Board of Directors
Kathleen Masterson
PRESIDENT
Kathleen Masterson is a retired Director of Literature and Theatre at New York State Council on the Arts and also served as Director of NYSCA’s Arts in Education Program. Prior to her time in public service, she was a professional actor. She is a librettist and has written with opera and contemporary music composers including the late Jeff Langley. Publication of Buffalo Nation (Bison bison), a large ensemble work with composer Jerome Kitzke, is forthcoming from Peer Music International. Kathleen has been a devoted resident of Delaware County since the late 1980’s and an admirer of the essential Franklin Stage Company since its inception.
Janet Merrill
SECRETARY
Janet is currently an Assistant Professor of business law and related curriculum at SUNY Delhi. Janet worked as a litigation attorney for 17 years in Las Vegas, Nevada. After raising her family there, Janet shifted gears and recently returned to her hometown of Walton, New York. Janet’s love for Delaware County sparked her interest in the Franklin Stage Company, a community treasure offering professional theater set in the beauty of the Catskills.
Jennifer Mileski
Jennifer Mileski, a newly retired teacher, is looking forward to focusing her energies on the further development of the theater. An ardent supporter since its founding almost 30 years ago, Jennifer is committed to FSC's dual mission of making the arts accessible to all regardless of income and to preserving our historic home, Chapel Hall.
Chris O'Connor
Chris O’Connor is Associate Professor/Chair of Theatre Arts at Molloy College. He founded Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken, NJ where he served as Artistic Director for nearly 20 years. In 2017, he received an Award of Excellence from the NJ Theatre Alliance for his leadership of MST. As a director and actor, Chris has worked with such theatres as Maltz Jupiter Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre, Lyric Repertory Theatre, Culture Project, Soho Rep, Target Margin, Gloucester Stage, Intiman Theatre, City Theatre, The Ahmanson, Zoetic Stage and Franklin Stage Company.
Thomas Spychalski
Tom is presently the Senior Marketing Director for a real estate development company in the sunbelt states. Over the past 20 years he has been managing operations and personnel as a real estate associate broker, sales manager and restaurateur; all of which, have catered to his robust appetite for drama. His belief in the importance of the work of Franklin Stage Company, to the community at large, has led him to a position on the board, with a goal of growing the base of supporters well beyond the community it currently serves.
Jos Vulto
TREASURER
Jos joined FSC's board in 2019. He is an artist and activist who divides his time between Brooklyn and Walton, NY.
Justine Woolner Wise
Justine has been a Clinical Social Worker/Family Therapist in the Oneonta community since 1990. Retired in May 2025, she was a collaborator in the creation of the Gender Wellness Center at Bassett Healthcare. With an undergraduate degree in photography and design, (BFA MICA 1977) she has had a “first” career as an artist, sees the world with a designer’s eye, and is interested in the power of art for effecting social change. Long a supporter of FSC, she values the exceptional free theater that FSC provides in our area.
