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Our Mission
Our theatre's mission is to provide quality productions for local citizens, offer an outlet for children and adults who want to perform, and teach theatre skills to anyone that wants to learn. In an area that struggles economically, we are passionate about keeping the arts alive.
board of Directors
Christopher Snyder ................................Vice President/Director of Operations
Samantha Schugardt .............................Artistic Director
Frank Seratch ..........................................Treasurer/Finance Director
Jennifer Hoats .........................................Secretary/Office Coordinator
Board Members:
Kristi Gallagher ........................................Audience Services and Reservations Specialist
Liz Maguschak ..........................................House Manager
Mike Wawrzynek........................................In-House Technical Director
Amanda Hall .............................................Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Mary Pat Stroia .........................................Director of Development and Fundraising
Bill Rigotti ..................................................Volunteer Coordinator
Lisa Dougherty
Gloria Benjamin
Youth Representative:
Isabelle Seratch
MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Adam Randis has been a Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts Board Member since 2018 and is the incoming President of the Board of Directors beginning in the theatre’s 2021 season. He has been involved with the theatre since high school and has participated in productions in various capacities (actor, director, production assistant, set construction, publicity, and more) for over 20 years.
Adam is a history professor at Luzerne County Community College and also works with the youth agency ChildFirst Services, Inc. Adam looks forward to working together with the many talented individuals who make up the PTPA organization in continuing its mission of presenting quality entertainment for the community and fostering a safe, inclusive, and creatively stimulating space for people of all ages and experience levels to express themselves through the performing arts.
Dr. Christopher A. Snyder has been on the board of directors of PTPA for approximately eight years. He currently serves as the Vice President. The PTPA has been an integral part of the Snyder family since his son CJ's debut performance in the Best Christmas Pageant Ever some 11 years ago. Over this past decade, his daughters Julia and Jacqueline as well as C.J., his wife Jill, and himself have donated time and talent in an effort to make the Pennsylvania Theater of the Performing Arts one of the premiere community theaters in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He truly enjoys being part of the PTPA and working with a host of talented people both on and off stage. Although his day job pertains to skincare, his role at the theatre is more operations, buildings and grounds. During his time on the board, he is most proud of utilizing grants from the state to secure a new roof and high-efficiency heating and air conditioning system. He looks forward to continuing the work at PTPA to ensure that live theatre thrives in southern Luzerne county and that our community has a wonderful venue to showcase the immense talent in our area.
Samantha Schugardt has been involved with the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts since high school. She started as a performer spending all her time on stage but has since transitioned to her current position of Artistic Director for the upcoming 2021 PTPA season. She is also a part of the operations of the newly titled PTPA Playground, our youth arts education department. For the past few years, Schugardt participated in the organization under various titles including director, choreographer, performer, and more! In addition to being a NEPTA Award Winning choreographer and director, she was nominated for a Broadway World Award for her work with the Union County Performing Arts Center, New Jersey.
Outside of the theatre Schugardt is the dance teacher at Innovative Arts Academy Charter School in Catasauqua, PA, and is the current head coach for the Penn State Hazleton Cheerleaders. She looks forward to the upcoming season with the PTPA, and can’t wait to produce quality entertainment for the Hazleton Area once again!
Jennifer Hoats been involved with the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts for several years, volunteering in a variety of roles. Including prop master, set construction, costume alterations, and kitchen/concessions. She was voted onto the board of directors for the 2020 season and COVID has made sure it was an interesting year to join the board. She has most recently been voted in as the secretary/office coordinator for the 2021 season. With Jenn's great attention to detail and exquisite organizational skills, she looks forward to assisting with organizing and streamlining many of the processes within the organization to ensure a positive experience for our directors, actors, and the community who comes to support the PTPA with their patronage. Looking forward to an exciting and creative 2021 season.
Frank Seratch has been on the board at the PTPA for over 12 years. He has held the position of President for the past 10 years and is currently the treasurer. He enjoys being part of a dynamic group that brings arts and culture to the Hazleton area. The PTPA is a large part of his family’s lives as they are involved in all aspects of arts and culture. His 3 children have been involved with the PTPA from the time they were 5 years old and they continue to be involved. Frank has been playing Saxophone since 1974 and has been with the Hazleton Liberty band and St. Anns Band since 1982 and currently plays with a Jazz Quartet, ‘Round Midnight. Frank currently owns Northeast PT Associates Physical Therapy with his wife Sarah and this has been an area business since 2000.
Kristi Gallagher is our Audience Services and Reservation Specialist for the 2021 PTPA Season. She has been a loyal member of the PTPA board of directors for 8 years. She has been involved In countless shows over the years, from stage managing to directing, and beyond. Kristi loves to volunteer her time in helping to keep the arts alive in our community. She is an active leader and part of the PTPA Youth Theatre program newly titled, PTPA Playground. When not at the theater, you can find her at Northeast PT Associates, where she is a Physical Therapist Assistant. She also is an Independent Travel Agent with Destinations to Travel, LLC, specializing in Disney and Universal travel, as well as many other destinations.
