The Media Theatre Welcomes New Director of Development

Marsha Peltz, The Media Theatre's Director of Development who also assists with publicity for the professional music theatre company, may be a new staff member at the theatre but she is certainly not new to the region. She returns to her entertainment 'roots' after a few years away when she promoted the former Valley Forge Music Fair and several Atlantic City casino hotels.

Philadelphia-based Peltz is an award-winning publicist who's promoted everything from Amoco Oil to Zany Brainy. The Philadelphia Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) awarded Marsha its 2003 Pepperpot for Best Independent Practitioner -- one of several PR trophies she's proudly taken home over the years.

Marsha started her career as a newspaper reporter. In the 1980s she was Atlantic City's youngest casino PR director, promoting everything from Mickey Mantle to middle-of-the-night jackpot winners. She started producing TV specials at 6ABC, while handling over 100 headliners annually as Valley Forge Music Fair's press agent. In the 1990s, she added a personal life and moved to the Philadelphia suburbs where she juggled babies and Fortune 500 clients for the big ad agencies.

For the next eighteen years she created the almost-perfect balance of family life, volunteering and lively clients at the virtual agency KidStuff Public Relations -- thanks to technology. She uses what she refers to as her "momsense" to nurture clients, pitch reporters and have fun with whatever the topic of the day might be.

The topic of the day for Marsha Peltz will now be Development at The Media Theatre, the Philadelphia region's award-winning professional music theatre company which produces its shows from the 'ground up', meaning they are not tours that travel from place to place but are built, directed, and designed specifically for The Media Theatre stage.

Marsha believes The Media Theatre is a vital ingredient to not only Delaware County but to the surrounding region. "The theatre has so many great things," she said. "Top notch Broadway musicals on State Street in a beautiful suburb without the pricing or pressure of heading to the city, for one. Media has so many wonderful restaurants for a pre-show lunch or dinner. It's within an hour's drive from just about everywhere in the Greater Philadelphia region including Chester County, Cherry Hill, even Wilmington-which is a mere 15 minutes from the theatre. The Mainline is only a half hour away, and parking here is a bargain."

"Then there are the awards The Media Theatre has received," she continued. "These include Broadway World's Best Theatre Company in Philadelphia the past three years. That's an incredible feat and you know at times it seems we are the region's best kept secret. But once you see our shows, all supervised or directed by Artistic Director Jesse Cline, you are hooked! You've got options to choose from in the area, but why not come and see why we have won?"

She knows from whence she speaks, as she has been a Media Theatre patron. "Long before I became involved here I was a patron with my husband and two boys. We enjoyed the children's shows as a great way to introduce our sons to the joy of live theatre. As they grew older we attended shows as a special event."

As the Director of Development, Marsha Peltz' focus is now on how individuals and organizations are able to assist the non-profit theatre company. "People may be surprised to learn that the price of their ticket does not cover all of the expenses of the production. Things like costumes, stage sets, theatre payroll and even the electric bill need to be paid. As a non-profit, it is our passion to bring joy through the arts. But we must ask for donations to stay fresh and offer the best "product." Individuals and may make donations through our website or attend many of our fundraisers. Corporations can team with the theatre to create a program that can be beneficial to both of us. I would love to hear from potential donors at marsha@mediatheatre.org."

Call 610-891-0100 for more information. "Gypsy" featuring Krissy Fraelich as Mama Rose, opens the theatre's 2015-16 season September 23 to November 1.

Pictured: Marsha Peltz