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Ray came to Munster in 2016 from Lake Central High School, where he spent 12 years working on nearly every aspect of theatre, from directing to designing to building, and yes, even acting! While at Lake Central, he re-chartered their troupe of the International Thespian Society in January of 2005. His directing credits include Tartuffe, It's a Wonderful Life, Don Quixote, Drum Taps, As You Like It, Tarzan, Hairspray, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Harvey
He has also directed several contest shows for the Indiana Thespians Regional and State Play Competition., taking several shows to State Competition. While at Munster, The Refugee Women took 2nd at Regionals and placed 7th at State, while in 2021 Fire Exit placed first at Regionals! He also directed Drum Taps in 2013, earning it a performance slot at the 2014 International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Additionally, he has coached over 100 individual and group acting, technical, and film event entries to top honors at the State and International levels through the International Thespian Excellence Awards.
Ray grew up in nearby Lansing, Illinois, and attended T. F. South High School. Between the sixth and twelfth grades, he worked on over twenty productions, helping lead T. F. South to two consecutive state championships in Readers Theatre. After graduating high school, Ray attended Valparaiso University, where he majored in English Education and Theatre and Television Arts. While at Valpo, Ray worked on many productions as actor, director, designer, stage manager, and technician.
He currently is the Co-Chapter Director for the Indiana Thespians, and has served on the nominating committee for the Educational Theatre Association. He is also a member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology.
Ray earned his BA in Theatre and Television Arts from Valparaiso University in 2003. In 2012, Ray earned his MA in Literature and Composition from Purdue University Calumet. In 2015 he married his wife Courtney, a middle school choir directors. They have two beautiful sons, Elias and Isaac! Both are showing signs of being future Thespians!
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Luke McGinnis is the Choir Director and Piano Teacher at Munster High School where he also serves as the vocal director for the Munster Theatre Company. In addition to his teaching duties at Munster High School, Mr. McGinnis serves as host for the regional ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest and directs an Indiana All-State Honor Choir preparation rehearsal. Under his direction, the Munster High School Choral Program released its first full-length, professionally mixed album Through the Valley (2021) and was invited to participate in the 2022 Windy City Choral Festival under the direction of Z. Randall Stroope. In his sixteen years of musical experience, Mr. McGinnis has developed a strong love for performance and helping others discover their musical talents.
As a musician, Mr. McGinnis has performed many major masterworks, including Bohuslav Martinů’s Polni Mse, Samuel Barber’s Prayers of Kierkegaard, J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, and the world premiere of Into the Light by Jake Runestad. In 2015, Mr. McGinnis made his professional debut as the piano accompanist for the Concert of Hope at the Santi Dodici Apostoli in Rome for the XL International Congress of Pueri Cantores. Furthermore, he was a founding member of Voces Luminus, a semi-professional vocal ensemble that has toured Berlin, Wittenberg, Seyda, and Leipzig. He currently performs as a chorister in the Bach Choir of The Bach Institute at Valparaiso University.
While completing his undergraduate degree, Mr. McGinnis served in several churches as Interim Music Director, Youth Music Director, Choir Director, and Piano Accompanist. In November 2018, he served as chorusmaster of the Chorus of Kappa Sigma Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as they performed in “War and the Human Heart,” a multimedia performance that commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I under the direction of Dr. Craig Jessop, former music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Furthermore, Mr. McGinnis continues to lead fifth through ninth-grade music classes and serves as Vocal Music Director for Mother McAuley’s Curtain Call Summer productions.
Mr. McGinnis received his Bachelor of Music Education summa cum laude from Valparaiso University, where he was awarded the Exemplary Professional Praxis Award for Teacher Education and will complete his Master of Educational Leadership from the American College of Education in December 2022. He studied conducting with Christopher Cock, Jeffrey Doebler, and Dennis Friesen-Carper, voice with Christopher Cock, and piano with Nicole Lee. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Indiana Choral Directors Association, Indiana Music Education Association, The National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda music honor society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
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Alexandra Marich is so excited to be working with the Munster High School theater department! She started dancing at The Dance Gallery at the age of 5 through senior year in high school. Dancing to her is the greatest feeling to express myself and she is thrilled to share that with the students for theater. After she graduated high school, Alexandra was asked to teach hip-hop for the studio, which she has been doing for 8 years! She has also taught contemporary/hip-hop, and jazz. She continues her training through professional dance classes and workshops in Chicago, LA, and NY. Her favorite professional moment was meeting Kathryn McCormick from the movie ‘Step up revolution’ and having lunch with her last minute after taking her workshop class.
While dance still being a desire, she is a current graduate from Purdue Global wanting to be a school counselor. ABA therapy specifically speaking.
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