Leadership

Jonathan Berry

Artistic Director
(he/him)
Jonathan@penobscottheatre.org

Jonathan Berry is a director, producer and teacher from Chicago.  He spent five years as an Artistic Producer at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and he remains a proud ensemble member of both Steep Theatre and Griffin Theatre. Steppenwolf directing credits include: Lindiwe (Co-directed with Eric Simonson and featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo), The Children, You Got Older, Constellations, and the SYA productions of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, The Crucible, and A Separate Peace.  Steep Theatre productions include: Paris, Red Rex, Earthquakes in London, Posh, The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle, If There Is I Haven’t Found it Yet, The Knowledge, Festen, Moment, The Hollow Lands and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.  At Griffin, productions include: The North American premiers of Simon Stephens Punk Rock (Jeff award Director, Lead Actor, and Ensemble) Port, and On the Shore of the Wide World, as well as The Harvest, Winterset, Pocatello, Balm in Gilead, Golden Boy, The Burnt Part Boys, Spring Awakening Company, Picnic, Time and the Conways, Dead End, The Hostage and Journey’s End.  He directed the NY premiere of Andrew Hinderacker’s Suicide, Incorporated for The Roundabout.  His work has been honored with numerous Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, as well as frequent representation on the end of year Top Ten lists of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times and Timeout Chicago.  He won the Joseph Jefferson award for directing for his work on Simon Stephen’s Punk Rock.  

He served as Assistant Director for Anna D Shapiro’s Broadway productions of Of Mice and Men and This is our Youth.  At the Gift Theatre, he directed the world premieres of Andrew Hinderacker’s Dirty and Suicide, Incorporated. At the Goodman Theatre, he directed the New Stages productions of Martin Zimmerman’s The Solid Sand Below and Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s The World of Extreme Happiness. Other work includes: American Theatre Company;  Kill Floor, American Blues; Little Shop of Horrors and Sideman; Redtwist; Look Back in Anger  and Reverb, Chicago Dramatists:  I am Going to Change the World, Jackalope Theatre: The Casuals, Strawdog: Conversations on a Homecoming, Remy Bumppo: The Marriage of Figaro, Theatre Mir: The Sea and Caucasian Chalk Circle,  Lifeline Theater: The Piano Tuner (Afterdark award – Best Production)  He pursued his MFA in directing from Northwestern University under the tutelage of Anna D. Shapiro.  He has taught acting, directing, and viewpoints at University of Michigan, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois – Chicago, Vagabond School, Act One Studios, and Columbia College Chicago.  For 17 years he played an integral role in the esteemed ensemble training program The School at Steppenwolf, serving as director of the program from 2015-2019. 

Jen Shepard

Executive Director
(she/her) 
Jen@penobscottheatre.org

Jen is thrilled to join the staff of The Penobscot Theatre Company.  She’s the proud co-owner of ImprovAcadia in Bar Harbor.  She moved to Maine in 2004 to open ImprovAcadia and has been operating and performing there since the beginning.  A graduate of University of Iowa and an improv alumni of iO and The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, she also worked for The Second City on Norwegian Cruise Lines.  Her Bangor artistic home is The Penobscot Theatre Company and she’s appeared many times on stage most recently as Suzette in Don’t Dress for Dinner. Shepard applies a “Yes, and..” philosophy to her day to day and business life. 

Andrew Speed

Business Manager
(he/him)  
businessmanager@penobscottheatre.org 

Andrew is excited to join the team at penobscot theatre company. He is a Maine native and current resident of Bangor, me. he attended the university of Maine Orono and is excited to be back in penobscot county after an almost 20 year career in finance & administration in southern Maine. Andrew is a visual artist and poet and has been in numerous group and solo shows with paintings in collections across the country and abroad. other interests include cooking and spending time with family.He would like to thank his wife Lori and her “let’s just ask the question” philosophy that has made so many things possible. 

Rachael Bechtel

Operations Manager
(she/her) 
Rachael@penobscottheatre.org

Rachael joined the Penobscot Theatre team as the Artistic Administrator in 2019. Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina Rachael received her BFA in Technical Theatre with minors in Communication and Deaf Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Since graduating in 2016, Rachael has worked as a stage management intern with Florida Repertory, as an Assistant Company Manager at Theatre by the Sea in Rhode Island, and as a General Management Representative for Food of Love Productions, an Off-Broadway immersive Shakespeare company in New York City. 

