Ms. Hannah Castoro, Purnell’s beloved dance teacher and production co-director, holds a Master’s degree in Dance Education from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. For the past decade, Ms. Castoro has taught a variety of dance styles to children and young adults throughout New York City and New Jersey, including choreographing for annual competitions and showcases. Last year she led Purnell’s Dance Company top 10 finishes at the Starbound National and Intensity Dance competitions. Ms. Castoro is an ABTⓇ Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABTⓇ Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABTⓇ National Training Curriculum.
Ms. Sascha Sternecker received a Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from Hollins University. Before coming to Purnell, she worked in a variety of positions including building sets in professional theatre, doing tailoring and alterations, and raising baby horses-- her favorite, next to teaching. At Purnell, she teaches choral and vocal music, various theatre and technical theatre classes, sometimes English, and is a dorm parent in Custis. In her free time, she is an avid equestrian, ailurophile, and fan of Shakespearean insults. She is very proud of the cast and crew of Disenchanted!
Ms. Jessica Moore is a life-long lover of all things theatre and music. An active participant in local and regional theatre growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Ms. Moore was also a member of various choruses. She continued her love affair with singing as a member of Mount Holyoke College’s Glee Club, and the Chamber Singers of both MHC and The Catholic University of America, and has performed alongside choruses that include Harvard, Rutgers, and the University of Virginia. This is her second year helping with production at Purnell.
Mr. Peter Pasterczyk (Bucknell University) a native of Westfield, New Jersey, has been a production institution for twenty years, almost the entirety of his time at Purnell. While he doesn't have a background in theatre, he enjoys any activity that allows him the opportunity to build. When he isn’t preparing his students for a future of fiscal security, or to wo-man the particle accelerator in Lucerne, you can find Mr. P. out in the countryside, or even pond-side, as an avid and talented photographer of wildlife, particularly birds. He also enjoys playing the guitar.
