Founder & Executive/Artistic Director

Raye Lynn Mercer is Executive/Artistic Director of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (est. 1991) and visionary behind THE BLACK BOX performance and event venue (est. 2014). She is also the founder of Franklin School for the Performing Arts (est. 1985). Some of her favorite FPAC directing credits include Tarzan, The Drowsy Chaperone, Matilda, Something Rotten!, and so many more. Raye Lynn received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Middlebury College and attended the Vienna International Music Center in Vienna, Austria. Her teachers included Maria-Regina Seidlhofer of the Academy of Music, Guiseppe deLellis, Diana Fanning, Gabriel Chodos, and Yoriko Takahashi. Résumé credits from her students include Broadway, Lincoln Center, national Broadway tours, regional companies, European concert tours, American Idol, cruise ships, Walt Disney World performances, and placement in top college and conservatory arts programs! Combining profession and hobby, Raye Lynn has directed Symphony of Horses productions nationwide, developed the Electric Youth professional concert tours in Europe, and taught musical theater workshops in Austria, the U.K., and Hong Kong. Proudly bringing Broadway to Franklin, she is thrilled for the continued growth of FPAC!

Director

Nick has a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Occidental College. A former Equity actor, his performing credits include Cabaret,, Little Shop of Horrors, Oklahoma, Red Roses, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Romeo and Juliet. He has written and directed numerous shows, produced an evening of one-act plays in NYC, and traveled extensively performing with TheatreWorks USA. Nick has directed many FPAC shows and has performed in them as well.

Music Director

Hallie Wetzell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Occidental College and Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory of Music. As Vocal Director at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), Hallie oversees the Pro Voice program and serves as music director for all ensembles, as well as productions of the Franklin Performing Arts Company and the international touring ensemble Electric Youth. Hallie was the Vocal Director for the FSPA Children’s Choirs for the professional touring companies of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2000 and 2005 and Evita in 2004. She has been on the FSPA Music Faculty since 1998 and became Vocal Director for the Franklin Performing Arts Company in 1999.

Company Manager

Kimberly Palson Frigon has been working as a theater educator and actor for over 20 years. She earned an MA in Theater Education from Emerson College and a dual BA in Elementary Education/Theater from St. Michael’s College. Kimberly has previously held positions at Holliston High School (Fine and Performing Arts) and Dean College (School of the Arts) and has taught at several area theater companies (Mass Music and Arts Society; Orpheum Theater, Medfield High School, JCC, Newton; The Footlight Club, and PALS Children’s Chorus). An EMACT award winner, past favorite roles include: Adelaide, Guys and Dolls; Anytime Annie, 42nd Street; Diana, Lend Me A Tenor; and Marta, Company. Kimberly joined the FSPA Drama Faculty in 2021.

Stage Manager

Debra Packard earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts at Brandeis University, where she was SM/ASM for numerous productions, Including Double Inconstancy, Pajama Game, Skin of our Teeth, and Arcadia (dir. Sam Weisman). After graduating, she was props manager for Surflight Theater in NJ before working as Assistant Stage Manager for New Repertory Theatre; shows including Das Barbecue, Moby Dick the Musical, The Weir, and the one woman show, Rose, with Lucille Patton.

Lighting Design

Nathaniel Packard earned a MFA in Design from Brandeis University. Throughout his career he has had the pleasure of working with professionals such as Don Holder, Dennis Parichy, Karl Eigsti, and Olympia Dukakis. He has been the resident designer at Surflight Theatre in NJ, Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company in North Conway, Penobscot Theatre in Bangor, and at The Publick Theatre in Boston. He designed the world premier of Surviving the Nian with The Theater Offensive and an all-woman production of Richard III with Looking Glass Theatre. Nathaniel is returning for his seventh year as lighting designer with FPAC.

Front House and Volunteers Coordinator

Kim Rezendes graduated magna cum laude from Providence College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and from Rhode Island College with a Master’s Degree in Teaching Music. As coordinator of Children’s Music at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) she also serves as Program Director for Little Music School and Instructor of Musical Theater. Kim serves as Associate Organist at St. Mary Church in Franklin. One of FSPA’s first students, Kim joined the FSPA faculty in 1997.

Media Producer

John Fitzhenry is FPAC’s Media Producer. John currently attends Syracuse University’s Film program. An alum of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, John grew up in the FPAC Student Apprentice program appearing in shows like The Sound of Music (Rolf), Humbug! (Young Scrooge), Tarzan, ‘Tis the Season!, and many more. He produces FPAC’s podcast Talk Talk Boom.

Company Administrator

Lindsay Tomas is a Franklin School for the Performing Arts alum and has a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre and Graphic Design from Suffolk University in Boston. Her credits include Rent (Mimi Marques), Into the Woods (Little Red), Something Rotten, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, Bright Star, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, and many more!

