She Kills Monsters Playbill

Rachael Allion
(Tilly) is thrilled to debut in her first-ever Clarence Brown Theatre production. Her most recent roles include: These Shining Lives as Catherine Donohue at PSCC, Blithe Spirit as Edith at Oak Ridge Playhouse, and Black Comedy as Carol Melkett at PSCC. Miss Allion is recommended certified in single sword and hand-to-hand stage combat. She has been a regional competitor in the National Shakespeare competition and has worked in LA perusing film acting. She has received her training from Charles Miller and Tony Cedeño and is currently learning from the talented professors at UTK. Rachael sends her love to friends and family for their continual support in her exploration of the arts.

Jackson Ahern
(Chuck) is a Freshman in the UTK Food Science program. She Kills Monsters will be his first Clarence Brown Theatre production. Jackson has been in love with theatre since he started competing in forensics while attending Austin-East Magnet high school. 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. 

Rachel Darden
(Agnes) Rachel is a third-year Acting Graduate student who has come to UTK from her home state of Colorado. After receiving her BA in Musical Theatre, she spent time in New York City before taking time off acting to explore such interests as yurt living, hitchhiking through New Zealand, and making pie. She spent the four years before grad school honing her craft in the Denver area and has been an active member in the Education Department at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Rachel is an avid puzzler and the proud aunt of two cats.

Xitlalli Dawson
(Kaliope/Kelly) is a DC native and Pre-Law sophomore at the University of Tennessee with a minor in Theatre. Past credits: The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty), Peter and the Starcatcher (Molly), She Kills Monsters (Vera), Chicago (Velma), Synetic Theatre’s La Vida es Sueño (Rosaura). She trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet and The Washington Ballet and selected for American Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker. A member of the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel, she performed in notable venues including The Kennedy Center. She is super excited to be part of this production and sends hugs to all supporting her through this journey.

Gwyneth Doppelt
(Lilith/Lilly) is a senior at the University of Tennessee, and is thrilled to be up on stage sharing stories once again. Over the last four years, she has had the privilege of being apart of several productions at Clarence Brown Theatre: The Flower Child in The Madwoman of Chaillot (’19), Fan in A Christmas Carol (’19), and Sydney in Black Flag (’20) — part of Clarence Brown’s virtual antiracism play festival. She would love to thank her family and friends for their continuous love and support, and her fellow cast and crew-mates for their relentless hard work and artistry.

Jordan Gatton-Bumpus
(Orcus/Ronnie) is a 4th-year Theatre undergrad at UTK, and is wildly excited to be performing in person for you again. His past CBT productions include Airness, Hamlet, A Christmas Carol, The Madwoman of Chaillot, and The Real Inspector Hound. You may have also seen him in The Wordplayers production of Bright Star and The Tennessee Stage Company’s Merry Wives of Windsor. He’d like to give a special thank you to Casey and the UTK Theatre Department for all the kindness and patience they’ve shown him over the last several years. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Michala Plato
(Puppeteer 1/Farrah) is excited to be in her first production at the Clarence Brown Theatre. Michala recently graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with her BA in Theatre with an Acting concentration. Recent credits include Sabrina in the original cast of Soft Animals (theatre), Ellie in Cut (student film), and Cassidy in Headaches and Heartbreaks (short film by David Gray Studios and directed by Glee’s Curt Mega). Michala would like to thank Casey Sams for this opportunity and her friends, family, and mentors for their overwhelming support. Psalms 9:1

Christine Sage
(Vera/Evil Gabbi/The Beholder) is honored to be back in the theatre with you all. At the CBT: Ruth in Blithe Spirit and Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol. She comes from Los Angeles, where she won an Ovation Award for her performance in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. She’d like to give a special thanks to Blake for making long stretch without theatre more fun.

Trevor Schmitt-Ernst
(Steve) Trevor is beyond thrilled to start his time at University of Tennessee with She Kills Monsters. Trevor is a freshman from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, who is majoring in Theatre. Trevor has been acting for the past decade, some of his favorite roles have been Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Creon in Antigone both with his high school. And Reverend Parris in the Crucible with First Stage’s Young Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trevor is a graduate of the award winning First Stage’s Young Company. Outside of theatre, Trevor loves sports and all things Wisconsin! He hopes you enjoy the show!

Zachariah Tkachyk
(Miles)  is an MFA Acting Graduate (’22). He hails from Montana, and received his BA in Musical Theatre from the University of Northern Colorado. His CBT credits included “Matt” alongside Levi Kreis in an untitled bio-play directed by Randy Redd, “Miles” in She Kills Monsters, “Osric” in Hamlet, and “Ebenezer” in A Christmas Carol. Some past regional theatre credits include: “Huck” in Big River (Lone Tree Arts Center), “Pierpont” in How to Succeed (WPAC), “Harold Hill” in The Music Man (Whitefish Theatre Co), and “Troy Bolton” in the NW Premiere of High School Musical (Alpine Theatre Project). Zachariah is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, and he is honored to be a part of the CBT family & legacy.

