe Theater Professional Actor Training Program and has been seen and heard in Commercials, Voice-overs, TV, Soap Operas, Industrials, Film, and on Stage. Therese joined the closing cast of the 1997 Broadway Company of Annie as Martin Charnin’s assistant director and continued on with the National Tour. Therese received a Best Actress Dramalogue Award for her work as Grace in Annie and was nominated for a Best Actress Robby Award for her work as Fiona in Brigadoon, both while working in Los Angeles. In addition to performing Therese has taught Musical Theatre, Shakespeare, Acting and Speech for over 30 years at many theaters and performing arts schools across the country. Therese is a proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA.
Therese@uptownwestchester.org
KENNEDY BERNARD
Box Office Manager
Kennedy Bernard has been involved in the performing arts since the first grade when she first fell in love with the art of performing. She began by taking acting classes and being part of the cast for shows. She then began stage managing at 16 and teaching classes at 20. She has been with the resident theater school, West Chester Studios, since 2012 and has loved every second of it.
Kennedy is thrilled to be part of the team bringing the arts to West Chester and to grow with Uptown!
Kennedy@uptownwestchester.org
CHARLOTTE KROFT
Audience Services Manager
Charlotte Kroft is one of two Administrative staff at Uptown! In addition to general administrative duties such as box office, house management during performances, and coordinating memberships, Charlotte is on point for scheduling and training the theater’s cadre of volunteers. Prior to joining the staff, Charlotte volunteered at Uptown! and enjoyed a long-term and diverse career at GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals. She was a member of Concordia Choral Arts for many years and served as both Secretary and President. At Uptown!, Charlotte enjoys the diverse and fast-paced nature of the theater, especially interacting with patrons and tremendously talented performers!
Charlotte@uptownwestchester.org
MAGGIE O’CONNOR
Assistant Director of Education
Maggie is a Philadelphia-based theatre artist/educator and recent graduate from Rowan University where she received an MST in Theatre Education (2021) and BA in Theatre (2020). While Maggie has been performing since she was a little girl, her passion is in the classroom. She has worked with students from age 4 into adulthood, and has taught theatre and improv at The Garden State Discovery Museum (Cherry Hill, NJ), Cooper Medical School (Camden, NJ), Community Music School (Trappe, PA), Levoy Theatre (Millville, NJ), Southern NJ Performing Arts Academy (Sewell, NJ) and of course, Uptown!
Maggie uses theatre as a way to help her students become more confident, empathetic, and well-rounded human beings.
JOSH ZETTLEMOYER
Technical Director
With a passion for excellence in live production and over 10 years in production management, Josh comes from a rich background in the arts both professionally and personally. As a multi-instrumentalist musician, he directs and produces with unique insight and perspective.
Josh has been in Lighting & Sound America Magazine for his work in bringing the L-Acoustic K2 Audio system to the Historic Loew’s Wonder Theatre, now the United Palace theater on Broadway, New York City, where he has worked on numerous movie and television sets.
technicaldirector@windishmusic.com
Board of Directors
Theater Representative
Holly Brown, – At Large
Lillian DeBaptiste
Blayne Easter
Chris Howe
Bob Lohrmann
Richard May
Robert Miller
Marilyn Parsons
Meredy Patterson
Gail Pippin
Neil E. Weissman
Tom Wilcox