Executive Board & Staff


Executive Board:

Gary Buchanan, Artistic Director, Technical Advisor
Linda Buchanan, Administrative Director
David Makuch, Production Director, Technical Coordinator
Paula Oliverio, Recorder
Teresa Parkhurst, Treasurer

2015 Production Staff:

Gary Batton, Master Carpenter
Renee Bell, Costume Advisor
Gary Buchanan, Technical Advisor
Linda Buchanan, Administrative / Grants
Loran Conley, Scenic Design & Painting
Veronica (Nikki) Fields, Costumer / Hair & Makeup
Don Geibel, Assistant Director
David Makuch, Technical Advisor
Paula Oliverio, School Marketing / Auditions
Teri Parkhurst, Financials / Grants
Ann Simonton, Costume Advisor
Galen Smith, Director
Karen Smith, Scheduling
Linda Smith, Costume Assistant

STAFF BIOS

Gary Buchanan, Executive Board, Artistic Director,Technical Advisor
Qualifications — Years working with youth–27 / Years in performing arts–21

  • Volunteered as a staff member with the Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s Guild Builders youth theatre arts program since its inception in 1997, serving as a Director and Technical Advisor
  • August 2005 - attended 2-day training seminar "Designing Effective Instructional Residencies for Students" presented by the Kennedy Center's Partners in Education Program
  • July, 2008 – attended 3-day Broadway Teachers Workshop, New York City, sponsored by Music Theatre International
  • Appeared in 10 productions on the Actors Guild stage since 1991
  • Directed 3 Actors Guild productions, assistant directed 2 Actors Guild productions, and volunteered as running crew, stage manager, lighting setup, and set construction on other Actors Guild productions
  • Directed and appeared onstage for the Calhoun Theatre Guild in Calhoun County
  • Directed the St. Marys, West Virginia Sesquicentennial celebration’s historical stage production From A River Bank

Linda Buchanan, Executive Board, Administrative Director
Qualifications — Years working with youth–28 / Years in performing arts–21

  • Volunteered as a staff member with the Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s Guild Builders youth theatre arts program since its inception in 1997, coordinating all program activities
  • August 2005 - attended 2-day training seminar "Designing Effective Instructional Residencies for Students" presented by the Kennedy Center's Partners in Education Program
  • July, 2008 – attended 3-day Broadway Teachers Workshop, New York City, sponsored by Music Theatre International
  • Appeared in 10 productions on the Actors Guild stage since 1991, and volunteered as running crew, stage manager, light board operator, and follow spot operator
  • Served on the Actors Guild’s Administrative Council for three years, the Board of Directors as President for two years, and as committee chair and Guild Builders liaison for eleven years.

David Makuch, Executive Board, Production Director, Technical Advisor
Qualifications — Years working with students–14 / Years in performing arts–33

  • Instructor and Assistant Professor/Technical Director, Theatre Department of Marietta College, Marietta, OH
  • Designs mainstage scenery, lighting and sound for the Theatre Department, builds sets for productions
  • Freelance corporate / industrial / concert lighting designer in Chicago

Paula Oliverio, Executive Board, Recorder
Qualifications — Years working with students–24 / Years in performing arts–35

  • Holds 2 Master Degrees in Education from West Virginia University
  • High School Drama Director 15 years – St. Marys High School
  • Appeared in numerous stage productions at Actors Guild of Parkersburg and other area theaters
  • Directed 4 Actors Guild productions, assistant directed 3 Actors Guild productions, and volunteered as running crew, stage manager, orchestra, usher, and house manager on other Actors Guild productions
  • Served on the Board of Directors for Actors Guild of Parkersburg
  • Volunteer for many Actors Guild of Parkersburg committees
  • Directed and appeared onstage for the Pleasants County Players Theatre in Pleasants County, West Virginia Sesquicentennial
  • Assistant Director of the St. Marys, West Virginia Celebration’s historical stage production From A River Bank

Teresa Parkhurst, Executive Board, Treasurer
Qualifications — Over 40 years experience as a Bookkeeper/Accounting Supervisor

  • Bookkeeper 4 years for Actors Guild Community Theater, Parkersburg West Virginia
  • Accounting Supervisor for 8 years at Fluid Components Inc., San Marcos, California
  • Duties have included:
    • Monthly, quarterly and yearly tax deposits and reports
    • Daily and monthly expenditures
    • Monthly financial and budget comparison reports to Board of Directors
    • Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and General Ledger
    • Working with Board members on budgets, including proposed yearly budget, comparison charts of actual to budget

Production Staff

Gary Batton, Master Carpenter
Qualifications — Years working with students–32 / Years in performing arts–27

  • Active volunteer with the Actors Guild since 1988 designing and building sets, working on backstage crews, and performing onstage.
  • Volunteer with Special Olympics since 1983 – regularly teaches at the Summer Sports Camp.
  • Teaches youth casting classes demonstrating fishing techniques.
  • Instructor for the summer West Virginia Conservation Camp since 1995 teaching fishing and canoeing to 8-14 year olds.
  • Instructor for the Actors Guild’s Guild Builders youth theatre arts program teaching Scene Shop workshops.
  • Conducts fish filleting demonstrations for the Boy Scouts.

