ABBY

Jackie DeGiorgis is a dynamic character actor known for bringing sharp wit, bold choices, humor, and heart to every role she takes on. Recent stage highlights include Mrs. Johnson in "A Raisin in the Sun," Loud Stone in "Eurydice," Ethel Banks in “Barefoot in the Park,” Winifred Snow in “Into the Breeches,” Sue Bayliss in “All My Sons,” and Ida in “The Cemetery Club,” with standout performances at theater companies across the east coast, including Sand Lake Center for the Arts, Ghent Playhouse, Hubbard Hall, Town Players of Pittsfield, Mill City Productions, Harbinger Theater, and Minerva Arts Center. Ripcord marks Jackie's Fort Salem Theater debut.

Critics have praised Jackie for her impeccable timing, emotional depth, and ability to “inject humor into every scene she’s in,” while also recognizing her as a commanding presence capable of anchoring a show with power and nuance. From the iconic Narrator in Pittsfield's “The Rocky Horror Show” to the complex Aneece in Ghent Playhouse's “Belles,” Jackie’s range is undeniable, and her stage work continues to earn attention for her fearless energy, strong instincts, and undeniable stage presence.

*Fort Salem Debut

MARILYN

Siri is a Salem resident who started her acting journey at the age of 12. In the 1980s in New York City, Siri joined two repertory companies and performed in off-Broadway shows "The Second Man," "Honor Bright," "Tartuffe," and "Romeo and Juliet."

Locally, Siri is a storyteller/producer with the Story Circle of the Capital District, and performs regularly with them at Proctors and Caffe Lena. She also participates in the annual touring ghost story show “Whispering Bones.”  

At Fort Salem Theater, she has appeared in “The Savannah Disputation” (Margaret), “Grease” (Miss Lynch), and “Footloose” (Betty Blast), and the critically acclaimed “Agnes of God” (Mother Miriam Ruth), and also assistant directed Sarah Murphy’s production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." 

She is thrilled to be back with the talented folks at Fort Salem, and to play with such a fun and able group of actors.

BENJAMIN / LEWIS / CLOWN

HE/HIM | Ryan made his Fort Salem Theater debut in 2023 as Brad in “The Rocky Horror Show,” before moving Upstate and reprising the role in FST 2025 production. Most recently, he has appeared in Playhouse Stage Company productions of “Oklahoma” and “A Christmas Story.”

Some of Ryan’s regional credits include “Big Fish,” and “Tuck Everlasting” at Redhouse Arts Center, “Lend Me A Tenor,” “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” and “Dear Jack Dear Louise” at Chenango River Theatre), “tick, tick…BOOM!” and “Deathtrap” at Cider Mill Stage, “Cabaret,” “The Elephant Man,” and “Clue: On Stage” at Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts, “Meteor Shower,” and “Black Comedy” at KNOW Theatre, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Noises Off,” and “Every Brilliant Thing” at Winding River Players.

Next, Ryan will star at Robert in Fort Salem Theater’s “The Bridges of Madison County” before traveling to Redhouse Arts Center to appear in “Jagged Little Pill.”

COLLEEN / WOMAN IN WHITE

Tiffany McWilliams is an active member of Upstate New York’s Capital Region theater community.

Her recent work for Curtain Call Theatre, The Ghent Playhouse, Harbinger Theater and Theater Voices ranges from classics like “All My Sons” and “Gaslight” to the intergenerational all-female ensemble of “Love, Loss & What I Wore” to the acclaimed regional premieres of “Mrs. Packard,” “The Cottage,” “The Rembrandt,” “The Squirrels” and “Things I Know To Be True.”

She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from UMASS Amherst and has continued to study her craft at institutions including Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Shakespeare & Company and Voice Coaches.

When not on stage collaborating with the area’s many amazing actors, directors and tech professionals, Tiffany loves adding her distinctive voice to audiobooks, commercials, training videos and more as a voice actor.

*Fort Salem Debut

DEREK / ZOMBIE BUTLER / MASKED MAN

Brett makes his stage debut in this production, but is known locally for his seasonal performance as “The Grinch” in the Town of Granville’s Annual Tree Lighting celebrations.

By day, Brett works as a Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness and on the farm at Homestead 1787. He Attended Adirondack Community College after graduating from Glens Falls Senior High School.

*Fort Salem Debut

SCOTTY

Alex Yun makes his FST debut in “Ripcord,” with recent stage credits that include “The Last Noel” (Kelly), “The Girl on the Train” (Kamal Abdic), “Theater People, Or the Angel Next Door” (Oliver Adams), “100 Saints You Should Know” (Matthew McNally), and “Comic Potential” (Adam Trainsmith).

