About Us

Raymond Churchill

Raymond Churchill serves as President for and is a founding member of the Eastern Connecticut Performing Arts Association.  Ray, along with a wonderful Board of Directors and support staff, are fulfilling their dreams to provide Eastern Connecticut with access to performing arts education and entertainment.  Raymond is also an active performer throughout Connecticut.   Most recently, he has appeared as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro, and Javert in Les Miserables. For the past twenty six years, Ray has been employed at Griswold High School as the Choral and Drama Director. Currently, 40% of the school population is involved in the choral program and 50% is involved in the drama program. Ray has been honored by being named the 2005 Teacher of the Year for the town of Griswold and the 2017 National Life Changer of the Year Award.  In addition to his musical duties, Ray can also be found  performing his favorite role, Dad, to his beautiful daughter Sydney.

Paula Mikutel 

Paula F. Mikutel has witnessed how transformative, therapeutic and just plain fun the performing arts can be for children in our community.  As a school counselor in the Griswold public school system for over 20 years, now retired, she encouraged students to pursue their artistic dreams.  A theater lover since childhood, Paula makes frequent trips to New York and London and has performed in several plays. She is currently an active member of several choral groups, including the Griswold Players Community Chorus. Paula joined the board of the Eastern Connecticut Performing Arts Association to help harness the passion and creativity of our very talented community, believing everyone deserves a chance to have his or her life enriched by the arts.

Mark DePonte

Dr. Mark DePonte is currently a Family Medicine  physician in  Lisbon Connecticut. As a long time resident of New Haven and New York, Mark has always had a great appreciation for  the performing arts.  Mark believes that ECPAA can foster  the talent of Eastern Connecticut  and provide  needed development, both cultural and economic, in this part of the state.

Terry Cholewa

Terry Cholewa is a business person, educator, professional volunteer and ardent supporter of the arts. As the Vice President and a founding member of the Eastern Connecticut Performing Arts Association, she is excited to be a part of this worthwhile project.  During the past ten years, Terry has served as the adult advisor for the advertising,  marketing, hair and makeup departments for Griswold Drama.  Terry and her husband, Dan, are the proud parents of two grown children. They reside in Griswold with their two content dogs and headstrong cat.

Tracey Wilson

Tracey Wilson joined Eastern Connecticut Performing Arts Association as a Board Member in March 2016.  Tracey has more than 20 years of experience in business development and customized marketing.   She has played as a leading role in fundraising for many local events and has volunteered with various organizations throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island since 1996.  Tracey received the “National Philanthropy Award” in 2008 from the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals.  When she is not at work she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two beautiful and exuberant boys. 

Diana Rose

Diana Rose has been a supporter of the Eastern Connecticut Performing Arts Association since it was founded in 2012 and was invited to become a board member in 2024. She has enjoyed a 40 year career in banking and more than 25 years coordinating volunteer opportunities at local community events. Diana’s favorite role was as back-stage mom to her daughter during her years at dance school followed by drama and theater productions in high school. She looks forward to a future where students have a place to continue to pursue their interests in the performing arts in eastern Connecticut after they have left their high school drama programs.