EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT - MEET STEPHANIE WASZEN : Atlantic County Library System

Stephanie Waszen

Meet Stephanie Waszen,
Senior Library Assistant/Actress

Stephanie Waszen, community theater actress, credits her family with fostering her creativity and imagination.

Senior library assistant Stephanie Waszen

Stephanie works at the Atlantic County Library System/Galloway Township branch as a senior library assistant. Library patrons might find Stephanie at the circulation desk, helping patrons with computer issues, or shelving books. She also conducts a weekly storytime program.

Pictured above are playbills from some of Stephanie's performances.

How did you get started in community theater?
"As a child, we sang in the church choir. My sisters and I performed in church plays. Our parents always encouraged us to be active. 17 years ago I saw an audition notice in the local newspaper - and guess you can say I've never looked back. I just love the theater and I've always enjoyed performing," Stephanie tells us.

"Lately I've taken to writing lyrics. I look forward to them becoming songs," she said.

Tell us about some of the shows in which you performed?
"Most recently, I was a nun in the chorus of the Sound of Music. I was the 2nd place winner in the show. That production was put on at Atlantic Cape Community College. I've performed in many community theater productions - plays and musicals."

Community theater groups Stephanie has performed with are Showmakers, Galloway Community Theater, Cygnus Creative Arts Center and SoJourn.

Plays Stephanie acted in include Our Town, Candle on the Table, Once Upon a Mattress and the Trysting Place, a one-act play.

Especially enjoying musicals and singing and dancing, Stephanie performed in a number of productions, including Annie, Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, Anything Goes, the Wizard of Oz, and the Little Princess, among others.

Auditioning , rehearsing and performing requires commitment. What keeps you going?
"Performing in front of people is exciting. And the cast and crew - the people - we all love what we do. The people are so supportive, just like family. And working with different community theaters creates great diversity. I meet all types of people, ages, backgrounds, and nationalities. It's just great fun."

Stephanie is celebrating 10 years of service to the Atlantic County Library System. She is most proud of her work with the children and other patrons of Galloway Township.

Her coworkers describe Stephanie as a delightful and organized person, and a pleasure to work with.

Thank you, Stephanie Waszen.