Founder & Executive/Artistic Director

Raye Lynn Mercer is Executive/Artistic Director of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (est. 1991) and visionary behind THE BLACK BOX performance and event venue (est. 2014). She is also the founder of Franklin School for the Performing Arts (est. 1985). Some of her favorite FPAC directing credits include Tarzan, The Drowsy Chaperone, Matilda, Something Rotten!, and so many more. Raye Lynn received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Middlebury College and attended the Vienna International Music Center in Vienna, Austria. Her teachers included Maria-Regina Seidlhofer of the Academy of Music, Guiseppe deLellis, Diana Fanning, Gabriel Chodos, and Yoriko Takahashi. Résumé credits from her students include Broadway, Lincoln Center, national Broadway tours, regional companies, European concert tours, American Idol, cruise ships, Walt Disney World performances, and placement in top college and conservatory arts programs! Combining profession and hobby, Raye Lynn has directed Symphony of Horses productions nationwide, developed the Electric Youth professional concert tours in Europe, and taught musical theater workshops in Austria, the U.K., and Hong Kong. Proudly bringing Broadway to Franklin, she is thrilled for the continued growth of FPAC!

Director

Nick has a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Occidental College. A former Equity actor, his performing credits include Cabaret,, Little Shop of Horrors, Oklahoma, Red Roses, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Romeo and Juliet. He has written and directed numerous shows, produced an evening of one-act plays in NYC, and traveled extensively performing with TheatreWorks USA. Nick has directed many FPAC shows and has performed in them as well.

Music Director

Hallie Wetzell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Occidental College and Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory of Music. As Vocal Director at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), Hallie oversees the Pro Voice program and serves as music director for all ensembles, as well as productions of the Franklin Performing Arts Company and the international touring ensemble Electric Youth. Hallie was the Vocal Director for the FSPA Children’s Choirs for the professional touring companies of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2000 and 2005 and Evita in 2004. She has been on the FSPA Music Faculty since 1998 and became Vocal Director for the Franklin Performing Arts Company in 1999.

Company Manager

Kimberly Palson Frigon has been working as a theater educator and actor for over 20 years. She earned an MA in Theater Education from Emerson College and a dual BA in Elementary Education/Theater from St. Michael’s College. Kimberly has previously held positions at Holliston High School (Fine and Performing Arts) and Dean College (School of the Arts) and has taught at several area theater companies (Mass Music and Arts Society; Orpheum Theater, Medfield High School, JCC, Newton; The Footlight Club, and PALS Children’s Chorus). An EMACT award winner, past favorite roles include: Adelaide, Guys and Dolls; Anytime Annie, 42nd Street; Diana, Lend Me A Tenor; and Marta, Company. Kimberly joined the FSPA Drama Faculty in 2021.

Stage Manager

Debra Packard earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts at Brandeis University, where she was SM/ASM for numerous productions, Including Double Inconstancy, Pajama Game, Skin of our Teeth, and Arcadia (dir. Sam Weisman). After graduating, she was props manager for Surflight Theater in NJ before working as Assistant Stage Manager for New Repertory Theatre; shows including Das Barbecue, Moby Dick the Musical, The Weir, and the one woman show, Rose, with Lucille Patton.

Lighting Design

Nathaniel Packard earned a MFA in Design from Brandeis University. Throughout his career he has had the pleasure of working with professionals such as Don Holder, Dennis Parichy, Karl Eigsti, and Olympia Dukakis. He has been the resident designer at Surflight Theatre in NJ, Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company in North Conway, Penobscot Theatre in Bangor, and at The Publick Theatre in Boston. He designed the world premier of Surviving the Nian with The Theater Offensive and an all-woman production of Richard III with Looking Glass Theatre. Nathaniel is returning for his seventh year as lighting designer with FPAC.

Sound Design

Patrick Dzierzak, of Dramatic Sounds, is the resident sound designer for FPAC and the international touring ensemble, Electric Youth and the Boston Show Band.

Set Construction

Mike Hulbig is the resident set builder for FPAC productions.

Front House and Volunteers Coordinator

Kim Rezendes graduated magna cum laude from Providence College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and from Rhode Island College with a Master’s Degree in Teaching Music. As coordinator of Children’s Music at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) she also serves as Program Director for Little Music School and Instructor of Musical Theater. Kim serves as Associate Organist at St. Mary Church in Franklin. One of FSPA’s first students, Kim joined the FSPA faculty in 1997.

Media Producer

John Fitzhenry is FPAC’s Media Producer. John currently attends Syracuse University’s Film program. An alum of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, John grew up in the FPAC Student Apprentice program appearing in shows like The Sound of Music (Rolf), Humbug! (Young Scrooge), Tarzan, ‘Tis the Season!, and many more. He produces FPAC’s podcast Talk Talk Boom.

Company Administrator

Lindsay Tomas is a Franklin School for the Performing Arts alum and has a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre and Graphic Design from Suffolk University in Boston. Her credits include Rent (Mimi Marques), Into the Woods (Little Red), Something Rotten, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, Bright Star, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, and many more!