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Abby VandenBrul ’20
Abby VandenBrul ’20 (far right) graduated from Penn State University with a degree in stage management and is currently working as a Production Assistant on the Broadway musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).
Over the past year, she has worked on productions in New York and on National Tours, supporting stage management teams in various capacities.
“There is a broad range of work I do as a Production Assistant depending on the needs of the show,” Abby shared. On Two Strangers, her primary focus was maintaining the script as it evolved throughout the rehearsal process, up to opening night. On other productions, she has created paperwork to track set, prop, and costume changes. “Overall, as a Production Assistant, I am there to support the stage management team, and everyone working on the show, with whatever tasks need to get done to help the show run!”
At Penn State, Abby received the Susan Jane Gaul Memorial Award, which honors undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Arts and Architecture who have excelled in acting and/or stage management, and spent her summers working as a Stage Manager and Counselor at Ghostlight Theater Camp.
Reflecting on her time at Friends, Abby said, “The Quaker SPICES that I learned at WFS have not only influenced the way I move through the world in my everyday life, but also how I approach my work as a stage manager.” She added, “WFS gave me the space and opportunities to explore all of my interests, and that helped me to narrow down what I wanted to focus on in college and pursue as a career.”
She also credits Friends with preparing her for life after high school. “Time management! WFS always encouraged me to get involved in many of the activities available to me while still balancing classwork. That provided me with a great foundation to really succeed in college and beyond.”
Abby shared that the most influential person during her time at WFS was Margaret Anne Butterfield. “All of my teachers at WFS were so incredible, but the most influential was Mrs. Butterfield. Between Chamber Singers, IB Music, and the musicals, we spent a lot of time together, and she not only fostered my love of the arts, especially theater, but also always encouraged me to pursue stage management.”
At WFS, Abby stage-managed multiple plays and musicals, earned both the Wyeth Brothers Performing Arts Award and the Charles Bush Award, and founded the March For Our Lives club.
What Abby loves most about her work is collaborating with so many people who are as passionate about theater as she is. She explained, “As a stage manager, I get to be involved in every piece of the process of putting a show onstage, and that also means I get to work with virtually everyone who plays a role in the production, and that feels very unique and super special.”
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Abby VandenBrul ’20
Abby VandenBrul ’20 (far right) graduated from Penn State University with a degree in stage management and is currently working as a Production Assistant on the Broadway musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).Read More -
Ashley Chompre ’20
When Ashley Chompre ’20 returned to campus to speak with the upper school STEMinists Club, she described the curiosity-driven path that led her from WFS to her current role as a software engineer at Netflix.Read More -
Bruce P. Baganz ’69
Earlier this year, WFS honored Bruce P. Baganz ’69 as the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, recognizing his lifelong dedication to learning, leadership, and the arts.Read More -
TyLisa C. Johnson ’13
Award-winning journalist and poet TyLisa C. Johnson ’13 was recently recognized with the 2025 Wilmington Friends School Distinguished Alumni Award for her exceptional contributions to journalism, community storytelling, and social impact.Read More -
Nathaniel Huxtable ’22
“Wilmington Friends School prepared me to get the job done. Whatever task it may be, I am not afraid to take it on and give it my fullest effort. The worst you can do is learn. My WFS education also instilled the Quaker values such as integrity and stewardship through example and engagement, both in the classroom and in the community. I also learned the importance of asking questions not only to learn but to challenge others to do the right thing regardless of what it looks like.”Read More -
Lauren Kerrigan ’13
“It’s the Quaker ‘I to I’ philosophy that I hold so dearly to my heart, that helped prepare me for life after high school. It taught me to approach every person as an equal — to truly listen, understand, and connect without judgment. Its foundation is deep rooted in relationships and respect and it has helped prepare me for a career in Veterinary Medicine.”Read More -
Laura Wolf ’07
