The Team
Who We Are
The Board of Panhandle Players
Mishelle McPherson
President
Mishelle has been a member of the Panhandle Players since 2017. During her tenure, she has served on the board as both treasurer and secretary, and now President. She has remained a highly active board member, contributing to major projects such as the installation of new theater seating and theatre restoration projects. Her multifaceted involvement also includes directing, acting, set design and building, managing community relations, and working in front-of-house operations.
850-323-2455
Nick Avossa
Vice President
Nick has been an equity member of PHP since 2021. He has served as technical director, lighting and sound designer for nearly every show since then. Nick has
worked with more than a dozen different theatre companies over the past 50 years accumulating over 100 acting, directing and technical credits. In 2022,
Nick was appointed to the Board to fill a vacancy and has been a Board Member ever since. Nick continues to act as the Technical Director for the
Panhandle Players and the Chapman Theatre. This year, Nick will be directing “Escape to Margaritaville”.
(845)-750-8184
Jerry Hurley
Secretary
Actor/Playwright Jerry L. Hurley was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in West Virginia. Earning a B.A. and M.A. from Marshall University, Jerry enjoyed a career in public education as a teacher
and principal until his retirement in 2008. Married to wife Charlotte in 1974, they moved to Apalachicola from Hurricane, West Virginia in 2013. Both of their children, Emma and Ethan also live close to our small village by the sea. Since coming to Apalachicola, Jerry
has acted in a number of Panhandle Players’ productions. Having
penned four plays presented on the Chapman theatre stage (Secrets
and Sweet Tea, Sweet Tea on the Front Porch, Sweet Tea at the B &
B and Trailer Park). Jerry’s latest comedy, AREA 52, will open the 2026/27 season for the Panhandle Players in October of this year.
Since wife Charlotte’s passing in 2021, Jerry continues to write plays, short stories and poetry while working several days a week as a reader and librarian at the Apalachicola Bay Charter School and
serving on the Citizens’ Advisory Board at the Margaret Key Library.
J. Renee' Valentine
Treasurer
Panhandle Players
Tim Phillips
Tim Phillips has been volunteering for the PHP since 2018. His contributions include the Box Office, building sets, sound and
doing any handyman work required. He has appeared in River's
Edge and a few other skits in the PHP Live Show and was also the
Asst. Director in Magic Surfer.
He now serves on the Board of the PHP.
Debra Olds
Debra Olds, is a retired Texas Real Estate Attorney who lives for the Florida beaches and taking care of everyone’s furbabies at The Pet Stop in Eastpoint. Debra has enjoyed the stage through singing, dancing, and acting since her childhood debut as the Tree in Big Tex. After attending McNeese in Lake Charles for her bachelors degree and moving to Houston for her law degree from South Texas, she returned to the theater arts community as Columbia in Rocky Horror. As soon as she settled in as a Forgotten Coast transplant, she joined Bay Area Choral and Panhandle Players. She is a very active member with Panhandle Players, as a Board Member, Actor, and in Production. Debra loves being involved in theater arts and is proud of how supportive this community is.
Scott Davis
Been on our team for years. Has helped with many shows and the behind the scenes of panhandle players.