Descendents Production Team

Producer and Stage Manager

Robert Decker

Robert P. Decker, Jr. is thrilled to bring Disney’s High School Musical to the PHS stage as the ninth musical since he and our director, Christopher Sperat brought musicals back to the district. Bob has been both the producer and stage manager for all of those musicals: Grease, The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray, Seussical, and Godspell and Shrek. He has been awarded the PSD Superintendent’s Award for successfully returning musicals to the PHS stage. Bob is excited to continue to be able to showcase the talents of so many Pottstown students as they work behind the scenes and in the spotlight for many years to come. In prior musicals at Pottstown, he performed various cameo roles. He was the puppeteer who brought Audrey the plant puppet to life at EPAC’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. He has served as a stage manager for Genesius Theatre and is very proud of his performance as Chef Louis in its production of The Little Mermaid and considers his role as Sir Danvers in the Genesius production of Jekyll and Hyde as the pinnacle of his performing career. He is looking forward to bringing Florenz Ziegfeld to life in December in Funny Girl at Genesius.

Director

Christopher Sperat

CHRISTOPHER SPERAT (Director) is celebrating 29 years with the Pottstown School District. He is currently a Kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Elementary. Mr. Sperat has been directing the PSD Musicals since their “revival” in 2015. Those productions include: Grease, The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray, Seussical, Godspell, Shrek, High School Musical and Beauty and the Beast. He is also a member of Genesius Theatre in Reading where he has worked as a former Vice President, Board Member, actor, director, musical director, and accompanist. His directing credits include: Funny Girl, Jekyll & Hyde, Mamma Mia!, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Bridges of Madison County, Agnes of God, Side Show, Rock of Ages, Mary Poppins, 9 to 5, Hairspray, The King and I, Carrie, Legally Blonde, Sunset Blvd., Annie, Titanic in Concert, The Sound of Music, Aspects of Love in Concert, Evita in Concert, The Wedding Singer, Chess in Concert, Gypsy, Grease, Little Women, Oliver!, Cats, Meshuggah-Nuns, Nuncrackers, Blood Brothers, Really Rosie, and Rags. As an actor, Mr. Sperat has appeared onstage in A Berks County Cristmas Carol, Mamma Mia!, Rocky Horror, Chicago, Fun Home, Memphis, Forum, The Music Man, Company, Spamalot, Miss Saigon, Tuesdays with Morrie, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 1776, Sweeney Todd, Art, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Mass Appeal, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and Titanic.

Set Designer & Properties Manager

Candi Haas-Simmons

Candi Haas-Simmons holds her degree in Fine Arts from Temple University's Tyler School of Art. She has a fifty plus year career as an artist and educator, with numerous honors. She worked in the first PSD musicals when she was still in high school and continues now as Set Designer and Property Manager.

Pit Orchestra Director & Accompanist

Amy Anderson

Ms. Anderson has been involved with musical theater productions in several different organizations, both as a pianist and as a music director and/or pit orchestra conductor. She has played keys in recent productions for Pottstown School District (The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray), Genesius Theater (Bridges of Madison County, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia, Beauty and the Beast, Bright Star, A Berks County Christmas Carol) and Steel River Playhouse (Little Shop of Horrors). She has served as pit orchestra director in recent productions for Pottstown School District (Seussical, Godspell- also music director, Shrek), Genesius Theater (Jekyll & Hyde- also music director), and Agnes Irwin School (The World Goes Round, Legally Blonde-music director only). Over the course of her career, she has played keys at additional theaters (Cabaret, Godspell) and directed music and led the pit orchestra at other schools (Annie, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Little Shop of Horrors, Wizard of Oz). When she isn’t working on musicals, she teaches mathematics at the Agnes Irwin School and serves as Music Minister/organist at Elverson United Methodist Church.

