Board of Directors
William Ruiz, President
William Ruiz has performed in recent Pittsford Musicals productions of Chicago, Wizard of Oz, and Sound of Music; however, his theatre experience spans well over a decade. Will started performing at School of the Arts where he graduated as a Theatre major. After high school, he began working professionally as part of the cast of Learn-It-Live, Inc., a company that focused on live theatre-based training for corporations. Will also performed at Six Flags Theme Park. In 2008, Will earned a bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and Communications/Broadcasting with a minor in Theatre from SUNY Brockport. While attending college, he participated in multiple productions, which led to an opportunity to be part of the GEVA Theatre production of Our Town. He was invited to serve as an apprentice instructor at GEVA Theatre’s Summer Academy. Will has taught at East Irondequoit Middle School for five years and has co-directed and/or choreographed the school’s musicals. He recently completed a master’s degree in Adolescent Language Education and Development in 2012 at the University of Rochester. Term Ends: January 2019
Katie Groat, Vice President
Katie Groat has been involved with Pittsford Musicals since the fall of 2008 when she was cast as Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly!. Since then, Katie has been a cast member of A Chorus Line, Curtains, Cabaret, and The Wizard of Oz. Katie teaches mathematics and choreographs the musical productions for East Irondequoit Middle School, Pittsford Sutherland High School, the MainStage at the JCC, and the Pittsford Mendon High School show choir. During the summer, Katie works as an Associate Instructor for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League's Summer Stars musical theatre intensive. She teaches dance at Jody B's Studio of Dance in Penfield and is an Entertainment Cast Member at Walt Disney World. Term Ends: January 2019
Dave Fisher, Treasurer
Dave has been a member of Pittsford Musicals since 1982 (the first Carousel). He is a past Board member, past President, past Treasurer, and Distinguished Service Award Winner. Strictly a backstage person, Dave has designed and built many of the sets for Pittsford Musicals. He is also the Technical Director and Set Designer for the Honeoye Falls Lima School District Drama Club. He is employed as a Software Engineer with First Consulting, Inc. and lives in Honeoye Falls with his wife, Lisa. Term Ends: January 2020
Kate Bond, Secretary
Kate Bond moved to Rochester five years ago and was welcomed into the PM community with open arms. Truly it is what has kept her from running away screaming from the suburbs. After 5 years and 4 shows (with breaks for babies), she is ready give back to that community and be part of the group of people that gets it all done. In the past Kate has designed several PM programs and has served on the Marketing Committee. In the slightly more ancient past (college) she was music director for her a capella group and music director for several student-run musicals. In her day job Kate is a stay-at-home mom to four young children, with a side gig as a digital sales data analyst for Ghostlight Records. (Yes, that is just as exciting as it sounds.) Kate brings her unyielding organizational skills, nonstop enthusiasm, and deep-seated musical theater nerdiness to help PM continue as the premier community theater organization in Rochester. Term Ends: January 2021
Jason Ford
Jason first joined the Pittsford Musicals family in the fall of 2015 when he was cast as Victor in Cabaret. He also played the Guard in Pittsford Musicals’ 2016 production of The Wizard of Oz. Theatre is such a big part of Jason’s life. Jason has worked with other theater groups in the Rochester area as well. He most recently played Motel, the tailor, in Webster Theater Guild’s winter production of Fiddler on the Roof. Jason has loved being a part of the theater community in Rochester. Jason also co-directs at his school, Francis Parker School No. 23. He currently teaches fifth grade at School 23 and has been teaching for the past 12 years with the City of Rochester. He also co-directs the Rochester Summer Scholars theater production. Jason has fully enjoyed being a part of all aspects of theater from actor, stage crew, director, costumer, to set designer. Term Ends: January 2020
Chris Garver
Chris has been associated with Pittsford Musicals since 2007; in addition to performing on stage often, he has also assisted with shows backstage or in other various off-stage capacities, particularly with working on set construction. If an actor has danced on a suspended platform in the last few years, odds are pretty good Chris had a hand in building it, unless it was rickety, in which case it was somebody else. Involvement with community theater in the Rochester area is Chris's primary hobby outside of his occupation as a software developer. Term Ends: January 2020
Linda Gressell
Linda has been involved in community theater since she was 12. A Pittsford Sutherland grad, she received her degree in Vocal Performance from DePaul University. Linda has worked at the University of Rochester for 13 years in Advancement and Development. She and her husband Chris are parents to two beautiful boys Noah and Hudson. They reside in Pittsford. Term Ends: January 2019
Beth Jenks
