Cast List

In alphabetical order

Production

There will be a 15-minute intermission.

Any taping, filming, recording or broadcast of this play is strictly prohibited. Please turn off all phones and other electronic devices as a courtesy to other patrons and to the actors.

Artist Bios

Camron Alexander (Gordon Lowther) is a junior BFA actor. Recent credits include performing at the Houston Shakespeare Festival in Macbeth (Lennox), Merchant of Venice (Arragon), and The Miser (La Flèche). When he finds spare time, Camron aspires to be one of the "creme de la creme!"

Mischa Aravena (Teddy Lloyd) is a first year MFA actor. Mischa is a Chilean born actor/singer who has lived in Canada since the age of 5. Mischa has studied at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Academy in their Shakespeare classes as well as The Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People in Toronto. He holds a BFA acting degree from the University of Windsor. He wrote, produced and starred in a short play entitled Will Act for Food about legendary B actor Bruce Campbell. Other credits include: Ken in John Logan’s RED, Juan Peron in Evita, Alfred in The Maple Leaves (Stratford), Gerardo in Death and the Maiden (NorteSur), Jamie in The Last Five Years (PPS), Dr. Frankenstein in Frankenstein (OP), MacDuff in Macbeth, (Hart House Theatre), Robert in Harold Pinter’s Betrayal (NorteSur), Anthony in Sweeney Todd (CCP), Dominic in Amy’s View (BOTG) and Howard in Picnic.

Kat Cordes (Jean Brodie/Fight Captain) is a second year MFA actor. She received her BFA from the University of Wyoming, and was seen this summer as Witch 2 in Houston Shakespeare Festival. Other credits include Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Emily Webb (Our Town), Goneril (King Lear), Hero (Much Ado About Nothing), and Grace (Bus Stop). 

Elissa Cuellar (ensemble) is a freshman BFA actor. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie will be Elissa's premiere performance at UH. Some of her favorite roles include: Dr. Katherine Brandt in 33 Variations, and A Mexican Woman in A Streetcar Named Desire. In her free time Elissa can often be found reading or dancing, or doing both at the same time.

Ariella Hauser (Ensemble) is a junior BFA actor. UH credits include Maxine in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Favorite past credits include the Alley’s As You Like It, Radium Girls and The Merry Wives of Windsor. In her free time she enjoys paddle boarding, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Heidi Hinkel (Miss Mackay) is first year MFA actor. She is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and holds a BA in both Theater and Journalism from Penn State University. Favorite roles include Ono in Swiss Family Robinson (NY Musical Theatre Festival), Digital Dilemmas (Theatre for the New City, NYC), Logainne SchwartzandGrubenniere in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Penn State), and 2050: An Original Musical (UN, Switzerland). 

Leah Hunt (Ensemble) is a sophomore BFA theatre education major. This is her UH debut. She was most recently seen in the Honors College Center for Creative Work’s Dionysia 2015, The City at War, as Sappho. Other favorite credits include: Legally Blonde, Bright Ideas, Godspell, and Almost, Maine. When not working, Leah is an RA in one of the residence halls on campus and is active in the Honors College and Reformed University Fellowship.

Laura Moreno (Sister Helena) is a senior BFA actor. Previous credits include: Oklahoma!, The Grapes of Wrath, The History of Tom Jones, Antigone, A Chorus Line, You Can’t Take It With You, Agamemnon, Holy Rollers, The Snow Queen and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. She was most recently seen as Karen in the world premiere of The End of Side A and La Llorona in the UH SOTD traveling production of ¡Bocón!. Prior to UH, Ms. Moreno spent several years working in the cosmetics and fashion industry in New York City, and is a professional makeup artist. She is also the President of the UH chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, a national theatre honor society.

Ronden Perrin (Sandy/Fight Captain) is a senior BFA actor. She has been involved in numerous productions in the Houston area, most recently in University of Tamarie at Catastrophic Theatre. Previous UH credits include: Elma in Bus Stop, Nelly in The Playboy of the Western World, Robber Girl in The Snow Queen, and Woman 1 in Ripley.

Autumn Simpson (Mary MacGregor) is a senior BFA Theatre Education major, and a Psychology minor. She has worked at the Rose Theater as a theatre education intern, and at the Alley Theatre as an education and community engagement intern. Autumn has assistant directed for the university’s productions of Our Country’s Good and Bus Stop, and has played the roles of Sara Tansey in The Playboy of the Western World, Dinah in The Philadelphia Story, and Joanne in Serious Money.

Skyler Sinclair (Jenny) is a senior BFA Actress. University of Houston credits include: The Snow Queen, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and the world premiere of Ripley. Professional credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stark Naked) as Hermia, Peace in Our Time (Main Street Theatre) as Gladys Mott, and the world premiere of The University of Tamarie (Catastrophic Theatre).

Catherine Thomas (Ensemble) is a freshman BFA actor. This is her first show at UH. She appeared in Texarkana Repertory Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, and also as Laura in The Glass Menagerie. Thomas attended the American Shakespeare Center Theatre Camp twice where she performed Richard in King Richard II and Ariel in The Tempest. In her free time, she is teaching herself to play her lute-shaped Ukulele named Montfleury.

Spencer Cranford Tolleson (Mr. Perry) is a junior BFA actor. Last year Spencer was given the opportunity to work outside of the school both semesters being cast in the Alley’s production of As You Like It and Main Street Theatre’s Peace in Our Time. This is Spencer’s first UH production since The Philadelphia Story.

Coralee Young (Monica) is a junior BFA actor. Previous credits include The Playboy of the Western World, Beth in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Susan Lawrence in Big the Musical, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and Elvira in Blithe Spirit. She enjoys traveling, dancing, and being with friends and family.