Offstage, Alex is a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and holds a BFA in Sequential Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

*Fort Salem Debut

DIRECTOR

SHE/HER | Sarah is thrilled to be back at Fort Salem, where she directed and appeared in “Our Town” in 2024, directed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 2023, and appeared in “Pride and Prejudice” (Mrs. Bennet) in 2022. Sarah has also appeared at Hubbard Hall as Kate in “Dancing at Lughnasa,” and last October, she directed Sarah Ruhl's “Eurydice.”

Sarah is co-director of Tiny Box Theater with whom she has participated as dramaturg, story collaborator, voice artist, performer, and tiny box operator in New York City and on the road in Massachusetts, Toronto, and at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. Sarah directed “Romeo & Juliet,” “Comedy of Errors,” “Macbeth,” and “As You Like It” at the Browning School in Manhattan, where she also wrote and directed several very short plays for very young actors. Some of Sarah’s favorite acting appearances have been with Bakerloo Theatre Project in Round Lake, Troy, and New York City (Beatrice in Much Ado; Viola in Twelfth Night, Varya in The Cherry Orchard, Masha in Three Sisters and others) and at the theater at Bread Loaf in Ripton, VT (Cassandra in “Troilus and Cressida,” ensemble in “U.S.A.”). Since November 2021, Sarah has served as the Library Director at Greenwich Free Library. Sarah has also worked as a school librarian and teacher of literature and theater. 

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & PROPERTIES DESIGNER

Jewel Winant is making her FST debut in “Ripcord” as assistant director and props designer. Usually onstage, this is her first assistant directing credit, though she has worked behind the scenes on other shows as a director of of several one acts, and has performed other jobs such as stage manager, costume designer, and costume shop tech on various projects.

Currently on hiatus from pursuing her MFA in classical acting with Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy in DC, she was most recently seen in their production of Much Ado About Nothing as Hero/Watchman.

Having done over 40 productions in the capital region, other recent credits include Orlando in “As You Like It,” Rose in “Dancing at Lughnasa” (Hubbard Hall Theatre Company), Narrator in “Rocky Horror Show” and Kate in “Taming of the Shrew”(UAlbany). She has also trained with Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, MA and completed their month long intensive this past summer.

A new local resident, she is looking forward to the pause in her MFA to slow down, rest, and become more involved in the local theatre as she figures out what path she wants to pursue going forward.

*Fort Salem debut

STAGE MANAGER

SHE/HER | Maureen (Moe) is a local theater professional, musician and actor. She attended the Crane School of Music and SUNY Albany, majoring in Vocal Performance. For the past several years, she has been the resident Stage Manager and Event Production Coordinator at Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education in Cambridge, NY. Fort Salem Theater credits include ‘Sweeney Todd,’ 'Mary Poppins' (Mrs. Andrew), 'Little Shop of Horrors' (Voice of Audrey II), 'Bright Star' (Mama Murphy), 'Pirates of Penzance' (Edith), 'There’s No Business Like Snow Business' (Featured Performer), 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Steel Magnolias' (Stage Manager). Other recent stage roles include Mother Abbess (alternate) in 'The Sound of Music' (HMT), and Sister Margaretta in 'The Sound of Music' (MACC). Recent Creative Team Production credits include: 'Ragtime' (Sand Lake Center for the Arts, Lighting Designer), 'Fiddler on the Roof' (Bennington Monument Arts and Cultural Center, Stage Manager), 'What the Constitution Means to Me' (Stage Manager, Lighting Designer), 'Valley Song' (Lighting Designer), 'Dancing at Lughnasa' (Stage Manager and Lighting Designer). This summer, she will be directing the Youth and Teen Theater programs at Hubbard Hall!

When not on stage or behind the scenes, Moe also serves as a music minister and organist at several local churches.

