CREATIVE TEAM
Christina McGovern
Producer/ Director/Costume Designer
Christina started her career after graduating from Ursinus College in 1998 with a B.A. in English and Theatre. She also received her master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Theatre from Villanova University and Gratz College of Philadelphia. This is Christina’s 19th year as Producer/Director of the Ridley Drama Group and sponsor of Ridley’s chapter of International Thespian Society. Christina has worked, performed, and directed for many area theatres and educational theatre groups, including Pro-Theatre of Collegeville, Ursinus College, The Swarthmore Players Club, The Candlelight Dinner Theatre, Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, and Villanova University, where she was nominated for a Barrymore Award as a member of the ensemble of Parade. Christina currently sits on the Pennsylvania State Board of the Educational Theatre Association/ International Thespian Society, and has directed more than 41 musicals and plays for Ridley Drama. Previously, she was named as Ridley School District’s teacher of the year for 2011-12, winning one of Delaware County’s Excellence in Teaching Awards and was inducted into the Arts Hall of Fame for Springfield High School. Last year, she was a finalist in the Pennsylvania State Teacher of the Year Contest. She would like to thank her staff for attempting to merge home and school and continue this family tradition, her family members, especially her mom, for her constant support of her children during the show, her dad, for childcare, the designing and building of sets, and supporting her dreams, her husband, Kevin, and her sons Connor and Aidan, for constant support and for putting up with long hours and take-out, and her hard working colleagues, staff members, and parent volunteers for their support, encouragement, and work ethic. She would also like to thank the students of RDG, past and present, for giving her life true purpose.
Cappies Advisor
Suzanne is a teacher in the Math Department of Ridley High School, and has been a part of the creative team for Ridley Drama for the last 15 years as both a director and assistant director. She directed Honk Jr., Aladdin Jr., Footloose, Little Shop of Horrors for Ridley Drama, and has assistant directed both musicals and straight plays for the group as well, including West SIde Story, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Christmas Carol, Grease, AIda, Beauty and the Beast, Anything Goes, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Clue, On Stage. In addition to her work with Ridley Drama Group, Suzanne also performs with the St. Francis Players and area theaters, and has attended the PA State Conference with Ridley's International Thespian Troupe. She is mother to two beautiful children, and continues to bring her positive spirit and expertise to the group year after year.
Dana Oswald
Play Assistant Director
Dana is a former RDG student who graduated from Ridley High School in 2011. She is extremely excited to be back supporting the program as assistant director. Dana has a B.A. in Early Childhood and Special Education, and a Master’s in Education both from Neumann University. She currently works at Ridley Middle School in the Special Education Department. While a Ridley student, she performed in six productions, most notably in her final show, Aida as Aida. She would like to thank her family, friends, and the incredible, hard-working students of RDG. Finally, she would like to thank the directing staff, especially Christina McGovern who brought her on board!
Amar Ahluwalia
Technical Director/House Manager
Amar has been working for Ridley Drama since he was a student at Ridley High School beginning as the business manager and then assuming multiple roles over time. After studying at Penn State University, he worked briefly for Ridley School District where he was responsible for co-founding the Ridley Raider Indoor Percussion Group. He began coordinating events within the Philadelphia area for many venues including the University of Pennsylvania. He now serves Ridley Drama as the Technical Crew Director and Special Effects Coordinator while working as an independent events contractor all over the country. Amar would like to thank his family for their constant support of his endeavors, and the stage managers and crew kids for their hard work and willingness to innovate the program.
Gabrielle Impriano
Musical Assistant Director/Choreographer
Gabby isa former RDG performer and RHS student who has gone on to study and work as a professional dancer/choreographer/fitness instructor in the greater Philadelphia area. Gabrielle choreographs/instructs at several local theatres including Upper Darby Summer Stage, Players Club of Swarthmore, Narberth Community Theatre, and Fireworks Dance Center. She is a Pure Barre instructor and also performs professionally at Media Theatre, the Walnut Street Theatre, Spotlight Theatre, and Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.