Renee Bell, Costumer
Qualifications — Years working with students–17 / Years in performing arts–18

  • Currently employed as Assistant Professor, Theatre Department of Marietta College, Marietta, OH
  • Previously Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Iowa, Craft Supervisor at the University of Texas, and Costume Shop Manager at Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA.
  • Designed costumes for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Romeo & Juliet for Marietta College
  • Designed costumes for TV and feature films Salome, Splatter, and Alamo 2.
  • Many other Design Credits including A Dog’s Life, Raising Medusa, Coffee & Hope (Riverside Theatre), Eurydic( University of Iowa), Dead Man’s Cell Phone, The Dining Room (Iowa Summer Rep), Seussical, My Scary Girl (BSC), Good (Manhattan Theatre Source), Once Upon a Mattress, Children of Eden, Fiddler on the Roof (Weathervane Playhouse), Anything Goes (Brooklyn Players), and Merrily we Roll Along (The 45th Street Theatre).
  • Milliner on Broadway shows Mary Poppins, The Color Purple, and The Pajama Game.
  • Holds an MFA in Design from the University of Iowa.

Loren Conley, Scenic Design & Painting
Qualifications — Years working with students–17 / Years in performing arts–53

  • Painted indoor and outdoor mural scenes and faux- painting for many private residences in the surrounding area, and numerous murals for businesses including: the Putnam St./ Gilman Ave Antique store in Marietta, Kokomo Cove Restaurant in Parkersburg, and the Pizza Station in St. Marys.
  • Artist at the Riverside Artists Gallery in Marietta for 6 years, selling my artwork, teaching art classes and at our annual two week summer camp for kids where we introduced the kids to different kinds of artistic mediums.
  • Have won several awards for my works in local art shows.
  • Selected as solitary Judge and Jury for area art shows.
  • At the Parkesburg Art Center I have helped set up shows, teach stained glass class, and volunteer my services in a variety of kid/art workshops.
  • Painter for several productions at the Actors Guild including a favorite 5’ x 7’ rendition of Frogonard’s Villa D’Este for their production, The Dinner Party. At the closing show it was purchased by an attending patron, with funds donated the Actors Guild.
  • Scenic painter for several Theatre de Jeunesse stage productions.
  • Volunteer face painter for Actors Guild’s community face painting for kids for area organizations and schools.
  • Volunteer with The Pioneers for various works at the Gutske Shelter for kids in Parkersburg.
  • Mentor for several years with students at Madison Elementary.
  • Have played flute and piano for most of this life, and I now also play base. I have played with numerous groups of musicians over the years, composed and played a flute solo piece for a local radio commercial on for an event, and played flute in the Porterfield Baptist Church Praise Band for 2 years.
  • Retired Field Service Technicianfor C+P Telephone/Bell Atlantic/Verizon and Editor for the monthly newsletter, The Personal Touch, doing cartoons and artwork to augment my articles. Designer and builder for company’s annual Homecoming Parade floats, including one First Place winner, donating the $200.00 prize to The Gutske Shelter.
  • Master Gardener thru OSU Extension Service and Belpre in Bloom worker.
  • Creator of my website, windinfeathers.com, where some compilation of my work is sited.

Veronica (Nikki) Fields, Costumer, Hair & Makeup
Qualifications — Years working with youth–17 / Years in performing arts–36

  • Member/volunteer of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg for most of her life.
  • Director for the Actors Guilds’ Hairspray and Sweeney Todd productions, Assistant Director for Dracula and The Boys Next Door.
  • Costuming credits include Man of La Mancha, All Shook Up, Leading Ladies and Dracula to name a few.
  • Costume designer for the Smoot Theaters’ Camp Broadway productions of Curtains and West Side Story.
  • Costume designer for the Guild Builders production of Narnia, as well as directing the Guild Builders’ The Music Man Jr. production.
  • Costume designer for the Theatre de Jeunesse’s Camelot production.
  • Seasoned performer having appeared in many productions on stages across the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Don Geibel, Assistant Director
Qualifications — Years working with students–2 / Years in performing arts–60

  • Lifetime performer in church choirs, barbershop quartets, chorale and theatre work.
  • Performed onstage in 23 productions for the Dayton Playhouse, Actors Guild, Mid-Ohio Valley Players, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg including Carousel, Anything Goes, A Man for All Seasons, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Inherit the Wind, Noises Off, Evita, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream to name a few.
  • Directed 11 productions for the Dayton Playhouse, Actors Guild, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg including The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Oklahoma, The Mikado, My Fair Lady, The Pirates of Penzance, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, HMS Pinafore and others.

