Meet Our Board

My first play with the Oswego Players was in 2002 at the age of nine. That play was Cheaper by the Dozen directed by one of my many mentors in the Oswego Players Bobby Fontana. As I was growing up, I met so many talented individuals who help me develop my acting and taught me valuable life lessons. The Oswego Players has become my second family, it’s a place that I always love to be. In my teens, I was involved in almost every show the Players produced. I tried to help out in any way that I could. Sometimes I was on stage acting my heart out and other times I was backstage or in the tech booth. Upon returning to Oswego in 2018, after graduating with a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Simmons University, I have been extremely active with the organization. In my role as the Historian, I have been scanning photos and archiving the groups 83 year history. Since 2018, I have been a member of the Board of Directors and in 2023, I am the President of the entire organization.

I was first introduce to the Oswego Players when my child got the acting bug back in 2001. Over the years, I was the backstage mom (in a good way). I helped wherever I was needed. I had grown up doing theatre and speech competitions, starting at about the same age as my child. I graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Communications with an emphasis on theatre. I had not stepped foot on stage for almost 30 years, when my choir director, Sherri Metz and Tammy Wilkinson wooed me back on stage with Theatre Du Jour’s production of “Bingo the Winning Musical”, playing the part of Patsy. That was all it took to get me back into the theatre scene. I love all things theatre, including helping backstage, running the box office and house managing. Some of my favorite rolls over the last several years have been Raynelle in “Dearly Departed”, Bunny in “A Murder is Announced” and most recently Maria in “A Comedy of Tenors” I am honored to be a part of this little theatre by the lake. I am looking forward to a very ambitious season.

Started in community theater just 20 years ago, he has worked with 7 companies, co-founding the Norwich Theater Company, Inc. and was involved in establishing the Chenango River theatre, an Equity theater in Chenango County. Favorite roles include: The Wizard in Wizard of Oz; Chris in Miracle on 34th Street; Mr Feldzieg in Drowsy Chaprone and General Genghis Kahn Schmitz in Seussical. Richard has now completed two productions with Oswego Players: The Last Lifeboat and A Christmas Carol (Scrooge).

I joined The Oswego Players in early 2000's. I started building sets and as a stage crew member. My favorite set that I have constructed was for The Music man. It had multiple rolling flats for scene changes. My first show as an actor was in Our Miss Brooks. I've been in more that 50 shows and built more that 100 sets. Its great being a part of a group like Players.

I first hit the boards when I was fifteen and in the chorus at Hannibal high school. My debut in the musical “Oliver” was small-but the bug bit hard and deep and I have been on the stage or in the director’s chair ever since. I spent 12 years doing musicals with the Red Creek Community players performing roles such as Annie in “Annie Get Your Gun”, Mame in “Mame”, Katie Brown in “Calamity Jane” and Queen Aggravain in “Once Upon a Mattress”. I made my debut on the Oswego Players stage in 1988 as Lorraine Sheldon in “The Man Who Came to Dinner” and proceeded to be involved in nearly every production for the next 25 years. My most memorable experience was to play Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine in “The Lion in Winter’ directed by former SUNY Oswego theatre professor, Ron Medici, in 1996. I was given the opportunity to play her again a few years ago opposite my husband, Nelson Metz, whom I met on stage in 1999 in “The Fourth Wall.” I directed my first show, Neal Simon’s “The Star-Spangled Girl” in 1998 and have since directed several others-primarily farces- which are my favorite. I love to make people laugh and am looking forward to doing so from the stage this year in “The Savannah Sipping Society” and from the director’s chair in “A Comedy of Tenors.” It is my honor to serve on the board of this wonderful organization that has given me so much joy for so much of my life.

