Our Staff

Jennifer Childs, Producing Artistic Director

Jennifer Childs is a Co-Founder of 1812 Productions and has served as the company's sole Artistic Director since 2006. For 1812 she has created over 20 original works of comedic theater including The Carols, To the Moon, It's My Party: The Women and Comedy Project, Cherry Bomb and the annual political humor show, This Is The Week That Is. She created a series of shows that looks at comedy history which enabled her to develop relationships with and perform the work of pioneering comedians such as Phyllis Diller, Tom Lehrer, Sid Caesar, Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory, Bob Elliot, Steve Martin, Bob Newhart and others. Her solo shows, Why I'm Scared of Dance and I Will Not Go Gently have been performed at City Theatre in Pittsburgh, Act II Playhouse, the Kohler Center for the Performing Arts in Wisconsin, People's Light and Delaware Theatre Company. She is the recipient of three Barrymore Awards (Best Supporting Actress in a Play 1996; F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Theatre Artist 1999 and Best Actress in a Musical 2016) and two Independence Foundation Fellowships in the Arts. In 2003 she was the recipient of the Silver Star Outstanding Alumni Award from her Alma Mater, the University of the Arts.

David Jadico, External Relations Director

Previous to working for 1812, David got his start in the for-profit sector as a Marketing Representative for Aetna/US Healthcare. After three years in the industry, he decided to switch to the non-profit sector, following his desire to work in theatre. For two years he was the Subscription Department Manager at The Walnut Street Theatre. From this position he was promoted to the position of Company Manager/Assistant to the Managing Director. He held this position for three additional seasons, coordinating the casts of over thirty productions. In 2003, he had the opportunity to join the staff of Philadelphia’s quickest growing small theatre company at a crucial time in their development to oversee contributed income activities. As 1812’s External Relations Director, he is charged with raising over a half of a million dollars annually in contributed funds from diverse sources through grant writing, developing and running donor campaigns, and maintaining government, corporate, foundation, and patron relationships. He is also a long-time cast member of the improv company ComedySportz Philadelphia, the longest running show in Philly. David holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University and is a member of Actors’ Equity, having appeared in over twenty shows with 1812 Productions and dozens more at theatres in the Philadelphia region.

Nick Seymour, Production Manager

Nick (he/him) joins 1812 as Production Manager in 2023, having filled roles with the company from intern to house manager to open-captioneer since 2018. Recent credits include sound design for 10 Dates with Mad Mary at Inis Nua—where spent two years as General Manager—and set design and carpentry for The Girl in the Machine at the Players Club of Swarthmore. He spent several years working AV for studio recordings and live events at the Kelly Writers House. He is an alumnus and Board Member of the Mask and Wig Club of the University of Pennsylvania, serving as Chair of its Clubhouse Committee. He also works as a supervisor at the Penn Student Performing Arts Shop. In his free time, Nick enjoys cooking, baking, running, and cycling. 

Jill Friedland, Box Office Manager

Jill is so proud to be a part of 1812 Productions! Jill received a B.A. in Theatre from Muhlenberg College in 2021, where they stage managed I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Clytemnestra as well as acted in Unstable Connections (a devised web series), The Sedehi Diversity Project, The Repair Man, and an original solo performance piece entitled Competitive. Other stage management credits include Queersighted (Boonton Rainbow Pride), Ronnie: The Musical (Obviously Theater), and Pippin (SCA). In 2019, Jill studied abroad at Florida State University's Theatre Academy London. They've also previously had internships with SheNYCArts, New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts, and Springville Center for the Arts. Jill also loves to write songs and make tiktoks and friendship bracelets!  

Jaime Konowal, General Manager

Jaime has worked in the Arts for many years, starting her career at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, before moving to Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts as the Box Office and Assistant Marketing Manager. Jaime is a graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Science in Interactive Media and Design. In her free time, Jaime enjoys spending time with her Wife and Son, Screen Printing, and listening to Podcasts. Follow Jaime on Instagram @runninghamsterdesign

Peter Marshall, Marketing and Public Relations Director

Always ready to laugh, Peter's found his home at 1812 working as the Marketing and Public Relations Director. He's previously worked in a number of jobs across Philadelphia theatre and loves the bountiful energy and support this community has to offer. Peter is also the co-founder of OT Foods, a local granola company that strives to connect and uplift people through food. In his free time, Peter enjoys baking, writing music, and hanging with his bunny, Derek.

Tanaquil Márquez, Education Director

Tanaquil Márquez (She/Her/Ella) is thrilled to continue her work as Education Director at 1812. Outside of the office, Tanaquil creates bilingual work focusing on social issues in the community. She is the recipient of the 2022 Pew project grant and is currently working on her project Nichos with the Mexican migrant community. Tanaquil is a freelance director and has had the pleasure of directing 1812's hit political comedy This Is The Week That Is for the Spring and Summer of 2022. Tanaquil is also a member of 1812's Artistic Core and is currently workshopping her new play La Otra.

Thomas E. Shotkin, Production Stage Manager

Tom has been production stage manager at 1812 for over 20 years. Some of his favorite shows include This Is The Week That Is (all of them), Our Show of Shows, To The Moon, The Four of Us, Bat Boy: The Musical, Recent Tragic Events, and An Evening Without Woody Allen (in which he performed). Other SM credits: The 39 Steps at Montgomery Theater, People’s Light, Theatre Exile, Arden Theatre Company, Arena Stage (DC), Barnstormers Theatre (NH). Tom has also worked for PlayPenn, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Hartford Stage Company, Azuka Theatre, and Boarshead Theatre (MI). Tom lives with his favorite person, MB and their killer cat, Dex.

Alfonso Valdespino, Artistic and Development Assistant

Alfonso (he/him) is a first generation Mexican American. Originally from the Chicagoland area, Alfonso is a Philadelphia based theatre artist dedicated to collaborating with artists and audiences alike to help bring more theatre into the world! Alfonso has been with 1812 Productions since 2022, serving as the Wardrobe Supervisor for This Is The Week That Is (2022) Since then he has had the honor to work for the company wearing a multitude of different hats, including Run Crew The Play That Goes Wrong, This Is The Week That Is (2023), Swing This Is The Week That Is (2023), Assistant Production Manager The Flatlanders, Torch Song.  Coming up next he will be Assistant Directing a new play entitled Nichos alongside Director and Playwright Tanaquil Márquez. 

Staff Photos by John Flak

Board of Directors

Officers

Glenn Gundersen, President

Jeff Weiss, Vice President

Kyle A. Midkiff, CPA, Treasurer

Elizabeth S. Fenton, Secretary

Members

Michael P. Buckley

Jennifer Childs

Deborah Fleischman

Terry Graboyes

Peter Haas

David Jadico

Nadine Lomakin

Theresa E. Loscalzo

Kristin McLaughlin

Clare Osman

Nancy L. Roth

June Wolfson

Board Emeritus

Jennifer Bohnenberger

James D. Brown

Kimberly Rehfuss

Dolly Beechman Schnall

Roberta Emmanuel

Matthew Pettigrew