Our History

Mill Town Players was launched on July 1, 2014, in the Historic Pelzer Auditorium with the announcement of the inaugural season and the unique mission of offering quality and affordable theater in Pelzer, SC. Local theater educator and artist Will Ragland had dreamed of starting a new company that would bring live theater to new audiences in the Upstate. Always Patsy Cline was the first show directed by Ragland, starring Upstate stage veteran Katie Rockwell, and played to packed houses. MTP was officially born.

Since its humble beginning, Mill Town Players has been recognized for artistic achievement and its positive impact on the community. In 2016, MTP received the Founders Award from the SC Theatre Association. It is the most prestigious award SCTA bestows to recognize the individual or organization that has made the most significant contribution to theater in SC. MTP has also won top honors in the state community theater festival in 2014, 2016, and 2018, 3rd Place in the Southeast in 2017, and winner of the Southeastern Theatre Conference Community Theatre Festival in 2019. MTP competed at AACTFest 2019 in Gettysburg, PA, winning Best Costumes and recognition for Ensemble Performance and Acting. This was the first time a SC team has competed at Nationals since 1985.

Now in its 13th season, Mill Town Players continues to be one of the most affordable and attended theaters in South Carolina.

Shannon Faulkner
President

Joe Welborn
Vice President

Reed Halvorson
Secretary

Beverly Clowney
Treasurer

Chris Chapman

Mike DeSantis

Garry Green

Jo Hood

Darryl Imperati

Alan Russell

Louie Sagedy

Will Ragland

Executive Artistic Director
will@milltownplayers.org

Will Ragland, a Powdersville native and product of Anderson School District One, founded the Mill Town Players in 2014 and is delighted to serve as Executive Artistic Director. He has worked in Upstate theaters for over 30 years, mainly as an actor, director, and scenic designer in over 170 productions. Will holds a BA in Studio Art from Davidson College and an MA in Theatre Production from Central Washington University. He was named as one of the Anderson Independent Mail’s 20 under 40 emerging leaders, was a member of Leadership Anderson Class 34, and is Past President of the SC Theatre Association. He is grateful for the opportunity to enrich the community through quality, affordable live theater.

Cameron Woodson

Artistic Associate
cameron@milltownplayers.org

Cameron Woodson is a visual and theatrical artist who specializes in acting, cartoons, designing, and directing. He is beyond proud to serve as Artistic Associate for the Mill Town Players. Since 2016, he has worked on an assortment of shows with MTP, both on and off the stage. Cameron has taken on positions with the theater company as an actor, scenic designer, costume designer, scenic builder, stage manager, technician, and various oddball jobs as an intern. Cameron holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Coastal Carolina University. He was awarded Best Scenic Design in SCTA’s Community Theatre Festival in 2019. He is deeply passionate, hardworking, and committed to showing the world that great art can truly come from anyone and from anywhere.

Hannah Morton

Production and Development Coordinator
hannah@milltownplayers.org

A native of Anderson County, Hannah is honored to serve as Production and Development Coordinator for Mill Town. After earning her BA in Vocal Performance from Emmanuel University in 2013, Hannah began the pursuit of quality theater. From 2014 to 2020, she contributed in various capacities across the Upstate theater community including actor, costumer, stage manager, props master, and music director.

Recently relocated to Simpsonville after a four-year stay in Virginia, Hannah is an active member of First Baptist Simpsonville | Upstate Church, where her husband, Joshua, serves as Senior Director of Creative Arts. Outside of her work in theater and volunteering at church, she enjoys spending quality time at home with her two-year-old daughter, Greer.

Eliza Burdette

Scenic Artist
eliza@milltownplayers.org

Born and raised in Greenville, Eliza Burdette is thrilled to be a part of the Mill Town Players team as a scenic artist. Since childhood, she has been coming to their productions and now has the honor of working with them as an actor, scenic painter, and aspiring designer. Eliza began her journey in the arts at age 7 where she trained as a ballerina at International Ballet Academy until 2021. In those years, she discovered the theatrical world, desiring to be further trained in singing and dancing. In 2025, she completed a B.A. in Theatre from Anderson University with a minor in Dance. Working in the scene shop throughout her years in college, Eliza also discovered her passion and interest in painting and designing. At MTP, she hopes to continue to hone and improve her skills as a well-rounded artist.

Ryvers Martin

Box Office Associate
boxoffice@milltownplayers.org

Ryvers is excited to join the Mill Town Players crew in the box office. She has loved working with the community behind the scenes and now gets to enjoy the company of the patrons who have supported MTP from the ground up. She hopes to get to know you personally and help you have the best experience Mill Town has to offer, with quality, affordable entertainment.

Tony Penna

Lighting Supervisor

Tony Penna has worked on several Mill Town Players productions including Bonnie & Clyde, Barefoot in the Park, Blue Christmas, The Bridges of Madison County, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Bright Star, Beehive, Honky Tonk Angels, and Pump Boys and Dinettes.  Regional theater credits include productions at Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Warehouse Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Huntington Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse, Baltimore’s CENTERSTAGE, Studio Arena Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Lean Ensemble Theatre, South Carolina Repertory Company, and the historic Shuler Theater in Raton, NM. In New York his designs have been seen at La MaMa, Medicine Show, Culture Project and HERE. Tony is a member of United Scenic Artists.

Josef Wehunt

Audio Engineer

Josef Wehunt is a music producer/consultant out of Greenville. He is a graduate in Commercial Music at Anderson University and the Greenville Fine Arts Center. After graduating, he performed and produced many events such as the Los Angeles and New York Fashion Week, A/V design for Gucci retail stores, the Miss South Carolina Pageant, Palmetto Boys State, various Verizon and Milliken television commercials, the theme song of the Blackbear movie on Netflix, and the CMA Awards Festival.

Wendy King

House Manager

Wendy resides in Piedmont with her husband Tony and all their furbabies. She has been in 4K Special Ed for 18 years. Wendy is also the owner of 3 King’s Photography. She has 3 sons Justin, Austin, Drake, and one grandson, Eli. She loves animals, traveling, Attending Oak Pointe Church, and anything and everything to do with Halloween and Christmas decorating. Wendy served on the first board of Mill Town Players.