Currently: 63°FNew director of dramatics.
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Millersville Welcomes Jonathan Strayer
Tag: She Kills Monsters
Sunday, September 6th, 2026
Millersville News
New director of dramatics.
“I actually did my first ever legit play through University Theatre at Millersville,” shares Ashley Calderon (@_ashleycalderon), talking about a part she played in MU’s 2021 production of “Love and Information.” That was just five short years ago, and now, the 2023 alumna has landed a role in the upcoming national tour of the original Broadway show @boopthemusical.<br /> <br /> The show follows the iconic Betty Boop, who longs for an ordinary day off from fame in her black-and-white world and ends up on an adventure in New York City. Calderon will portray Trisha, who she describes as, “a very bubbly and excited teenage girl who loves Betty and everything she stands for. She starts off the show in just about every kind of Boop merch you can think of and then gets to meet and befriend the real Betty Boop!” She also notes the character has, “AMAZING costumes designed by Gregg Barnes, a three-time Tony Award winner, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the character.” <br /> <br /> What brought Calderon to Millersville? “I moved to Lancaster in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic because of my theatre friends that lived here. When I turned 24 the following year, I knew wanted to go back to school and start a career for myself before I turned 30.” <br /> <br /> Millersville turned out to be the perfect fit, and as Calderon reflects on her time at Millersville, she shares, “I am glad I made the decision to go back to school when I did. I’m thankful that I had the chance to learn from Jonathan Strayer, associate professor and director of dramatics at MU, and for the friends I made through ACMO and the music and theatre departments. It was a big part of my life for four years, and I do really cherish the experiences I had at Millersville University."<br /> <br /> For those hoping to catch a glimpse of her on the stage as Trisha, the national tour of “Boop! The Musical” begins in Rochester, New York; Lancaster locals can catch it at its Philadelphia stop from Nov. 17 to 29.
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