Ella Trisler
(Puppeteer 2) is thrilled to be making her Clarence Brown Theatre debut! Most recently, she appeared in To Kill A Mockingbird as Mayella Ewell at The Oak Ridge Playhouse. Some of her favorite roles so far include Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie and Aunt Polly in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In her free time, she enjoys singing and playing piano. 

Garrett Wright
(Puppeteer 3) Garrett, a lifelong East Tennessean, is proud to make his debut performance with the CBT. He has previously worked with local theater companies in his hometown of Kingston, Tennessee such as the Three Rivers Theatre Company and the Tennessee Medieval Faire. Garrett is currently studying as an undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee, loves Knoxville, and is so excited to be back in live theater. When Garrett is not rehearsing or performing for a show he can be found as a Dungeon Master for his friends’  Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

Natalie Wrigley
(Narrator/Evil Tina) is overjoyed to be making her Clarence Brown Theatre debut! Natalie is a senior from Blackwood, New Jersey studying Deaf Education and Special Education with minors in Theatre, Elementary Education, and American Sign Language. Some of her previous credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty), Legally Blonde (Margot), Heathers (Ms. Flemming/Veronica’s Mom), Spring Awakening (Ensemble), and Annie (Miss Hannigan). She is also a proud 2016 Broadway World award winner (“Best Children’s/Family Production”) for her role as Patrice in 13: A New Musical! Natalie would like to thank Casey Sams for this opportunity as well as the amazing cast and team that made this show possible. She would also like to thank her mom, her dad, her sister, and her best friends for their endless love and support!

Casey Sams
(Director) is the Interim Department Head and a Professor of Theatre specializing in movement. She teaches movement, acting, period dance and musical theatre to both undergraduate and graduate students. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Penn State and completed the Certification in Laban Movement Analysis at the Laban/ Bartenieff Institute for Movement Studies. Prior to arriving in Tennessee, Casey served as the Education Director for Virginia Stage Company, where she created programming for students from pre-k to post-graduate. She has worked as a Director, Choreographer, Movement Coach, and Intimacy Choreographer at theatres across the country including The Clarence Brown Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Roundhouse Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory, North Carolina Stage Company, PlayMakers Repertory, Virginia Stage Company, Pennsylvania Musical Theatre, The Knoxville Opera Company, and Vermont Stage Company. She is also a certified meditation instructor with The American Meditation Society and Koru Mindfulness.

DJ Pike
(Scenic and Projection Designer) DJ is from Clinton, Utah and has earned his BS in Theatre at Weber State University in Ogden, UT. DJ is a second year graduate candidate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he is earning his MFA in scenic and projection design. Recent scenic designs include Stinney: An American Execution, The Winter’s Tale, The Revolutionists, Everyman, Sunday in the Park with George and Hedda Gabler. Recent projection designs include The Magic Flute for UT Opera, Sunday in the Park with George, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Sense and Sensibility, Orchesis Dance, and Weber State’s Presidential Inauguration. DJ’s work is on display at djpike.com.

M.J. Hromek
(Costume Designer) is from Baltimore, Maryland and received a BA in Theatre Design and Production from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. They are the second year MFA Candidate in Costume Design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and She Kills Monsters will be their premier show with the Clarence Brown Theatre. Previous work includes Anon(ymous) by Naomi Iizuka.

Josh J. Mullady
(Lighting Designer) is a second year MFA Candidate with a focus in Lighting Design and Technology. Originally from Iowa, he graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA, with a BA in Theatre and was the first student to graduate with all three emphases offered: Performance, Design and Production, and Drama for Youth. After that, he moved to Omaha, NE, where he spent the next 12 years using all those emphases working on over 100 productions and teaching hundreds of workshops. He is excited to be playing through this journey as Lighting Designer for She Kills Monsters, and collaborating with his fellow designers. Enjoy the show.

Tate E. Thompson
(Sound Designer) is from Parkersburg, West Virginia and earned his BA in Theatre at Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV. Tate is the second year Sound & Media MFA Candidate and this is his first season at CBT. Most recently he designed music for Kate Buckley’s A Christmas Carol and projections for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He is also the assistant sound designer and mixer for Always…Patsy Cline. Tate is a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association.

