Our Management Staff

Artistic Advisors

Scott Evans

Kate Wilson
See Below…

Roque Berlanga
See Below…

Artistic, Production and Support Staff

Producing Artistic Director: Franklin Trapp

Franklin is thrilled to present the Forestburgh Playhouse’s 77th Season! Franklin began his theatrical career at the Forestburgh Playhouse, as a Resident Company member, appeared in a national tour of Annie! and also performed at various regional theatres, including the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. In 2004, Franklin took a hiatus from the theatre, during which time he earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University and subsequently practiced in Atlanta, Georgia for the world’s largest law firm. When he learned that current producer Norman Duttweiler was looking to retire, Franklin could not resist the opportunity to return to Forestburgh and maintain and grow the rich cultural legacy that the Playhouse provides for Sullivan County. Franklin has a long association with the Forestburgh Playhouse beginning in 2001 as a Resident Company Member. He remained at the Playhouse every summer through 2004, earning his equity card, writing and directing children’s shows, directing cabarets and directing mainstage productions such as the Playhouse’s first production of The Sound of Music. While at the Forestburgh Playhouse, Franklin appeared in numerous productions, including, 1776, Titanic, Ragtime, My Fair Lady, Witness for the Prosecution, Catch Me If You Can, Miss Saigon, Evita, La Cage Aux Folles, and Hello Dolly!, to name a few. Franklin’s husband, John Bubb, also a Playhouse alum and a CRNA at Catskill Regional Medical Center, will share his talents as an artistic advisor. Franklin and John, and their Playhouse Pets—Lucy and Sally are excited to not only live full-time in the Sullivan County Catskills, but also to have the opportunity to be a part of a New York cultural landmark—The Forestburgh Playhouse!

Associate Producer/Casting: John Bubb

John is thrilled to be on this life adventure with Franklin Trapp. John studied classical music and theater at Carnegie Mellon University and Indiana University. After college, he moved to NYC to begin his theater career, first working on Cruise Ships, then moving to regional theaters, off-Broadway, and National/International Tours working with Tony, Emmy and Grammy winners. Some credits: Jerry Zaks’ South Pacific starring Robert Goulet, Frank Wildhorns’ The Civil War starring John Schneider, Larry Gatlin and Bebe Winans. Jesus Christ Superstar directed by Baayork Lee, and Phantom of the Opera (Switzerland and Denmark). In NYC, John was seen in Into The Woods, Irene!, and Naked Revolution. Regional: Phantom (Yeston/Kopit), and Annie Get Your Gun at the Forestburgh Playhouse. In 2005, John made the leap to go back to school and get his BS in Nursing at Belmont University in Nashville. Post degree he worked at Grady Memorial in their Level 1 Trauma Unit, Saint Joseph’s in the Coronary ICU, and Emory University CVICU taking care of heart and lung transplant patients. In 2012, John moved to Philadelphia to attend Drexel University where he received his Masters in Nursing and in Anesthesia. He is currently a Board Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with Ramapo Anesthesia and can currently be seen putting people to sleep at Catskill Regional Medical Center. In November 2016, after 13 years together, John and Franklin legally married. They are thrilled to be living in the Catskills and absolutely love having “The Miracle of the Forest” back in their lives.

Creative Development Director/Artistic Director of In the Works-In the Woods Festival:
Matt Lenz

MATT LENZ - (Director) At FBP; Buyer and Cellar, Venus in Fur, Idaho! BROADWAY:  Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Velocity of Autumn (Associate Director on original productions), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Resident Director). OFF-BROADWAY: Pageant: The Musical (Drama Desk nomination), The Irish Curse, Idaho! The Comedy Musical, The Great Daisy Theory, Fingers and Toes, and Alan Ball’s Tense Guy. US NATIONAL TOURS include: Hairspray (current), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Cheers: Live Onstage, Catch Me If You Can and The Who’s Tommy. INTERNATIONAL: Productions in Australia, Singapore, India, UK, Germany, Canada and South Africa. REGIONAL: many plays and musicals at Paper Mill Playhouse, the MUNY, Ogunquit Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theater, Zach Theatre, Gulfshore Playhouse, Casa Manana, Gateway Playhouse, Short North Stage, La Mirada.  Matt is the Founding Artistic Director of the annual In The Works ~ In The Woods Festival at FBP.  www.mattlenzdirector.com

