About Clear Space Productions | Directors & Staff

Executive/Artistic Directors | Staff | Arts Institute Faculty | Board of Directors

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Stephen Betins, Stage Management

Stephen Betins was born and has lived in the Rehoboth area all of his life, with the exception of nine years when he attended school in New York City.  A graduate of Wagner College with a BS in Arts Administration and a Masters in Education, Stephan taught elementary school for the last eight years and is currently attending Delaware Technical and Community College’s nursing program.  Though this is his first opportunity to work with a professional theatre as a stage manager, while living in NYC, he took every opportunity to see as many Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway shows as he could.

David Button, Company Manager

David Button received his B.A. in Theatre from DeSales University, with a focus on Acting and Directing.  He has previous experience in box office management in regional and university settings, clerical work, retail sales, and personal assistance.  He has directed productions for the Main Street Theatre, ACT 3 Children’s Theatre, Second Street Players, and won awards for his direction of THE LOVE TALKER at DeSales University.  His extensive acting career includes work with the regional Main Street Theatre in productions of HOW TO SUCCEED..., RAGTIME, MAME, WEST SIDE STORY, BARNUM, and GOOD NEWS! The City Theatre at the Wilmington Opera House invited Button into THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.  While at DeSales, David performed in productions of CABARET, HELLO DOLLY!, WEST SIDE STORY, SOME ENCHANTED EVENING, THE FOREIGNER, CAROUSEL, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, and THE MEMORANDUM. After college, he returned to Delaware and discovered Clear Space Productions where he has been involved in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, SIX ROOMS, SHERLOCK HOLMES, HELLO DOLLY!, THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND, and two New Works Festivals. Button has also been seen in local productions with Second Street Players and at Possum Point.
 dbutton@ClearSpaceProductions.org

Sherry Chappelle, Dramaturg

Sherry Chappelle spent decades as a classroom teacher and a lifetime as an aficionado of the arts: dramatic, literary and musical. A member of the Clear Space Singers and the Rehoboth Art League Writers and the leader of the Browseabout Book Store Book Club, Sherry resides in Rehoboth Beach with her husband Bruce and two spoiled Maine Coon cats.

Lance Ekas, Development Director

Lance Ekas has lived in Rehoboth Beach for six years. He comes to the position of Development Director for Clear Space by way of several previous careers; including the practice of law, the handling of insurance claims, the managing of big-box retail, and the teaching of children. Lance previously sat on the Executive Board for Clear Space and had volunteered research and grants work prior to assuming this position. He enjoys not only working for Clear Space, but working with Clear Space as a student in their Arts Institute classes for adults and acting in Clear Space shows that include SCROOGE!, THE NEW WORKS FESTIVALS, EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN, and SIX ROOMS.
lekas@ClearSpaceProductions.org

Elaine Faye, Marketing Director

A transplant to Rehoboth Beach from Washington, DC, Elaine Faye is the owner of E-Lane Studio, a small graphic design firm. Elaine has more than 25 years professional experience designing exhibits and marketing communication pieces for print and web. Clients have included Family Circle Magazine, NY; Ringling Brothers Circus, VA; Marriott International and The Tivoli theatre, DC. Locally, she has worked with Clear Space Productions and the Rehoboth Beach Museum.
elaine@e-lanestudio.com

Betty Fleming, Media Consultant

Betty Fleming, a Lewes resident, moved to the beach in 1989 and, in retirement but not wanting to give up working and doing "fun things," began writing for The Whale. From there, she wrote for the Cape Gazette. And, in 1995, she  began a well-received column called "Friends and Neighbors" for the Delaware Coast Press, only recently leaving that paper to pursue other interests. Betty has both a bachelor's and master's degree in home eonomics. She worked in the business food field for a restaurant to start out. Then, she worked for a chain of supermarkets that did a daily live television show and later, she worked in public relations for the Betty Crocker kitchens at General Mills. She also worked for a public relations firm on the west coast. While in graduate school, Betty took a part-time job writing for the Philadelphia Inquirer. This led to a job writing for the Trenton Times in New Jersey. And, she later went to work for the New Jersey Cooperative Extension Service doing an adult educator's  job that involved writing, plus radio and television skills. That led to a communications job with the Extension Service in Washington D.C. at the Department of Agriculture. She is pleased to have the opportunity to write for Clear Space, and to provide a "sounding board" for Clear Space written word.  She has been a supporter of Clear Space since the beginning days.

