Marybeth Clark
Artistic Director
Marybeth (she/her/hers) is in her twenty-fifth season with Charleston Stage. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and grew up in Tolland, CT. Marybeth has a degree in theatre/performance from the University of South Florida and was cast in her first show at an Equity theatre at 18 years of age in Tampa. She worked as an actor in professional theatres throughout the Southeast for ten years before settling in Charleston in 1994 with her husband, actor Victor Clark. She was a member of the theatre faculty at Charleston County’s School of the Arts for middle and high school students. Though she moved to Charleston planning on ‘retiring’ from theatre and starting a family, she taught and directed for Charleston Stage part-time beginning in 1997, before joining the company full-time the following year.
She and Vic are the proud parents of 2 daughters, Lila and Prentice. Lila recently graduated from Drew University and is preparing for the Doctorate program at MUSC and Prentice teaches special needs students at the Washington Center in Greenville, SC. Marybeth and Vic do not have an empty nest but share their home with Marybeth's mother and many adopted dogs and cats.
In her time at Charleston Stage she has directed over 70 shows, favorites include; Kinky Boots, Of Mice and Men, Mamma Mia! and Elf The Musical. She began the Resident Professional Acting program her second year with the company and continues to hire, train, and supervise our young professional actors.
As an actor for Charleston Stage, Marybeth has appeared in Shakespeare in Love, Helium, You Can’t Take It With You, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Steel Magnolias, A Christmas Carol and most recently as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit.
rylee coppel
Director of education and engagement
Rylee (she/her/hers) is Charleston Stage's Director of Education and Engagement. Rylee is originally from Pennsylvania but arrived in Charleston through New Jersey. Rylee has a Bachelor's in Vocal Performance from Ramapo College of NJ and a Master's in Integrated Arts and Education from the University of Montana, and over 15 years of experience teaching voice, music, theatre, and dance.
Most recently, Rylee was the co-founder and Artistic Director of Dance.Laugh.Learn. A music program for kids and the music teacher at Murray LaSaine Montessori School. Rylee is a certified K-12 music teacher, certified in kids yoga, and trauma-informed. Rylee lives in West Ashley with her husband Ben and five-year-old daughter Vivian.
In addition to teaching, Rylee has performed regionally and internationally with such companies as; Sesame Street Live, Joey Casella Productions, Roxy Regional Theatre, and RWS and Associates. Charleston Stage credits include; Kinky Boots (Pat), Footloose (Vi Moore), Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts), The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-Time (Judy), Mamma Mia! (Donna), White Christmas (Tessie/Mrs. Snoringman), Sister Act (Sister Mary Patrick), and Avenue Q (Ensemble).
CALEB S. GARNER
resident LIGHTING DESIGNER AND THEATREWINGS CO-COORDINATOR
Caleb (he/him/his) is a lighting and sound designer based in Charleston, SC. A North Carolina native, Caleb received his B.A. and B.F.A. from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, and his M.F.A. from The University of Southern Mississippi. Garner’s designs, ranging from concerts, to ballets, to musicals, to straight plays, have earned him eight design awards, including second place at the National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, DC. Caleb has been a featured designer from New York to Mississippi, designing in the Northeast, Midwest, East Coast and Deep South. Caleb is proud to come from the Southeast and champions the rich southern tradition of art and design.
Sam Henderson
Resident Music Director and Director of Music Education
Sam (he/him/his) is Charleston Stage’s Resident Music Director and Director of Music Education. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in Instrumental Music/Trumpet Performance from Baylor University in Waco, TX, as well as a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre/Opera Music Direction from Arizona State University. Sam has over 20 years experience teaching music professionally, and has been working as a theatre music director and conductor since 2005. Professionally, Sam has worked for The Phoenix Theatre Company, Childsplay, The Broadway Palm West Dinner Theatre, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Lyric Opera Theatre and Copperstar Repertory Company prior to coming to Charleston Stage.
RAVYN T. MEADOR
RESIDENT STAGE MANAGER AND THEATREWINGS CO-COORDINATOR
Ravyn (she/her/hers) is incredibly thankful to be a part of live theatre again! Ravyn is one of Charleston Stage’s Resident Stage Managers as well as TheatreWings Co-Coordinator. Originally from San Antonio, TX, she is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a B.F.A in Design and Technical Theatre with an emphasis in Stage Management. Some of Ravyn’s favorite Charleston Stage credits include SM for Our Town, Nevermore, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Other credits include PSM and calling stage manager for the University of Memphis and Collage Dance Collective, ASM for Opera Memphis, and SM at Stagedoor Manor. Ravyn is so thankful for this season's wonderful casts, crews, and administrators who make our shows possible.
Ashley Palmer
Production Stage Manager
Ashley (she/her/hers) is originally a Florida native, growing up in Merritt Island and then attending Florida School of the Arts with a focus in Stage Management. Having studied and worked in the Central Florida area for about 4 years, some of her favorite credits include: Big River, Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Mermaid Jr, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Little Shop of Horrors. Most recently, Ashley has spent two years in Memphis with Playhouse on The Square as a Stage Management and Props Associate Company Member, working on over 30 productions including: Red, Peter Pan, Gypsy, 4,000 Miles, Hairspray, One Man Two Guvnors, The Seagull, and Kiss Me Kate.