SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

Casey Sams (Director) Casey is a Professor and Associate Department Head for UT Theatre and a member of the Clarence Brown Company. She has directed and/or choreographed 30+ productions for the CBT, including Failure: A Love Story, Peter and the Starcatcher, A Year with Frog and Toad, The Who’s Tommy, and The Moors. Regional credits include The Guthrie Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Roundhouse Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, PlayMakers Repertory, Vermont Stage, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and North Carolina Stage, among others. Her Undergraduate and Graduate degrees are both from Penn State, she is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, and is an Education Advocate with Theatrical Intimacy Educators.

Sophie Smrcka (Scenic Designer) is proud to return to the Clarence Brown Theatre following her graduation in May of 2025 with a Masters Degree in Scenic and Digital Media Design. Previously her designs have been seen on the CBT stage as the Scenic Designer for The Play That Goes Wrong and the Media and Puppet Designer for Inherit the Wind. Most recently her work was seen in Wizard of Oz Jr. at Theatre J in Washington DC. More of her work can be found at smrckadesigns.com or on Instagram @smrckadesigns. Enjoy the show!

Tori Niemiec (Costume Designer) Originally from Arizona, Tori is a second-year Costume Designer in the MFA program. They have previously designed such shows as How to Defend Yourself (Clarence Brown Theatre), A Midsummers Night Dream (DC Shakespeare in the Park), Dance^2 (In Partnership with the University of Maryland), The Waffle House Musical (Andy’s Summer Playhouse) in addition to assisting at The Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Signature Theatre VA, Disney Theatrical Cruise line and most recently at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Dylan Tillery (Lighting Designer) Dylan is a second-year Lighting Design MFA candidate here at the University of Tennessee. This will be his first design at the Clarence Brown Theatre, and his second design at the University of Tennessee. He received his BFA in Lighting Design and Technology from the University of West Florida in 2024. Recently, he has designed with River & Rail Theatre, the Bijou Theatre, and Cortland Repertory Theatre.

Elisabeth Dupuy (Sound Designer) Elisabeth is a second-year Sound and Media MFA student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She graduated with a B.A. in Theater from George Mason University. Recent credits include: Finn: The Musical Monumental Theater, A Christmas Carol UTK, How to Defend Yourself UTK, Beautiful Indifference Capitol Fringe Festival, Antigone, Presented by the Girls of St. Catherines GMU SoT, and The Road to the End Capitol Fringe Festival. IG: @lis.ekd

Anne Schilling (Voice and Text Director) Anne is a voice, speech, dialect, and text coach based in Dallas, TX. For the past decade she has served as resident vocal coach at the Dallas Theater Center and has coached for many theatres in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, including Undermain, Kitchen Dog, Second Thought, Jubilee, and WaterTower. National credits include La MaMa Experimental Theatre (NYC), East West Players, and Native Voices at the Autry (Los Angeles), among others. Internationally, she has coached and taught in Singapore, England, Ireland, South Africa, and Canada. Anne holds a Master’s degree with Distinction from London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and is Associate Professor of Voice and Speech at Southern Methodist University. She is an Alba Method Master Teacher, an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework, and a member of AEA and VASTA. A Bearden High School alum, Anne is especially delighted to return to Knoxville for this production.

Emily Pope (Dramaturg) Emily is a dramaturg, writer, and director based in Knoxville, TN. She is the Administrative Specialist for the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee. She studied producing, dramaturgy, and playwriting during her undergraduate career here at UT, where she wrote and produced a play, Callaway, for her senior thesis. She is currently finishing a Masters in Management at the Haslam College of Business. This is Emily’s second dramaturgy credit with the Clarence Brown Theatre, and she is so honored to be part of such a great team.

Rachel Winenger (Stage Manager) Rachel is thrilled to be Stage Managing the Clarence Brown Theatre’s 2025-2026 season opener of Sense and Sensibility! She is currently finishing her last semester of pursuing a BA in Theatre at the University of Tennessee after completing an Associates of Arts degree at Pellissippi State. Some of her favorite shows she’s been a part of include the recent production of Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Great River Shakespeare Festival, and numerous productions at the Clarence Brown, such as Play That Goes Wrong (ASM), Knoxville (ASM), and Kinky Boots (Props). She is so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful and supportive theatre community.

