Meet Colleen McQuaide

Growing up in Central Pennsylvania, with its small-town charm and scenic country roads, left a lasting impact on me. Today, I live in historic Southeastern Pennsylvania with my husband Mark. We have two children, Andrew and Caity. Currently, I’m the Host of Our Town: Tribute to the American Dream.

I earned a BA degree in political science from Penn State with additional coursework in economics and accounting. Despite my academic success, I quickly returned to my true passion: acting; however, all aspects of my education and experience have strengthened my pursuits.

As a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), I appeared in notable films, including The Sixth Sense, in the role of “Tommy’s TV Mom.” I played the lead role “Marion” in the short film Scumbling, which aired on WHYY and WYBE. Additionally, I was featured in principal roles in TV commercials for products like Spray ‘N Wash.

I branched out into screenwriting, graduating from UCLA’s Professional Program. I have won numerous screenwriting awards and contributed to the nationally broadcast show Backyard Boomers as a writer, Associate Producer, and on-screen talent. This naturally led to my producing original material, culminating in my role as the creator of Our Town: Tribute to the American Dream, which I write, direct, and produce through my production company.

Outside of my professional life, I enjoy spending time with my family. I also have a deep love for my Straight Egyptian horse, Sydam My Sebek (Syd) bred by Lee Gannutz of Sebek Arabians. Syd is descended from an ancient noble bloodline of champions and is one in his own right, winning numerous awards and ribbons. As a former garden club member, I enjoyed success in flower show competitions at Longwood Gardens. On weekends, you can find me out with my husband biking the rail trails, antiquing, frequenting farm markets, and of course, visiting towns!