Associate Producer/Production Manager: Brandon Suppa

Brandon is thrilled to be back at the Playhouse for their 12th season, starting in the kitchen as a dish washer and working all the way up to Associate producer, Some say its an inspiration, Brandon would say that they are tired.They would like to thank their Mom for always pestering them to do their best, Franklin for keeping me around and Kate + Roque for always believing in them!

FBP Academy Directors: Kate Wilson & Roque Berlanga

Roque Berlanga–director. Roque is so excited to be back at Forestburgh this season! Roque is a proud Latinx director, actor, teaching artist and proud Associate Member of SDC. Roque is currently the Founder and Artistic Director of Theatre [Untitled] and Actor’s Professional Theatre Conservatory (APTC) based in New York City. Theatre [Untitled] focuses on new and reinvented works and provides a platform for undiscovered artists with a focus on LGBTQ+, women, and BIPOC playwrights and artists. In 2023, APTC will celebrate its 15-year anniversary. Roque served as Artistic Director of the Allenberry Playhouse and was the first Latinx to do so in the theater's nearly sixty-year history. Roque has trained with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Second City, and received his BA in Theatre from CSU Stanislaus. Select directing credits include: The Whale Play (The Drama Book Shop), Bye Bye Birdie (Forestburgh Playhouse), The Theory of Relativity (Stagedoor Manor), Rent (Stagedoor Manor), Spamalot (Stagedoor) Into the Woods (Stagedoor Manor), Chicago (Allenberry), Footloose (Allenberry), The 39 Steps (Allenberry), Wait Until Dark (Allenberry), The Wedding Singer (APTC) and 13! (APTC). 

Company Manager: Jordan Conklin-Yousef

Jordan Conklin-Yousef (Company Manager) is thrilled to be working at the Forsetburgh Playhouse this summer! She is a recent graduate of Montclair State University with her masters degree in Theatre Studies focusing on theatre management and administration. She would like to thank her mentors, family and friends for their unwavering love and support. @jordancyousef

Production and Company Management Associate:
Grace Gardner

Grace Gardner has just completed her Theatre Arts BFA in 2023 with a concentration in Theatre for Youth at East Carolina University. She’s been featured in collegiate theatre as an Actor, Sound Technician, Director and Lighting Designer. She hopes to continue acting and working in tech. She is excited to work with Forestburgh Playhouse in a Production and Company Management Associate capacity this season!

Season Production Stage Manager: Julian Olive

Julian is a proud graduate of Marymount Manhattan College and is excited to be making his Forestburgh Playhouse debut! His most recent credit is the world premiere musical The Lonely Few at Geffen Playhouse starring Lauren Patten and Ciara Renée. Other credits include the National Tour of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; 5-Star Theatricals’ productions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Shrek, Matilda, West Side Story, The Music Man, Mamma Mia!, Something Rotten!, Newsies, and The Addams Family; South Coast Repertory’s She Loves Me, Sweeney Todd, Junie B. Jones and A Christmas Carol; Bay Street Theater’s The Prompter (starring Tovah Feldshuh); Paper Mill Playhouse’s The Honeymooners; Second Stage Theatre’s King Liz; The York Theatre Company’s Wonderland; Weathervane Playhouse’s Pippin, 42nd Street, A Chorus Line, Merrily We Roll Along, Blood Brothers, Avenue Q, South Pacific, and Peter and the Starcatcher; 3-D Theatricals’ Newsies; and Rubicon Theatre Company’s The Gin Game.

