Staff Directory
CONTACT
Alexa Baldwin
Executive Director
Mrs. Alexa Baldwin was originally hired in 2011 as the Athens Theatre’s Marketing Manager. Soon after coming on board, she also became the theatre’s Operations Manager. Over the years she became Director of Operations & Marketing, and eventually (after 10 years of service) the Board of Directors voted for her to become the Athens Theatre Executive Director. Prior to working for the Athens Theatre she had seven years managerial experience, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, and had been involved in all the aspects of theater (both in Ohio and Florida) for the previous 13 years. Mrs. Baldwin is in charge of the organization’s policies, overseeing all employees, acting as the main liaison between the Board of Directors and the staff, making sure the facility is well maintained, and ensuring that best practices are being followed by all. She is also responsible for grant writing and web administration.
CONTACT
Frank Ramirez
Producing Artistic Director
Mr. Ramirez comes to Deland after many successful years managing Heather Henson’s IBEX Puppetry and has helped organize their worldwide touring productions as well as the national tours of Jim Henson’s Singalong with The Muppet Movie and Labyrinth Singalong. He also served as Assistant Company Manager/Production Stage Manager for the Tony Award-Winning Broadway Producing/General Management company Martian Entertainment, as well as Resident Production Stage Manager for Seaside Music Theatre, Community Performance Series, Crane Opera Ensemble, and Potsdam Music Theatre. Mr. Ramirez works with a committee to develop play selections, production schedules and production budgets. He is in charge of hiring and overseeing all staff necessary to prepare for and present each Athens Theatre Company production. In addition, he organizes and oversees each event in our concert/rental series.
CONTACT
Jay Keller
Board Secretary/Theatre Booking Agent
Mr. Keller began his career in sales with IBM. He has held sales management and executive positions there and subsequently with Control Data and Telenet (a Division of GTE). He also was CEO of Source Telecomputing, a pioneer in the emerging internet, and COO of PC Quote, a distributor by satellite of stock market data, both startup companies with revenues exceeding $10MM. Mr. Keller assists the theater by negotiating rentals and booking non-repertory events.
CONTACT
Angelyn Rhode – Youth Academy Manager
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ms. Rhode has been teaching students in musical theatre and voice since she was 18 years old. Angelyn moved to Orlando in 2003 and spent 10 years working for Walt Disney World Entertainment and Disney’s Youth Education Series. Currently, Angelyn is a Licensed Kindermusik Instructor with Grow and Sing Studios in Central Florida. In addition to the Athens, she has been Music Director/Choreographer for many local theaters including Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park, Hagerty High School, and Wekiva River Players. She is also team leader of Music for Melons, a group of local musicians dedicated to raising funds for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Ms. Rhode teaches our after-school classes and vocal lessons.
CONTACT
Grace Boynton – Development Director
Grace has a background in both the performing arts and nonprofit development. After graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2020, Grace discovered her passion for nonprofit work and has since made significant contributions to organizations like Planned Parenthood and United Against Poverty, managing yearly budgets of over two million dollars and producing annual fundraising efforts. As the Development Director for the Historic Athens Theatre, she gets to blend her artistic insights with strategic fundraising expertise to support the theater’s mission and ensure its continued success in the community. You may recognize Grace as a performer at the Athens Theatre in shows like Rent, 9 to 5 and The Wedding Singer.
CONTACT
Santi Gabino Jr. – Director of Marketing & Communications
After many years of visiting and being enamored by its charm, Santi Gabino Jr. recently relocated to DeLand in the summer of 2022. A South Florida native, he was the Executive & Marketing Director of a successful event venue in Homestead, FL for the past 11 years. During that time on his family’s estate, he hosted close to 100 weddings, welcomed magazine shoots for publications such as Allure Bridal and Modern Bride and TV filming for networks such as Nickelodeon and Telemundo. As a pioneer in the south Florida Agritourism industry, he created a wildly popular Farm to Table dinner series featuring celebrated local chefs. Having organically created a large following on social media in his past position, he oversees the creation of all marketing materials and social media along with the writing of all press releases and public communications.
CONTACT
Nick Hogan – Lighting Director & Assistant Technical Director
Nicholas Hogan is excited to be working with the Athens as Director of Lighting/Assistant Technical Director. Nick found his passion for lighting in early highschool, practicing design at the historical Barn Theater in Stuart, Florida. After highschool Nick went on to find employment in various lighting positions in places such as the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, the Lyric Theatre, and the Orlando Repertory Theater. Nick is responsible for the lighting design and execution of the Athens mainstage shows as well as their limited engagement performances.