Jennifer Hayward, Arts Institute Administrator

Jen Hayward, a Michigan native who has called Milford her home since 2001, holds a B.S. in Physical Education and Exercise Science from Michigan State University, has worked as an Exercise Specialist in Cardiac Rehabilitation, a Fitness Instructor in a variety of gym and wellness center settings, and as a Sports Conditioning Coach in football, soccer, ice hockey and figure skating.  Jen recently retired from a 30+ year career as a figure skater and Professional Figure Skating Coach and trained in modern dance and ballet for over 10 years.  Jen volunteers for the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute in Lewes, and the Miss Milford Organization.
jhayward@ClearSpaceProductions.org

John Moller, Lighting Designer

John’s association with Clear Space Productions has been a bright spot in his career, working on shows including HELLO DOLLY, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN and SCROOGE.  He also works for the Schwartz Center for the Arts (where he has worked with Susan Egan), Mid South Audio (where he has worked with Gary Sinise), and the Kent County Department of Elections (where he has worked with people just like you.) ralphellis@gmail.com

Deb Rhoads, Costume Design & Construction

Deb Rhoads relocated from Denver, Colorado, to Rehoboth Beach in 2004 to become costumer for Clear Space Productions and to reunite with her brother, Doug Yetter. Deborah was taught to sew and design clothing by her grandmother who taught the craft for the Singer sewing company and has been improving those skills for more than 40 years. Deborah worked as a professional actress in Colorado before becoming the mother of two children and has performed in more than 25 theatrical productions. Combining her love for the theatre and her life-long love of sewing and design has been a very fulfilling opportunity for her. She feels that there is no more beautiful and welcoming place on earth to live this dream than Rehoboth Beach.
drhoads@ClearSpaceProductions.org

John Sadler, Program Advertising Manager

Together with his wife, Pam, John Sadler founded and operated Abizak's, a local home furnishings store that ended a successful 17 year run in the fall of 2007. In the role of Program Advertising Manager, John's perspective as a small business owner affords him unique insights into the needs of existing and potential sponsors. John is a graduate of Loyola College and a Salisbury, MD, native. Since 1991 he has lived and worked in Rehoboth and Lewes with his wife Pam and the couple's three children, Abby, Zach, and Annabelle. Since closing Abizak's, John has been working as an advertising and technology consultant - a job that combines his years of experience in ad design with his love for all things geek. John is also a co-owner of Park's Martial Arts where he and his son, Zach, along with many other dedicated instructors teach Taekwondo to students and families from all over the county."
advertising@clearspaceproductions.org

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Jerry Birl, Private Voice and Piano

Jerry Birl is a native of Lewes and studied Vocal Performance at the University of Delaware. His life is kept busy with several local theatre groups where recent productions have included SIX ROOMS, INTO THE WOODS, SCROOGE!, ALL MY SONS, EINSTEIN'S BREAKFAST, A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG, ANNIE, and SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE EARLY YEARS. Jerry teaches private voice and piano as an instructor with the Clear Space Arts Institute, and serves as Minister of Music at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior.

Melanie Bradley, Broadway Bound and Private Piano

Melanie Bradley is a resident of Lewes, where she lives with her husband and two boys. She received degrees in piano performance from Ithaca College and the University of Maryland, College Park. She most recently was the pianist for the Clear Space production of HELLO, DOLLY and for the Clear Space Children's and Community Choruses as well as musical director and pianist for the Milton Theatre production of THE FANTASTICKS, the Possum Point Players production of PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and the 2nd Street Players production of CABARET.

