MEET YOUR NOMINEE

I became involved in theatre in 2009, when I began performing with a youth drama club in my home state of Texas. I minored in Theatre at Trinity University in San Antonio, where I received formal education in various aspects of theatre production, including stage management and playwriting. When I graduated in 2020, I sadly thought my time in theatre would be over, as I went on to pursue my lifelong dream of working with marine mammals.

I relocated here in 2022 for a job at Dolphin Research Center and became involved with Marathon Community Theatre the following year. Since then, I have performed in MCT’s productions of Disenchanted, Nunsense, The Rocky Horror Show, Wizard of Oz, and Little Shop of Horrors, as well as One Weekend Only and the holiday show. I have also served as a general volunteer, light operator for The Siegel and Wait Until Dark, and co-director for One Weekend Only.

I still find myself in disbelief that I am able to have my both my dream career and the opportunity to participate in theatre here in Marathon. My desire to be on the board for MCT is driven by my love for the organization and the community. Thank you for considering me!

Born and raised in Ohio, Destiny began to act onstage and take voice lessons when she was five, beginning a lifetime of adoration for theatre and the arts. Throughout her life, she was involved in plays and musicals, concurrently juggling involvement in choirs, teaching at kids camps, taking dance classes and participating in summer theatre intensives.  Ms. Lee graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Specializing in Youth Theatre & Puppetry. Highlights of her transcript include Arts Management, Costuming, Scenic/Prop Design, Acting for Film and Treehouse Troupe, a touring Theatre for Youth company. In a leadership capacity, Ms. Lee has assistant directed, music directed, stage managed and taught drama, dance & music. 

At the Marathon Community Theatre, Ms. Lee began her involvement in the 2024-2025 Season, beginning with One Weekend Only, Sunny Wonderland and then in Nunsense as Sister Mary Amnesia. In the 2025-2026 Season, she was thrilled to take on roles such as The Usherette in the Rocky Horror Show, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Home for the Holidays and puppeteering for Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors. Offstage, Ms. Lee assisted with set painting/dressing for The Wizard of Oz, co-directed One Weekend Only and designed/built the puppets for Little Shop of Horrors. Ms. Lee thinks she can contribute to the theatre by providing a wealth of theatrical expertise, as well as ideas for community engagement to bring in new audience members and performers. Areas of interest include: the Playreading Committee, potentially adding to the dance department and working on community outreach. She appreciates everyone's continued support and consideration for the board.  

Gerrit Hale has over 25 years of experience in business management, real estate, and financial planning, along with a genuine passion for community and the arts. His background includes leading organizations through growth and change, with a strong focus on smart budgeting, long-term sustainability, and making sure resources are used where they matter most.

He has also been actively involved in community and cultural projects, including serving on the founding board of the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture in Maryland, where he helped support the redevelopment of a historic arts destination.

Gerrit has been an active part of Marathon Community Theatre, appearing in 3 productions this season alone. You may have spotted him mostly backstage during Rocky Horror, on stage as Vinnie in The Odd Couple, or as Lt Mike in Wait Until Dark. 

Gerrit is excited about the opportunity to support MCT by helping strengthen its financial foundation, expand access to the arts, and keep it a vibrant, welcoming space for the entire community. He’s especially interested in building partnerships and finding creative ways to support the theatre’s future.

He holds a master’s degree in international business and strategic planning from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Maryland.

John is a long-term member of Marathon Community Theatre. He is a past President, serving in that capacity during the 2016/17 season, and has served on the Board for the past three years. He has been involved in this theater for many years, on-stage and backstage, plus served on multiple Board committees through the years. If elected, John will continue to support the theater and help develop a vision that helps ensure long-term sustainability for our community theater.

  John Schaefer has been involved in MCT since 2004. He has been an actor in many shows, been on the board of directors before, and now has directed a show. He would like to be on the board again and take on new challenges. 

Katharine Egan has been involved with the Marathon Community Theater since January 2023, when she began taking ballet, lyrical, and jazz classes offered through the theater. Since then, she has performed with the MCT Dance Department in the annual Tah-Dance shows, holiday shows, and One Weekend Only. In June 2025, she co-directed the Tah-Dance show alongside Cailin Harrell. In addition to performing, Katharine volunteers for the mainstage productions, so you might see her working concessions, taking tickets, or ushering. She also served on the play reading committee earlier last year.

Katharine has been living in Marathon for four years. For her day job, she is the Southeast and Caribbean Regional Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This is a program manager-like position where she works with communities in the Southeast and Caribbean (include the Keys!) to under what they need from NOAA, and then works within the agency to make it happen. She's been with NOAA for almost 11 years now.

Part of her current position at NOAA has involved serving on the advisory board for the Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership, a non-profit focused on helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters through collaboration across sectors. On the board, she filled the federal government seat and advised on all aspects of the partnership's operations.

Katharine has found an incredible community of people in the theater, and wants to contribute to the theater's success for many more years to come. She has the business acumen, experience, and passion to make it happen, and she looks forward to bringing her skills to the board. 

Lynne Murphy has been a resident of Marathon since 2021 and a familiar face at the Marathon Community Theatre since 2022, showing up wherever she’s needed most—whether that’s in the audience on opening night, behind the concessions counter (usually in costume), or fully immersed in the fun of a murder mystery production.

In her “other life,” Lynne wears many creative hats as a yoga and wellness instructor, dive instructor, and photographer, all centered around connection, storytelling, and creating meaningful experiences. She also brings a strong background in community leadership, having served on various boards and committees over the years, including within the U.S. Embassy communities in Japan and Fiji, the Japan American Women’s Club, and the Samoan Animal Protection Society, among others.

As for spare time… she’ll be the first to laugh and say there isn’t much of it. Lynne thrives on staying engaged, giving back, and being part of something bigger than herself. She is excited about the opportunity to further support the Marathon Community Theatre as a board member and contribute to its continued creativity, growth, and sense of community.

Sam Merrell is a creative storyteller and community-focused artist passionate about theater as a space for connection and inclusion. With experience in performance, visual media, and directing digital projects, including work with the Dolphin Research Center on the Visual Communications Team, bringing a strong eye for composition, design, and narrative.

A former U.S. Army Combat Documentation Production Specialist, Sam developed skills in visual storytelling, technical production, and working under pressure. He is currently preparing to direct The Shark Is Broken, focusing on actor-centered storytelling and thoughtful staging.

With a background in design and content creation, Sam is dedicated to fostering inclusive, welcoming environments in the arts and supporting diverse voices. He is excited to contribute his creativity and perspective.