The Moors

Casey Sams (Director) Casey teaches movement for actors, musical theatre, and serves as the Associate Chair for the Theatre department. She regularly directs and choreographs for the CBT, and has served as Intimacy Choreographer for the CBT, River and Rail Theatre Company, First Take Productions, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. She has had the great good fortune to work as a choreographer or director at such theaters as Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, PlayMakers Repertory Theatre, The Roundhouse Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Vermont Stage, The Utah Shakespearian Festival, Great River Shakespeare Festival, North Carolina Stage, and Knoxville Opera, among others. Her Undergraduate and Graduate degrees are from Penn State, she is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst from the Laban / Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York, and she is a member of the inaugural class of Education Advocates with Theatrical Intimacy Educators.

Terry D. Alford (Musical Director) Terry is a Distinguished Lecturer in Theatre and teaches Musical Theatre Performance and Honor’s Introduction to the Theatre and Acting. Prior to joining the UT faculty Mr. Alford held the positions of Director of Musical Theatre at The University of Tulsa, and Director of Musical Theatre at The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. He has worked professionally as a performer, director, musical director, and composer at theaters across the country, including the California Theatre Center, Madison Repertory, Omaha Playhouse, Augusta Barn, Fireside Theatre, Light Opera of Oklahoma, and the Clarence Brown Theatre. Terry has directed or musically directed numerous productions and has created the scores for four original musicals and a variety of chamber and vocal music pieces. He is a member of the Clarence Brown Professional Company and regularly directs and musically directs for the Clarence Brown Theatre. Terry is the director of the CBT Summer Acting Workshop and serves as co-facilitator of Outreach and Education hosting Theatre Tours and Talk Backs.

Sopie Smrcka (Scenic and Projection Designer) was born and raised in Colorado, and graduated from the University of Denver in 2022, with B.A.s in Theatre and Communications. She is now an MFA candidate in Scenic Design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This will be Sophie’s second time designing in the Lab Theatre at the CBT. Previously, her work was seen in Men on Boats. Most recently her work was seen onstage in A Case for the Existence of God at River and Rail Theatre. More of her work can be found at @smrckadesigns on instagram. Enjoy the show!

Alex Heder (Costume Designer) Alex is a second-year graduate student from Northern Utah. He has a BFA in costuming from Utah State University, and also has a robust background in scenic and properties design. He designed the costumes for a film adaptation of Monteverdi’s opera L’incoronazione di Poppea and the world premiere of an original opera based on the book Uncovered by Leah Lax. The Moors is his fifth realized design. Outside of theatre Alex spends most of his time attending conventions, renaissance fairs, participating in buhurt armored combat, and crafting related things. He is a certified blacksmith and a leather artisan among other things and his work can be viewed at www.alexheder.com

Mitch Wilson (Lighting Designer) Mitch is the current Lighting Design MFA candidate for the UT Theatre department. This is his second production as lighting designer in the Lab theatre, and his 6th show over the past year. He has just started his third semester of graduate school, and will also be the lighting designer on The Giver next semester. He would like to thank his girlfriend Kiera and his family for their love and support.

Amoirie Perteet (Sound Designer and Composer) is originally from Chicago, Illinois and currently a second-year MFA candidate in Sound & Media Design. She graduated from UT in 2022 with a BA in Music Production & Business. Over the summer, she was the assistant sound designer for Romeo & Juliet at the American Players Theatre. Recent and future credits with the Clarence Brown Theatre include: Blood at the Root, Trouble in Mind, Hair, and Anon(ymous). She is excited that The Moors is her second ever sound design with the Clarence Brown Theatre. To keep up with her, you can find her on Instagram @amoirie. 

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

Charles R. Miller (Fight / Movement Director) is a Professor and the Director of Theatre at Pellissippi State. He was the co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Smoky Mountain Shakespeare Festival for eight years. He’s worked as an actor or director at the Clarence Brown Theatre, American Stage, Asolo Theater, Porthouse Theatre, and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. He’s worked as teacher, voice coach and fight choreographer for our MFA program and the Clarence Brown. He is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework®. He’s been recognized as an Actor/Combatant by the Society of American Fight Directors and has done the fight choreography for over two dozen shows. He holds an MFA from Southern Methodist University and a BFA from the University of Idaho.

Mayson Knipp (Stage Manager) is so excited to be doing her first show in the Lab Theatre. She is a junior at UT, and is getting a BA in Theatre. Previous credits at the Clarence Brown Theatre include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Deck Crew), Always…Patsy Cline (Assistant Stage Manager), Murder on the Orient Express (Assistant Stage Manager), and Hair (Assistant Stage Manager). She has also worked at the Darkhorse Theatre on Assassins (Assistant Stage Manager). She would like to thank Patrick Lanczki for being a wonderful mentor and teaching her how to be a successful stage manager. She would also like to thank her family for believing in her every step of the way. Finally, she would like to give a special thank you to her little sister, and best friend for pushing her to follow her passion for theatre.