Kenneth Martin (Department Head, Artistic Director) Ken comes from the University of Missouri, at Kansas City, where he was the Patricia Mcllrath Endowed Professor and Chair of the Theatre Division. His career in academia also included nearly 18 years serving as chair of the theater departments across the USA. Ken is also a scenic designer and member of United Scenic Artists, his designs have been seen at theatres across the country including Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, The New Theatre, Ohio Light Opera, Cleveland Ensemble Theatre, Ocean State Theatre and many others. He has also designed shows for many colleges and universities including Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Coastal Carolina University, Cuyahoga Community College, and The Ohio State University. Martin has actively served his profession as a respondent for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, as a consultant for several regional theaters and through active participation in organizations like the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Educational Theatre Association and the Southeastern Theatre Conference.

Tom Cervone (Managing Director) Tom is grateful and honored to serve the Clarence Brown Theatre as Managing Director. Cervone has also served as executive director for both Dogwood Arts and the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, but the CBT/UTK Theatre Department is Tom’s administrative and artistic home. Cervone is a long-time board member of the WordPlayers and continues to evangelize on behalf of the art and culture community locally and nationally. Tom received the Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Service to the University in 2010. Cervone holds his undergraduate degree in Theatre from West Liberty University in West Virginia and a Master of Fine Arts and an MBA from UT. He is a graduate of and was selected as the Class Representative of the Leadership Knoxville class of 2011. Cervone was inducted into his undergraduate alma mater’s class of 2015 Wall of Honor and was appointed by the Governor of WV in 2021 to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of WLU.

Susan L. McMillan (Production Manager) is in her twelfth year as Production Manager at the CBT and UT Department of Theatre. In addition, she teaches Stage Management. Prior, Susan was the Production Manager and Stage Management Instructor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, for 6 years. Susan is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, and was a Stage Manager at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 18 years. Additionally, she has stage managed at the Guthrie Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage, PCPA, Rogue Valley Opera, Portland Civic Theatre, and has toured to the Kennedy Center. Through science (B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Biology from Oregon State University) and music (cellist), Susan found her way into theatre (Minor in Theatre from OSU). She is incredibly grateful for all the opportunities and adventures along the way, inspirational mentors, artistic and talented colleagues, amazing students, and the love and support of her family and friends. And very grateful for Molly – woof! This season is fully dedicated to her beloved, beautiful, and deeply missed mother, Grace – a shining light forever.

David Brian Alley (Sir John Middleton / Gossip) David kicks off the 2025-2026 CBT Season appearing in his 64th CBT production. He most recently appeared as Dennis/Perkins in The Play That Goes Wrong. Favorite CBT roles include Ed in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime; James Reiss in King Charles III; Crumpet the Elf in Santaland Diaries; Smee in Peter and the Starcatcher; Clown 1 in The 39 Steps; Ludie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful; and Charlie in Stones in His Pockets to name a few. David also appeared in last year’s premiere of Angel of Light, a feature film shot entirely in Knoxville. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. David is married to his beautiful wife, Jill, and plays dad to his favorite “productions” of all-time, Devin and Caroline, and stepdad to the fabulous Abby and Ethan Flowers! davidbrianalley.com

Lilliana Bond (Fanny (Ferrars) Dashwood / Gossip) Lilliana is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, majoring in Public Relations. This marks her onstage debut at the Clarence Brown Theatre, where she previously worked backstage on Inherit the Wind and The Play That Goes Wrong. Lilliana is grateful for the opportunity to perform alongside such a talented cast and to be part of this production.