Liz Maguschak has served on the PTPA Board for over eight years. She was appointed to serve as the House Manager for the 2021 Season. Liz’s interest in community theater in general and the PTPA, in particular, was originally sparked by her children’s involvement in and passion for theater and dance. Their attraction to performance rekindled Liz’s life-long love of theater, especially musicals. Her service to the PTPA Board was the natural progression of Liz’s interest in the Hazleton area and her belief in the importance of contributing to the community. Liz served on the Board of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and was elected the first female Board Chair of that organization. She was also a member of the Board of the United Way of Greater Hazleton where she served both as the Campaign Chair and later as the President. Liz also chaired the Greater Hazleton YM-YWCA was a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Penn State Hazleton Advisory Board and served on the School Board for the Diocese of Scranton.
Mike Wawrzynek is a new board member with PTPA and is happy to be fulfilling the role of in-house Technical Director. His PTPA debut was in the 2009 production of A Chorus Line and, since then, he’s acted, directed, and designed a number of shows for the theater. Throughout the past decade, he’s worked at many theaters throughout the NEPA area, but he always returns to PTPA because of their fully-equipped, spacious facilities, friendly staff and volunteers, and their commitment to artistic improvement and integrity. Mike is a Social Media Specialist for Net Driven in Scranton, PA and co-founder of FlashMilk Productions.
Amanda Hall has had the fabulous opportunity to be a part of several shows at PTPA over the past few years including A Chorus Line, Home for the Holidays, and Godspell. Each opportunity has been better than the last and the friendships that she has created have made her experiences that much sweeter. For the past few years, she has had the opportunity to work alongside incredible talent, while both choreographing and performing in local theatre productions from Scranton to Hazleton. She is most proud of her recognition as a 2017 Northeast Woman for the Scranton Times-Tribune highlighting her work as an artist and mentor. When she is not working her full-time job as an Assistant Design Manager for Design Group Americas, you will most likely find her at the theatre. Currently, Hall teaches beginner musical theatre and adult, aerobic dance classes, at the Phoenix PAC. She is so excited to continue working with the PTPA as a board member this year and can’t wait for the 2021 season!
Mary Pat Stroia serves as Executive Vice President, Allegheny International Service ME (AISME) and International Post Acute Network (IPAN). Ms. Stroia has (25+ years) in hospital management, business and network development; hospital development/acquisitions; physician recruitment, contracting and physician practice management; academic healthcare operations, and international healthcare.
An avid opera fan, Ms. Stroia, and her family entertained several opera casts at their homes in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati including her friend, European Opera star, Ruxandra Donose, and the late Opera tenor, Jerry Hadley. Ms. Stroia’s children became fans of the arts at a young age. Her daughter, Claudia, performed in several productions at the PTPA, resulting in her interest and involvement in the theatre. Ms. Stroia has been on the Board for several years now and currently serves as Director of Fundraising and Development.
Bill Rigotti is a semi-retired engineer and has lived and worked in the Hazleton area most of his life. He and his wife are blessed with three children and three beautiful grandchildren. His interest in theater started back in High School (many years ago) working on the stage crew, and on the crew at Gennetti's Theater on Laurel St, and on the Faberge Follies stage crew when his daughter was taking dance lessons. He has always been fascinated by the illusion on stage and how it all comes together.
PTPA is a very positive aspect of the Hazleton Area. The quality of the performances, the meals, and the staff is very evident. I am very excited to be part of PTPA in the upcoming year.
Lisa Dougherty has been an active supporter of the PTPA since 2012. Upon her retirement from her career in corporate management in 2011, she joined the PTPA as the Office Business Manager in 2012 where she served for over a year. She became a Board Member in 2013 and has served in that capacity for the majority of the following seven years. She has performed in and directed many PTPA productions over the years, receiving many NEPTA awards and nominations for her efforts. Lisa has enjoyed working alongside her fellow Board members to provide live theater for the Greater Hazleton Area and hopes with continued community appreciation and support, the PTPA will be alive and thriving for many years to come.
PTPA HISTORY
For over two decades, the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts has provided a venue for talented actors, musicians, and dancers to entertain local audiences. Our volunteer organization has mounted dozens of productions ranging from classic and contemporary Broadway musicals and plays to children's productions. We hope you will join us in our exciting 2020 season!
In 2006, the physical condition of our former facility on Laurel Street in Hazleton had deteriorated to the point that it became a significant drain to our financial and personal resources. As such, it was decided to sell the building and move on to greener pastures. We have been fortunate indeed to have found several venues in the area in which to perform our shows. The Strand in McAdoo and The Factory in Nuremberg have both lent their stages to our performers. We graciously thank the people involved with these facilities as they have welcomed us with open arms and open hearts.
In January of 2010, after 24 productions at the J.J. Ferrara Center, the PTPA became its proud new owner! With a new home and a renewed energy for the arts, you can be assured that the PTPA will continue to provide quality theatrical performances and remain as a much-needed cultural outlet for the talents of our community.
Please watch this site for updated notices of our future productions, auditions, and other activities. But, if you really want to experience the excitement of live theater, you will have to turn off that computer, get out of the house, and experience a PTPA production for yourself!
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