Our Team

Kailee Ostroski

President

Kailee has been a theater lover all her life so founding and creating with Backyard Theater Ensemble is a dream come true. Kailee participated in numerous theatrical productions in high school and put her love of theater on hold to pursue competitive ballroom dance in college. While she is still an avid ballroom dancer, she was thrilled to return to the stage in 2010. Since then she is lucky to have worked with so many talented people and played challenging and inspirational roles with BTE, some of her favorites being Susan in Loose Ends, Corryn in Gidion's Knot, and May in Fool for Love.

Chet Ostroski

Vice President

Chet's long history of lead, supporting, and ensemble roles in community and college-level theatrical productions throughout the CT area has thus far culminated in his role as co-founder and Vice President of BTE. He is a practicing Martial Artist of 20 years and has directed many stage combat projects and performances. Some of his BTE favorites are Fool for Love, Loose Ends, Shadow Box, 1959 Pink Thunderbird, and many more.

Chris Petrucci

Treasurer

Christopher Petrucci graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting. He works at Premier Financial Services as an Accountant and DiMatteo Group as a Tax Accountant. Having always admired Theater, Chris is thrilled that he is able to assist Backyard Theater Ensemble with his artistic talent and business knowledge. While he has taken part in minor acting roles in the past, he has found great enjoyment in being the Light and Sound Board operator for BTE productions.

Tina Parziale

Artistic Director

Tina's true love is the written word. Acting offers the unique opportunity to delve into a piece of literature and breathe life into its words. She got her first taste of theatre magic at the Warner Theatre when she was eleven and has gone on to direct a number of shows with the Warner Theatre Center for Arts Education. After teaching theatre for six years, she began freelancing as an Art Director and Property Master in NYC. Though she loves the challenge of working behind the scenes, her true passion is being on stage. Favorite past roles include Marjorie in Extremities, Jean in Dead Man's Cell Phone, and Rosalind in Moon Over Buffalo. Tina is excited to be a member of Backyard Theater Ensemble and to add all she can to the thought-provoking energy of the group.

Ryan Wantroba

Script Research and Development

Ryan has been a theater lover since first appearing on stage as Benjamin Franklin in fifth grade. In the years since he has worked as both an actor and pit musician with many community theaters in Connecticut, including Cheshire Community Theater, Hole in the Wall Theater, UConn Dramatic PAWS, Thomaston Opera House, and Backyard Theater Ensemble. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology and philosophy from the University of Connecticut. An inveterate reader, he is pleased to have the opportunity to share his passion for the expression of ideas with the members and audience of BTE.

Abby Lund

Fundraising Coordinator

Abby has been with Backyard Theater Ensemble since 2012 and loved every minute of portraying Georgeanne in Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and Patricia in Extremities. She has also worked behind the scenes on every other show since The Shadow Box. She loves helping BTE secure funding for each production in order to help bring amazing theater to the local community. Abby is originally from Chester, CT. She has a Bachelors in Music from UCONN and a Masters in Intercultural Human Rights Law from St. Thomas University. She is the Development Officer & Operations Coordinator at the US Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association.