Ace Buckner (Margaret Dashwood / Gossip) Ace is super excited to join the cast of Sense and Sensibility for her first ever show! IG: @ace_buckner

Gabriela “Gabi” Bulka (Mrs. Jennings / Gossip) Originally from Krakow, Poland, Gabriela is stepping into the final year of MFA Acting program at UT. She is an alumna of the Two-Year Conservatory at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, the Ballet School of Krakow, and also holds a degree in Intellectual Property Law. Recent CBT credits include The Play That Goes Wrong (Sandra), A Christmas Carol (Ghost of Christmas Past), and Cry It Out (Jessie), as well as The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Speed, Pantino, Thurio) in a UTK-Great River Shakespeare Festival co-production. She has also been involved in new play development as a director of movement and producer with RJ Theatre Company in New York. @ga_bulka

James Burnett (Thomas / Gossip) James is very excited to be a part of the Sense and Sensibility cast. He was recently in Inherit the Wind, and has crewed many shows at the Clarence Brown Theatre. He is currently studying for a BA in Acting at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Outside of his work at the Clarence Brown, he participates in All Campus Theatre, and hangs out with his dog, Apollo. He would like to thank everyone who has supported him in his theatre endeavors, and especially the UT theatre community, for their encouragement since he arrived on campus.

Yashashvi Choudhary (Lucy Steele / Lady Middleton / Gossip) is an MFA Acting student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She comes from the capital of her country New Delhi, India where she received her B.A. (honours) in English Literature from the University of Delhi. She is a trained Belly dancer and a Black Belt in Taekwondo. Recent credits include: The Play That Goes Wrong (Joanna / Charles Haversham), A Christmas Carol ( Mrs. Cratchit), and Cry It Out (Adrienne) .

Clay Cooper (Edward Ferrars / Gossip) is so excited to be back on the CBT stage for Sense and Sensibility! You might have seen Clay recently in the CBT production of Inherit the Wind as Bert Cates or as Bob Crachet in A Christmas Carol. He holds a B.A in Theatre Education from Appalachian State University and previous stage credits include: Bright Star! (Jimmy Ray), The Moors (The Mastiff) and The {W}right Sister (Oriville Wright). In his free time he enjoys hiking, cooking and serenading his dog Sophie on guitar. To see what he is working on next follow his instagram @claycooper11

Keith Allen Davis, Jr. (U/S John Willoughby / Gossip) is a first-year MFA Acting student at UTK. He is an actor, writer, musician, and director from Meridian, Miss. He recently received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts at Alabama State University. During his time at ASU, he has been cast in and worked on productions such as Dreamgirls, The Wiz, Tracks, Slammin II, and Blues for An Alabama Sky. He has also written for and co-directed Montgomery, Alabamas performance for the worldwide festival of The Walk (Little Amal) in 2023. Since graduating, he was cast as Tim Allgood in Noises Off and Professor Bhaer/Knight in Little Women at New Stage Theatre. Follow his music and acting pages on Instagram, @thebabyboykeith and @ keithallendavisjr !

Denzel Dejournette (John Willoughby / Gossip) A man living out his wildest dreams through storytelling www.denzeldejournette.com

Gabrielle Fernandes (U/S Mrs. Dashwood / Lucy Steele / Lady Middleton / Mrs. Ferrars / Gossip) Gabrielle is a first year MFA Acting candidate at UTK and is excited to be joining the Clarence Brown Theatre Company. Recent theatre credits: Katherine (Taming of the Shrew), Anne (The East), Hero (Much Ado About Nothing), Jeanne (Daughters with Daggers). TV & Film: Haunted by My Stalker (Lifetime Movie Network), Daydream (short film – Lifetime Movie Network).

Bryce Hagen (U/S Edward Ferrars / Gossip) Bryce is a new member of the UTK MFA Acting program, and is excited and humbled to be a part of Sense and Sensibility. Previous regional credits: Hippodrome State Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre. Bryce received his BFA in Acting from the University of Florida. Love to family and friends.

