Musical Staff
Mrs. Mary Erickson - Theatre Director
PLHS alumni, Mary Erickson has been involved in theater and vocal performance since the age of seven. "I've been a vocalist my entire life. Singing always came naturally to me, and I've always loved performing." Currently Mary is involved with a local theater group, The Lecompton Players, who are like family to her.
Mary is a former paralegal, a career-path she found completely boring, so she quit that life, becoming a stay-at-home mother when her first child was born in 1991. She describes this as the best decision of her life. Mary has been married for 30 years in October 2020 to Chris Erickson, also PLHS alumni. Fun fact: the PLHS Singers sang at their wedding!
Chris and Mary's family continues to grow in glorious ways! Daughter, Shelby Erickson Zibell (PLHS Class of 2010) is married to Kurt Zibell, and resides in Holton. They blessed Chris and Mary with granddaughter, Addi Jo Zibell, born in December 2018. Daughter, Jordan Erickson, (PLHS Class of 2013) will marry her fiance, Jackson Kirby in November. Son Tyler Erickson (PLHS Class of 2018) lives in Lawrence and works for Hamm's Companies.
"I am so excited to join the PLHS musical team, and to be involved again with the very stage I performed on so many times while in high school. I can't wait to see what talents the kids bring to our stage! I love seeing what they can do, using their own creativity!"
Mrs. Emily Pons - Assistant Director
Mrs. Pons is thrilled to be joining the Perry-Lecompton staff as the Director of Choirs this year after teaching K-12 Vocal Music for Jefferson County North since 2017. A native of Dallas, Texas, teaching music has been Mrs. Pons' lifelong passion. After receiving her bachelor's in vocal music education from the University of Oklahoma, Mrs. Pons moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where she now resides with her husband, Daniel. To supplement her instruction, Mrs. Pons plays the piano, guitar, mandolin, and various Orff instruments. She teaches private vocal and instrumental lessons for various students and serves as the secretary for the Lawrence Civic Choir and a judge for KCDA All-State ensembles. Mrs. Pons can also be seen performing in Mary Baker's Cabarets and in productions with Theatre Lawrence.
Musicals hold a special place in Mrs. Pons' heart. Even at an early age, she could be found re-enacting Disney classics or giving her best performance of Jack from "Into the Woods" for her very kind, very gracious family members. She has performed in numerous musicals over the years including "The Wizard of Oz", "Fiddler on the Roof", "The Secret Garden", "Les Misérables", "Camelot", "Mamma Mia!", and most recently, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder".
Mrs. Angie Hurd - Assistant Director
Angie Hurd has lived in the Perry-Lecompton community for 41 years, and graduated in 1992. She has been married to Mike Hurd (PLHS class of 1989) for 25 years. They have two children together, Mollie (PLHS class of 2019) and Ryan who is a freshman in Lawrence virtual school. After graduating high school Angie became a Para-educator for the Oskaloosa/Perry-Lecompton school districts for almost 7 years. She then became a stay at home mom after her first child, Mollie, was born in 2000. Angie and her husband raise cattle on their farm, and have a commercial produce garden. She first became involved with the PLHS musical production in 2014. Her contribution with the musical involved the dinner theater for 5 years.
“My involvement in helping coordinate the dinner theater was a truly rewarding experience that I will always treasure! I look forward to working with the talented PLHS musical team this year. I am excited about helping each student bring out their creativity and shine!”