Ann Simonton, Costume Advisor
Qualifications — Years working with students–35 / Years in performing arts–18

  • Professional educator for 35 years
  • In the Wood County school system has served as Drama Club Sponsor, directed plays both at school and church, and works with Odyssey of the Mind students.
  • Active with the Actors Guild of Parkersburg for 18 years appearing onstage, as a hair and makeup artist for productions, costumer for numerous productions, scenic painting and basic set construction.
  • Guild Builders theatre arts program Instructor for specialty make-up classes, served as Makeup Designer and Costumer, purchased all show make-up supplies, trained and supervised volunteers in make-up application, and guided and directed the students in writing and producing their own original plays.

Galen Smith, Director
Qualifications — Years working with youth–17 / Years in performing arts–34

  • Performed onstage in nearly 100 productions since 1980 that include professional and community theatre shows, as well as church sketches and shows.
  • Appeared in 5 television commercials.
  • Winner of numerous theatre awards for performances.
  • Volunteered with North Parkersburg Baptist Church’s drama ministries since 1994, including direction of children’s productions.
  • Volunteered with The Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s Guild Builders program intermittently in a variety of capacities.
  • Backstage crew member for The Mikado (Stage Manager) and Peter Pan (Technical Crew).
  • Served as Chairman of The Herb Smith/Eunice Fleming Scholarship Fund.
  • Performer and speaker for The Relay for Life.
  • Ghost Story Teller for the Blennerhassett Museum’s Candlelight Tours every October for the past 12 years.
  • Director of The Pirates of Penzance in 2013 for Theatre de Jeunesse.

Karen Smith, Scheduling
Qualifications — Years working with youth–17 / Years in performing arts–22

  • Directed abbreviated versions of Shakespearean plays for North Christian School 5th and 6th Grade productions.
  • Served as Parent Liaison/President of North Christian School Parent Volunteer Organization for several years.
  • Volunteered with North Parkersburg Baptist Church’s drama ministries since 1994, including both adult productions and productions including children.
  • Performed onstage in several dozen productions since 1994 that include community theatre shows as well as church sketches and shows.
  • Served as a backstage crew member for The Secret Garden and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
  • Volunteered with The Actors Guild of Parkersburg’s Guild Builders program intermittently in a variety of capacities.
  • Volunteered with children in numerous capacities at North Parkersburg Baptist Church and at North Christian School.
  • Assistant Director of The Pirates of Penzance in 2013 for Theatre de Jeunesse

Linda Smith, Costume Assistant
Qualifications — Years working with students–5 / Years in performing arts–42

  • Lifetime member of Actors Guild of Parkersburg since 1977. Experienced in costuming, hair and make-up, lighting, acting, directing, props, production assistant, and served on Executive Board.
  • Founding member of Actors Movable Theatre in Athens, Ohio.
  • Performer with the Mid-Ohio Players, Athenean Players, and the Becky Thatcher Showboat.
  • Owner, operator, and performer in a dinner theatre in Parkersburg, WV.
  • Directed the musical Tom Sawyer at Warren Elementary School which involved working closely with students in grades 4 through 8, teaching staff, and parent volunteers.
  • Served for two years as coordinator for the placement of foreign exchange students in area high schools.
  • Performed with students and worked with staff members at Ohio Valley University’s 2013 production of Tennessee William’s The Glass Menagerie and directed the 2014 spring production of Taming of the Shrew.
  • Currently serving as Regional Representative for the Southeast Region of the Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA) and as Editor of regional newsletter CueLines.

History

2014

2014 staff
2014 producers of Camelot
(left to right): M.C. Augstkalns, Sandia Sommer, Jimmy Sundquist, Jean Singer, David Rexroad, Veronica Fields, Mason Sams, Gary Buchanan, Talon Sams, Randi Marshall, Ashley Doyle. Not shown: Lora Ludwig, Caytlen Miller


2013

2013 staff
2013 producers of The Pirates of Penzance
FRONT ROW(left to right): Chris Walker, Ashley Fluharty, Karen Smith, Caytlen Miller, Meryl Walker, Randi Marshall
BACK ROW(left to right): Gaylen Smith, Noemi Lindsey, Gary Buchanan, Jimmy Sundquist, Jason Bennett, Lora Ludwig


2012

2012 staff
2012 producers of Once Upon A Mattress
SEATED(left to right): Gary Buchanan, Patrick Garvey, Andrew Clovis, Robert Decker, Dayna Cooper, Jonathan Ramey, Emily Decker, Peter Sour
STANDING: Dawn Weidner, Timm Romine, Helen Reilly


2011

2011 staff
2011 producers of Les Misérables Schools Edition
ROW ONE(left to right): Paula Leidy, Caytlen Miller, Timm Romine, Linda Buchanan, Dayna Cooper, Lora Ludwig
ROW TWO: Kurtis Decker, Andrew Clovis, Morgan Heflin, David Tichnell, Alex Collins, Gary Buchanan, Ryan Hannus
ROW THREE: Darci Dyke, Linda Hannus, Dawn Weidner, Andrew Dembowski, Keith Richards, Audrionna Allen

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