CONTACT
Lamar Hickley – Director of Sound
Lamar Hickley has always been involved with Arts. Since the age of 8, he has acquired the skill to play multiple instruments and gained knowledge of sound reinforcement. He has over 20 years of experience as a Recording Engineer, in Live Mixing, and Music Production. In 2012, he received his AS degree in Music Production Technology and in 2014 his BAS in Business Supervision and Management. Lamar’s passions in the industry of audio granted him the “Most Outstanding Student” award in 2012. As a result, he was selected as the face of the Music Production Technology at Daytona State College. In 2016 Lamar was introduced to the Athens’ family and is honored to have his company “Kevin Majestic Productions” responsible for ensuring all the audio needs are met with nothing but the best sound and quality!
CONTACT
Diane McLean – Production Supervisor
Ms. McLean is a professional stage manager with over 30 years’ experience in regional, touring, and Off-Broadway theater, as well as film and higher education. She received her MFA in Stage Management from Boston University. She has stage managed for The Kennedy Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Huntington Theatre Company, Lyric Stage Company, Boston University College of Fine Arts, and Boston University Tanglewood Institute, among others. Film credits include War of the Worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg and Stephanie Daley starring Tilda Swinton. In addition to her work at the Athens Theater, she is a professor and mentor to students at the Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment, & Art at Daytona State. She is also the former Professor of Theatre at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. Mrs. McLean oversees all of our repertory productions by organizing the rehearsal process, executing all technical aspects during performances, and maintaining the artistic integrity of each show.
CONTACT
Alan Ware – Facility Manager
Mr. Ware has worked professionally both on and off stage in theatres since 1985 and was a clown in Barnum and Bailey’s Circus for twelve years after studying with Marcel Marceau. He has worked at the Athens since 2011 and since then has provided the meticulous care, upkeep, and continued restoration of the Athens building. He is in charge of facilitating and overseeing all facility repairs, safety inspections, etc. He has been lovingly dubbed as “DeLand’s Bubble Man,” as he can often be seen downtown riding his theatrical, bubble-blowing tricycle, “Trixie.”
CJ Merrell – Asst. Facility Manager
Originally from Charleston, SC, CJ Merrell spent the ages of 4 to 14 performing violin at some of the oldest venues in the country in the historic downtown district. This early stage career sparked a lifelong fascination with the history and caretaking of the old buildings they performed in. CJ went to FAU for an Associates in Fine Arts, there becoming something of a “jack-of-all-trades,” collecting skillsets while searching for the right place to apply them. They are very pleased to now be assisting Mr. Alan Ware in the continuous restoration and upkeep of the Athens building, and take great pride in keeping the place shiny and clean.
CONTACT
Pam Keezel – Accountant
Ms. Keezel has in excess of 30 years of accounting work experience. The past 22 years she has worked primarily in the non-profit area. Her skills include budget and grant monitoring as well as general accounting functions. Ms. Keezel’s education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA degree from Nova Southwestern University. Ms. Keezel is the longest serving employee of the Sands Theatre Center/Athens Theatre.
CONTACT
Amy Uppercue – Costume Shop Manager
Mrs. Uppercue has been working behind the scenes at the Athens Theatre since 2011. Having an extensive costume design resume, Mrs. Uppercue now works with our Resident Costume Designer on all repertory productions. Mrs. Uppercue oversees our costume and prop shop, managing and maintaining all costume inventory and orchestrates all costume and prop rentals. In addition to her shop duties, Mrs. Uppercue is also a teaching artist for the Athens Theatre Youth Academy and a Marketing Assistant for the Athens.
CONTACT
Amanda Tyler – House Manager
A native Floridian, Ms. Tyler studied film and theatre production at Valencia College. She began working in theatre in 1993 at Seaside Music Theater in Daytona Beach as Wardrobe supervisor, Assistant to the Resident Costume Designer, and Costume Rentals Manager. She finds herself out from behind the curtain for the first time as the Athens House Manager. Amanda joined the Athens family in 2023 and is excited to help this incredible organization continue to grow and move forward. She takes great pride in the work she does alongside the many dedicated Athens Theatre volunteer ushers while helping to bring amazing art to this historic Deland stage.
Clifford Strachman – Asst. House Manager
Born in New York City, Mr. Strachman spent his adult life in Indiana where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology.
