Olathe North Theatre Directorial Team

Director of Theatre

Mr. Dustin Pence

As the Director of Theatre, Mr. Pence produces all theatrical productions that happen at Olathe North and directs at least two of the shows a year including the main stage musical.  He can also be seen assisting with the theatre tech and performance space needs of other groups in the building.  Mr. Pence often trains students to work other events that take place in the theater spaces to develop their technical skills.
Mr. Pence has been at Olathe North since 2010. Before being an Eagle, he was the Director of Theatre at Chisholm Trail Junior High from 2006-2010 and taught 7th grade social studies and stagecraft at Prairie Trail Junior High in 2005-2006 . He is also the Department Chair for the Olathe North Performing Arts Department, and the Olathe School District High School Theatre Facilitator.
Mr. Pence earned a Masters Degree in Theatre from the The University of Houston.  He has a Bachelor's of Arts Degree from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Speech/Theatre Education, and an emphasis in History/Government Education.  

Associate Director of Theatre

Ms. Sherrilyn Gerdel

As the Associate Director, Ms. Gerdel directs two  shows each year, normally one in the fall and one in the spring, and assists with other theatre productions.  She has been with the department since 2010.
Ms. Gerdel has served as the QUEST program teacher at Olathe North since the 2005-2006.  She has been teaching since 1981 at various districts throughout Kansas.
​Ms. Gerdel  earned her Masters in Education with an emphasis on Gifted Education from Wichita State University,  her Bachelors in Speech and Theatre at Emporia State University, and she was certified in Elementary Education at Wichita State University. 

Assistant Director of Theatre

Mrs. Taylar Rabel

As the Assistant Director, Mrs. Rabel directs at least one show a year, normally in the spring.  She also manages the box office and handles ticketing for all of the shows, as well as helping in other areas when needed. She joined the Theatre Department again in 2013 after a three year hiatus. 
Since 2014, Mrs. Rabel has been an 8th grade  English Language Arts teacher at Indian Trail Middle School.  Before Indian Trail, she was an Eagle since 2008. 
Mrs. Rabel earned her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Emporia State University and her Bachelors Degree in Secondary English Education from Emporia State University as well. 

Costumes, Make-up and Props Director

Mrs. Verna McMullin

As the Director of Costumes and Props, Verna uses her talents to assist and train costumers and props crew members for each of the five shows. Verna started working with Mr. Pence in 2006 as a parent volunteer at Chisholm Trail Junior High. She joined the team at Olathe North in 2010 as a parent volunteer and president of the booster club while her children were in the theatre program. After their graduations in 2013 and 2016, she officially joined the theatre staff.
Verna works as a Secretary at Washington Elementary during the day.  She also continues costuming for theatres around the community.
Verna McMullin attended Wichita State University with an emphasis in Art History. 

Technical Director

Mr. Shawn Mo0re

As the Technical Director, Mr. Moore handles all the technical aspects of theatre for the five main stage shows. He has been the Tech Director since 2018.
Mr. Moore has also been a job coach at Olathe North and Olathe East since 2018.
Mr. Moore has a Bachelor's Degree in Sound Design from UMKC and an Associates Degree in Business from Metropolitan Community College.

Assistant Techncial Director of Design

Mr. John Lane

As the Assistant Technical Theatre Director of Design, Mr. Lane assists in the design of all five productions.  He also steps in for the technical director when needed.  He was Olathe North's Director of Theatre from 1992-2004 and was Tech Director from 2013 - 2018.
Mr. Lane teaches all of the Digital Film courses and some Digital Media courses . From 2003 - 2014 Mr. Lane served as the Facilitator for the Digital Media Program at ON and is currently the DMA Department Chair. He has truly earned his Eagle's wings doing his Student Teaching at ON in 1985. 
He holds a Masters Degree in Language Arts and an undergraduate degree in Theatre/English Education, both from the University of Kansas. While at the University of Kansas, he served as a Teaching Assistant for the KU Theatre Department in technical theatre.