Administrative Staff
PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
OWEN M. SMITH
owen@playhousestage.org
Owen is a proud Capital Region native, and resident of the City of Cohoes. A former Playhouse Stage Company student himself, he has served as the Producing Artistic Director of the Playhouse since 2010, leading the company through a period of transformation and growth. From 2012-2018 Owen also served as the Managing Director of the Palace Theatre in Albany, helping to lead significant growth in the historic venue’s programming and financial performance. In 2014, he was pleased to be named one of the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40, and he received The Norman Rice Arts, Culture & Education Award from the Downtown Albany BID in 2015. Owen was inducted into the Bethlehem Central High School Hall of Fame in 2017. Before returning to the Capital Region in 2010, Owen was a founding member of The Clockwork Theatre in New York City, and directed several productions off-Broadway for the company. During his time in New York, Owen served as the Associate General Manager at New York’s Theatre for a New Audience, and his work as an actor was seen in the 40th Anniversary National Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. In addition to his work with the Playhouse, Owen is proud to serve as a board member for Discover Albany, as well as Nacre Dance Company.
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION/ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
ASHLEYSIMONE KIRCHNER
ashley@playhousestage.org
Ashley has worked with Playhouse Stage in many capacities since 2010. Ashley grew up in Harrisburg, PA, where she trained under Marcia Dale Weary at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Sandra Carlino at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Marymount Manhattan College, under the direction of Katie Langan, with a BFA in Dance. Ashley has danced professionally for a number of years before finding her passion for theatre education. She teaches and choreographs at theaters and dance studios across the country and is an adjunct professor at the University at Albany in addition to her work at the Playhouse. She was formerly the lead dance instructor and choreographer for the Musical Theater Department at Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, CT and Director of Education at the Palace Theatre in Albany. In addition to her administrative duties, Ashley is also the Resident Choreographer for Playhouse Stage Company where her work has been called "captivating", "spectacular" and “utterly sublime”. She can also occasionally be seen on stage, including productions of Avenue Q, Spamalot, Cabaret, Hairspray, The Producers, and Annie Get Your Gun.
MANAGING DIRECTOR
CHUCK KRAUS
chuck@playhousestage.org
Chuck is a native of East Greenbush and a graduate of the Department of Theatre Arts at SUNY New Paltz. Chuck has been affiliated with Park Playhouse in multiple facets since 1998, when he began as a student in the Park Playhouse II program. Arts administration credits include Theatre for a New Audience (NYC), Hartford Stage (Hartford, CT), Palace Theatre (Albany, NY). For the Playhouse, he has directed numerous productions, including Always… Patsy Cline, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors & Urinetown.
BOX OFFICE MANAGER
Casey Martiniano
casey@playhousestage.org
Casey is loving her time working with Playhouse Stage Company. She is currently The Box Office Manager, Props Designer, Set Painter, and a Teaching Artist. Her passion for the arts began at a young age growing up in a musical household which led to a love and appreciation of all things musical and artistic. She has performed all around the country as an actor and singer, and was a Co-Founder and Managing Director to a non-profit touring children’s theater company. Through her experience in many aspects of theater, she believes that arts education at a young age helps develop individuals into better performers and theater artists, but also more confident individuals regardless of career path. That belief can be seen in her own children, who inspire her every day to imagine and create.
OPERATIONS MANAGER
ZACH DAWES
zach@playhousestage.org
Born and raised in Albany, Zach brings a deep passion for local arts and a strong commitment to safety in their role as Security Supervisor, Volunteer Supervisor and Operations Manager at Cohoes Music Hall. With extensive experience in event management and security, Zach ensures that every performance runs smoothly and safely, providing both staff and patrons with a seamless and enjoyable experience. Their dedication to the community and the performing arts scene is evident in their day-to-day operations, helping to uphold the Cohoes Music Hall's reputation as a beloved cultural landmark.
BOOKKEEPER
Amanda Henrichs
amanda@playhousestage.org
Amanda has been working with Playhouse Stage since 2023. Amanda hails from Plattsburgh, NY. She received her Bachelors from SUNY Plattsburgh. Amanda has always had a passion for live music, and truly grew a love for performing arts once she joined the team.