David Button, Broadway Bound

(Read bio above)

Linda Chambers, MTSI Scriptwriting

Linda Chambers’ plays have been produced in New York, Stones, Avalon, and in Los Angeles, as well as in her hometown of Baltimore; her work has also been produced in film (her name is in cement in front of the Senator Theatre in Baltimore) and television. She teaches residencies in playwrighting and screenwriting at Carver School for Arts and Technology, where she is Playwright-In-Residence. She has also written countless scripts for clients as varied as the Internal Revenue Service, M.I.T.’s Research Science Foundation, and the Red Cross; recruitment scripts for Johns Hopkins University, the College of Notre Dame, and Morgan State University.  She taught Creative Drama for Hope Village at Fells Point Corner Theatre; mentored middle and high school students and has given private tutorials in screenwriting. She teaches playwrighting, screenwriting and directing for the stage at Villa Julie College.  Linda was co-director/producer/scriptwriter for the Women’s Project at Theatre Project through five productions.  Her recent directing credits include An Inspector Calls (Cockpit-In-Court), Enchanted April (Vagabond Players), The Trojan Women and The Scarlet Letter (Villa Julie College), Beauty and the Beast (non-musical) and The Hobbit (Pumpkin Theatre).  She serves on the Vagabond Players Board of Governors.

Linda Killion, Broadway Bound

Linda Killion, a native of St. Louis, MO, has been performing, conducting workshops, teaching drama classes and directing plays for 25 years. Locally, she has taught drama classes for the Cape Henlopen School District, Sussex Academy of Arts & Sciences and The Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre.  She directed THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER and THE FLIPSIDE OF CHRISTMAS for Possum Point Players and performed there in THE KING AND I, MY THREE ANGELS and CHICAGO.  She was recently seen at The Milton Theatre in THE GLASS MENAGERIE and in Clear Space’s production of SIX ROOMS. Linda has a B.A. in Theatre from Lindenwood University and has studied voice and acting in Los Angeles and New York City.

Craig Porter, Broadway Bound

Craig Porter is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College where he earned his dual degree in Theatre & Dance and Music vocal performance and theory. He recently appeared in the Clear Space Productions of SIX ROOMS, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, SCROOGE! and the 2006 NEW WORKS FESTIVAL. Regional Credits Include: OKLAHOMA! (Joe) with The Media Theatre, CAROUSEL (Featured Ballet Corps), ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, DAMN YANKEES (Bouley), and CANDIDE for the Muhlenberg SMT. Other college and recent credits include: Maxim Gorky's SUMMERFOLK, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, CABARET, ON THE TOWN, PIPPIN, and MASTER CHOREOGRAPHERS DANCE CONCERT 2006.

Nancy Lynn Powichroski, MTSI Acting

Nancy Lynn Powichroski, a free-lance director and teacher, holds a Master's degree in Theatre with emphasis in Directing from the University of Maryland at College Park. She taught full-time for Baltimore County Board of Education in Maryland for 32 years, chairing the Theatre Magnet program at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts since its inception. She also taught classes at Villa Julie College and the Community Colleges of Baltimore County. In addition to teaching, she has designed and has written theatre curriculum for high schools, arts schools, and colleges.

Autumn Drulis Schneider, Broadway Bound

Autumn is from Delaware where her love for the arts began. She has studied under a number of notable teachers including David Howard, Daniel Kaiser, Charles Kelly, Flossie Vogel, Judy Bassing, Joe Tremaine, Victoria Voshell, Frank Hatchett and Bob Rizzo. Her professional career began at the Mill Mountain Theatre in Virginia and continued in regional theatres throughout the states, on board cruise lines and in Europe where she toured with Wolfgang Bocksch Concerts’ 42nd Street. Recent choreography credits include New Candlelight Theatre’s 42nd Street and Three Little Bakers’ BIG The Musical. Autumn has had the privilege of being a faculty member for The Rock School, The Rock School West, Cecil Dancenter, Delaware Dance Company, Sussex Dance Academy and Central Delaware Dance Academy. She currently resides in Rehoboth Beach with her husband and son.

Ken Skrzesz, Broadway Bound, Voice for the Musical Theatre, Private Coachings

(Read bio above)

Doug Yetter, Broadway Bound, Voice for the Musical Theatre, Community Chorus

(Read bio above)

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Diane Whitty, President

Diane Whitty is a senior sales and marketing executive with experience in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.  She spent 18 years at Avon Products Inc. and held multiple positions from Regional Sales Director to Area Vice President and Senior vice president Marketplace Planning U.S.  She worked at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF as Senior Vice President of Marketing, Development and Communication for almost ten years and retired in 2005. She currently is working as a consultant for the Partnership for a Drug Free America in the capacity of Sr. Advisor to the President. Diane and her husband Jack moved to Milton DE four years ago and together raised ten children. She serves not only as a board chair, but as Financial Consultant to Clear Space.

