Steven J. Arnold - Executive Producing Director

Prior to moving to the Eastern Shore from New York City in April, 2007 to take the job as Executive Producing Director, Mr. Arnold has worked as a professional actor, director, designer, playwright. and administrator. He received his theatre degree from The Ohio State University and he has amassed over 70 production credits in twenty-five years. As a Director, he has staged numerous community and professional productions, including Amadeus, 1776, The Will Rogers Follies, Man of La Mancha, Cotton Patch Gospel, A Tuna Christmas and Children of Eden, among others. He has also written the Book, Score, Lyrics and Orchestrations for his original adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which premiered in 1999 in Mansfield, Ohio. At CHT, he has thus far directed two productions: 2009's Triumph of Love and 2008's Once on this Island. He also designed and built the sets for the 2008 CHT’s season productions of Blithe Spirit, Hello, Dolly, Greater Tuna, A Tuna Christmas and Once on this Island. Elsewhere on the Eastern Shore, he wrote Epistemology, which premiered at the Prince Theatre’s 2008 8x10 Ten Minute Play Festival, directed Heresy at a Crossroads, also for the 8x10 Festival, and played the role of donut-loving, key-wielding Norman in The Boys Next Door for Peake Players in November, 2008. He has also worked closely with CAPA in Easton as a consultant and judge for their annual Improv competition, an improv instructor for Summerfame and as a participant in their 2009 One Act Festival, where he once again staged Epistemology. As the Artistic Director of The Mansfield Playhouse, in Mansfield, Ohio, Steve was a founder for the improv comedy group Under the Influence in 1998, which remains a successful group today, and he founded a second group, ScrewLoose, in Canton, Ohio in 2004. He will be directing CHT's 2010 production of The Rocky Horror Show.

Joyce Benton - Office Manager and Executive Assistant

Joyce came to CHT in July, 2008. She's a local Queen Anne's County gal who grew up in Sudlersville. She currently lives in Chestertown with her two grandchildren, Zak and Savanna, her mini Schnauzer Bo and her two cats. She has attended Chesapeake College and taken paralegal studies. She retired from the State of Maryland after 32 years, worked 6 years with the Kent County State's Attorney's Office as Legal Administrative Aide. She was also a licensed Realtor for 18 years and worked part time in the food service industry for 40 years. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her grandchildren play sports and equestrian events, kayaking, working out, gardening, volunteering with church and CHT activities and traveling.