Jeff Book - Chairman

I’ve been a member of FEST since 2007, having joined in an attempt to relive my college theatre days. Over the last few years, I have acted in several one-act plays and pulled the strings backstage as stage manager for Mousetrap and our most recent pantomime. When not FEST'ing, I'm spending time with my family, training for the Frankfurt Ironman, doing some rock climbing and flying small airplanes over the Taunus as a private pilot.  When I must, I actually earn a living working for a large international company in the areas of business process improvement and organizational transformation.

Patrick O'Sullivan - Vice Chair & Communications

I joined FEST in 2009 and immediately landed the much-coveted role of “Buttons” in the pantomime. In spite of this, I was asked to offer technical support to the FEATS “Fringe” Theatre Festival in May 2010 and to assistant direct the highly successful “Audience with Murder” later that year. During the hours of daylight, I develop Internet-based training programs and occasionally try to play several musical instruments simultaneously.

Kerstin Buck - Secretary & Membership Secretary

I have always loved theatre but unitl I joined FEST in September 2010 I only knew it from the audience. With FEST I was able to learn more about theatre and to have a look behind the curtain. This I mean literally, as I helped backstage in the productions of “Audience with Murder” and “The Importance of Being Earnest”. It was a great experience to be part of a production team, to help with running a show. I am not interested to be on stage and don’t have the talent for it; I enjoy supporting the team backstage. My activities for FEST are a welcome alternative to my job in Clinical Research and sometimes a good excuse to leave the office on time.

Patrick Nolan - Treasurer

I am relatively new to FEST. I got dragged into the Cinderella pantomime, my first experience with amateur theatre, but I enjoyed being involved and so happily agreed to join the committee. I live in the metropolis of Glashütten with my wife, my son and daughter. I work from home, which allows me to listen to music when I want, do the garden when the weather is fine and even take an afternoon off to visit the golf course.

Mark Mineart - (Extra-)Ordinary Member

A successful member of the professional theatre community for over twenty-five years, I have appeared on Broadway and Off-Broadway with such stars as Denzel Washington and Kelsey Grammar.  Classically trained, I have portrayed many of the great characters of world theatre, among them Cyrano de Bergerac, Macbeth, Cassius in Julius Caesar,  Touchstone in As You Like It, Caliban in The Tempest, Long John Silver in Treasure Island, and Lennie in Of Mice & Men. I have created roles in several World Premiere productions by such playwrights as Jane Martin, Eric Cobble, and have had roles written for me by multiple Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee Arthur Kopit. I have worked both nationally and internationally as an actor, director, fight director, and educator.  Most recently my production of The Importance of Being Earnest for FEST enjoyed sold out houses and extended runs in Frankfurt, Darmstadt, and Wiesbaden.