The Harvest

David Ratliff (Director) is honored to make his directing debut at the Clarence Brown Lab Theatre. Recent projects include Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Theatre Knoxville Downtown), Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Wild Moon Theatre Collective), and The Thanksgiving Play (Flying Anvil Theatre). Favorite past credits include WALLS: A Play for Palestine (New York International Fringe Festival), Barefoot in the Park (The Square Room), Blithe Spirit, A Few Good Men, The Dining Room, and Rumors (Foothills Community Players), and Julius Caesar, Othello, R&J, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with his site-specific Shakespeare company, Lovers & Madmen. He has developed and directed new work by University of Tennessee students including WALLS: A Play for Palestine by Summer Awad, Nothing Personal and Homebound: A Play for Nobody by Brock Ward, as well as directed student thesis productions of Becky Shaw, Extremities, and Fat Pig here in the Lab Theatre. He has been program director for the Tennessee Stage Company’s annual New Play Festival since 2023. David proudly serves as the Audience Experience Manager at the Clarence Brown Theatre and has been serving CBT audiences since 2011.

Leilane Bertunes (Scenic Designer) is a designer, actor, director, playwright, and second-year Scenic Design MFA student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she holds a certificate in Musical Theatre, a bachelor’s degree in Digital Design, and a graduate certificate in Acting and Directing. Leilane is proud to be the scenic designer for her second production at the Clarence Brown Lab Theatre after Failure: A Love Story in the last season. As a theatre maker, Leilane is the founder of Inquietações Theatre Company, an independent theatre company in Brazil where she creates and performs her own plays alongside her company. Other previous theatre credits include Palhacíssima e Outros Surtos, Sereníssima? in Brazil, and collaborations with Brazilian directors such as Dan Rosseto and Bernardo Berro. As a visual artist, Leilane has exhibited her watercolors in Brazil and the United States, as well as at the International Contemporary Art Salon at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.

Vicky Kahnle (Costume Designer) is currently a junior studying for their BA in Theatre with a concentration in Design and Technology. This is their first show designing here at the Clarence Brown Theatre, and they are beyond excited to have the opportunity to work on this production! They have worked at the Clarence Brown Theatre as an Assistant Costume Designer on shows including Kinky Boots and Cry It Out, as Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor on The Giver and The Play That Goes Wrong, and in Wardrobe and as a Costume Assistant on many other productions. Other credits include work for Great River Shakespeare Festival, Knoxville Children’s Theatre, and Brevard Music Center. Vicky would like to thank their friends, family, and mentors for their love and support during their time here at the University of Tennessee and deeply hopes you enjoy the show!

Kayla Moore (Lighting Designer) is a Senior studying Theatre Technology and Design at the University of Tennessee. She has been a part of several shows at the Clarence Brown Theatre and in the Knoxville area over the past few years, including as the Assistant Lighting Designer for Knoxville and Failure: A Love Story. Previously in the LAB Theatre, she was the Lighting Designer for Cato: A Tragedy. She is thrilled to be designing in this space again and hopes the audience takes as much joy in this world as the design team has building it.

Chance Beck (Sound Designer) is a second-year Sound & Media Design Graduate Student at UT. The Harvest is their second show here at the Clarence Brown Theatre. He has previously worked on Failure: A Love Story here at the Clarence Brown Theatre and with the local Tennessee theatre company River & Rail on It’s A Wonderful Life. They come from the University of Southern Mississippi, where they achieved their BFA in Theatre Design & Technology. They are beyond excited to bring this beautiful show to life and have greatly enjoyed the collaborative process with the other incredible artists on this production.

Benjamin Miller (Properties Director) is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee. This is his sixth show with the Clarence Brown Theatre. Previously he has worked as Rail Crew in Knoxville, Crew Swing in How To Defend Yourself, Crew Swing in A Christmas Carol, and was Assistant Properties Director and an Assistant Stage Manager for the well-loved The Play that Goes Wrong. This is his first show as a Properties Director and is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful production. Ben would like to thank his mother and father for supporting him unconditionally, Christy Fogarty for giving him amazing opportunities to learn and grow within props, and Patrick Lanczki for the wonderful Assistant Stage Management opportunities!