He was the Executive Director of Shares, Inc for 42+ years in Shelby, Hancock and Rush counties, providing education, vocational training and employment to approximately 500 adults with special needs.
Moving to Deland to retire almost 10 years ago, Clifford and his wife are spending their retirement volunteering for the Athens Theatre and Deland Museum of Art.
CONTACT
Craig Uppercue – Director of Community Outreach & Partnerships
After twelve years of working for the Athens Theatre, and ten years as the theatre’s Artistic Director, Mr. Uppercue stepped down from his full-time position in order to be able to focus more time on his other job in Volusia County School Administration. In his new role with the theatre, he is now responsible for acquisition of new sponsors/donations and researching/finding/writing new grants. Mr. Uppercue will also work as a liaison between the theatre and Volusia County Schools–scheduling the new traveling theatre troupe to perform at schools. He will also focus on outreach and coordination with community arts endeavors and outside public performances.
Bobe Kenemer – Resident Graphic Artist
Ms. Kenemer is a graduate of Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, majoring in Commercial Art and Illustration. She has worked as a Graphic Designer for over 30 years for Tennant Printing Company and Express Printing in DeLand; as well as working on numerous freelance jobs designing logos, cartography, and promotional materials. In 2019 Bobe came to work for the Athens Theatre. She now creates almost all the graphics and photo-shopped images that the theatre releases on social media or in print.
CONTACT
Shonda L. Thurman – Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Advocate
Born and raised in Flint, MI. Holds a BFA in Musical Theater from Roosevelt University, in Chicago, IL and Stephens College in Columbia, MO. She also holds a theatre management certification from Tiffany Vega Management. She is currently the curriculum manager for the Orlando Reparatory Theatre and current co-chair for Juneteenth lunch and learn facts of freedom. Her performance credits range from local to all over the country in National Tours. In her roles as performer, director and educator she believes that everyone deserves a voice, their stories told and heard, and themselves represented in whatever arena they choose. “ I am not a teacher I am an awakener. “ ~Robert Frost.
CONTACT
Jenni Sweinhagen – Box Office Manager
After years of volunteering at Athens Theatre and other local theatrical venues, Mrs. Sweinhagen came to work at the Athens in 2018 as a Box Office Agent. After three years as an agent she became Box Office Manager. She overseas ticket sales, inputs all information into the ticketing system, and handles issues pertaining to the ticketing system. She is also in charge of training box office employees, maintaining the computer, scanners and electronic devices used for the Box and Concessions. She loves Athens Theatre and is grateful to bring so much joy to Central Florida.
Kay Phillips – Assistant Box Office Manager
Kay has been a Floridian for 25+ years and has lived in Deland for 7 of those. She has held many different jobs throughout her life, but her passion has always been in music and the theatre. She has been a soloist, a quartet lead and an ensemble participant. She has also taught adult choirs and children choirs, loving both. In her spare time she is also an active volunteer with Poodle and Pooch Rescue, a non-profit organization that helps to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home dogs in need. She has held many front office managerial and customer service positions and working now as the Assistant Box Office Manager is absolutely one of her favorite roles. It’s not only the theatre she enjoys, but with the people she gets to work. The Athens is definitely a family that works together through good times and difficult times to make magic happen.
Ashley started out ushering for the theatre in the Fall of 2019. She volunteered through the spring of 2021 and then she joined the box office team. She is also a recent graduate from Stetson University where she received her bachelor’s in Theatre Arts.
Briana Holloman – Box Office Agent & Marketing Assistant
Mrs. Holloman is a graduate of Bethune Cookman University with a Bachelors In Communications with a Minor in Theatre Arts. Her emphasis was in Interdisciplinary Studies giving her the ability to identify cognate areas of study in such fields as Business, Education, Marketing, Advertising, Counseling, Small/Business Group Organization, Music Performance, or Theatre. She is also the owner of a small media business: Amore Visuals, LLC. She is a photographer part time and mother full time. Her background consists of Sales, Editing, Writing, Management, Videography and Art. She is a Box Office Agent and Marketing Assistant at the Athens Theatre.
Tina originally fell in love with the Athens Theatre as a patron and long-time Season Ticket holder. Upon retiring from the Orange County Tax Office, she became a volunteer usher and quickly took over running the concession stand. She continues to volunteer, and you will see her at many shows smiling from behind the concession stand as she happily serves beverages and snacks. In early 2024, Tina agreed to make her hobby more official and joined the Athens Theatre staff as a Box Office Agent.