John Siedenberg II

Director of Marketing
(he/him) 
Marketing@penobscottheatre.org

John fell in love with Penobscot Theatre Company after heading the Tech team for PTC’s Dramatic Academy in 2016 with School of Rock and Transformer Tales. As the former Box Office Manager at PTC, John’s dedication to Bangor, its artists, and PTC has only grown. Originally from Kentucky, John is an alum of Morehead State University where he became a “chameleon of the arts”. John has acted, designed, and taught for companies all over the country including Stage Right Theatre Company, The National Theatre for Children, Missoula Children’s Theatre, Shooting Starts Youtheatre, and Stagedoor Manor. His favorite credits include Noises Off (Actor), The 39 Steps (Actor), Amelia Earhart (Scenic Design), School of Rock (Design), Aida (Design), Jesus Christ Superstar (Design), Jekyll & Hyde (Design), An Evening of Culture (Director), The Wizard of Oz (Director), and The Boys Next Door (Director). Recently John’s favorite PTC credits include Don’t Dress for Dinner (Actor), Mamma Mia (Prop Design), and Woody Guthrie’s American Song (Projection Design).  

Aimee Gerow

Box Office Manager
(she/her) 
BoxOffice@penobscottheatre.org

Aimee is a Bangor native who’s spent time living and acting in London, Boston, and most recently, New York, where she studied at the American Academy for Dramatic Arts. She’s performed in numerous productions in the area, with PTC, as well as Ten Bucks Theatre and True North Theatre. She currently serves as president for Ten Bucks Theatre. 

Frank Bachman

Front of House Manager/Box Office Associate
(He/Him) 
Housemanager@penobscottheatre.org 

You may recognize Frank from recent PTC productions and even years back on the Unitarian Vestry Stage. He has been a fixture in the greater Hancock County performing community since 1984, beginning at the Deck House and then The Unusual Cabaret, the Acadia Repertory Theatre, and a featured soloist for the Bagaduce Chorale. In addition, Frank spent a number of years touring in several stage productions, most notably with the International Company of EVITA, 1989-92. Since 1998, Frank has directed over 30 productions at Mt Desert Island High School. He is pleased to now be a part of the PTC front of house staff.  

Ira Kramer

Development Associate
(he/him) 
Ira@Penobscottheatre.org 

Development Associate. Originally from London Ontario, Canada Ira (AEA) has lived, worked and studied (UMaine graduate) in the United States since 2008. Ira began working as an actor at PTC in 2012 and has worked there consistently since. In 2019 he joined the PTC Team as a Development Associate. With many years of experience in hospitality Ira is well equipped to continue growing relationships within the community. Additionally, Ira works with the Marketing Department, filming and doing voice over work. Ira is a 2019 NH Theatre award nominee and continues to work both on and off stage with The Penobscot Theatre Company and the Weathervane Theatre NH.  

Nellie Kelly

Curriculum Coordinator & Production Manager
(she/her)
Nellie@penobscottheatre.org

A UMaine graduate, she recently moved back from Salt Lake City where she was the Production Manager and Theater School Director for the Utah Children’s Theatre. Nellie previously worked with DA’s summer programs Stage Managing School of Rock, Transformer Tales, The Addams Family and Something Wicked This Way Comes. She’s thrilled to help foster youth theater in the Bangor community and continue to build Dramatic Academy’s programming through acting and technical theater classes. 

Grace Livingston Kramer

Managing Director for Education
(she/her)  
Grace@penobscottheatre.org 

Originally from Maine, Grace’s love for theatre began when she attended Penobscot Theatre Company’s summer camp program at the age of six. For the next 12 years, she participated as a camper and teaching apprentice. Grace continued her love of theatre throughout high school in the former Intern Program at PTC and in the 2003-2004 season joining the staff as House Manager. Since then, she has been a performer, teacher, admissions assistant and guest director for an international educational non-profit. With stints as a social media marketing manager for Rise Up for You (Southern California) and Heart Global (International), Grace has continued to cultivate both her administrative and marketing skill sets while staying active as a performer and director. For the past three years, Grace served as Company Manager, Intern Company Guest Director, Summer Camp Co-Director and Professional Company actor at Weathervane Theatre in Whitefield, NH. Grace is over the moon to be a part of Dramatic Academy’s next chapter and hopes to help young artists fall in love with theatre the same way she did!

Ben Wetzel

Production Manager
(he/him) 
Ben@penobscottheatre.org 

Originally from Minnesota, Ben received his BFA from North Dakota State University in 2013. A professional carpenter, he spent time at American Players Theatre (Wisconsin), Maples Repertory Theatre (Missouri), and Northern Stage (Vermont) before finding his way to PTC prior to their 43rd season. Ben is grateful for his family (here and back home) and for their support. 