Production Stage Manager (Clue): Rose Tablizo

Rose Tablizo (they/them) is an AEA Stage Manager born in Texas and based in Brooklyn, NY and is overjoyed to be returning to the Miracle of the Forest. Since graduating from NYU Tisch in 2021, Rose has worked in Production Management and Stage Management throughout New York City. Their work in the past year includes: Mike Birbiglia's The Old Man and the Pool (Lincoln Center Theatre) , Ain't No Mo' (Belasco Theatre), and Titanique (Asylum NYC, Daryl Roth Theatre). Many thanks to my given and chosen family for shaping me into the person I am today.

Assistant Stage Manager: Courtney Wigderson

Courtney Wigderson is thrilled to be spending her first summer at Foresburgh Playhouse. Recent credits include: Six, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots (Norwegian Cruise Line), Holiday Spectacular on Ice, Newsies, A Chorus Line: High School Edition, Kinky Boots, Elf (Gateway Playhouse) Something Rotten, Mamma Mia (Titusville Playhouse). She is proud graduate of the University of New Hampshire. Lots of love and thanks to Mom and Dad for the constant love and support!

Stage Management Associate: Willahna Burdick 

Season Dialect Coach: Rebecca Simon

Rebecca Simon Is honored to return to The Playhouse that holds such a special place in her heart. She is an Assistant Professor in Acting at East Carolina University where she teaches voice and speech for the actor, dialects, acting and serves as the resident dialect and vocal coach for all the productions. She is an active member of Actors Equity. National credits include the Broadway National Tours of Fiddler on the Roof with Theodore Bikel and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber starring Michael Bolton. She also toured with The Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a vocalist. She has extensive regional and Off-Broadway credits including the York Theatre, Gene Frankel Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, Actors Playhouse and Aurora Theatre. This past year, she had the honor of dialect coaching the new Broadway bound production of A Walk on The Moon in NYC. Another highlight of her career was serving as the vocal coach for The White Snake directed by, Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman. Other dialect credits include the McCarter Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, and numerous schools. Directing credits include Shout! The Mod Musical at the Forestburgh Playhouse and Arcadia University, Cuentos Del Arbol for Passage Theatre and The Human Heart and Heathers: The Musical for Rider University. She holds an MFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University and a certification in the Colaianni Speech Technique.

Musical Staff

Music Director: Chase Kessler
(Clue, Matilda, Jersey Boys)

Music Director: David Fraley
(Spamalot, The Addams Family)

David Fraley is a pianist, conductor, and music director in New York City. In NYC: Echo: A Musical Quest (Music Director); Open, Stay (Music Director); Minoru: Scrape the Sky (Music Director). At Pepperdine University: Mamma Mia (Piano-Conductor, Music Director); Big Fish (Piano-Conductor). At Conejo Players Theatre: Sweeney Todd (Piano-Conductor, Music Director), winning Outstanding Musical Direction from Four Star Theater Alliance; Daddy Long Legs (Piano-Conductor, Music Director). David has worked at Montclair State University, New York Film Academy, and Pepperdine University. David is also a classical pianist who teaches, composes, and arranges musical works. You can find him online at www.davidfraley.com.

Associate Music Director: Frances Vonada

Frances Vonada (Assistant Music Director) (she/her) is so excited to be working at The Forestburgh Playhouse. As a Music Direction for Music Theatre Major and Baldwin Wallace University, some of her previous credits include West Side Story (the 5th Avenue Theatre), Sweeney Todd... (The Village Theatre, Issaquah) and BWMT’s The Lightning Thief, The Wild Party, and Bare. She would like to thank her mom, dad, and sister Elle, as well as her partner Jonathan for all their love and support.

Bassist: Stacy Joergle

Stacey Joergle - Bassist/Box Office/All Around Badass - hails from Port Jervis and has been a proud member of the Forestburgh Playhouse family since 1992. The changes I have seen…from the days of gas lamps and horse-drawn carriages to the days of gas generators and the horses who visit the parking lot. Zinga! But seriously, folks, I have the best job in the world and work with the most amazing people. Thank you for supporting the Miracle of the Forest! For my sweet Tula.

