People Descriptions

Meet the Team!

Jonathan Strayer

Jonathan earned his M.A. in Theatre from Bowling Green State University his M.Ed. in Experiential Learning and Organizational Leadership from Clarks Summit University. In 2005, he began his professional career as the TD at The Electric Theatre Co. The following year Jonathan started teaching at Marywood University, Penn State, and Keystone College. He is now an assistant professor at Clarks Summit University as well as the TD and designer for their mainstage productions. Jonathan is also a stage combatant for Art of Combat NYC, training in the art of storytelling through violence. His favorite weapons are longsword, bullwhip, and just about any kind of stick. Jonathan has been involved in over 60 stage productions, and is actively working and growing as a director, actor, fighter, and educator. He lives with the love of his life, Rachel, and their dog Shakespeare in Clarks Summit. They have recently taken up knife throwing.

Rachel Strayer

Rachel has an M.A. and an MFA in Creative Writing/Playwriting from Wilkes University. Her original play Drowning Ophelia received its World Premiere production in San Francisco in 2013 and an East Coast Premiere in Scranton in 2016. Her short plays Empathy, A Clean Bathroom, The Next Step, and In the Dark have all been produced locally. In addition to acting, directing, and running PR for Ghostlight since 2009, Rachel is an Assistant Professor in the Communications department at Keystone College. She regularly offers beginner and intermediate playwriting classes at Abington Community Library, where she also directed Underage Theatre in 2014 and 2015. Rachel recently directed Julius Caesar for Shakespeare in the Park in 2016. She and her husband Jonathan live with Shakespeare (their Jack Russell, not the Bard) in Clarks Summit.

Jeremy Kemmerer

Jeremy J. Kemmerer is a local educator, musician, theatre artist, and an avid reader. He is thrilled to be a part of Ghostlight Productions, having appeared in Twelfth Night, The Mousetrap, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet, and in the title role of Macbeth. He performed in and co-directed A Midnight Dreary, and he directed both The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Comedy of Errors. Regionally, he has appeared as Man in Chair in the Impulsive Players’ production of The Drowsy Chaperone and as Edmund in the East Coast Premiere of Rachel Luann Strayer’s Drowning Ophelia with the Gaslight Theatre Company. He lives in Clarks Summit with his beautiful wife, Jillian, and their children, Eden, Bransen, and Asher (due to arrive in April). He holds degrees in music and education, and he is pursuing a degree in American literature.

Jill Kemmerer

Jillian Alyse Kemmerer debuted with Ghostlight Productions as Miss Casewell in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. She had also appeared as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing. She performed in and co-directed A Midnight Dreary. She has built costumes, worked tech, and coached voice for Ghostlight’s productions of Twelfth Night, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Macbeth, and The Comedy of Errors. She played roles in the Impulsive Players’ productions of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Drowsy Chaperone. She won a NEPTA Award for her performance as Mary in National Pastime at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre. She is a certified music teacher, and she created and runs the Excellence in School Theatre Arts (ESTA) Awards program, which is in its fourth year honoring the work of high school musical theatre students in Lackawanna County, PA.

Summer Intern 2017

Kassi Leonard

You may see some familiar faces if you attend more than one performance of ours - that's great!
Our ensemble is always growing, and we are so thankful to those who help us out!

We are always looking for talented artists, performers, technicians, and business savvy people to join our team.
Click Here to find ways on how to get involved with Ghostlight, or Contact Us with your questions and ideas.