Jim Johnson* (Director) is the Director of the School of Theatre & Dance, where he is a tenured Associate Professor of Voice and Dialects. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Houston Shakespeare Festival – which celebrated its 42^nd season this summer. He works professionally as an actor, as well as a voice and dialect coach. He is a founder of www.AccentHelp.com. Jim is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and an Associate Editor for the International Dialects of English Archive. He formerly served on the faculty of The Theatre School of DePaul University and taught at the Audition Studio in Chicago, Illinois. He is currently represented by Pastorini-Bosby Talent Agency and is a member of Actor’s Equity.

Sarah DeVito (Assistant Director) is a senior BFA Theatre Education major. Last year, she assistant directed The Playboy of The Western World. Previous UH acting credits include: Daffodil in The Snow Queen, Molly in Matters of the Heart and Kelly in To: Charlie. Sarah will graduate in May as part of the first class of Theatre Education majors at the University of Houston. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her cat and her best friend’s dog.

Cody Hoeppner (Costume Designer) is a senior BFA production major with a focus in costume technology. He has served as the assistant costume designer for Peace in Our Time, The Philadelphia Story, and The Lotus Gun, and has coordinated the costumes for the 10 Minute Play Festival for the past two years. He has also served as the Makeup Supervisor at Moore’s School of Music. After graduation, Cody plans to move to Los Angeles to pursue work in costume technology.

Jonathan Middents (Lighting Designer) has been the Production Manager and a designer at the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance since 1983, and is head of the School’s Production Area.  He has worked on over 340 productions at a variety of theatres and has consulted on the design or renovation of ten theatres. His recent design work includes sets for the Houston Shakespeare Festival 2013 productions of As You Like It and Antony and Cleopatra, lighting for the 2014 HSF productions of Henry IV Part 1 and Two Gentlemen of Verona, sound for The Philadelphia Story, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Liar, and the 10-Minute Play Festival, all at UH, and scenery and lighting for Little Shop of Horrors at University of Houston-Downtown. A Rice University graduate, Jon received his MFA from Florida State University and has served previously as Designer/Technical Director at University of Texas at Austin, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and Indiana State University.

Trent Lira (Sound Designer) is a junior BFA production major.

Celeste Taggart (Props Master) is a junior BFA production major. Her most recent work was her role in  Shrek: The Musical at the Magik Children’s Theater in San Antonio where she played Tweedle Dum.  Miss Taggart previously had the opportunity to design and perform in her High School production of James and the Giant Peach. In her free time, Celeste loves to paint, read and watch movies.

Amanda Reimer (Stage Manager) is a junior BFA stage manager. She has just returned to Houston from her summer long internship at the Virginia Shakespeare Festival serving as their administrative assistant. Other UH productions that she’s worked on include Bocón!, The Liar, The Ten Minute Play Festival (2014), and Brick Wall. When not helping with productions, taking classes, or working, she enjoys writing and talking in third-person.

Ryan Barrett (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior BFA Stage Manager. Previous credits include: Assistant Stage Manager for the 10 Minute-Play Festival at UH last year. This fall, he will be joining the Ensemble Theatre as their Assistant Stage Manager for Stepp Stewart’s A Soulful Christmas. When not involved in theatre, Ryan enjoys reading, writing, singing, and performing in various places around Houston.

Rachael Halicki (Dramaturg) is a senior BFA playwriting/dramaturgy major. This is the first show where she has been the lead dramaturg and has previously assistant dramaturged The Miser, The Playboy of the Western World, and The Philadelphia Story and has been seen on the UH stage in Serious Money as Jill/Waitress and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as Gladys. Her works I’ll Be Fine (workshopped with Mark Medoff) and Matters of the Heart (workshopped with Theresa Rebeck) have been performed on the UH stage.

Caitlin Turnage (Assistant Dramaturg) is a junior BFA playwright and dramaturg. Her play It’s a Fine Day for a Picnic was included last year’s in the 10 Minute Play Festival. She has work-shopped her play Split House with professor Mark Medoff, and her play Virging with a student team here at UH. 

* Proud member of the AEA

Faculty | Staff | Crew

Facutly

Adjunt Facult

Shelly Calene-Black
Elizabeth Bunch
Lauren Cohen
Ruddy Cravens
Jeanne Doornbos
Jon L. Egging
Chris Hutchison
Geni Lanfear
Jacqueline Anne Nalett
Firat Kazbek Ozsoy
Leslie Scates
Jennifer Sommers
Jon R. Stonks
Sophia L. Torres
Toni Valle
Lisa Villegas
Courtney Young

Professional Staff

Production Team

About SOTD

The UH School of Theatre & Dance produces pre-professional plays, dance concerts, studio productions, and Theatre for Young Audiences. Performances are delivered in in the Wortham and Quintero Theatres. The UH School of Theatre & Dance offers bachelor’s degrees in playwriting and dramaturgy, acting, design and technology, stage management and theatre education. Its graduate programs consist of a Master of Arts in theatre studies, a summer Master of Arts in theatre education, and Master of Fine Arts degrees in acting, and design and technology. Noted alums include actors Jim Parsons, Dennis Quaid, Brett Cullen and Robert Wuhl. Faculty includes award-winning playwright, television writer, and novelist, Theresa Rebeck, Tony Award-winning producer Stuart Ostrow and Tony-nominated designer Kevin Rigdon. Past-distinguished faculty are Edward Albee, Lanford Wilson, Sir Peter Hall, Jose Quintero, Patsy Swayze and Cecil Pickett. In 2012 and 2013, the school was named “Best College Theater” in the Houston Press Theater Awards. For details on UH's School of Theatre & Dance, visit www.theatredance.uh.edu.