A Doll's House

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Program:

• About the Play
• Artistic Director's Note
• Cast (listed in order of appearance)
• Production Staff
• Run Crew
• Cast Bios
• Creative Team Bios
   

About the Play

In our Herbst Theatre, we present a rare chance to see the original classic drama and its unlikely sequel side-by-side. Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House is one of the most important works of world theatre, setting the stage for a revolution in psychological realism with one woman’s discovery of her own strength and independence in a world determined to crush her. As one critic said, Nora’s was “the door slam heard round the world.” Frank McGinnis’ contemporary translation brings Ibsen’s landmark of modern drama to vivid life. Directed by Artistic Director Marya Spring Cordes.

A Doll’s House was previously produced at the Playhouse Theatre in London by Thelma Holt.  Produced on Broadway by Bill Kenwright in association with Thelma Holt.

PLAYWRIGHT: Henrik Ibsen

ADAPTOR/TRANSLATOR: Frank McGuinness

 

Time and Place: The Helmer’s living room, a small Norwegian town, 1879.

Intermission Duration: 15 minutes

Please silence all cell phones, pagers, and any other electronic devices. Texting during productions will result in removal from the theatre.

The use of any recording device (photo, sound, or video) by audience members is not permitted.

Major production support is provided by The Musical Theatre Initiative at Wright State University.
 

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Artistic Director's Note

Welcome back to Wright State Theatre! Or, if this is your first visit with us—WELCOME. 

Thank you for joining us in the Herbst Studio Theatre for our consecutive productions of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (Feb 15-18), directed by Wright State Theatre Artistic Director Marya Spring Cordes, and Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Feb 22-25), directed by Human Race Theatre Company Artistic Director Emily Wells. 

As Wright State Theatre’s artistic director, I was thrilled at the prospect of our students and audience witnessing the entire Nora and Helmer family story, as it stands right now in literary history, in an exploration of episodic theatre!

If you are here tonight for A Doll’s House (what happened first), please consider joining us next weekend for A Doll’s House, Part 2 to find out what happens a decade and some years later. New decisions and new perspectives occur as only the passage of time can allow.

If you are joining us only to see the second episode (what happened next), please consider reaching into the shelves of the nearest library to dust off the original and revisit how we got here.

Enjoy both episodes.

Marya Spring Cordes
Artistic Director
 

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Cast (listed in order of appearance)

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Production Staff

PRODUCTION MANAGER/TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Kevin Nedberg

ASSISTANT TO TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Shay Roth

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Magdalen Silver

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER: Miranda Morrissette, Arielle Gelb

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS: Cate Lightbody, Katie Baldwin

ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGNER: Payton Johnson

PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN: Matthew P. Benjamin

ELECTRICIANS: Jennifer Dillard, Jackson Boone, Dylan Serrano, Levi Fravel, Caleb Murray, Alexander Markley

SOUND ENGINEER/AUDIO COORDINATOR: James Dunlap

HEAD CARPENTER: James Hendricks

CARPENTERS: Eli Baader, Drew Feller, Yoshi Hill, Mary Carlson, Sofia Maisano, Logan Gregory, Hannah Baker, Maggie Slauenwhite, Megan Todd, Nolan Todd, Noel Nieczyporowicz

CHARGE ARTISTS: Isa Castillon, Callie Lippincott

SCENIC ARTISTS: Lilly Buck, Juliette Trumbull

PROPERTIES ADVISOR: John Lavarnway

PROPERTIES MASTER: Anna Hunter

PROPERTIES ARTISAN: Kaitlin Teller, Phoenix Perry, Lily Brown, Lauren Crane

COSTUME SHOP MANAGER: Carly Kimmins

COSTUME SHOP ASSISTANT: Victoria “Ori” Gifford

DRAPER/LEAD STITCHER: Sean Hannah

STITCHERS: Emma Green, Lily Butt, Sean Hannah, Charlie Cute, Anthony Lombardo, Jake Jonesco, Katy Leonard
 

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Run Crew

STAGE CREW: Caleb Murray, Yoshi Hill  

LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR: Lucy Rocchio

SOUND BOARD OPERATOR: Levi Fravel

PROPERTIES CREW: Hannah Baker

WARDROBE HEAD: Lily Butt

WARDROBE: Anthony Lambardo
 

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Cast Bios

John Cuozzo (Krogstad) (he/him) is a senior acting major from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, who’s thrilled to be a part of his first Herbst show! Previous Wright State credits: The Liar (Geronte), On The Town (Ozzie), and The Mousetrap (Paravicini). Thank you to Marya, cast, and crew for helping to bring this iconic and important piece to life. Enjoy the show!

Julia Daigh (Nora Helmer) (she/they) is a senior acting major from Yellow Springs. She’s excited to perform in her third Wright State play, her previous credits being The Laramie Project (Leigh Fondakowski) and The Mousetrap (Leslie Casewell). They would like to express loving gratitude to their friends and family for holding them throughout this process.

Julia DiPaolo (Nora Helmer u/s) is a junior acting major from Cleveland, Ohio. Previous Wright State credits include Sweat (Jessie u/s) and The Liar (Isabelle/Sabine u/s). She would like to thank her family and friends for their support throughout the years. Enjoy the show!

Fiona Finneran (Dr. Rank) (they/them) is a senior in the acting program at Wright State and is excited to be acting in their first play here. They want to shout out their parents Bonnie and Sean, for their endless support and love. Previous credits: The Laramie Project (Moises Kaufman U/S), Mousetrap (AD), Last Summer at Blue Fish Cove (Sue).

Noah Funderburk (Messenger, u/s Dr. Rank) (he/him) is a freshman acting major at Wright State and is enthusiastic to share this work as his first official season show here. He would like to thank his mother, Lori, who inspires and encourages his passion in the arts— and he hopes you enjoy the show. Christo omnis gloria!

Kayleigh Gleeson (Anne-Marie) (she/her) is a sophomore acting major. She is so appreciative to be a part of her first play at Wright State. Thank you to her cast mates and everyone working on this production for making it such an incredible experience!

Charlie MacPherson (Bobby) (he/him) is a third-grader at Smith Elementary who’s thrilled to be a part of his first show with Wright State. Previous credits: Muse Machine’s The Little Mermaid (Flounder u/s, ensemble), CPAM’s Frozen Jr. (Young Kristoff), dancing at Dayton Ballet Studio, and more. He’s thankful to find such a supportive arts community!

Casey Merren (Kristine Linde) (she/her) is a senior acting major and is honored to be in this timeless show. Wright State credits: The Liar (AD), The Laramie Project, Bright Star, and Antigone. Casey would like to thank her family, friends, and the entire company for their endless love and support. She dedicates this performance to her mom and dad!

Noah Mullen (Ivan) (he/him) is a sixth-grader at Watts Middle School and is thrilled to join the amazing cast of A Doll’s House. Previous credits: Epiphany Player’s Music Man (Winthrop), Children of Eden (Young Abel), and Muse Machine’s The Little Mermaid (Flounder). Noah would like to thank Mrs. Cordes for the opportunity to debut at Wright State.

Noel Nieczyporowicz (Helene) is a sophomore acting major from Plano, Texas. She is so excited to be a part of this beautiful show. Previous credits include Something Rotten! (Nostradamus), Open Stay (choreographer), and Seussical (Bird Girl/choreographer). Break legs, everyone!

Gavin O’Meara (Krogstad u/s) (they/he) is an actor currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre major at Wright State. They made their Off-Broadway debut in Dear Mom I’m Gay! The Musical, and has worked on Arcadia, Cabaret, Sister Act, and Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras at Wright State.

Ashley Ortel (Anne-Marie/Helene/the Messenger u/s) (she/her) is a sophomore musical theatre major excited to be involved in this wonderful piece of art. This is her second production at Wright State after playing Zen in Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras. Thank you to the faculty, her family, friends, and this wonderful cast for this amazing show. Enjoy!

Arianna Schrage (Kristine Linde u/s, Dance Captain) (she/they) is a junior acting major and is ECSTATIC to be telling the story of A Doll’s House. Previous Wright State credits: Cabaret, Sweet Charity, Lend Me a Tenor, and Antigone. She is thrilled to take part in her first show in the Herbst Theatre. Enjoy the show!

Ben Smallwood (Torvald) (he/him) is a senior acting major. Past credits include Elf (Manager), Million Dollar Quartet (Carl Perkins), and Cabaret (Herman, Ernst u/s). Ben would like to thank his family and friends for their continuous support.

Richard Yannotti (Torvald u/s) (he/him) is excited to be in Wright State’s production of A Doll’s House. Richard is a senior acting major and an MCC graduate! You might have seen him in Wright State’s production of On the Town or Arcadia. Richard is thankful to his family and friends.
 

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Creative Team Bios

Marya Spring Cordes (director) has a career that is a blissful blend of teaching other theatre artists, directing, and performing. She is artistic director, professor of acting and musical theatre, and serves as associate chair of the School of Fine and Performing Arts. Recent productions at Wright State include Arcadia, Sweet Charity, War of the Worlds (Orson Wells’ radio play in collaboration with radio station WYSO), The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Simon Stephens. Marya is a resident artist at The Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton, where some directing credits include Now and Then (a filmed stage play), Gloria: A Life, Sylvia, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Managing Maxine, and Becky’s New Car. In October of 2021, Marya directed the world premiere of a gothic opera, Sweet Louisa, by Katie Kring and Rob Hartmann at Ozarks Lyric Opera in Springfield, Missouri. She is an active member of Actors’ Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and Alexander Technique International.

Michelle McElveen (choreographer) has a performing/teaching/choreographing career that spans more than 30 years. She worked extensively as resident choreographer for the Sorg and Whitewater Opera Companies, choreographing and performing in many operas, her favorites being La Traviata, Carmen, The Merry Widow, and My Fair Lady. She has choreographed for Wright State, South Dayton Dance Theatre, Miami University, and Gem City Ballet. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Wright State and graduated high school from the Interlochen Arts Academy. She performed professionally with Walt Disney Productions, the Dayton Opera, the Sorg and Whitewater Opera companies, and La Comedia Dinner Theatre. She started her teaching career in 1990 becoming a sought-after teacher throughout Ohio and Michigan. She is a senior lecturer at Wright State.

Lucy Rocchio (stage manager) (she/her) is a senior acting major at Wright State and is excited to be stage managing her first Herbst show! Past Wright State credits: The Liar (Lucrece), Arcadia (Lady Croom u/s), Romeo & Juliet (SM), and Boys in the Band (SM). She hopes you enjoy the show!

Anna Hunter (scenic designer) (she/her) is a senior design technology student from northern Colorado studying prop art, scenic design, and stage management in addition to a minor in German. Previous Wright State credits include Cabaret (prop manager), Kelly the Destroyer... (scenic designer), ArtsGala '22 and '23 (associate producer), and Sister Act (stage manager).

Zoe Still (costume designer), a graduate of the Wright State design and technology program, has returned to Dayton to teach costume design at Wright State. Her most recent work was for the Human Race Theatre as costume designer for Who’s Holiday. She also designed Wright State productions of The Addams Family, Lend Me a Tenor, and The Liar. Before returning to Wright State, she joined Papermoon Opera Productions as costume designer and charge artist. She also worked on Barber of Seville at Amarillo Opera she co-designed costumes for Don Giovanni at Pensacola Opera.

Zach Wuest (lighting designer) is a design/tech student at Wright State with a concentration in lighting design. Previously he has worked on Wright State’s dance concerts (lighting designer), By the Bog of Cats (production electrician), The Liar (production electrician) and Kelly the Destroyer vs. The Springfield Cobras (lighting designer). He was also recently involved in Dayton Playhouse’s production of  Is There Life After High School (lighting designer and light board operator). He hopes you enjoy A Dolls House!

James Dunlap (sound designer): is the audio coordinator and resident sound designer for Wright State Theatre. James has been involved with sound system/sound production design, music composition, and live-event audio for over 20 years. He has worked with hundreds of national touring acts and local productions. Recent sound design credits include A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Sister Act, Mother Courage and Her Children, Grapes of Wrath, Chicago, Pride and Prejudice, Les Misérables, The Magic Fire, Oklahoma!, Spring Awakening, Phantom of the Opera, Rent, and Hairspray.
 

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