Morgan Matens
(Puppet Designer) is so pleased to be returning to the CBT in the capacity of puppet designer. Morgan graduated from the University of Tennessee with an MFA in Theatre Design. She has been working in Nashville as a puppet designer and fabricator, puppeteer, set designer, and freelance illustrator for the past 10 years. Her puppet design credits include Lorraine, Gulliver’s Travels, Momotaro the Peach Boy, Puss n Boots, (Nashville Public Library’s Wishing Chair Productions), She Kills Monsters (Martin Methodist College) The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (David Payne Drama) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Nashville Shakespeare Festival) Heap it On (Lexington Children’s Theater). Follow her work @theaterweirder and @imagineMatens on Instagram. She would like to thank Christy Fogarty and her prop shop team for their incredible artistry and dedication in bringing these monsters to life. 

Jake Guinn
(Fight Choreographer) is a freelance Producer, Director, and Writer for clients that include WebMD, The CDC, and the Cherokee Historical Association. He produces original and adaptive work for theatre and film through his home company, Havoc Productions LLC. Choreographer credits include Feld Entertainment, Actor’s Theatre of Louisiville, Cincinnati Playhouse, Cincinnati Opera, Synchronicity Theatre.

Gina M. Di Salvo
(Dramaturg) is Assistant Professor of Theatre History and Dramaturgy and currently holds the Paul D. Soper Professorship (2021-23) in the Department of Theatre. At the Clarence Brown Theatre, she has dramaturged People Where They Are and The Dream of the Burning Boy. An artistic associate of Sideshow Theatre Company in Chicago, Gina most recently dramaturged Sideshow’s 2021 virtual production of The Whisperer’s Apprentice. Other dramaturgy credits include Plan-B Theatre Company, The Gift Theatre, Strawdog Theatre Company, and the American Musical Theatre Project. She holds a PhD in Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University.

Michael Najman
(Voice Coach) Born and raised in Queens, NY, he is now an MFA Graduate Acting student at UTK. He last appeared in Director Kate Buckleys’ A Christmas Carol, and Director John Sipes’ production of Hamlet in the Carousel Theatre. Recently, Michael has been pursuing voice acting as a way to further his training and career. Watch him play Dungeons and Dragons with his acting friends every Sunday night at 6:30 pm on www.twitch.tv/MagicPodCasters! 

Shelly Pack Payne
(Stage Manager)  is the General Manager for the Clarence Brown Theatre and is enjoying a little change of scenery as she joins a wonderful production/artistic team on this project. Previous productions at the CBT include A Christmas Carol, Kiss Me, Kate, The Little Prince, Red, Noises Off, and Three Sisters. Before moving to Tennessee, she was a Stage Manager for The Egyptian Theatre Company (Park City, UT), Val A. Browning Center (Ogden, UT), Dominion Theatre (Virginia Beach, VA), Little Theatre of the Rockies (Greeley, CO), and the Pantagraph Holiday Spectacular (Bloomington, IL.). Other credits include, Company Manager for the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Director of Guest Services for The Egyptian Theatre Company. She is a graduate of Weber State University and a member of Actors’ Equity Association. Shelly would like to thank her wonderful husband Joe, and two beautiful children Amelia and Max for their unwavering support during this production.

Kate Buckley
(Interim Artistic Director) Ms. Buckley is a founding member of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and served as the Artistic Director of The Next Theatre in Evanston Illinois. She has been a Guest Lecturer on Shakespeare at universities and arts organizations nationally and abroad, most notably at Charles University in Prague and Yale University. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Barat College, Roosevelt University, DePaul University and Northwestern University. She received four Best Director nominations from the Joseph Jefferson Committee, her productions have won four consecutive Jefferson Awards for Best Ensemble and she has won two After Dark Awards for Outstanding Direction. In 2006 she received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Aurora University and a Creative Research Award from the University of TN. 

Tom Cervone
(Managing Director) has dedicated most of his professional career (and life) advocating for and working in the best interests of the arts and culture industry, 25 years (and counting) serving proudly as the managing director for the Clarence Brown Theatre/Department of Theatre at UTK. He previously served as the first executive director of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation and the executive director for Dogwood Arts. Cervone spent many years on the board of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Greater Knoxville, and currently serves on the boards of the WordPlayers, the Knoxville Children’s Theatre, Department of Theatre and recently appointed to the Board of Governors of West Liberty University. Cervone remains active within the UTK community as a member of the Exempt Staff Council and Chancellor’s Commission for LGBTQ people. He received the Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Service to the University in 2010. He is a longtime member of the Actors’ Equity Association. Cervone holds his undergraduate degree in Speech and English Education with an emphasis in Theatre from West Liberty University in West Virginia and an MFA (1993) and MBA (2010) from UTK. He is a graduate of and was selected as the Class Representative of the Leadership Knoxville class of 2011.  Cervone is a member of his undergraduate alma mater’s class of 2015 Alumni Wall of Honor.

Susan L. McMillan
(Production Manager) is in her eighth year as Production Manager at 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 and music (B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Biology from Oregon Stage University), Susan found her passion in theatre. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunities and adventures, inspirational mentors, artistic and talented colleagues, amazing students, and the love and support of her family and friends.