Tim Knief

Tim Knief is a recent graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology with a degree in Electrical Engineering specializing in energy efficiency with a concentration in business. He went to Taunton High School where he was extremely involved in the THS Drama Club, even serving as its president.

Tim holds 8 awards from the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) for lighting design, set design, and stage management. Tim has been with Applause Academy since June 2016. Some of his major credits with the company include the lighting and multimedia design for Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr., 25 Years of Broadway, and the 2016-2019 Summer Theatre Camps in both locations. Tim is excited to now join the team as the Executive Director of Taunton Performing Arts Center!

Hannah Pereira

Hannah Pereira is a recent graduate of Bennington College with a BA in Drama, with a focus on Acting, Directing and Playwrighting. She is a recipient of the Lucille Lortel Fellowship, where she was able to work with an Off-Broadway Theatre in New York. Hannah is trained in Meisner, sketch comedy, improv, and is our Member Services Coordinator.

Tali Russell

Originally from the Lone Star State, Tali graduated from Texas Tech University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, with a double minor in advertising and dramatic writing. Since moving to New England a few months after earning her degree, she has dived headfirst into the local theatre community. She has over a decade of acting experience under her belt, and has also worked as a spotlight and lightboard operator, set builder, and stagehand. She has been TPAC’s Community Outreach & Relations Specialist since February 2025.

When not working at TPAC, she is most often seen performing in and around Providence, Rhode Island. Some of her favorite recent credits include Hermia in Stadium Theatre’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Jo March in the Players at Barker’s “You on the Moors Now,” and Anne Page/Simple in “The Merry Wives of Windsor” here at TPAC.

Natalie Cabral

Natalie Cabral is a graduate of Salem State University with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Communications. Her love of theatre blossomed at Taunton High School. She served as the Artistic Director Of Nemasket River Productions and the Managing Director of Junkyard Dogs Productions. She has held the positions of director and stage manager for many theaters in the greater Boston Area. Her passion include singing, dancing and her children. She was excited to join TPAC as the Artistic Director of the Nemasket Series for its first year.

Courtney Orsini

Courtney Orsini is a University of Rhode Island graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. At URI she studied flute performance, piano, and voice. She has a variety of experience working in theatre including house manager, stage manager, and music directing. A few musicals she has directed include Chicago (Youth Edition), Anastasia (Youth Edition), and Little Shop of Horrors.

Jonathan Andre

Jonathan Andre is a Rhode Island College graduate with a bachelor of arts in Music. During his time at RIC he studied music history, composition, and piano performance. He has been music directing for TPAC since 2010, as well as running set crew, sound designing and stage managing. Previously Jon was an instructor for The Piano Key, giving private lessons in piano, clarinet, and voice. In his spare time, Jon can be found composing original music, some even featured in TPAC Original Productions.

Sarah Palmer

Sarah Palmer is a graduate of Suffolk University with a B.A. in Theater Performance and holds a Master’s degree in Educational Theater from New York University. In addition to her work as a performer, Sarah has been directing youth and community theater since high school and has held a variety of production roles across Massachusetts, New York, and internationally. Before joining TPAC, she served as the Director of Musical Theater for both the pre-professional and recreational musical theater programs at the Conservatory School for the Performing Arts.

Kellie McGrath

Kellie McGrath has a bachelor’s degree from Boston University in education with a minor in music education. Kellie has trained in dance, theatre, and vocal technique. She has directed, choreographed, and music-directed numerous musicals in the South Shore area. Kellie is also an avid performer, recently seen in Sister Act and Shrek with Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket. During the day Kellie is a 5th grade teacher at Trinity Catholic Academy, located in Brockton, MA.

Jade Goetz

Jade Goetz has been dancing since the age of six years old, dancing competitively from the ages of 12 to 19. She has received multiple awards over the course of 15 years with training in tap, contemporary, jazz, modern, hip hop and musical theater. Jade was a part of the Drama Club at Coyle & Cassidy High School serving as the dance captain for multiple shows. Jade attended Applause Academy from 8-15 years old and is now in her 4th year choreographing with us. Her first two shows included our 2022 Fall production of “Newsies Jr” and the 2023 Spring production of “All Shook Up” with ages 11-16.

Katelyn Miller

Katelyn has been a theatre instructor and coach at the Taunton Performing Arts Center since she began pursuing her Theatre Education degree from Salem State University in 2010. Starting as an intern, she has stage managed, designed, and directed countless productions. Growing up in Taunton, she was influenced by all the creative hearts and minds she had the pleasure of growing up with. Imagination and storytelling is something that drives her day to day life. She now dedicates her time to creating the same experiences for the next generation of theatre kids.

Justine O’Brien

Justine O’Brien is a recent graduate of Boston College with degrees in both Theatre and English. While attending, she was heavily involved in the Theatre Department and the Boston College Dramatics Society, with extensive work in Stage Management, Lighting Design, Costume Design, and Directing. After graduating, Justine worked as the Master Electrician for Boston College, as well as the Production Manager for the university’s 25th Arts Festival. Before college, Justine was a member of Taunton High School’s Drama Club for 5 years, with whom she was able to appear in a number of shows, one of which earned her an acting award from the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild.