Our Town

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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

Our Town is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Thornton Wilder's deeply moving and thought-provoking play about life in Grover's Corners holds a mirror to all of humanity.

PLAYWRIGHT: Thornton Wilder

Time and Place: The action of the play takes place in the early 1900s in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire.

Intermission Duration: 15 minutes

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

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

Special Thanks: Marilyn Farley and Matt Ebright

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Artistic Director's Note

 

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 director: Natalie Cottrell

Stage manager: Phoenix Perry

Assistant stage managers: Gillian Jenkins, Mary Carlson

Dialect coach: Deborah Thomas

Production electrician: Matthew P. Benjamin

Assistant production electrician: Jennifer Dillard

Electricians: Levi Fravel, Zach Wuest, Jackson Boone, Robbie Crissman

Sound engineer/Audio coordinator: James Dunlap

Show carpenter: Logan Gregory

Assistant show carpenters: Maggie Slauenwhite, Megan Todd

Scenic artist supervisor: Brian Seckfort

Scenic charge artist: Isa Castillon

Scenic artists: Callie Lippincott, Juliette Trumbull, Lilly Buck

Properties master: John Lavarnway

Properties assistant: Lauren Crane

Costume shop manager: Carly Anne Kimmins

Costume shop assistant: Victoria “Ori” Rancor

Stitchers: Kaitlin Teller, Wrynn Bucher, Jillian Price-Hall, Callista Mitchell
 

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Run Crew

Light board operator: Alex Thate

Sound board operator: Logan Gregory

A2 mic technician: Robbie Crissman

Properties head: Maggie Slauenwhite

Stage crew/props assistant: Emerson Mezines

Spot operator: Ethan Worthington

Wardrobe supervisor: Wrynn Boucher

Wardrobe crew: Gillian Jenkins
 

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Cast Bios

Katie Baldwin (Ensemble, Emily Webb [u/s]) (she/her) is a sophomore acting major and is very excited to be in her first production at Wright State. She was most recently a production assistant for A Doll's House, Part 2. She wants to thank her friends and family for all their wonderful support!

Kathleen Barth (Emily Webb) is so excited to make her Festival Playhouse debut! She is a senior acting major whose recent credits include By the Bog of Cats (Hester u/s), Children of Eden (Storyteller), and The Laramie Project (Rebecca Hilliker u/s). Kathleen would like to thank her friends and family for all of their support and love!

Joclyn Menendez-Blake (Stage Manager) is a junior musical theatre major from Columbus. Previous roles here include Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Savannah in Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras, and Cynthia (u/s) in Sweat. Joclyn would like to thank her friends and family, and Ava for being her biggest inspiration. She hopes you enjoy Our Town.

Ethan Cain (Constable Warren, Ensemble, George Gibbs [u/s], Howie Newsome [u/s]) (he/him) is a sophomore acting major from Cincinnati. This is Ethan’s first major production at Wright State.

Jackson Church (Mr. Webb) (he/they) is a junior musical theatre major from Traverse City, Michigan. Previous shows at Wright State include By the Bog of Cats (Xavier Cassidy [u/s], Father Willow, Young Dunne) and Bright Star (Daddy Cane [u/s]). Jackson would like to give thanks to his family back home and his family here, as he wouldn't be here without them.

Dom Cullen (Wally Webb, Ensemble, Si Crowell [u/s]) (he/they) is a senior musical theatre major. Previous roles include Joseph Swane in By the Bog of Cats and Gus in Arcadia. He would like to thank his parents for loving him.

Eve Diamond (Joe Crowell Jr,, Rebecca [u/s]) (she/her) is a sophomore acting major and so happy to be acting in her first production at Wright State! She was most recently in Sense and Sensibility at the Dayton Playhouse (Marianne). She wants to thank her roommates and her family for their never-ending support.

Aidan Fracker (George Gibbs) (he/him) is a senior acting major and is thrilled to be returning to the Festival Playhouse! Previous appearances include Carthage in By the Bog of Cats, Dorante in The Liar, and the ensembles of On the Town and Sister Act. Special thanks go out to Marya, Emma, and the Fracker Family.

Kayleigh Gleeson (Lady in the Box, Ensemble, Mrs. Gibbs [u/s]) (she/her) is thrilled to be a part of her second main stage production here at Wright State! She is a junior acting major from Atlanta, Georgia. Some of her credits include A Doll’s House, She Kills Monsters, Richard III, and The Laramie Project. She is so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait for you to see the hard work this cast put into this production.

Meghan Hohman (Si Crowell, Ensemble) (she/her) is a senior musical theater major. She previously appeared on the Festival stage as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. She would like to thank the production team, cast, and crew for their incredible hard work and hopes you enjoy the show!

Atlas Kessinger (Joe Stoddard, Farmer McCarty) (they/them) is a senior musical theatre major from Fort Worth, Texas. Previous roles include Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Kelly in Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras. Thank you to family and friends for being so supportive and the faculty for an amazing four years.

Emma Massey (Rebecca Gibbs) (she/her) is a senior acting major from Midland, Michigan. Previous Wright State credits include By the Bog of Cats (Hester Swane), Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras (Bee and Ensemble) and Arcadia (u/s Thomasina). She gives thanks to the Wright State faculty and to her family. 

Eamon Mitchel (Simon Stimson) is a senior musical theatre major, a native Californian, and a true Star Wars enthusiast. Eamon is thrilled to be performing in Wright State’s production of Our Town and extremely grateful to be working with such a talented cast. He knows you will enjoy this show!