Valorie Jarrell, Vice President

Valorie Jarrell is currently a pharmaceutical representative Boehringer Ingelheim and prior to that worked for six year as the Director of Development at the radio station for Temple University.  Valorie holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Delaware where she caught the acting bug in a production of THE DUTCHMAN.  Since moving to Lewes in 2002, she has become a founding member of the improv troupe Delaware Comedy Theatre as well as a board member for Clear Space Productions. 

Jeff Haslow, Treasurer

Jeff Haslow is a five-year resident of Rehoboth Beach and is the Controller for the Ocean Atlantic Companies.  He is also a co-owner of The Frogg Pond in downtown Rehoboth.  He has over nineteen years of experience working in a financial capacity at start-up and high-growth companies. Prior to relocating to Delaware, he worked for organizations in the Washington, DC and Pittsburgh, PA areas. While in Washington , DC he served on the boards of The Woolly Mammoth theatre Company and Signature Theatre and also served as a nominator for the Helen Hayes Awards. Mr. Haslow received a bachelor’s degree in business and biology from Adrian College in 1987 and a Master of Business Administration from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh in 1988. Both schools recognized him as a top business and finance graduate. He is a CPA and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Delaware Society of CPAs.

Aleta Thompson, Secretary and Facilities Coordinator

Aleta Thompson has been an English Language Arts curriculum cadre for Cape Henlopen School District, Lewes, DE, for three years.  In this capacity she guides curriculum development and professional development for teacher K-12.  Prior to that, she was an English, journalism, and theatre teacher for Cape Henlopen High School.  She has been involved with theatre in the Sussex County area for over 20 years, participating with the Possum Point Players, the Second Street Players, and Clear Space Productions. She has a master's degree in English from the University of Delaware.  She also teaches part-time for the University of Delaware and writes curriculum for Authentic Education.

Fran Feighery, Member and Volunteer Coordinator

Fran Feighery, is a retired Curriculum Reading Specialist who worked for 34 years in a school district in central New Jersey.  Fran holds a Bachelor’s degree in music and a Master’s degree in Reading.  During her career in New Jersey, she attended Lincoln Center Institute in New York City for six summers and took studio classes.  During that time, Fran was asked to write a teacher's guide for one of the drama productions.  Fran is now involved in Clear Space Productions as Volunteer Coordinator and creating another aspect of the company - the Clear Space Cafe.  Fran is also on the planning committee for Shakespeare Alive! at the Milton theatre as well as a volunteer aide in an English As a Second Language Class in Selbyville.  

Pamela Fitzgerald, Member

Rehoboth Beach summers were a wonderful part of Pam’s childhood, so it was not too far a stretch to pick that community as her retirement destination.  Pam retired in 2003 from Florida Commerce Credit Union in Tallahassee, Florida as its first Director of Human Resources. It is a mid-sized credit union of approximately 100 employees. She was responsible for hiring, firing, coaching and counseling, designing and updating benefits and compensation packages, designing and implementing recognition programs, and all training. Pam’s educational background consists of a B.A. from Elmira College in Sociology and Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education and her job experience includes recruiting for Federal Electric Corporation, training and recruiting for Anchor Savings Bank, and 8 years as an elementary school teacher. Currently, Pam serves on the boards of several political organizations, is a member of Winning Women of Delaware-Class of 2005, and tutor English and Math.  Pam also formerly worked as a part-time instructor in English at James Grove High School in Georgetown.

Robert M. Fitzgerald, Member

Bob is retired and a resident of Dewey Beach.   He holds a B.S. Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University, M.S. Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, and had additional graduate work in mathematics and operations research from the University of Maryland and the McCoy College of The Johns Hopkins University.  Bob had forty plus years of professional experience in the private sector include the following positions: principal with the computer software consulting firms of Arthur Young and Booz Allen and Hamilton, and vice president with the computer software and aerospace engineering practices of Computer Sciences Corporation (Technical Director of their NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Division) and Jackson and Tull Aerospace Engineering (Strategic Planning and Development).  Bob’s primary responsibilities included the management direction of large, technically oriented organizations and the acquisition of new business. Bob currently serves as a resident commissioner in the Town of Dewey Beach and as a member of the Pastoral Council of St Edmond Church, Rehoboth Beach. 