Jackson Ahern (The Mastiff) Jackson is a junior in the Theatre program. His last role was Gaston in Tennessee Valley Players Beauty and the Beast. His last Clarence Brown appearance was as Chuck in She Kills Monsters. He is excited for what the future brings. He would like to thank his many mentors in life that have brought him to be who he is today.

Catherine Blevins (Agatha) Catherine is a senior at UT who transferred from Pellissippi State after earning an AFA in Performance. Catherine was most recently seen as Frank Goodman in CBT’s spring production of Men on Boats. Other recent credits include The Wolves (River and Rail), Love and Information, Sappho at the Edge of the Abyss, Popcorn at the Odessa, and The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (Pellissippi State), and Death of a Salesman (Theatre Knoxville Downtown).

Molly Brennan (Huldey) Molly is very excited to be in her first Clarence Brown Theatre production. She is an undergraduate Theatre major, and co- Vice President of the campus long-form improv team, ISP. She’d like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for supporting her. She’d also like to thank Jen Silverman, and the entire cast and crew for their beautiful work, support, and dedication to create such a thought-provoking show. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Mia Eller (Understudy / Marjory, Mallory) Mia is a freshman at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Theatre with an acting concentration, and she is beyond excited to be taking part in her first Clarence Brown Theatre production! She began acting in 2020, and past shows she’s enjoyed taking part in include Play On! (Polly), The Sound of Music (Sister Berthe), and Mamma Mia! (Rosie). She would like to extend her gratitude to director Casey Sams, who gave her the incredible opportunity to act in the Lab, and her family, who have never stopped encouraging her to pursue acting. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Jasmine R. Handy (Marjory / Mallory) Jasmine is thrilled and immensely thankful to be back in the Clarence Brown Lab Theatre. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she is seeking to complete her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre with an Acting Concentration. Her previous training includes attending the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and Kennesaw State University’s College of the Arts. This will be her fourth show at the University of Tennessee Department of Theatre. Previous CBT credits include Blood at the Root (Raylynn); Adaptive Radiation (Olivia); and Men on Boats (John Wesley Powell). She would like to extend special thanks to her loved ones for their unwavering support and Casey Sams for the wonderful opportunity.

McKenzie Jordan (Understudy / Emilie) McKenzie is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee. She is studying Theatre and Political Science. She is excited to be part of such a special show. She would like to thank her family and instructors for their constant support.

Abigail McCarter (The Moor-hen) Abigail is a student in the UT Theatre and Psychology Departments. She was last seen as Toria in Blood at the Root. While she acted throughout high school, this will be her second production with the Clarence Brown Theatre. She would like to thank Casey Sams for the amazing opportunity. She would also like to thank her parents, especially her mom, for supporting her through the late rehearsals and early mornings.

Jenna Mitchell (Understudy / The Moor-hen) is so incredibly excited to be a part of this wild and entrancing show. She is a double major at UT in Theatre (acting) and Art (2D). Jenna’s previous work with CBT includes wardrobe crew for Murder on The Orient Express and Assistant Stage Manager and Female Steve U/S for Adaptive Radiation. Jenna has been acting since the age of six and has loved getting to grow and develop with the theatre program here at UT. Enjoy the show!

Brooke Premo (Understudy / Agatha) Brooke is thrilled to be a part of The Moors! She has been in multiple productions including Donna (Mamma Mia!), Joanne (Rent), Ilse (Spring Awakening), and Dot (Sunday in the Park with George). Brooke would like to thank the talented cast and directors for making this an astonishing experience. Also, to her friends and family for their love and support.

Whitney Priest (Understudy / Huldey) Whitney is a sophomore at UT this year and is thrilled to be making her CBT debut in this year’s production of The Moors. She comes from the Appalachians but has had a wonderful time exploring the fog of the English Moors. Whitney has previously been involved in All Campus Theatre’s Musical Theatre Revue and is majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in Forensics. She would like to thank her mother for all of her endless support, and introduction into this beautiful world of theatre.

Wyatt Skillen (Understudy / The Mastiff) Wyatt is thrilled to understudy as a part of his first show with the Clarence Brown Theatre! He is currently a sophomore at UT as an Theatre major. Previously, Wyatt has been a part of ACT’s Twelfth Night and the annual Musical Theatre Revue. He would like to thank his family, friends, and all those close to him for supporting his aspirations.

Ella Trisler (Emilie) is a senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She studies Theatre, with a concentration in acting, and she is thrilled to be back on the Lab stage! Most recently, she played Hall in Men on Boats at the Lab Theatre. Some of her favorite roles so far include Mayella Ewell in To Kill A Mockingbird and Louisa Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. This summer, Ella studied acting for six weeks in New York City with NYU’s own Atlantic Acting School through their Summer Intensive.