Beth Jenks has been a music teacher in the East Irondequoit School District for the past 15 years. She pioneered the middle school musical program and has since directed, vocal directed, costumed, and business managed 14 shows. Beth has also enjoyed being the props master, set designer/builder and dabbling in choreography. In addition to being a part of Pittsford Musicals’ productions of Wizard of Oz and Sweeney Todd as a costumer, she has also costumed Webster Thomas’ Aida, Webster Theatre Guild’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as the annual middle school production. Beth is an organized and hard-working person, willing and able to collaborate with the many individuals it takes to produce a successful show. Being involved in theatre (whether behind the scenes, on stage or in the audience) is an extremely rewarding experience. Beth wants to help maintain, if not help grow, the magical tradition of Pittsford Musical’s annual productions. Term Ends: January 2019
Diane O'Neil
Diane has been involved with Pittsford Musicals since 1995. She had so much fun collecting props for that show she came back the next year and has been doing it every year. Since then she has worked backstage as part of the crew and learned to help build set pieces. Diane has served a number of terms on the Board of Directors, including several times as President. She has also served as the Pittsford liaison to TheatreRocs. She realizes that theater groups in Rochester are facing increasing pressure for audiences, operating funds and even performing locations. She feels that Pittsford Musicals holds a unique place in this environment not only for the quality of its productions, but also for the sense of community it brings to those involved. Term Ends: January 2021
Jennifer Pawlak
Jennifer Pawlak has been a member of Pittsford Musicals since the 2004 production of Mame and has been involved both on- and off-stage with every show since then. You have most recently seen her as an apple-wielding tree in The Wizard of Oz and a catatonic lunatic in Sweeney Todd. Jen brings to the Board her enthusiasm for the continued success of the organization and a great sense of humor. Among other goals, Jen will help the organization maintain its current technological capabilities and advance future technology goals, attract new talent, and continue to provide high-quality productions, thereby ensuring Pittsford Musicals’ prominence in Rochester’s amateur theatre community. Jen has served on the Show Selection Committee, Nominating Committee, Director Search Committee, Scholarship Committee, and currently co-maintains the Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as email marketing. Jen is also an active member of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Education Organization), having served as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and is currently halfway through a two-year term as president. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University. Term Ends: January 2021
Jason Rugg
Jason Rugg began his career as a theater educator in 2003, when he directed his first production, Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Since then he has directed over a dozen high school productions, from large broad-interest musicals to boundary pushing straight plays. He has taught theatre at West Irondequoit for 12 of his 17 years as an educator, leading theatre trips to NYSTEA Student Conferences and international trips to London, England. For five of those years, Jason served as West Irondequoit’s Director of Performing Arts, producing five shows a year to sold out audiences, balancing a profitable self-sustaining program and maintaining two performing arts spaces. Jason has also participated in many productions around the area, performing with Irondequoit Theatre Guild, Greece Performing Arts Society, Roberts Wesleyan College Community Theatre, RAPA, Blackfriars, and Pittsford Musicals (Annie (2010), Curtains (2014), and Cabaret (2015)). He also runs Last Fool Productions, a company he co-owns, where he directed Really Rosie for the 2017 Rochester Fringe Festival at Blackfriars Theatre. He loves participating in all aspects of the theatrical process, often assisting on run crew, building sets, painting, and other production elements to stay active in local theatre. Jason looks forward to serving alongside the many current and future Board members to continue making Pittsford Musicals a valued, respected, and vital part of the local community. Term Ends: January 2021
Eric Williamson
Eric is honored to be a board member for Pittsford Musicals. He has been a lifelong vocalist, actor, and artist both in his hometown of Camden, NY, and since relocating here to Rochester in 1999. As he became involved in the Rochester theater community, many people spoke with him about the quality of Pittsford Musicals productions. He auditioned for the Wizard of Oz in August of 2016 and was given the role of the Wizard/Professor Marvel. From the moment he walked into his first rehearsal, he was impressed with the way the directors worked together and the manner in which they communicated with the adults and children of the cast. Cast members went out of their way to make him feel welcome and the production schedule was respectful of time. The turnout by cast members to assist in the monumental task of completing the scenery was impressive. This enthusiasm and sense of community was contagious and inspired him to get involved where he could. Cast and crew interacted like a true family and made him feel like a member. He feels so blessed to have been a part of such an incredible show and to have worked with such kind and talented people. The Pittsford Musicals community has created a legacy in the Rochester area and he loves being an active participant in its continued success. Term Ends: January 2020