I first joined the Oswego Players in 2000 as a parent of a young actor, my son Norman. It was a family affair, my husband as a set builder and actor, my son acting or working on the tech crew in every show. As for me, I did anything and everything that needed a pair of hands. I became involved with the board of the Oswego Players in 2005 and served as treasure till 2015. I spent the next few years concentrating on committees for the Players with the TAYA program bringing me my greatest joy. I am returning to the board in 2022 as treasure and I am looking forward to my future with the Oswego Players.

I grew up in Oswego, attended college here, and have worked as a School Psychologist in a nearby district for 20+ years. I started acting as a young girl in many church and school programs, and continued through High School and college. I returned to the theatre 20+ years later, after my kids did a few shows with Oswego Players and convinced me to get back up there. I started with “The Man Who Came to Dinner”, which I was able to perform in with both of my daughters. That was such a great experience to share with them, and we have been hooked since. My biggest thrill was playing Lettie Blacklock in “A Murder is Announced”. I recently took on the task of organizing and maintaining the prop room for the theatre and am the current Producer. My oldest daughter and I are also enjoying helping with the 85th Anniversary Committee. I am very grateful to this organization and the people here, for the warm welcomes, total acceptance, wonderful experiences, and beautiful friendships. It is truly a pleasure and an honor to be a part of the Board.

Iraina Gerchman has been an educator for 30+ years working first as an English teacher, then Alternative Education teacher, Director of instructional Support, and Executive Director of Planning, Development and Technology. Her interests include well told stories - written and played, opera, traveling, and working on making the world a better place for women and girls with the Zonta Club of Oswego. Finding this little theatre on the water has been a joy

A member of the Oswego Players since 1998, Nelson has worked as a director, stage manager, sound designer, lighting technician and actor in Oswego’s Francis Marion Brown theater. Nelson has worked on more than 100 productions with the Players including: You Can’t Take It With You, The Mousetrap, Lost in Yonkers, The Director, Don't Dress for Dinner. The Lion in Winter, and Don’t Drink the Water. He has performed with the Oswego Opera Company in The Pirates of Penzance; as well as SUNY Oswego’s summer theater productions of Oliver and The Sound of Music. He was also a member of Tammy Wilkinson’s professional Theatre Du Jour ensemble playing many local dinner theater venues. Nelson retired in March 2020 after 30 years as a Youth Employment Specialist with Oswego County’s Workforce New York office. He is also a 17-year member and former presiding executive officer of Oswego’s local Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #271. In 2021 he was certified to teach yoga through the Kaivalya Yoga Teaching Method (KYTM) and teaches Insight yoga and meditation at the Oswego YMCA.

A graduate of SUNY Oswego with a BA in Communications, John DeRousie is the owner of Custom Marketing Solutions, a full service advertising, marketing and public relations firm. Prior to establishing Custom Marketing Solutions in June of 2000, John’s career included a vast amount of experience in the communications and advertising field. John served as an on-air personality, music director, and advertising salesperson at WSCP Radio in Pulaski, NY; advertising manager at the Palladium-Times newspaper in Oswego; and vice president of marketing for a retail chain with more than 300 stores in 16 states. His work in radio, television, and public relations has been recognized by the Syracuse Ad Club and the Professional Journalists and Communicators of Oswego County with several awards from both organizations. John’s commitment to his community has also garnered him a Volunteer of the Year Award from the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County and a Media Appreciation Award from United Way of Greater Oswego County. A graduate of the Leadership Oswego County, John has served as a facilitator for the Leadership Oswego County Youth program; is a past member of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, currently serves on the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau Board of Directors, and is a member of the Oswego Players Board of Directors. Additionally, John has volunteered in a variety of capacities for the Oswego Players as well as several other area theater and arts organizations.

Coming Soon!

I went to college for theater but ended up not completing my education and came back home. And it was a chance meeting with a member of the Oswego Players about 20 years ago that ultimately got me here. I have been stage crew, tech crew, an actor, and a director. I’ve seen others before me in this role and have the upmost respect for each one. Now I step into those shoes and hope I can be instrumental in providing amazing performances for our local community.