Anquanizia Hall (U/S Elinor Dashwood) is a native of Meridian, MS. She is an award-winning director, actor, writer, and singer. She is the owner and CEO of Rosebud Productions, LLC based in MS. Hall attended college in Los Angeles at AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts where she graduated with honors and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. You can find Hall in projects on Amazon Prime and Tubi. Her first supporting role in a film was acting alongside GRAMMY winner, Cedric Burnside. Hall has been seen onstage as Camae in The Mountaintop at New Stage Theatre, Chicken & Biscuits, A Raisin in the Sun, and more. Hall is elated to be a part of The Clarence Brown Theatre for the next three years as an MFA Acting student. Special thank you to Katie, Emily, and 2026 MFA Acting grad students for their support and encouragement! (Matthew 6:33) IG: @anquanizia

Mia Inez Hayes (Mrs. Dashwood / Mrs. Ferrars) is in her last year at the University of Tennessee and is excited to kick it off with such a fantastic show! As a double major in English Literature and Theatre, she feels at home settling into Austen. Her previous work with the CBT includes A Christmas Carol (Fan ’23/Mercy Miggot ’24), Inherit the Wind (Ensemble), The Play that Goes Wrong (U/S Joanna), and Kinky Boots (Pat). She would like to thank her family, her friends, and her professor, Dr. Julia McLeod, for the wealth of Austen knowledge that her class provided. IG: @mia.inez012

Develyn Jayan (Marianne Dashwood) is a third-year MFA acting student here at UTK. She was previously seen on the Clarence Brown stage in Inherit the Wind (2025), A Christmas Carol (2024 & 23), Cry it Out (Lab- 2024) and The Giver (2024). After a summer at Great River Summer Shakespeare Festival, she is excited to come back home as Marianne. Develyn is an Indian classical dancer, a yogi and a martial artist. And when she is not any of those, she is a seamstress and a painter.

Robert Parker Jenkins (John Dashwood / Gossip) is immensely grateful to be back on the CBT mainstage with new and old collaborators alike! Select regional credits: (Street Theatre Company) Dr. Buttridge/King of Hearts, Alice by Heart. (River & Rail Theatre) Harry Burn, The Burn Vote; Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood, It’s a Wonderful Life; Roy/Pete/Mark/Bobby Jeremy, Fun Home; Leo Irving, In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play. (Clarence Brown Theatre) Berger, Hair; Cootsey/Nick, King Charles III; Ted, Peter and the Starcatcher; Leroy Evans/Radio Singer, Violet. His sincerest thanks to Casey for another opportunity to collaborate (number five!) and to the cast, crew, and creative team for their excellence and care in bringing this production to life.

Kat Lee (U/S Marianne Dashwood / Betsy / Gossip) Credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival: Celia in As You Like It, Third Weird Sister in Macbeth, Margaret Leavitt in Silent Sky, Mrs. Weston in Jane Austen’s Emma The Musical, Narrator in Every Brilliant Thing Educational Tour. Other Theatres: Martha Cratchit in A Christmas Carol at Denver Center, Yvette in Clue at Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Ida Green in Into The Breeches at Lyric Repertory Theatre, Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls at Short North Stage, Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia! at Weathervane Playhouse. Awards: Michael and Jan Finlayson Actor Award 2023 (Utah Shakespeare Festival) Kat earned her BFA in Musical Theatre at Otterbein University in 2019. Learn more at iamkatlee.com or Instagram: @katlee.jpg

Jacob Leon (Robert Ferrars / Doctor / Gossip) Jacob is in his last year studying Theatre at UT, and he’s happy at the chance to finally have a reason to read Jane Austen. Previous CBT credits include The Play that Goes Wrong, A Christmas Carol, and The Giver.

McKinley Merritt (Elinor Dashwood) McKinley, a UT theatre alumni and Nashville native, is thrilled to join the cast of Sense and Sensibility after returning to the Clarence Brown stage in Trouble in Mind and Hair during the 2022-23 season! Her favorite roles include Victoria in the new musical, Knoxville, Lauren in Kinky Boots, the ensembles of Kiss Me, Kate, Monty Python’s Spamalot, and Sweeney Todd, as well as Logainne in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, all at the Clarence Brown Theatre. You can often find McKinley interning at a cappella conventions, singing with her 90s cover band, Teen Spirit, and probably laughing too hard at something really silly. Stay healthy, be safe, and, most importantly, enjoy this beautiful show!