“I believe in empowering students and educators alike by fostering collaboration, self-advocacy, and inclusive practices that help every individual reach their fullest potential. WFS laid the foundation for my philosophy of inclusion and collaboration, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”Read More -
Barbara Bovbjerg ’68
“Watch the faculty, not just the ones in your best subjects! And, of course, the staff. They all have something to teach you, regardless of their position at the school.”Read More -
Jesse Miller ’14
“WFS taught me how to work through interpersonal issues starting in Pre-K. Those lessons have stayed with me and shaped how I handle challenges in every setting since.”Read More -
Arlene Spezzaferro ’93
“I attended WFS from Pre-K until graduation, and respect for all people was a central tenant to my education. It frames how I see the world, build relationships, and this inclusive mindset has helped me be successful in so many parts of my life.”Read More -
Willow Pearson Trimbach ’88
“Cultivation of sitting in silence, listening to the voices of spirit within and around me, through meeting for worship. This foundational contemplative practice, which led me to Buddhism, Integral Spirituality and beyond, is the basis of my music, psychotherapy, and teaching.”Read More -
Miles Katzen ’16
“Wilmington Friends School provided me with the foundation for understanding what a community truly is. My teachers, coaches, and classmates helped me learn that a community is not necessarily a physical space but a feeling where everyone is valued and has a sense of belonging. Most importantly, my time at Friends formed my core belief that there is light in everyone and that every human being deserves to live a life of dignity.”Read More -
Osi Chukwuocha ’22
“I believe my time at WFS prepared me for success at CWRU both academically and athletically. Academically, the high rigor of WFS courses like AP Physics gave me a great foundation coming into CWRU. However, I think the most effective tool I learned from WFS was building relationships with teachers. Building relationships with teachers at CWRU has helped me monumentally with assignments and exams.”Read More -
Manny Adebi ’20
Read More“My experience at Wilmington Friends School set me up for success by providing challenging coursework that required critical thinking. Learning how I learned and figuring out a process that worked for me was one of the most important things because regardless of what you want to major in or what sport you want to play at a higher level, you will need to learn the information and how to apply it when it is necessary. Friends helped me facilitate my learning process, and I’ve continued to adapt and improve it based on the situation.” -
Jocelyn Nathan ’23 Wins the National Championship!
Congratulations to Jocelyn Nathan ‘23 and the Penn State University women’s volleyball team on winning the National Championship! In their 3-1 victory over the University of Louisville this afternoon, Nathan recorded a career-high ten digs.Read More
Jocelyn is pictured with her parents, Len and Lynne, and sisters, Dani ‘19 (bottom left) and Alyssa ‘17.
Great work, Jocelyn! -
Madeline Rowland ’23
Read More“My experience at Wilmington Friends School taught me the importance of time management, resilience, and community. Academically, the rigorous curriculum helped me develop my critical thinking skills, intellectual curiosity, and the habits to handle complex material, all of which have equipped me with the tools to excel at Williams.” -
Philip Montigney ’07
“I always mention Wilmington Friends as having an incredible influence in my life as preparation not only for college but well beyond. Acceptance and curiosity in understanding sound simple enough, but as I get older, I realize the world would benefit greatly if more people were taught those lessons at a young age.”Read More -
Zach Williams ’02
“There’s no need to be modest about your ambitions or your hopes. If there is something that you want to do or something that you want to see happen in the world, move toward it one little step at a time, and you can be a part of how things change.”Read More -
Josh Galperin ’00
On the latest episode of the Quaker Matters Podcast, hosted by Piper Roskovensky ’26, Josh Galperin ’00 discusses what it’s like to work in environmental law, what he enjoys most about teaching law, and shares advice to students who are interested in pursuing a career in law.Read More
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Preschool - 12th Grade
302.576.2900 | info@wilmingtonfriends.org
Preschool - 12th Grade
Statement of Nondiscrimination as to Student Enrollment
Wilmington Friends School admits students of any race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of these schools. Wilmington Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.
