Staff

Glen Knapp, Executive Producing Director
 Glen Knapp is executive producing director of Philadelphia Young Playwrights, celebrating twenty-four years of tapping the potential of youth and inspiring learning through playwriting. He is a senior lecturer in theater management at University of the Arts, board member of Mauckingbird Theatre Company, board member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, two-term board chair of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, and advisory board member for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Philadelphia Program.Glen’s career in theater, arts administration and education spans twenty-five years. Prior to moving to Philadelphia from... Expand

Mindy A. Early, Associate Director for Education and Program Services
Mindy A. Early has a B.A. in Drama from Washington College in Maryland, and she did her graduate work in Theatre at Miami University of Ohio with a concentration in Directing. Formerly the Resident Teaching Artist and Education Associate at Philadelphia Theatre Company, during her six-year tenure there she taught over 500 workshops at nearly 40 schools.Additionally, Mindy is a director and playwright. From 2004 – 2009, she was the Artistic Director of the Cardboard Box Collaborative (CBC), a company devoted to producing emerging playwrights. While at CBC her plays Profiling, Now Serving, and “says Eugenia” (a... Expand

Lindsay Mauck, Development and Communications Manager
Lindsay is a graduate of Temple University with a B.M. in Music Education. Now in her fourth year at Young Playwrights, she manages all Development, Communications, and Special Events for the organization. In 2008, Lindsay co-founded and currently serves as Managing Director for Philadelphia’s Mauckingbird Theatre Company which, now in their fifth season, is committed to producing professional gay-themed theater. She also spent time as Assistant to the Producer and Company Manager at Maples Repertory Theatre in Macon, MO. As a performer, Lindsay has been seen in many regional theaters including Act II Playhouse (PA), Forestburgh... Expand

Judy Adamson, Finance Director

Judy Adamson has worked with Philadelphia Young Playwrights since 1999 helping to guide and develop the financial systems for the transition from a founder driven organization through the rapid growth of the last 10 years. She also assists with development management and other administrative functions. She has over 35 years experience in business and non-profit administrative management. She also works as a financial consultant with a range of non-profit organizations, including Research for Action, Women’s Medical Fund, and the Community Education Center. Expand

David O'Connor, Resident Director
David O’Connor has been a teaching artist and director with Philadelphia Young Playwrights since 2004. David came to Philadelphia to pursue his MFA in Directing from Temple University, and now calls Philadelphia home. David has directed for the Arden, PlayPenn, Hedgerow, the Philadelphia Fringe and the Lantern, where he was nominated for a Barrymore and named Philadelphia Weekly’s Director of the Year for his production of “Master Harold”…and the boys. He is also a lighting, sound and projection designer, as well as an adjunct faculty member of both Temple University and University of Pennsylvania. David is husband to theatre management... Expand

Clare Hughes, Office Manager
Clare has recently completed coursework for a Masters in Arts Administration at Drexel University and is currently conducting research for her thesis on an emergence of municipal cultural advisory appointments in the United States. She sits on the Lansdowne Arts Board, which seeks to promote Lansdowne as an arts destination through advising the local government, hosting and supporting arts events, and developing a new artist residency program. Clare also serves on the Celebration Theater steering committee as programming and artistic staff. She holds a BA in Theater from DeSales University. Expand

Kelsey McDowell, Development and Communications Associate
Kelsey graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in photojournalism. While at Temple, Kelsey was a member of Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism honor society and led the construction of visual journalistic projects under the direction of Dr. Edwards Trayes. She started her work with Young Playwrights doing freelance photography work in 2012 before becoming a full-time staff member. Since early 2011, Kelsey has owned her own photography business, Kelsey McDowell Photography, which focuses on performing arts and portrait photography.  Expand

Donnell Powell, Executive Producing Assistant
Donnell Powell graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcasting, Telecommunications, and Mass Media with a minor in Art. While at Temple, Donnell dedicated his time to exploring his artistic styles. He considers himself a conceptual and mixed media artist, who intertwines different mediums such as painting, photography, sculpture, and digital media. Through his art, Donnell focuses on social themes such as diversity and oppression, classicism, and the notion of informal versus formal. Donnell’s work has been featured at several galleries in Philadelphia including the Top Hat Gallery and Marilyn’s Studio. He was introduced... Expand

Jay Gilman, Education and Programs Assistant
Prior to joining Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Jay Gilman served as a director, producer, and coordinator for the Maryland Young Playwrights Festival and their Young Playwrights Festival Tour. Additionally, he held positions as a director, assistant director, and sound designer at numerous theatres in the Baltimore/Washington area. Administratively, Jay has served as the Young Actors Academy Director at Spotlighters Theatre, ushering the program through a period of substantial growth and expanded partnerships. He has held fellowships at Baltimore’s Center Stage and the University of Baltimore’s School of Business Social... Expand

Tasha Milkman, Teaching Artist Apprentice

Tasha Milkman holds a master’s degree in Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania as well as a B.A. in Theatre and Clinical Psychology from Tufts University. She is a founding member, writer, director, and performer in Broken Box Mime Theater, a New York based company. Tasha has spent the last two years teaching special education in West Philadelphia, while commuting to New York to devise and perform original theater. She also has taught playwriting and acting in Denver, Colorado. Tasha is thrilled to bring together her passion for theater and teaching with Philadelphia Young Playwrights! Expand

Malika Oyetimein, Teaching Artist Apprentice

 Malika is a  Director in the Tri-State area having worked with  Arden Theatre Co. ,The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival,  Philadelphia Urban Theatre Festival , GoKash Productions,  Delaware Theatre Company , Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Opera Delaware. Malika graduated with a B.A in Communications with a concentration in Directing from William Patterson University. She is extremely excited to be a Teaching Artist Apprentice with Philadelphia Young Playwrights.  Expand