Amirah Muse (Woman Among the Dead, Ensemble, Mrs. Soames [u/s]) is a junior musical theatre major from Dayton. Previous roles include Sister Act (Deloris), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), Penumbra (Tattoo Artist), and Once on This Island (Storyteller). A huge thank you to her family, friends, and talented company. She hopes you enjoy the show!

James Newton (Dr. Gibbs) (he/him) is grateful to be a part of Our Town! A senior musical theatre major, his credits include he 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfée), Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras (Shinn), The Gondoliers (Ensemble), and Sister Act (Ensemble). Many thanks to the cast and team for their work, and family and friends for their support. Enjoy the show!

Gavin O'Meara (Howie Newson, Simon Stimson [u/s]): (they/he) is so excited to be stepping on the Festival stage! Gavin is a junior musical theater major, and his previous Wright State credits include A Doll's House (Krogstad [u/s]), Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras (Copper), and Arcadia (Noakes u/s). Gavin sends a huge thank you to all of their teachers, friends, and family for all of their support. Enjoy Our Town!

Elisa Pacheco (Mrs. Gibbs) (she/her) is excited to be performing in her first play at Wright State. She is a junior acting major who would like to thank her mom and dad for drilling into her to always finish what you start no matter how difficult things may get.

Anna Parsons (Mrs. Webb) is elated to be a part of her third Wright State Main Stage production! Anna is a junior acting major. Some of her recent credits at Wright State include Little Women (Marmee), By the Bog of Cats (Mrs. Kilbride [u/s]), and The Liar (Dorante [u/s]). She would like to thank Marya, Phoenix, the cast, and the crew for an amazing experience! She hopes you enjoy Our Town.

Paige Purcell (Professor Willard, Ensemble) (they/them) is a junior acting major last seen in On The Town (Ensemble, Madame Dilly [u/s]). They are thrilled to be returning to the Festival stage and would like to thank their friends and family for their undying support and love.

Shay Roth (Mrs. Soames, Mrs. Webb [u/s]) is a senior acting major at Wright State. Previous roles include a Cobra in Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras, and Mrs. Kilbride in By the Bog of Cats. Now you can see her as Mrs. Soames in Our Town! Shout out to her parents for being so supportive and her faculty for getting her this far.

Alexis Wentworth (Sam Craig, Ensemble) (she/her) is a senior acting major. Previously she was Nora Helmer in A Doll’s House Part 2, Juror #5 in Twelve Angry Men, and director of Dog Sees God. Alexis is very thrilled to be a part of this wonderful story alongside her amazing cast and crew. She sends a big thank -ou to her family, friends, and those always supporting her. Enjoy the show!
 

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Creative Team Bios

Mary Carlson (assistant stage manager) has stage managed Free Shakespeare in the Park productions of Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Love's Labour's Lost, and is honored to be invited to join her first stage management team that actually works indoors. She is grateful to the Wright State Theater Department faculty and staff, to a great cast, and a generous stage manager. Enjoy the show!

Marya Spring Cordes (director) has a career that is a blissful blend of teaching other theatre artists, directing, and performing. She is a 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 Tom Stoppard’s 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 Peerless; Now and Then (a filmed stage play); Gloria: A Life; Sylvia; Brighton Beach Memoirs; Managing Maxine; and Becky’s New Car. In October 2022, 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, for which she is a former co-chair of the board. She earned her M.F.A. from the John Wells School of Directing at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.

Natalie Cottrell (assistant director) (she/her) is a sophomore acting major from Delaware, Ohio. Natalie is so excited and grateful to be a part of her first production at Wright State and would like to thank her parents, little brothers, her boyfriend, and Marya Spring Cordes for believing in her and giving her this opportunity!

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.

Gillian Jenkins (assistant stage manager) (she/they) is a freshman from Hilliard. Previous positions include stage manager on Miss Nelson Is Missing, lighting designer on A Christmas Carol, pit orchestra sound design on Mary Poppins and Chicago, and assistant technical director on The Phantom Tollbooth.

Callie Lippincott (set designer) (she/her) is a junior scenic design major. This is her first time in the scenic design position. You might have seen her previous works as a scenic artist on Cabaret or By the Bog of Cats. She hopes you enjoy Our Town!

Phoenix Perry (stage manager) is a junior stage management student. Her previous stage management credits include Kelly the Destroyer vs. the Springfield Cobras and A Doll’s House, Part Two. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Victoria “Ori” Rancor (costume designer) (they/them) is a Wright State graduate and is overjoyed to be designing for the program again. Their previous works within the program include If/Then, Peter and the Starcatcher, and The Wolves. They have been working in the local theatre scene since graduating in 2021

Deorah Thomas (dialect coach) has served as voice, speech, and dialect coach for the theatre department’s productions since Fall Semester 2008 and has served as production vocal coach for The Human Race Theatre Company. Deborah has acted Off-Broadway and in regional theatre, at Westside Repertory, The Mint Theatre, The Pearl Theatre Company, The Huntington Theatre Company, Lyric Stage, The New Boston Theatre and The Open Door Theatre in roles that included Rosalind in As You Like It, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Raina in Arms and the Man, Marianne in The Miser and the title role in Antigone.

Zach Wuest (electrician) is a senior lighting major who has worked on Kelly the Destroyer and A Doll’s House, Parts 1 and  2 as lighting designer, The Liar as production electrician, and lighting designer for many of the pieces for the Wright State dance program. He was also the lighting designer for Dayton Playhouse’s production of Is There Life After Highs School? He hopes you enjoy his first main stage design at Wright State!
 

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