Playbill

CJ returns to the Ghost Walk for her eleventh year, and her third year writing and directing the production. Outside of the Ghost Walk, she spends much of her free time volunteering with local nonprofits and supporting causes that matter to her community. She is an avid reader and writer who believes that kindness and storytelling have the power to bring people together. She also treasures the time she spends with her family, especially her daughter, Quri, who continues to inspire her in countless ways. For CJ, the Ghost Walk is about creating a meaningful experience for the community and memories that stay with people long after the final story is told.

Stephanie Young was born and raised in Howland and has called the Warren area home her entire life. A graduate of Kent State University with a degree in photojournalism, she has worked for Bristol Public Library for 27 years. Stephanie joined the Ghost Walk ten years ago as a guide and began acting the following year. This is her third year writing and co-directing for the Ghost Walk. This year, she has the special honor of portraying her own grandmother.

Carol Stowe is a life-long resident of the Warren area. She received her associate and bachelor’s degrees from Kent State University and her MFA in creative writing from Youngstown State. In addition, she has completed half the requirements for a Master of Religious Education from Loyola of New Orleans. A published author, she has received awards from Ohio Poetry Day. Her other hobbies include gardening, quilting, sewing, embroidery, knitting, and reading. She has been involved with Ghost Walk since 2015 and lives in the area with her husband and cats.

Courtney is excited for her first year working with the Trumbull County Ghost Walk. As a retired teacher, she has been actively involved in theater as director of her local high school plays. Past productions include Grease, Crazy For You, Guys and Dolls, and Aida. Used to being backstage, this is the first time Courtney will be “in front of the curtain” in many years. New to Trumbull County, she now lives in Mecca Township with her husband, dog, cat, and brood of chickens.

Jackie Shannon discovered her love for theater in high school. After her children left for college, she decided to get involved in community theater, and hasn’t looked back since. She has appeared on the TNT stage in Dixie Swim Club, The Odd Couple (female version), Godspell, 9 to 5, and Disaster!. Jackie has also performed in Rent and Margaritaville at KSU. A certified Oncology Data Specialist, she is also actively involved with the Trumbull County Historical Society.

This is Martin’s second year joining The Ghost Walk, and he’s right at home on stage. With a storyteller’s voice made for the spotlight, he brings a lively presence to the cast. Recently retired from a career he truly loved, Martin now enjoys more time for woodworking and being with his family. He calls the Warren area home.

Born and raised in Warren, Patricia graduated from Western Reserve High School in 1973. She holds a B.S. in Geology from Youngstown State University and an M.S. in Geology from Kent State University. She taught as an adjunct faculty member at KSU Trumbull for nearly 20 years and has worked as an environmental scientist with the Ohio EPA for 24 years.

Patricia is grateful that the Ghost Walk has allowed her to check acting off her bucket list. She considers the experience an exercise in love, from working with the writers and fellow actors to creating a memorable way for the people of Warren to learn about the area’s history.

Ron is back for his eleventh year with the Ghost Walk, this year playing General Simon Perkins, one of the early architects of the Western Reserve and a militia leader in the War of 1812. This role is somewhat different from the unsavory characters he has played recently (think Ira Gardner and Gaston Means). He would like to thank all those who attend the Ghost Walk every year, with special thanks to CJ and Stephanie for their wonderful scripts.

Ron retired from General Motors and was also a local radio broadcaster for more than ten years. He enjoys his retirement along with his wife, Karen.

Meet Sophia. She is delighted to be a part of the 40th annual Warren Ghost Walk. Passionate about theater, she has performed with Hart’s School of Performing Arts, Novelty Theater, and Garrettsville Curtains Up Theatre, taking on a variety of roles and enjoying every opportunity to be on stage. Some of her favorite roles include Lydia Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, the Mad Hatter and Mock Turtle in Alice in Wonderland, and Professor Holly Barnes in Murder on the 518. She performed in multiple skits and improv shows, and explored the creative side of theater by writing a skit of her own. She is thankful for the opportunity to help bring Warren’s history to life.