Ada Hermoso (Stage Manager) Ada Hermoso is a junior Psychology major attending the University of Tennessee-Knoxville from Clarksville, Tennessee. Ada is happy to be stage managing her second production at the CBT after a successful run with How to Defend Yourself in the last season. Since then she has assistant stage managed Inherit the Wind and The Play That Goes Wrong, adding more shows under her ever-expanding repertoire. She would like to thank all her family, friends, and mentors that have continued to support her journey and growth as a stage manager and hope they will continue to do so in the future. For this production, she did in fact make cupcakes!

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.

Madeline Joyner (Michaela) is beyond excited to be a part of The Harvest! She is a senior at UT and is a double major in Theatre and Public Relations with a minor in Journalism. Her love for dance grew into a love for acting in middle school, where she starred in her first show in 2017. Madeline has been a part of numerous productions, including Steel Magnolias, The Insanity of Mary Girard, Inherit the Wind, Angels in America, and, most recently, two summer Shakespeare productions of Hamlet and Love’s Labour’s Lost. Madeline would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for their support throughout her acting career! This is her second production with the Clarence Brown Theatre, and she cannot wait for you to see the show!

Tyler Monroe (Tom) is extremely excited to be making his debut in The Lab Theatre in the production of The Harvest! Tyler is a freshman Theatre and Vocal Performance major enrolled at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Some of Tyler’s favorite works of his include Seymour Krelborn in Little Shop of Horrors, Harold Hill in The Music Man, Tulsa in Gypsy, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Mortimer in Arsenic and Old Lace, Charles Condomine in Blithe Spirit, and many more! Tyler has also done on-screen work with studios like Lifeway. Tyler hopes to one day achieve his dream of Broadway and Hollywood and is excited to be taking those steps with the Clarence Brown Theatre!

Izzy Monti-Chapple (Denise) is a junior at the University of Tennessee studying Theatre and Communications. You may have seen her in last season’s The Play That Goes Wrong at the Clarence Brown Theatre. When she is not performing, Izzy enjoys working backstage on mainstage productions, and assistant stage managing. Izzy would like to thank her theatre teachers, friends, and parents for supporting her in her acting journey and always showing interest in her work.

Theodore Chase Raynor (Josh) in his Clarence Brown Lab Theatre debut, Chase is a first timer to the UTK Theatre department. Taking the role of Josh in the theatre’s production of The Harvest. Currently a junior English major, he is dedicated to the artistic craft. Acting since high school he has played such roles as Sam in Mama Mia, The Duke in A Comedy of Errors and Lee in Radium Girls. He would like to take some space to thank his loving parents Ted and Carla Raynor, along with his appreciation to his director David for the opportunity.

Jimmy Sherod (Chuck) is excited to make his Clarence Brown Lab Theatre debut. He most recently appeared in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (First Take Co and Renascent Productions) and in Freak Friday (Mike) with the WordPlayers. Other productions include Fiddler on the Roof (Yussel) with the WordPlayers, The Sound of Music (Max) at the Oak Ridge Playhouse and Bright Star (Jimmy Ray) with the WordPlayers. Jimmy is the pastor at Central United Methodist Church in the 4th and Gill Community of Knoxville. He is married to Lesli and they have two children, Henry and Catherine.

Orianna “Ori” Stephens (Ada) is thrilled to be part of her first Clarence Brown Lab Theatre production. She is a senior majoring in Sociology and Theatre. Previous roles at the Clarence Brown include Madeline in A Christmas Carol. She would like to thank her family for their support and express her gratitude to everyone who has poured their time and effort into this production.

Donte Tolson (Marcus) is excited to be back performing at the Clarence Brown once again this year. You may remember him as the “feed store” guy from last semester’s show Inherit the Wind. This is his first Lab Theatre show, and he is grateful once again for the opportunity to be in this show. Donte is a junior Theatre major with an Acting concentration and a minor in Musical Theatre. Donte is also a Air Force veteran and is grateful for his time serving his country. He would like to think his friends and family for all their constant support and God for without him none of this is possible. Enjoy the show!