Vocal Director

Chad McKenrick

Chad McKenrick is thrilled to be serving as the Vocal Director for this year’s production of Disney’s Descendants at Pottstown High School. This marks his first year at PHS, and he has thoroughly enjoyed building relationships with students and helping to grow a vibrant and enthusiastic theater program.

Choreographer

Jenna Gazzillo

Jenna Gazzillo is a proud Pottstown alumna who is currently working at Lincoln Elementary School as a Reading Interventionist. Jenna was a part of Pottstown's first musical since the "revival" in Grease, starring as Sandy. She joined the production team during the run of Godspell and has choreographed every musical since. Her love for dance began at age 2 and continued through college, where she studied dance as one of her majors at Ursinus College. She currently teaches dance at Jane Baron's Academy of Dance in Limerick. She is so proud of all the growth the cast has made since auditions and can not wait to see them shine on stage.

Costume Designer

Liane Livote

Liane Heivly is one of the School Counselors at the High School as well as a Licensed Therapist. She is pleased to be the Costume Designer for her fourth show at Pottstown High School. Her love of musicals and theater comes from growing up in New York City and frequently attending Broadway shows. She grew up with her grandmother who is a seamstress and taught her how to sew and design clothing. Big shout out to all my graduating seniors im so proud of you all!

Hair and Make- Up Design

Diane Brothers

Set Construction

Jennifer Mohr

Jennifer Mohr has been building the musical sets since the production of The Little Mermaid in 2018. She has worked with many students throughout the years, teaching them how to measure precisely, use a drill, and construct different pieces. She is grateful for every student and staff member, especially the art crew, who has helped in construction of the sets and make them look amazing. When not working on the sets, she can be found teaching students chemistry and physics in the high school. Congratulations to all of the students involved in the show both on stage and back stage!! Break a leg!

Lighting Design & Directions

Nick Yashinsky

NICK YASHINSKY is the Director of Lighting and Design. He is a graduate of Pottstown High School’s Class of 2006. Mr. Yashinsky has shared his talents in all of the school musicals since “Hello Dolly.” Over the past 20 years, he has participated in stage crew, set design, painting, construction, sound and lighting. A graduate of Penn State with a degree in Information Sciences and Technology, he is an IT Technician for the PSD. Mr. Nick is also Stage Manager of the HS and MS Auditoriums during the musical off season.

Sound Designer

Danielle Koppe

Danielle Koppie is excited to serve as the sound designer for PSD’s production of Disney’s Descendants. She currently teaches both music and drama and has been involved in the world of theatre for most of her life. She is incredibly grateful to be part of this production and looks forward to supporting the cast and crew as they bring this story to life. Congrats to everyone involved!!

Publicist/ House Manager

Emma Manderewicz

Emma Manderewicz has been involved with musicals as both the publicist and house manager at Pottstown High School for 7 years. She is currently a social studies teacher at the high school and is sad that this will be her final year of musical. Congratulations to everyone!

House Manager

Aimee Gilbert

Aimee Gilbert is a Reading Intervention Assistant who enjoys helping students build confidence and skills in reading. Outside of school, she is a proud mom of three and volunteers with Phoenixville Search and Rescue, supporting her community in meaningful ways. She also holds a purple belt in karate, which reflects her dedication and perseverance. In her free time, Aimee loves reading, spending time outdoors, and making memories with family and friends. Break a Leg to all the wonderful cast !

