CREATIVE TEAM

NATE ROTHERMEL is a Theatre Artist, Teacher, and Artistic Citizen from Reading, PA. Nate has a passion for empowering people  with art: He has trained with NY-based artists during the Artist as Citizen Conference at Juilliard, and is a nationally recognized actor, acclaimed by the Kennedy Center. Nate has acted professionally with Metamorphosis Performing Company and Brickhouse Theatre Company. Nate also has experience directing, and his most notable credits are Into the Woods at Consortium for the Arts, Once on this Island Jr. at Olivet Boys and Girls Club, and Samuel Beckett's Act Without Words II with Albright College. He is a professionally trained deviser, and his devised works include DIONYSIA, a web series on YouTube, and DIONYSUS REDUX, an interactive theatre experience on Zoom. Nate is also a teaching artist: he has taught workshops and courses at the The University of the Arts, Albright College, Kimmel Center, Yocum Institute of the Arts, Olivet Boys and Girls Club, and more! Nate received his MFA in Devised Theatre at Pig Iron School, and his BA in Theatre from Albright College. For more, visit www.naterothermel.com 

NICOLE GENEST, PSYD is a long-time theatre artist, with extensive experience as a producer, stage manager, props master, and co-director, in both community and professional theaters across central New Jersey and southeastern PA. Recently, she served as producer for the world premiere of an original work for Short Stage Stories entitled Rocky Road Ain’t Always Sweet, and produced a staged reading of the show at the prestigious The Lambs Club in NYC. As stage manager, favorite shows include: Head Over Heels (Yocum); Little Shop of Horrors (FHS); Jeffrey, Noises Off, Death Defying Acts (Playhouse 22); Wait Until Dark, Biloxi Blues, Company, The Tempest (Villagers Theatre); Peter Pan, Aida (FCT); The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, An Inspector Calls, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and A Murder is Announced (RCP); Weekend Comedy (Lunch & Laughter); and Lovers and Other Strangers (SVP). She also enjoys co-directing shows including An Inspector Calls, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, and A Murder is Announced (RCP). She is a seasoned props master and some of her props work has been seen in shows such as Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and A Murder is Announced (RCP), Forever Plaid (Villagers Theatre), You Can’t Take it With You (FCT), The Passion of Dracula and Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web (Villagers Theatre). Occasionally ending up on stage, she has appeared in shows such as Company, Jeffrey, and was seen as twin sisters Sarah and Camille Rutherford in a dinner murder mystery production of Murder at Rutherford House. Nicole has served as Musical Producer and Props Master at Hamburg Area High School for the past 9 years and holds the position of Treasurer on the Board of Reading Community Players (RCP). She enjoys mentoring and sharing her knowledge and experience with students on all aspects of production design and execution Outside of theatre, Nicole holds a Master’s in Organizational Psychology and a Doctorate in Leadership Psychology. She utilizes training in psychology, neuroscience, and human behavior in her approaches to theatre and work.

SARA JACKSON "Mrs. J" holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Eastern University (2000) and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Messiah University (2022). A dedicated music educator and performer, she has taught at Goshen Friends Quaker School, Hereford Elementary, St. Thomas Preschool, and across multiple grade levels in the Tulpehocken Area School District.

For the past ten years, Mrs. J has taught music and directed choirs at Hamburg Area High School, where she also serves as vocal music director for the Hamburg Hawks Performing Arts musicals. She is passionate about helping students grow as musicians, performers, and people.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. J accompanies the Blue Mountain Heritage Chorus and performs with Blind Voices, a folk trio made up of herself, her husband, and her brother-in-law. The group writes, composes, and performs original music locally and in New York.

Mrs. J lives in Bernville with her husband of 25 years, Joel. They have two children—Sianna, a 10th grader, and Peter, who lives in Heaven—as well as a household full of pets, including a cockatiel, a painted water turtle, a guinea pig, and a flock of chickens. She enjoys vacations in the Adirondacks, holiday family time, and hands-on creative hobbies like knitting, crocheting, and whittling. A versatile musician, Mrs. J sings and plays piano, flute, guitar, ukulele, recorder, djembe, and mountain dulcimer.

ALI PERZEL-PETERS is a seasoned dance professional with over 25 years in the industry, known for her versatility as a performer, choreographer, educator, and studio director. Ali received her formal training locally. Her comprehensive training spans Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-Hop, and Partnering, and she has studied with top Master Class instructors in Dance, Acting, and Musical Theater.

Ali is the proud Owner, Founder, and Director of Branches of Dance, located in Muhlenberg Township, PA. For over a decade, she has led the studio with passion and purpose, offering a nurturing environment where students grow artistically, emotionally, and personally. She is deeply committed to helping children discover their talents and build confidence through dance, whether they pursue it recreationally or professionally. She has guided students through college auditions, performance opportunities, and competition preparation, celebrating their successes every step of the way. As a performer, Ali’s favorite credits include an Off-Broadway appearance in NYC with the Beginnings Workshop, portraying Belle in Beauty and the Beast for CPAC, and performing with the Pennsylvania Ballet Theater's local productions of The Nutcracker. She is a national award-winning soloist and has choreographed multiple award-winning competition routines, earning accolades including a Choreography Awards at Nex-Star, and Dance Xplosion Competitions.

Ali continues to shape the dance world beyond her studio by judging and casting for professional and competitive dance teams. A former competitive dancer herself, she brings deep insight, empathy, and enthusiasm to her role as a judge. She has also choreographed for church musicals, Christmas productions, and the Harrisburg Heat Professional Dance Team, and is thrilled to serve as choreographer for Hamburg Area High School’s musical production of Mary Poppins. Ali’s passion for performance, education, and mentorship defines her work. With each class and choreography, she strives to inspire excellence, creativity, and joy in the next generation of dancers.

ANGELA DOWD This is Mrs. Dowd’s 19th show as musical pit director (Lebanon School District and Hamburg Area School District). She will be starting her 29th year of teaching instrumental music. She has also served as vocal coach for Nativity’s musicals for several years. Mrs. Dowd enjoys playing cello for other musicals. She performs with Reading Pops Orchestra, Anthracite Philharmonic, Blue Mountain Heritage Chorus, and Reading Choral Society. Mrs. Dowd is married to her husband, Tom and they have two adult children, Maddie and Hanna and three cats, Jelly, Markie and Squeekers. In her free time, she enjoys walking, kayaking, and the beach.  

BETH BORKEY is this year's Hamburg High School's costume director for Mary Poppins the musical. This is her second year in costumes but her fourth behind the scenes. Beth owns and works as a hair stylist at The Treetop Salon and enjoys horseback riding in her spare time. She can't wait to see all the hard work put into this production pay-off! 

Bio coming soon!