Board of Directors
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Treasurer
Randi Honkonen
randihonkonen@aetherealjest.com
Randi is a marketing and communications professional, currently working in higher education. She has been dancing since she was six, but only discovered the magic of community theater as an adult. She has served as a dance captain in numerous productions and routinely performs with Columbus Entertainment Productions 4 Charity. When the dance shoes come off, it's likely you'll find her sipping wine and spending time with her boyfriend and rescue pup.
Director at Large
Shana French
shanafrench@aetherealjest.com
Shana has performed volunteer work at several organizations around central Ohio and aims to help Aethereal Jest flourish.
In the past she has volunteered with Pickerington Community Theatre, Worthington Community Theatre, the Reynoldsburg Community Association, the Reynoldsburg Board of Education, and Rosehill Elementary PTO.
Shana was previously cast in The Lottery and Rome is Where the Heart Is from Community Theatre Triple Feature - Volume One and All the World's a Stage with Aethereal Jest Arts Council. She loves performing for local community theater and spending time with her family and dogs.
Director at Large
Ellie Haenick
elliehaenick@aetherealjest.com
Ellie Haenick is thrilled to be a part of the board of Aethereal Jest Arts Council. She has worked with several theater companies in Ohio, though has only lived in the Columbus area since June of 2023. Before moving here, Ellie lived in and did theater in the Detroit, Michigan area.
When she is not working with Aethereal Jest and other local community theaters, Ellie is a full-time student at The Ohio State University majoring in Computer Science. Other hobbies include drawing, horseback riding, and solving Rubik’s cubes competitively. She also loves spending time with friends and family!
Director at Large
Anthony Reitzel
anthonyreitzel@aetherealjest.com
Anthony is an accountant and finance professional with over nine years of experience in public firm and industry accounting roles. He is a licensed certified public accountant and lover of the literary and musical arts. Anthony lives in Hilliard with his husband, Brian, and their two adorable dogs.
Ex Officio, Membership Chair
Chris Makar
Chris has lived with her husband (and now four grown children) in Gahanna for fifty plus years. She has a B.S. in Music Education, is a National Board Certified retired music teachers and has a M.A. in the Art of Teaching.
She is usually involved with over three to four theater production a year. Chris has been music director, in orchestra or pit, and played as rehearsal accompanist. Some of her involvement includes: Gahanna Community Theatre, Little Theatre Off Broadway, Pickerington Community Theatre, Hilliard Arts Council, King Avenue Players, Aethereal Jest Arts Council, and Central Ohio high school musicals.
Ex Officio, Executive Director
Brian A. Palmer
brianpalmer@aetherealjest.com
Brian is a creator who strives to increase community engagement with the arts by creating spaces and platforms for other artists to share their talents. He believes that a passion for the arts is more important than having natural talent in the arts.
He has been an active member in the Columbus theatre community since 2012 in a number of capacities including directing, stage managing, costume design, and performing. Currently Brian is working toward building an environment that aims to support artists both in their creative pursuits as well as their social networks.
Brian holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in English from The Ohio State University. When he is not focused on one artistic endeavor or another, Brian enjoys spending time with his husband and two dogs.