Original Creative Team

Book and Additional Lyrics by:

Nick Blaemire is a writer and performer based in Brooklyn. At 23 years old, Nick wrote the score to the musical Glory Days (book by James Gardiner, OBCR on Ghostlight Records). Since its historic one night engagement on Broadway, it has had over 40 productions all over the world. He has also written book, music and lyrics for four original musicals: A Little More Alive (commissioned by Broadway Across America, produced at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Kansas City Rep and Barrington Stage, optioned as a feature film); Soon (premiered at Signature Theatre, won the Stephen Sondheim Young Artist Citation); Fallout (with Kyle Jarrow, in development); and Space Dogs (with Van Hughes and Tina Landau, in development). Other writing projects include the film adaptation of the novel This Song Will Save Your Life and a romantic comedy for Universal Pictures. Nick has released two pop EPs, both available on iTunes and Spotify. As an actor, he recently completed the National Tour of Falsettos as Mendel and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Jonathan in the Off-Broadway Revival of Tick, Tick...Boom!. He is repped by CAA and Authentic. @nickblaemire

Music Adaptation and Vocal and Incidental Arrangements by:

Broadway: Waitress (Piano/Conductor sub), War Paint (Key 1 sub). Off-Broadway: Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future (Ars Nova), Skin of Our Teeth (Theatre for a New Audience), Futurity (Soho Rep/Ars Nova), 1001 Nights (Atlantic Theater Company), The Light Princess (New Victory Theater), An Octoroon (Theatre for a New Audience). Regional, etc.: We Live In Cairo (ART), Loch Ness (FLMTF), Ragtime on Ellis Island. Adaptations: Frozen JR. and Frozen KIDS (Disney); B.A. from Harvard University.

Orchestration and Music Produced by:

Matthew Tishler is a 20x multi-platinum songwriter and music producer, with a specialty in family entertainment for film and television. Over the past 8 years, his songs have been featured in hit TV shows, movies and on dozens of #1 albums around the world.

Matthew has written and/or produced hundreds of songs for Disney, Nickelodeon, and Dreamworks, including music for television series Shake It Up, Austin & Ally, Live & Maddie, A.N.T. Farm, and The Lodge; as well as the theme song and several original songs for the comedy series Bizaardvark.

He co-wrote and produced theme song “Take On The World” for Girl Meets World, the highly anticipated and enormously successful spinoff of 90’s favorite Boy Meets World.

Matthew is writing and producing the original songs for Disney Junior’s Fancy Nancy, an animated musical series based on the best-selling books of the same name. As well, Matthew is writing and producing the original music for Disney Junior’s upcoming Mira, Royal Detective.

Additionally, Matthew’s music is featured in successful Disney Channel Original Movies, including Teen Beach 2, Lemonade Mouth, Radio Rebel, and multiple songs performed by Ashley Tisdale in High School Musical spin-off, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure. He also produced two songs written by Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey for the DCOM adaptation of Disney Theatrical’s stage musical Freaky Friday; and has an original song featured in 2019’s Descendants 3 film.

Matthew’s songs have been recorded by numerous teen stars, including Dove Cameron, Ross Lynch, Laura Marano, China Anne McClain, Zendaya, Bella Thorne, Olivia Holt, Jordan Fisher, Sofia Carson, Sabrina Carpenter, Rowan Blanchard, and JoJo Siwa.

His international songwriting placements are ubiquitous. In Asia, Matthew has worked with a who’s-who group of A-list artists, including BTS, Namie Amuro, Kumi Koda, EXILE Atsushi, Tohoshinki, Happiness, Crystal Kay, EXO, Taeyeon, AOA, Taemin, Seohyun, Red Velvet, TVXQ, SHINee, BoA, Joey Yung, LuHan, Stray Kids, and TWICE.

Standout pop music moments include: “Finally”, the title track of J-Pop queen Namie Amuro’s final album, which sold 1.1 million units in 6 days (2.6 million to date) – breaking a 13-year sales record in Japan and certification as the top-selling album in Japan for 2017 and 2018; EXILE Atsushi’s single “Itsuka Kitto,” which debuted at #1, enjoying sales of over 1 million units and certification as that year’s #5 biggest-selling album in Japan; “Dimple”, released by world-famous K-Pop boyband BTS – selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide; and LuHan’s “Reloaded” EP, containing 5 of Matthew’s songs, which sold 4.5 million digital downloads.

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Matthew now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and 2 dogs.