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Our People

HEATHER GRAYBERG
Executive Director

Heather Grayberg is a producer, director, choreographer, performer, and consultant serving the Greater Philadelphia area. With a career spanning over twenty-five years, she has performed professionally across the country and has been seen on creative teams throughout the region as a Director/Choreographer of over 75 productions. Heather holds a B.M. in Musical Theatre from Westminster College of the Arts and a Master’s in Arts Management and Executive Leadership from Rider University, where she graduated with distinction. From educational to professional venues, some of her favorite directorial and choreography credits include Ruth: An Original Sight and Sound Production, The Spongebob Musical, Godspell, Bye Bye Birdie, The Wedding Singer, Mary Poppins, and many more!
Heather is the owner of Rise Up Theatrics LLC, an arts consulting company specializing in strategic planning, producing, casting, and bringing organizational health solutions to arts and culture-based institutions including prestigious organizations like the Levoy Theatre (Millville, NJ) and The Brandywine Ballet Company (West Chester, PA). She is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer’s Society, a theatrical union. Heather is the founding director of Revival Productions and Chester County School of the Arts and while there has brought over $60,000 in subsidized tuition and tickets to area youth. Prior to Revival Productions, Heather served as a professor of Musical Theatre and Dance and as the Dance Coordinator for Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA.
In addition to creating inspiring artistic experiences in both arts education and performance, Heather is passionate about arts advocacy, organizational leadership, and accessibility

Heather@uptownwestchester.org

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GEMMA AMREIN
Executive Assistant

Gemma Amrein a recent graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville received her BA in Theater Performance with a minor in Business to pursue her love of Stage Management in theater. She recently moved to the area in January 2022 and is so excited to be a part of Uptown’s amazing team. Her other hobbies include hiking, spending time with family, and swing dancing.

Gemma@uptownwestchester.org

THERESE WALDEN-MURPHY
Education Director

Director of Uptown Studio, 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

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MIA MCDERMOTT
Assistant Director of Education

Mia McDermott is a theatre artist from Bucks County, PA. She’s been involved in the performing arts since elementary school, where her love for the performing arts began. Mia holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from West Chester University. Since graduating she has been working in the teaching artist field, working with theatre companies in both Philadelphia and West Chester. In her spare time, Mia is also a Magic Maker with a local West Chester company, Magic By Mom, where she brings joy and enchantment to children on special occasions. Mia joined the Uptown team in Spring 2024 as a Teaching Artist, and is thrilled to continue her journey here. She is most excited to have the opportunity to work with their talented and creative performers!
Mia@uptownwestchester.org

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KENNEDY BERNARD
Education Coordinator &
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

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CHARLOTTE KROFT
General 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

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KAREN AHEARN
Hospitality Manager

Karen is the Hospitality Manager for Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center. She manages operations for Mac’s Foxhole – the bar at the Theater. In addition, Karen is responsible for planning, scheduling and project management of our events such as the Annual Gala, Donor Appreciation Night, and other catered events. She has extensive experience in and out of the kitchen for food service and catering businesses and ensures all our patrons have the best experience possible.
Karen@uptownwestchester.org

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KATHY BOYLE
House Manager

When I’m not helping people everywhere achieve whole-body wellbeing, you can find me in nature with my camera. I am a photographer and deep-thinker, passionate about seeing the beauty in the world around us. Stepping away from the daily routine and into nature supports me in keeping my life in balance. My role is to guide you, support you in developing new habits and empowering you to make healthy decisions that lead to lifelong transformation. And with Maggie, my pup beside me as the master explorer. She has a nose for fun and adventure!
Kathyb@uptownwestchester.org

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WENDY BUCKLAND
House Manager

Ben Smith was performing here in 2018; that was my first show – as a patron. I fell for Uptown on the spot and was volunteering with Charlotte the next day. Today I’m a part-time house manager. Uptown speaks to me. It’s electric. Come see a show. You will be blown away. Definitely West Chester’s super power.
Wendy@uptownwestchester.org

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MEL MAGEE
House Manager

Mel joined Uptown as a volunteer during its early formative years and has seen it grow into an exciting West Chester entertainment venue. Now a House Manager, Mel works closely with our dedicated volunteers, talented staff and visiting artists to deliver unforgettable experiences for our patrons.
Mel@uptownwestchester.org

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CHIP SIMMONS
House Manager

A lifelong live entertainment aficionado and hospitality sales and marketing specialist – Hotels and Big Data – Chip fell for Uptown with Spam-A-Lot then deepened his love of Uptown as a volunteer soon thereafter. An attendee of over 500 live music events and countless theater productions working at Uptown is a natural extension of that passion. As House Manager delivering the visions and aspirations held by so many artists, patrons and volunteers is a joy and a delight. Come join us. You won’t regret it!
Chip@uptownwestchester.org

GEORGE KOENIG
Technical Director

George has been studying sound for over twenty years as a performer, producer, and designer. After learning instruments and music theory in middle school, he studied jazz and classical guitar at school in New Hampshire. Years later he went on to complete a bachelor’s in audio production in Philadelphia, where he currently resides. George began working at Uptown in June of 2022 as an Audio Technician under Josh Zettlemoyer. Over time he became the Monitoring Engineer for concerts, as well as Sound Designer for Uptown Studio Theater under the direction of Therese Walden-Murphy. He is currently pursuing the Dante Certification Program through Audinate. His favorite show at Uptown has either been the Relache Ensemble’s performance of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Lodger” or Uptown Studio’s performance of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into The Woods”. Outside of theater work, George enjoys hiking the Wissahickon trails with friends and exercising.
Techdirector@uptownwestchester.org

Board of Directors
Tom McEvoy– President
Gary Green – Vice-President
Chris Lang – Treasurer
Bob Lohrmann – Secretary
Molly Morrison – Immediate Past President
A. Roy Smith – Uptown! Bravo
Theater Representative
Holly Brown, – At Large
Kevin Ahearn
Kane Bender
Lillian DeBaptiste
John Cigler
Blayne Easter
Chris Howe
Jimmy Jefferis
Beth Knauer
Eric Lorgus
Richard May
Robert Miller
Nicole Scimone
Robert Sparre
Howard Sundwall
Leslie Telthorster
Laurie Waddy
Lynn Erskine
Martha Carson Gentry
Cassandra Jones
Mell Josephs
Angeline May
Richard Merion
Sterling Murray
Nancy Pine
Neil E. Weissman
Tom Wilcox