Zac Whitenack

Technical Director
(he/him) 
Zac@penobscottheatre.org 

Hails from Northern New York and most recently from Memphis. Zac joined the Penobscot Theatre Company team in 2019. He has a BA in Anthropology and when not building sets for the stage, he can be found playing the steel drum or in used record stores looking for Zappa. He looks forward for what the season has in store! 

James Kuzio

Assistant Technical Director
(he/him) 
Headcarpenter@penobscottheatre.org 

grew up in Vermont and fell in love with theater in high school and graduated from Skidmore College with a B.S. in Theater with a concentration on production and design and minors in physics and music. Since graduating he has worked at Goodspeed Musicals (stage carpentry apprentice), Williams College (Theatre Technician), and Waterville Opera House (Carpenter/Theatre Technician) among others. He is excited to have landed at PTC and is looking forward to being a part of this amazing community! 

Neil Graham

House Sound Engineer / Resident Sound Designer
(He/Him) 
Neil@penobscottheatre.org 

Originally hired as an actor for a handful of shows at PTC starting in 2015, Neil has always been passionate about sound and its role as a storytelling tool and emotional trigger. Recently, when PTC launched “Digitus Theatrum”, Neil was tapped to create and design “Ghost Postcards from Maine” and “The Dog Operas”. He is also incredibly fortunate and appreciative of the opportunity to create and guide some of Dramatic Academy’s programming, like “Night of the Living Dead, The Radio Play”, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Monster Lab”. It is impossible to relate how truly rewarding those experiences have been, and will continue to be. It was through these and similar projects that Neil decided to allow his heart to dictate his path, and has since devoted all his creative energy to sound production and education. As a longtime commercial radio host and current host of a nationally syndicated Rock & Roll show, Neil looks forward to bringing his passion and experience as a musician, actor, and technician to shape what you, the audience hear; and thus, bolster what you see. 

Jess Ploszaj

Lighting Supervisor
(they/them) 
Lighting@penobscottheatre.org

Jess is a Artist/ Designer/ Creative type who is excited to be working with Penobscot Theatre Company on this venture. For past work and portfolio please visit https://jessploszaj.wixsite.com/jessploszaj Enjoy the show! 

Kevin Koski

Costume Department Manager / Resident Costume Designer
(he/him) 
 Kevin@penobscottheatre.org 

Kevin Jacob Koski is a Maine native and awarded graduate of the University of Maine’s 2011 Theatre Arts program. He focused on costume design and construction while also designing multiple productions and minoring in Permaculture. With a nearly 10 year tenure at Penobscot Theatre Company, he has designed many main-stage and dramatic academy productions. Some of these credits include: WIT, One Blue Tarp, Alice in Wonderland, Doctor Cerberus, Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, Calendar Girls, Rock of Ages, The Full Monty, Misery, Ugly Lies the Bone, The Graduate and Gaslight. In 2012, Koski opened his own design firm and alteration shop, where he tailors garments for formal events. With his background in retail management, visual displays and stockroom coordination, he continues to work on inventorying our extensive costume stock for a future, worldwide rental program. 

Emily Barker

Costume Shop Apprentice / Wardrobe Supervisor
(she/her) 
 Costumes@penobscottheatre.org 

is delighted to join PTC for its 49th season! After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Costume Design & Production, she worked as Cutter/Draper on CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, STATE FAIR, and AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ with The REV Theatre Company. She has spent most of her career working in youth & educational theatre, and is passionate about making theatre fun &  accessible. Favorite past designs: CYMBELINE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, WEST SIDE STORY, CHICAGO, and SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAY-SIDE SCHOOL. Outside of theater, she takes commissions, and works as a stylist for photoshoots & live concerts (most notably: dodie). Huge thank you to her loved ones & fans: Mom & Dad, Abby, Miguel. @clairvoyantandmuse  

Reed Davis

Resident Stage Manager
(he/him) 
 Reed@PenobscotTheatre.org 

is thrilled to be starting another season with PTC. After receiving his B.A. in Theatre from the University of Maine in 2020, Reed joined the PTC team for their digital season, Digitus Theatrum. Since then, PSM credits include BECOMING DR. RUTH (PTC), HOCKEY MOM (PTC), MAYTAG VIRGIN (PTC), and DESDEMONA, a play about a handkerchief (Opera House Arts). 

Jenna Gripshover

Stage Management Apprentice
(she/they) 
ASM@penobscottheatre.org 

Jenna Gripshover joins the PTC team this season as the Stage Management Apprentice. A recent graduate from Kentucky’s Centre College, she is excited to help bring the joy of theatre to the Bangor community! Previous credits include THE WOLVES, GREEK TRAGEDY, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, and JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (Centre College). She would like to thank her family, especially her niece Harper and nephew Hunter.