Cheryl Graves, Member and Special Events Coordinator

Cheryl Graves is a native Sussex county resident who moved to Rehoboth Beach in 1984.  Cheryl lives with her husband and two sons and prior to becoming a mother worked at a law firm for 13 years as an administrative assistant.  She is very active in many organizations in Sussex County as a volunteer including service on several school committees, chairing many fundraisers and was the coordinator of volunteers for the elementary school.  Cheryl is the Secretary of the Episcopal Church Women for All Saints Church where she also works in the Thrift Shop, sings in the choir, and has taught Sunday School.   She now serves on the Board of Clear Space Productions, sings in the Clear Space Community Chorus and in 2006 had the privilege of performing in SCROOGE!.  Cheryl, along with Fran Feighery, established and manages the Clear Space Café.

Sharon Gambill, Member and Facilities Coordinator

Sharon Gambill currently lives in Long Neck Delaware.  She moved to the East Shore from Columbus Ohio and is a retired Head Start Teacher.  She has also worked in the business sector moving up the ranks from a Clerical Supervisor, to Sales Executive (making President's Club) to On-Site Dedicated Manager for the Borden Corporation, before returning back to her love of teaching young children.  Her past Civic and Community work experience include being a Cub Scout Den Mother for both of her son's Troops, a member and chair of the Columbus Goodwill Industries Business Advisory Board (1978-1993), a graduate of Columbus Area Leadership Program class of 1993(CALP).  Her group year project with CALP was to coach and teach job interviewing skills to inner city public school seniors.  This included producing teaching videos and video-taping students in mock interviews, resume' preparation and speaking techniques.  Her group also collaborated with Nationwide Insurance Corporation who produced and distributed these teaching aids to the local public schools to be used as part of there voluntary curriculum to graduating seniors for several years.  As a Lead Classroom Teacher for CDC Head Start, she was given the honor to put together and over see the children's program and presentation to Tipper Gore and local politicians and media when Mrs. Gore visited the Head Start Center during Al Gore's Vice-Presidency.  Currently, in addition to being a member of Clear Space's Board of Directors she is also on the F.A.C.E.S. Advisory Board for the Carl M. Freeman Foundation.

Polly A. Mervine, Member

Polly resides in Bridgeville, Delaware with her husband, Jay and son, Stephen.  A native Delawarean, she graduated from Woodbridge High School, then headed to Richmond, Virginia to attend Virginia Commonwealth University earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion.  After graduation, Polly worked as a manager in a bridal salon in Washington DC, then moved to Okinawa, Japan where her husband was a pilot in the Marines.  Upon returning to the US, Polly continued her studies receiving a teaching certification in Elementary Education from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.  As Delawareans often do, the Mervines made their way back to Delaware and Polly taught second grade at North Laurel Elementary School until the birth of their son, Stephen.  She is now co-owner of Fauxbulous FX, Inc., a faux finishing business with offices in Bridgeville and Rehoboth Beach.   Polly uses her creative flair to design fabulous wall and decorative finishes.  Her work ranges from contemporary to historic projects.  Polly’s involvement with the Milford Historical Society and local antique dealers has allowed her the opportunity to restore several pieces to their original faux wood-grained state.  Polly is a member of Union United Methodist Church where she coordinated the children’s church program for several years.  She is a board member for Delaware Pain Initiative and most of all acts as chauffeur for Stephen’s many activities, including his involvement with Clear Space Productions.

Mary Kay Ryan, Member

Mary Kay Ryan is a retired lawyer having served 30 years as a senior executive in federal and state regulatory agencies overseeing staffs of attorneys and investigative professionals.  Volunteer community activities have included service as president of a local development corporation, staff work for an arts festival and founder/president of a professional woman's organization.  Mary Kay has extensive experience as a public speaker and holds a law degree from Harvard, an MBA from Boston College, a BA from Emmanuel College with a language major. 

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