GRANT MECH

Grant Mech holds degrees from Westminster Choir College in Music Education and Voice Performance and Pedagogy. He has appeared in numerous operatic productions, including performances as the title roles in Don Giovanni and Gianni Schicchi. He is the choral director at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, NJ. He has also served on the staffs of the Sem Summer Music Festival in Kingston, PA, the Lawrenceville School, and Saint Peter’s University. Grant’s choirs have toured extensively in the U.S and abroad. He is a member of the Perspective Collective, a group that seeks to promote art song and opera in untraditional formats and venues. This season, Grant is staging Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers for the Savoy Company at the Suzanne Roberts Theater and Longwood Gardens. Grant is currently in the MFA program in theater at the University of Idaho. www.mechgrant.com

AMBER BARATZ

Amber is super excited to be choreographing not only Shrek Jr., our children’s’ musical, but also Anything Goes, our mainstage musical. Her recent credits include choreographing Anastasia at Kingsway Regional HS, and Descendants at Pennsville Memorial HS. When she’s not making up dances for the shows, she can also be found painting sets, or making Instagram reels for our social media. Amber cannot wait to meet our

casts and get started on rehearsals !

LIZZIE HITCHNER

Lizzie Hitchner is a recent alumna of Woodstown High School and is currently pursuing a degree in music education at Rowan University. She is excited to be joining Oakwood Summer Theatre as an assistant director this season. Lizzie has been actively involved in theater both onstage and behind the scenes. During her senior year, she appeared as Rusty in Footloose, and she directed The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, an experience that solidified her passion for directing and deepened her interest in continuing to work in theater. She also has a strong background in technical theater, with a particular love for lighting design, and has served as a lighting director for multiple productions in South Jersey. In addition to her production work, Lizzie serves as secretary of the Woodstown Curtain Call Club, where she helps promote and support theater within her former school district. She is excited to continue growing as a director and to be part of the Oakwood Summer Theatre team this season.

KARA BEARDSLEY

Kara has been a part of Oakwood Summer Theatre both on and off stage since 2017, and is so excited to be joining the production team again this summer! She loves creating community through this beautiful art form, and she can’t wait to bring these incredibly fun shows to life! Soli Deo Gloria!

BRITTNEY STANTON

Brittney Stanton is an educator, facilitator, and arts advocate who believes in the power of music and creativity to transform lives. Guided by a commitment to equity and access, Brittney uses the arts to cultivate belonging, resilience, and leadership. She partners with communities to create spaces—on stage, in the classroom, and beyond—where creativity thrives and every voice can be heard.

LYNDA DANIELS

Lynda has been part of the Oakwood family since 2017 when her daughter performed in The Little Mermaid. She has always lent a helping hand where ever she could  with any show that needed it. She loves helping people and the community, which is her reason for choosing her career as a nurse. She continues to help where ever she is needed and is also our Concessions Committee Chair. You may also see her crafts at the concessions table as well! Her love of crafting began when she was a kid in the summer time down in Rehoboth with her aunt. She has been a board member since 2024.