Drummer: Jake Payne

Design & Technical Staff

Technical Director: Constanza Etchechury López

Constanza is a Mexican Engineer who has always been focused on theatre. Constanza began her career as a stagehand with Mexican contemporary dance companies and drafting stage machinery. She then served as running crew, carpenter, stagehand, and drafter for the National Company of Theatre. Constanza also worked as Assistant Set Designer for many Set Designers in Mexico's most important theatres and festivals. She has worked with the Fine Arts Palace Opera, the Ibero-American Theatre Festival in Bogota, and the Cervantino International Festival. As a Production Manager, she has worked with DramaFest (a biannual international festival) and the National Coordination of Theatre. A graduate of the National Polytechnic Institute, and currently attending the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University Technical Design and Production program.

Assistant Technical Director: Tim Scalzo

Tim has a BFA in Theatre Design/Technology from Emerson College. They enjoy spanning the gap between the artistic and technical sides of theatre. Credits include: Cabaret (Assistant Lighting Designer), The 2023 Emerson Recognition & Achievement Awards (Technical Production Coordinator/Scenic Designer), Mary, Sweet Mary (Sound Designer), Paris (Production Electrician), Old Jake’s Skirts (Scenic Designer), The 2022 Emerson Recognition & Achievement Awards (Co-Technical Director/Scenic Designer/Production Electrician), Three Romances for the Unwell and Otherwise (Props Lead), RAGE (Production Electrician/Programmer), and This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing (Fly Chief). Tim would like to thank their parents for always believing in them and supporting their passions! ~ https://tjscalzo.com

Scenic Carpenters: Ethan Perkowski, Hadlee Walker

Hadlee Walker is a Senior BA Theatre Major at Coastal Carolina with a concentration in Stage Management. They are very involved with shows at CCU and over the past year they worked on Radium Girls, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Green Bird, and Merrily We Roll Along. They recently won first place in the props design competition at SETC. This will be their first time working on a professional show and they are very excited to jump right in. They would like to thank their supportive parents, friends, professors, and wonderful boyfriend Kody for getting them to where they are today.

Scenic Designer (Spamalot)

Gisela Estrada Salvadoran - Scenic Designer who was born and raised in San Salvador. She received her Bachelor in Architecture degree in 2018 from Dr. José Matías Delgado University in El Salvador, and her Master of Fine Arts degree from University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Recently, she has designed Operas, Musicals and Neoclassical and Ballet pieces, including the Opera “Orlando Paladino” for the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute, and the world-renowned musical of “Passing Strange” for UNCSA.

Lead Electrician: Kevin Kress

Kevin Kress is excited to be working his first season at the Forestburgh Playhouse. Kevin is a lighting designer, sound designer, and electrician from Illinois. He recently received a bachelor's degree in theatre production and design and film studies at Illinois State University. Prior to Forestburgh, he has had the pleasure of serving as an electrician for both the Illinois Shakespeare Festival’s 2021 and 2022 season and at Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Assistant Electrician: Matthew Dandino

Emerson College BFA 26' Theatre Design/Technology. Matt is very excited to work with this new theatre company and is grateful for his friends and family who have helped him along the way.

Sound Designer/Engineer: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue (Sound Deisgner/A1) from Norwalk, Connecticut, is excited to come back for his second year at Forestburgh Playhouse. He is a rising senior at University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music (CCM). At CCM: Sound Designer for Dido and Aeneas, Production Sound Engineer for Dialogues of the Carmelites, Production Sound Engineer for The Burials, Assistant Sound Designer for Orpheus in the Underworld. Elsewhere: Assistant Sound Designer/A2 for Mamma Mia, Something Rotten, and Kinky Boots with Forestburgh Playhouse (Forestburgh, New York), Technical Advisor for Cinderella, Newsies with Norwalk High School (Norwalk, Connecticut).

Assistant Sound Designer: Lucia Thill

Lucia, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is currently studying Sound Design at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Recent credits include A2 for Spring Awakening (CCM), Assistant Sound Designer for Dialogues of the Carmelites (CCM), and Technical Director of Legally Blonde (Minneapolis Public Schools Community Theater). When she isn't in the theater, Lucia enjoys playing and composing piano music and working on yard work projects.

