Chad-Alan Carr

For more than a decade, Chad-Alan Carr has been working to improve his adopted hometown of Gettysburg. The opening of the Gettysburg Community Theatre (GCT) in 2009 was a dream come true for Chad, who has been involved in theaters across the country for over 30 years. A strong advocate for Gettysburg’s youth, Chad chartered the International Thespian Society Troupe at Gettysburg Area High School in 2011, and guided GCT to become the Eastern States Regional Premiere of The Penguin Project (theatre program for youth with special needs and their peer mentors) here in Gettysburg in 2014. In 2017, Chad co-founded Gettysburg Pride, which has become an economic generator for downtown Gettysburg every year and helps bring more LGBTQ+ Allies education, awareness, and inclusion to Gettysburg. As an event planner, Chad was instrumental in bringing a National Theatre Conference to Gettysburg in 2019 as another economic booster for the town. The Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice awarded Chad the 2020 Peacemaker of the Year Award. Chad is also a board member of Pennsylvania Association of Community Theaters, Eastern States Theatre Association, and also serves on the national board of directors of American Association of Community Theaters. Chad has volunteered with Adams County Arts Council, Gettysburg Area School District, Hanover Public Schools, YWCA, Gettysburg/Adams Chamber Of Commerce, Music Gettysburg, Totem Pole Playhouse, Majestic Theatre,Gettysburg Festival, Main Street Gettysburg, and helped with the filming of HBO’s Award-Winning series “We’re Here” which premiered in Gettysburg.

With great assistance from PA Youth Congress, Chad introduced the idea of a Non-Discrimination Ordinance here in Gettysburg Borough, after a year of meetings and research, the Gettysburg Borough Council voted unanimously in 2020 to enact the Ordinance, giving equal protections to all to help fight discrimination with employment, housing, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression since those are not currently protected by State or Federal Law.

A cheerleader for Gettysburg and small business. Chad believes Gettysburg is indeed the grandest small town in America, and he also believes it has the biggest heart.

"On the heels of Abraham Lincoln and Thaddeus Stevens", says Carr "we still have so much work to do to continue their footsteps. We can do so….TOGETHER!"