The Team

Meet Our Staff

Armanda Cerqueira

Director

A. Cerqueira is excited to be working with the brilliant and talented students of Pascack Hills. Once a theatre kid, always a theatre kid! A. 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. She continues to review New Jersey Community Theatre for the NJ Act Perry Awards. A. 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, A. 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!

Email: acerqueira@pascack.org

Dawn Cardona

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.

Email: dcardona@pascack.org

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.

Email: dchristianson@pascack.org

Evan T. Cerqueira

Vocal Director

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.

Eliah James Furlong

Choreographer

Mr. Eliah is thrilled to be working with the students of Pascack Hills High School. He has always possessed a passion for storytelling through movement, which was evident in his dance training at prestigious schools such as The Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet School, Milwaukee Ballet, The Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, and The Institute for American Musical Theatre. His choreography has been featured on stages across the country, including productions of The Prom, It Shoulda Been You, Urinetown, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, and various dance concerts. When he is not choreographing, you can find Mr. Eliah sharing his passion for tap and theater dance with students across New York City. To find where he is teaching next, follow him on Instagram: @eliahjamesfurlong.

Joseph Christianson

Pit Orchestra Conductor

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.

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.

Kylir Alexander

Set Design & Build Crew Supervisor

Kylir W. Alexander is a junior at Montclair State University studying Design, Technology, and Management with a focus on technical fabrication. At Montclair, he has worked as a scenic carpenter on productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma!, and Pride and Prejudice. Over the summer, Kylir fabricated scenery at Empire Technical Fabrication for the upcoming national tour of The Outsiders. An alumnus of Pascack Hills High School, he is excited to return and work once again in his home theater.

ITS

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

2025-2026

President: Caitlin Buckley

Vice President: Anderson Moss|Historian: Henry Paikin|Secretary: Jupiter Tamagny|Social Media: Kelsey Alexander

Membership:

Kelsey Alexander, Camilla Ambrocio, Caitlin Buckley, Melania Bui, Elijah Chen, Ettie Eggers, Eva Friedman, Alexander McKay, Michael McKay, Anderson Moss, Henry Paikin, Jupiter Tamagny

Troupe Director:

Armanda Cerqueira

Past Presidents:

Rily Alexander '25