Set Designer: Tim Golebiewski

Tim Golebiewski (Set Designer) is delighted to return to Forestburgh Playhouse for Clue. His Playhouse credits include Babes in Arms, Hair, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Fiddler on the Roof, Steel Magnolias and Tommy. Other favorite credits include: Off-Broadway: Liberty, Beneath the Gavel; Regional: The Learned Ladies, The Surrogate, Hitler’s Tasters, Dracula (Centenary Stage Co.); Elf, Mamma Mia! (The Argyle Theatre); Evita, We Will Rock You, South Pacific (Smithtown Performing Arts). Tim has designed large scale events at the PlayStation Theater in Times Square and at the Museum of Natural History, was on the design team for the NBC studios for the 2018 Winter Olympics and is a faculty member at Eastern Connecticut State University. 

Technical Production Assistant: Seamus Hurley

Hey everyone, my name is Seamus Hurley. I’m from Iowa and I just finished my second year at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln where I am studying Theatre Design/Technical Production with an emphasis in lighting. My most recent productions include The Play That Goes Wrong where I was the head electrician and Death of a Salesman where I was assistant head electrician. I have been involved in theatre in some way, shape, or form since I was 5, and I am grateful for this opportunity.

Assistant Costume Designer: Adrianne Williams

Adrianne Williams is from Dewy Rose, Georgia. She is currently an MFA costume design candidate at UConn. Her recent design credits include Blood At The Root and Roe at The Connecticut Repertory Theatre and Oliver! and The Mousetrap at Winnipesaukee Playhouse. She is so excited to be here for her first season at The Forestburgh Playhouse!

Wardrobe Supervisor: Julia Loudenback

Julia Loudenback is extremely excited to join the Forestburgh Playhouse as the Wardrobe Supervisor. She graduated from Susquehanna University with a degree in French Studies and Education, and she has four years of costuming, dressing, and stage makeup experience as a member of the university theatre department. With a love for theatre and fashion that originated in elementary school, Julia now has a growing portfolio of costuming and makeup works and has served as a dresser for the national tour of the Broadway musical Waitress. Most recently, Julia spent a year in the Caribbean teaching English to French-speaking students through musical and theatrical experiences. With the encouragement of her family and educators, she developed a passion for storytelling, leading her to pursue a career in the arts. Julia is an avid traveler, and she is currently learning Korean in preparation for the next big voyage.

Stitcher/Wardrobe: Ailis Lindgren

Ailis Lindgren is a freshman theatre design and production major at Coastal Carolina University. They have previously served as assistant stage manager for The Green Bird and the assistant costume designer for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. They have worked as a costumes technician on many productions at CCU. She would like to thank her family and friends for all the support and love.

Properties Designer: Lorelei Davis

Lorelei Davis (Properties) Lorelei is now in her tenth season doing props and stuff at the Playhouse (counting whatever last year was). She has grown and mastered the art of being a hunter/gatherer. (The number of storage pods to hold all the props has grown too.) Big congrats to Franklin and John for marking the 77th year of the Playhouse with style and grace and more than a little ingenuity. She and husband Steve are proud to help staff the “Miracle of the Forest” and look forward to seeing what comes next.

Shop Foreman: Tye Palmer

Box Office/Front of House Associates

Box Office Manager: Hannah Powers

Assistant Box Office Manager: Hannah Veety

Staff: Kelsi Berghahn, Alice Chuglazov,

Tim Chuglazov, Chloe Espeland,

Lilly Espeland, Sean Espeland,

Stacy Joergle, Megan Ross,

Abby Straebler

Tavern Staff

Proprietor: Franklin Trapp

Executive Chef: Jill Padua

Bartenders/Tavern Managers:

Kevin Suppa, Adam Cavello

Kitchen Staff:

Pavel Smith,

Ashton Coviello,

Elizabeth Daniels,

Kara Flood,

Lacy Babcock