COSTUME DESIGNER

Neeley made her community theater debut in 2023 at Fort Salem Theaters “Footloose” as the adorable LuLu Warnicker. Absolutely loving the thrill of the stage Neeley again appeared at Fort Salem Theaters “The Drowsy Chaperone” (Ensemble, Reporter one, Monkey), and “Our Town” (Woman in Balcony, Constable Warren, Man in Grave). Neeley was absolutely bowled over for the opportunity to perform in her favorite holiday story, “A Christmas Carol, The Radio Play” produced by One Room Theatrics, before making her Hubbard Hall debut as Maggie Mundy in “Dancing at Lughnasa,” for which she also served as Costume Designer.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR (LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGNER), CO-PRODUCER

SHE/HER | Courtnie is a performer, director, and designer who grew up right next door in Greenwich. A graduate of The Institute for American Musical Theatre in NYC, she brings storytelling to life both onstage and behind the scenes. While in New York City, she performed with Hudson Classical Theater Company, where she also served as Hair Designer for “Pride and Prejudice” (Lydia Bennet) and “Sense and Sensibility” (Charlotte Palmer). Favorite credits include “Bright Star” (Alice Murphy), “Into the Woods” (Baker’s Wife), “Tick, Tick… BOOM!” (Susan), “Secret Garden” (Martha), and originating the role of Kayla Charter in “Solstice: A New Musical.”

You can usually find her at Fort Salem Theater (her second home) where she’s helped create shows like “Kinky Boots,” “Godspell,” “Footloose,” and “Our Town.” She swears she’ll take a break, someday. Love to all the friends and family who keep her going. courtnieharrington.com

RESIDENT SCENIC DESIGNER

HE/HIM | Charles/Chuck is a well-rounded artist with experience in creative writing, HDR photography, graphic design and 3D rendering, improvisational piano, original song composition and scenic design for theater. While attending Southern Vermont College 2001-2005 (bachelor’s in liberal arts) he worked summers at Old Castle Theater in Bennington, VT (2000 to 2005) where he learned, by observation, the creative nuances of set design as he worked as a stagehand. Charles is currently the Resident Scenic Designer and an Artistic Associate for Fort Salem Theater where, in October 2021, he debuted a design for The Diary of Anne Frank. In the 2022 season, he went on to design: Little Shop of Horrors, Steel Magnolias, Pride and Prejudice, Grease, The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, Bright Star, I Love You Because, Spring Awakening, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Footloose,  The Little Mermaid Jr., The Pirates of Penzance, The Rocky Horror Slow, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Into the Woods, Beethoven, Godspell, Mary Poppins, The Drowsy Chaperone, Kinky Boots, and Tick, Tick…Boom!, along with designing Grant’s Ghost for Hubbard Hall on the side. Charles has also directed Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus in 2004 at his then-former High School, and The Glass Menagerie at Southern Vermont College in 2009.

Prior to his work at Fort Salem Theater, Charles has over eight years of set design experience, artistic/stage directing, assistant directing and serving as a theatrical creative-solutions consultant (for a local high school drama club). Shows he has designed there include: The Diary of Anne Frank (2007), Once Upon a Mattress, Rumors, The Importance of Being Earnest, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, Twelve Angry Jurors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, And Then There Were None, The Sound of Music, Noises Off, Shrek the Musical, and ended his run there with The Mousetrap (2015).

After taking some time away from theatrical design Charles feels truly thankful and honored to reignite his passion for design at Fort Salem Theater and is very honored to have helped design Grant’s Ghost for Hubbard Hall.

PRODUCER

HE/HIM | Kyle has three decades of creating award-winning theatre under his belt, working as a producer, director, choreographer, designer, and performer. His work has been seen all across the US, from Cape Cod, to Boston, Arizona and Dallas, to New York and has been recognized by the AriZoni Awards of Excellence, BroadwayWorld Awards, Column Awards, Annie Award, MET Awards, and MHSDG Awards, among others.

Most recently, Kyle took a brief sabbatical from Fort Salem Theater to serve as Company Manager for the esteemed Williamstown Theatre Festival, where he led a company of 350 artists and staff members. There, he worked alongside the talents of Pamela Anderson, Amber Heard, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Susan Sarandon, Kate Walsh, Chris Messina, Brandon Flynn, Whitney Peak, William Jackson Harper, Elizabeth Lail, Tonatiuh, Jensen McRae, among many others.

At Fort Salem Theater, he has directed and choreographed “Salem Under The Stars,” “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” “Next to Normal,” “There’s No Business Like Snow Business,” “Grease,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” “Agnes of God,” and “Mary Poppins” and has designed costumes for FST’s “Pride & Prejudice,” “Grease,” and “Bright Star.” Other direction and choreography credits include “Hairspray,” “Evita,” “White Christmas,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Guys and Dolls,” “The Music Man,” Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “West Side Story,” “Into the Woods,” “RENT,” “The Rink,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “A Chorus Line,” “Chicago,” “La Cage aux Folles,” and “Cabaret.”

Kyle is humbled to be the executive and artistic director of Fort Salem Theater, and in June 2023, was named one of the Top 10 New York State LGBTQ+ Leaders by I ❤️ NY.

*Indicates Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society