The Team
Meet Our Staff
Armanda Cerqueira
Director
Ms. Cerqueira is excited to return to the Pascack Hills Players and continue to work with its brilliant and talented students. Once a theatre kid, always a theatre kid! Ms. Cerqueira comes to Hills from a five-year leadership role in New Jersey Community Theatre where she met the brilliant team she brings with her to Hills. Ms. Cerqueira's favorite past productions include: It Shoulda Been You (Director), Titanic: The Musical (Producer, Perry Award Nomination), and As You Like It (Technical Director/Intimacy Director). When she is not involved in theatre, Ms. Cerqueira can be found at Rutgers Business School–Newark, where she serves as an Assistant Dean in the Undergraduate Advisement Office. Here's to a great big new adventure!
Dawn Cardona
Co-Producer
Mrs. Cardona is excited to work at PHHS for the first time this year. She is starting her 27th year as an English teacher in West New York, NJ. This is also her fourth year producing the musical at Memorial High School: In the Heights (2023), Shrek the Musical (2024), and Chicago: Teen Edition (2025). She has also produced many shows at Old Library Theatre in Fair Lawn, NJ, which include The Great American Trailer Park Musical, American Idiot, Beauty and the Beast Jr., The Bridges of Madison County, Arsenic and Old Lace, My Big Gay Italian Wedding, It Shoulda Been You, and Titanic: The Musical. She is grateful to work with an amazing production team and is looking forward to collaborating with the PHHS students, faculty, parents, and community.
Katelyn Fitzmaurice
Co-Producer
Ms. Fitz is excited to be joining the PHHS Theatre program as a Producer for the spring musical. While she is new to the world of theatre, she is looking forward to learning more about the production process and supporting the talented students who bring the show to life. When she’s not volunteering, Ms. Fitz works in Admissions at Rutgers University–Newark, where she helps students navigate their college journey. She is thrilled to be part of the PHHS Theatre community and looks forward to an exciting season!
Danielle Christianson
Stage Manager & Technical Director
Mrs. Christianson is thrilled to support the talented students of the Pascack Hills Players as Stage Manager and Technical Director! She has worked backstage in various productions, including: Little Shop of Horrors (Assistant Stage Manager), Pippin (Spotlight Operator), Kinky Boots (Dresser), and Beehive: The '60s Musical (Dresser). Usually, Mrs. Christianson can be found onstage, with credits including: The Cottage (Dierdre), Bright Star (Lucy), Something Rotten! (Portia), Jekyll & Hyde (Emma), It Shoulda Been You (Rebecca), and Titanic: The Musical (Alice Beane). During the day, she works as an administrative assistant and loves a good spreadsheet! In her free time, she enjoys reading/audiobooks, video games, and lots of coffee.
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Joseph Christianson
Music Director
Mr. Christianson is looking forward to working with the students at PHHS! He teaches general music and chorus grades K-6 in Bloomfield, NJ. Mr. Christianson is also a professional trumpet player who attended both Rutgers University and Montclair State University. He has music-directed numerous shows, including Sister Act, Titanic: The Musical, Kinky Boots, Smokey Joe's Café, It Shoulda Been You, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In addition to teaching, he loves playing video games and watching many movies/tv shows on different streaming platforms.
Evan T. Cerqueira
Vocal Coach
Ms. Evan has been a working musician for over twenty years, and a theatre kid since she was in her fifth-grade production of Oklahoma! (Gertie Cummins). Studying Drama and Music at Vassar College and getting her Masters in Vocal Performance from Montclair State University, Ms. Evan has music directed productions of Bat Boy, All Shook Up, A New Brain, and Little Miss Sunshine. A voice teacher since 2003, Ms. Evan is also a director and a Shakespeare fan, having directed Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and As You Like It, as well as Maury Yeston’s Titanic: The Musical, which was nominated for several Perrys. You also may have seen her perform in Avenue Q (Lucy), The Vagina Monologues, Dogfight (Mama), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Jeannie), Children of Eden (Mama Noah), Baby (Arlene), It Shoulda Been You (Jenny), Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts), Little Shop of Horrors (voice of Audrey Two), Head Over Heels (Pamela), Seussical (General Genghis Khan Schmitt) or Angels in America (The Angel) at theatre companies throughout New Jersey. Visit www.evanmakesmusic.com for more info.
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Amy Kurfist
Costume & Props Designer
Dr. K. is excited to be joining the Pascack Hills Players as the Costume and Props Designer! Favorite recent productions include It Shoulda Been You, The Prom, Titanic: The Musical, It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, and Radio Suspense Theatre. A native of Montvale, Dr. K. attended Pascack Hills, and many of her favorite memories are from her times on stage in the Spring Musical. Coming back to Hills, where she also took her first fashion design class, is truly a full circle moment. Outside of the theater, Dr. K. enjoys teaching at Rutgers University, playing pickleball, and snuggling with her fur baby Archie.
International Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society (I.T.S.) is an honor society that recognizes high school students for their dedication and contributions to theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes. Students earn their spot in the organization by actively participating in their school’s theatre program and showing commitment to the performing arts. The society’s mission is to promote school theatre by recognizing excellence and supporting lifelong education through the arts. Members join a global network of passionate theatre students while helping to elevate the importance of theatre in schools and beyond.
Troupe #7793
2026-2027
President: Henry Paikin
Vice President: Kelsey Alexander|Publicity Chair: Owen Baskin|Secretary: Fiana Fitzgerald|Treasurer: Violet Walsh|Historian: Evie Eggers
Membership:
Kelsey Alexander, Owen Baskin, Alyssa Dumont, Evie Eggers, Fiana Fitzgerald, Rebecca Kaplin, Henry Paikin, Emma Portnoy, Violet Walsh
Troupe Director:
Max Adoff
Past Presidents:
Caitlin Buckley '26
Rily Alexander '25