Megan O’Neal (Betsy/ Gossip/ U/S Margaret Dashwood / Anne Steel / Gossip) is beyond excited and grateful to be making her acting debut here at the Clarence Brown Theatre! She is currently in her second and final year at UT with a major in Theatre Design & Technology and a minor in Design Studies. Previous credits include Inherit the Wind (CBT, deck crew), How to Defend Yourself (CBT, deck crew) and Hamlet/Love’s Labor’s Lost (Tennessee Stage Company, Production Assistant/Wardrobe). She would like to thank her amazing friends and family for their endless love and support, and her twin sister, Emily, for sharing in their childhood love of using a British accent. She hopes you enjoy the show as much as she has enjoyed being a part of it!

Sammy Pontello (Colonel Brandon / Gossip) Sammy is an actor, voice and dialect coach, and teaching artist based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Currently pursuing their MFA in Acting at the University of Tennessee, they’ve worked regionally with Florida Studio Theatre, Orlando Shakes, Great River Shakespeare Festival, Texas Shakespeare Festival, and the Clarence Brown Theatre. Favorite previous roles include: Chris, The Play That Goes Wrong; Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol; Man #1, U/S James Agee, Knoxville (CBT); Beadle Bamford, Sweeney Todd (TSF). IG: @sjpactor | sammypontello.com

Izaiah Ramirez (U/S Colonel Brandon / Robert Ferrars / Doctor / Gossip)Izaiah Ramirez is a first-year MFA acting student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He earned his BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts. Izaiah is thrilled and grateful to be a part of the UTK program and work with the Clarence Brown Theatre, where he is currently understudying for the roles of Colonel Brandon, Robert Ferrars, and the Doctor in Sense and Sensibility. His previous work includes a variety of roles in both classical and contemporary theatre, including standout performances as Othello in The Tragedy of Othello and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. Most recently, Izaiah collaborated with Milwaukee’s Caper Company in their innovative approach to found theatre, creating work that intersects historical narratives with immersive artistic expression. One such project was Spirits of Silent City, a site-specific performance at Forest Home Cemetery that honored the lives of a historical figures of Milwaukee through a combination of performance and storytelling. Izaiah is eager to continue his artistic journey at UTK, building upon his previous experiences while embracing new challenges and opportunities

Thomas Nash Tetterton (U/S Sir John Middleton / Thomas) Select Regional Credits: Hamlet; Much Ado About Nothing (PlayMakers’ Rep), The Caine Mutiny Court Martial (Judson Theatre Co.), The Rainmaker; Silent Sky, The Life of Galileo (Burning Coal), Romeo & Juliet; Cymbeline (VA Shakes), Love’s Labour’s Lost; A Christmas Carol (Annapolis Shakes), Richard III (Sweet Tea Shakes), Inherit the Wind (Compass Rose Theater). TV & Film: Die Hart (Roku.com), Have A Nice Life (avail. on Amazon). BFA Acting from Shenandoah Conservatory. Current MFA Acting candidate. He sends his love to Galen and their two dogs – Offal & Guapo. www.tntetterton.com. @tetteroni

Elise Thayn (U/S Fanny (Ferrars) Dashwood / Mrs. Jennings / Gossip) is a first-year Acting MFA candidate and is thrilled to be joining the CBT company. She hails from the desert mountains of Utah, where she earned her BFA from Southern Utah University. Elise has spent several seasons as a performer and educator at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, teaching in sleepaway camps, touring residencies in rural communities, and youth detention centers. Onstage credits include Texas (Cabaret), Marianna/Ensemble (All’s Well That Ends Well), U/S Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), and U/S Anabella/Pamela/Margaret (The 39 Steps).

Grace VerStrate (Anne Steel / Gossip) is a Theatre Major at the University of Tennessee. This is her Clarence Brown debut, but she grew up in Hendersonville, NC, where she spent her time both learning and assisting at the North Carolina State Theater, The Flat Rock Playhouse. Grace was professionally trained in dance at Pat’s School of Dance for 16 years. This led her to perform for Carnival Cruise lines, as well as at Disney World and Universal Studios. In the future she hopes to complete an apprenticeship, furthering her dream to pursue a Musical Theatre Career.