Our Staff

Staff

Lori Kolodziej- Executive Director

Lori has been the Producer/Executive Director for all productions at the Grand Theatre and now for Mon River Arts for the past twelve years. In addition to running a full time business, Lori works for the Elizabeth Forward School District at Mount Vernon Elementary. She also volunteers her time on a variety of committees in the community, including Plum Street Committee (Thursday night outdoor concert series) as Chairperson/ Entertainment Coordinator. Lori and her husband Ken are proud parents of three girls, but their newest pride and joy is their grandson Jayden Aaron.

Kathy Hawk- Children's Theatre Production Manager

Kathy Hawk is a middle school music teacher at Harrison Middle School in the Baldwin Whitehall School District where she is also the director/choreographer for the school musicals. Kathy holds a BA in Music Education and her MA in Vocal Performance both from Duquesne University. Kathy serves on the board of directors for Mon River Arts. She is actively involved in many aspects of theater. She has played the role of singer/actress, director, music director, choreographer, stage manager, and production manager at the Grand Theatre. She works at South Park Theatre as the Director of Children's Theatre. She has performed for Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, Brockett Productions, Conley Inn Dinner Theater, Starlight Productions, South Park Theatre, Mon River Arts, The Grand Theatre, Stage 62, McKeesport Theater and CCAC South Campus.

Lorraine Mszanski- Stagemaster's Director

Lorraine has directed many shows at the Grand Theatre including Willy Wonka, Guys and Dolls, Anything Goes, Oklahoma, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, and Every Christmas Story Ever Told... And Then Some. Other Directing credits include Dixie Swim Club, Songs For A New World, The Little Prince, Madeline (South Park Theatre), Lydie Breeze (asst. Director Open Stage Theatre), Alexander Hamilton (Pittsburgh Playwrights). She is a proud graduate of St. Mary's College where she earned her degrees in French, Philosophy and Theatre. Favorite role to date: Mom to the amazingly awesome Andy and Jameson.

Jen Gordon- Petite Player's Director/ Summer Camp Director/ Musical Theatre Class Instructor

Beth DePetro- Mainstage Production Manager/ Stage Manager

Beth has been involved in many aspects of the production process, at the Grand for Mon River Arts. She has been the Production Manager and Stage Manager of several Petite Players and Main Stage shows. Beth is a graduate of Slippery Rock University in Special Education. She believes that the Arts play such an important role in education and in the life of a child. "The arts are an essential element if education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic... music, dance, painting, and theatre are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment." -William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education

Diane McClintock- Children's Theatre Vocal Director/ Accompanist/ Mainstage Stage Manager

Diane has been Stage Manager for Christmas Story, Daddy's Girl, The Little Mermaid, and Willy Wonka. She Vocal Directed Willy Wonka and Gilligan's Island. She has also been on stage at the Grand in Jekyll and Hyde. She has performed at various other theatres such as CCAC South, McKeesport Little Theatre, and Pittsburgh Musical Theatre. When she's not in the theatre, Dianne is a music teacher at South Allegheny.

Nora Pickell- Accompanist

Nora has a degree in Music Education from Northwestern University and has been
playing the piano for 34 years. She loves to accompany almost as much as she
loves her four boys and works with several local groups.

Stephen Santa- Director (Spelling Bee)

Stephen's directing work has been seen in many Pittsburgh area theatre's including Little Lake Theatre, South Park Theatre, The Theatre Factory, and Stage 62 Where he recently directed the hit production of Avenue Q. He directed the Central Pennsylvania premier of Next to Normal at the Cresson Lake Playhouse in Altoona. Stephen was the Assistant director of the North American Premiere of The Monster in the Hall and POP! a new musical starring Anthony Rapp at City Theatre. He also made his New York City debut with UNCHARTED: The Music of Anna K. Jacobs at the famed Ars Nova Theatre last August. Stephen was recently names one of the top three directors in Pittsburgh by CBS Local online. Stephen is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association and The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Please visit: www.stephensanta.com

Jeanie Cygrymus- Director (A Christmas Story)

Jeanie Cygyrmus ~ Jeanie is a first grade teacher with the Pittsburgh Public
Schools and is the mother of two wonderful girls, Emily and Carly. Here at the
Grand Theater, Jeanie has directed Daddy’s Girl, and Jekyll and Hyde, the
Musical. She has also directed Pinocchio, Cinderella Caterpillar and The
12 Dancing Princesses for the South Park Children’s Theater and was the
Assistant Director for Les Miserables with the Seton Pioneers. Her acting
roles include Mama Noah in Children of Eden and the Queen in Cinderella with the
Seton Pioneers. Other favorite roles include Steel Magnolias (Shelby), The
Nerd (Tansy), Rumors (Chris) and Quilters (Lisa) with the New Kensington
Civic Theater, I’m Sorry the Bridge is Out (Draculette) and Dracula the
Musical (Mina) with the Apple Hill Playhouse. Most recently, Jeanie had
the opportunity to be a Storyteller in Children of Eden with Pittsburgh Musical
Theater.