Josiah Krawiec
Sound Technician/Audio Director
Josiah is proud to be serving as Music Director at Ridley High School. In addition to being a Ridley graduate and former member of Ridley Drama Group, Josiah holds Bachelor degrees in Music Education and Performance from the Boyer College of Music at Temple University, and a Master’s degree in Music Technology and Production from The University of Valley Forge. When he is not teaching or “gigging,” Josiah enjoys spending his free time with his beautiful girlfriend Christi and their three cats: Taco, Belle, and Lil Kev.
Anthony Murgidi
Pit Orchestra Director
Anthony is thrilled to be the pit director for RDG! In addition to performing in the orchestras for numerous productions across the area, Mr. M got his start in musical performances with RDG back in the spring of 2011 in Aida, playing in five more RDG productions since then. When not directing Ridley’s instrumental groups, Mr. M enjoys playing with his beautiful Pittie named Sasha and is an avid Philly sports fan (go Birds!) Mr. Murgidi is also director of bands for RIdley High School, and continues to direct the Ridley Raider Marching Band and Indoor Guard in competitive seasons!
Kylie Bleacher
Vocal Director
Kylie is a former RDG performer and RHS student, who now teaches elementary music for Ridley MIddle School. Kylie is also a board certified Music Therapist working at Meadowood Senior Living. Earning her B.A. in Vocal Music from West Chester University, Kylie studies currently at Immaculata College in the Music Therapy and Educational Leadership program. In addition to teaching music, Kylie participates in many outside musical organizations, performs as as solo singer, and is part of the founding leadership team for the Barnstormer's Youth Theatre Program at Barnstormer's Theatre in Ridley Park, PA.
Tom Dappollone
Technical Director/Scenic Construction
Tom has been working as technical director for Ridley Drama for over ten years and is responsible for the direction and building of over 20 different sets including City of Angels, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie, Seussical the Musical, West Side Story, High School Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Aida, Honk Jr., Aladdin Jr., Footloose, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, Anything Goes, Shrek the Musical, The Music Man, The Wizard of Oz 15th Reunion, Legally Blonde, White Christmas, Into the Woods, The Little Mermaid, Les Miserables: School Edition., How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Mary Poppins, and Brighton Beach Memoirs. He enjoys helping the kids learn to build and working with the parent volunteers to realize and better the designs of each RDG show. He is recently retired from his position as Vice President at Beneficial Bank in Philadelphia, and now gets to spend his time with his grandchildren, wife, family, and friends.
Ethan McKellar
Projection Design
Ethan is a proud RDG alumni, currently studying directing at PACE University in New York and running F14, a creative collaboration company dedicated to promoting student art, photography, film, and music on campus. When he attended Ridley high school, Ethan was both an on stage performer, and responsible for developing our marketing campaigns and strategies, and revolutionizing the projection program for RDG. He has won multiple awards for his work with RDG, and went on to develop the Barnstormer's Youth Theatre Program at Barnstormer's Theatre in Ridley Park, PA. Creating two feature films about RDG, and designing the projection packages for RDG's productions of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, Chicago, High School Edition, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised), Ethan continues to support his alma mater by designing original projection packages for RDG productions and providing directorial and marketing support for the program.
Nicole Huppman
Costume Design and Coordination
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Eileen Wiley
Props Design and Coordination
Eileen Wiley, Props Design, is a proud Ridley Drama Group Board Member and Drama Mama to Violet Wiley. She is beyond grateful to be a small part of this wonderful group of amazingly talented thespians, tech crew, directors, musicians, and parents for this beautiful musical. Although this will be her daughter Violet’s last show for RDG, she plans on coming back to help wherever needed - once an RDG Drama Mama, always an RDG Drama Mama! Break all the legs to cast and crew!