Once a Wildcat: Spotlight Articles on Pinelands Staff and Alumni

Staff, students, and visitors might notice a brand-new, very large American flag with a bald eagle decorating the walls toward the gym in the Commons. Anyone walking in is noticing the work of Erica Albright, a Pinelands Alumni from the Class of ‘89. Approached by Mr. Henderson for the job, Albright says she is “pleased and proud” to beautify the school she used to attend.

This is not just Erica Albright´s passion but her living. Albright manages her own business, Artistic Illusions Custom Artwork, where she is commissioned for murals, painting furniture, homes, and just about everything under the sun. Her passion for art actually began at Pinelands. She first became interested in art when she took Painting and Drawing as electives. It is amazing the beauty of a well-rounded education because when one takes subjects they might have never taken before, one can never know where it will take them.

It is admirable and encouraging how a student can be introduced to a passion whether it turns into a career or hobby at school and how they give back to the school that inspired them in the first place.

Since she was a young girl, Tonilee Marrone knew she wanted to have a career in which she could give life to her creativity. In middle and high school, Marrone was involved with the theater and art clubs in which she expressed her talents through her acting and art projects. Once she graduated from Pinelands Regional High School in 2017, Marrone attended the Douglas Education Center, located in Monessen, Pennsylvania, and enrolled in the Tom Savini Special Make-up Effects Program.

In 2019, after spending 16 months in the program, Marrone graduated with her Associates Degree. Not long after graduation, Marrone changed her scenery and moved from New Jersey to Georgia, where her career began to take off. Marrone began working on movie sets and created props for films such as American Siege, Star Girl, Black Lighting, and Cosmic Sin.

“I love the creative process of physically being able to create a makeup effect or fabricate a prop. At the same time, being on set with like minded individuals is so much fun, and I have created some really awesome relationships with cast and crew members. The first time I saw something I had created on screen was for sure a crazy moment for me!” Marrone reports.

Marrone loves her career tremendously, especially the friendships she’s made with the casts and crews on some of the movies on which she has worked. Marrone got to experience working with the well known actor Bruce Willis on multiple occasions and claims he’s such a friendly soul and fun to work with.

“He [Bruce Willis] is a really great guy to work with, and it’s such a cool experience to be able to see such a big name, do his job, but also just be a real person and interact with the cast and crew,” Says Marrone.

Marrone has recently taken a new step in her career when she accepted the opportunity to work for Lone Wolf Effects, a company that has made prosthetics for Stranger Things, Ozark, and Doom Patrol.

“I am excited for this next chapter in my career, and can’t wait to grow as an artist with this new opportunity,” Marrone states.

Marrone cannot wait to see where this part of her life takes her. Marrone currently resides in Georgia and plans to work on many more projects in the future.