ALANA BARBER

Swing

Alana is a Meredith College sophomore with a major in theatre and a minor in communications. This is her first production at NC State, and she is ecstatic to be a part of it. She wants to thank her friends and family for supporting her passion in theatre. She hopes you enjoy the show.
Instagram: @Alana.lanaaaa

VUITTON BOND

Inspector Leach

Vuitton, born Dexter Palmer (recording artist/producer/actor) is making his debut at University Theatre. Credits: Trouble In Mind (Raleigh Little Theatre), Peter and the Starcatcher (Theatre Raleigh), Proof (NRACT), Red Pitch (Burning Coal Theatre). You can follow him on all social media platforms @VuittonBond and www.vuittonbond.comAD

DUSTIN BRITT

Thomas Royde

Dustin is a Durham-based actor, director, intimacy choreographer, designer, teacher, and writer with an M.A.Ed. from East Carolina University. They previously appeared as J in TheatreFEST’s The Ghost of Splinter Cove in 2024. Other acting credits include Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (McGregor Hall), Alfie in One Man, Two Guvnors (Raleigh Little Theatre), Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stone Soup Theatre), Poins in Henry IV (Sweet Tea Shakespeare), Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night (Bare Theatre), Vice Principal Panch in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (NRACT), and Harding in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (RGB Productions).

ANDREW PRICE CARLILE

Nevile Strange

Andrew is a local (circa 2024) actor and playwright. Recent credits include Gregor Samsa in Simon Berkoff’s Metamorphosis and Jonathan Harker in Justice Theatre Project’s Dracula: a Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really. Other credits include Gunnar in Being Chaka, produced in collaboration with TÉA Artistry; Jim in The Rainmaker; and Liam et al in Haughey/Gregory with Burning Coal. Infinite gratitude for Sally, Korra, and Yana. When not onstage, Andrew can usually be found upside down, practicing guitar, or devising board games.

DEBRA GRANNAN

Lady Camilla Tressilian

Debra is a NC State graduate and recently retired associate planning director for CARY. Debra is making their long-awaited return to University Theatre. She last performed here in 1977 in Happy Birthday Wanda June!  She’s the current president of Cary Players Community Theatre and has enjoyed directing and performing with them and performing with other area companies. Favorite roles include M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias at Theatre in the Park and Myra in Deathtrap at Raleigh Little Theatre.

RHONDA LEMON

Kay Strange

Rhonda is a proud 2014 NC State alum, and is thrilled to be back for their second TheatreFEST production, after Assassins in 2022. Around the Triangle you may have seen them perform as Ben Franklin in 1776 (Raleigh Little Theatre), the Jester in Once Upon a Mattress(NRACT) or Larry in A Chorus Line (Honest Pint). She sends love to friends, family, husband Christian and their three (very stinky) cats. And thanks to YOU for supporting live, local theatre!

RYAN LIM

PC Benson

KELLY McDANIEL

Audrey Strange

Kelly is delighted to make her TheatreFEST debut in Towards Zero! Triangle-area roles include Claire (Proof), The Countess (A Sherlock Carol), Mrs. Manningham (Angel Street), Phillipa (A Murder is Announced), Nell Gwynne, Maria, and Lady Davenant (Or,), Michelle (The Other Half), Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Peggy (The Women), and Alice (Decision Height). Offstage, Kelly trades costumes for carry-ons, sharing travel adventures with her ridiculously handsome husband, Ryan, on their vlog, Watch Us Wander. Thank you for supporting local theatre and enjoy the show!

DAN OLIVER

Matthew Treves

For Scapegoat Initiative: Keely and Du; for Burning Coal: Reunion, The Rainmaker, Haughey/Gregory and Butterfly Wings; for Stone Soup Theatre: Romeo and Juliet; for NC State TheatreFEST: Holmes and Watson; for Justice Theatre Project: All the Way and Enemy of the People; for Sonorous Road: Dry Powder; for Seed Art Share: Well Fed, Well Said; for Little Green Pig: Heads Will Roll, True West, Maccountant, Hamlet and Celebration; for the Carrboro ArtsCenter: Picasso at the Lapin Agile and 10X10 in the Triangle. A retired writer/producer/director, Dan spent many years at WRAL-TV and Horizon Productions.

LAURA J. PARKER

Mary Aldin

Laura is an actor and costume designer based in Raleigh, NC.  Favorite stage appearances include: Go Back for Murder (NC State TheatreFEST), Hamlet and A Christmas Carol (Theatre in the Park), The Crucible, Our Town, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Spongebob Musical (Henderson Rec Players), Richard III, Henry IV Part 1, Macbeth, and Winter’s Tale (Sweet Tea Shakespeare), Measure for Measure and A Piece of My Heart (Raleigh Little Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (BARE Theatre), A Charlie Brown Christmas (NRACT), and Deathtrap (Forest Moon Theatre).

MICHAEL PARKER

Ted Latimer

This is Michael’s sixth TheatreFEST show! When he’s not acting or directing, he also enjoys bladesmithing, brewing beer, west coast swing dancing, and historical fencing. Recent roles include Isaac Jaggard in The Book of Will (Theatre in the Park), Steve McNiel in The First To Know (TFTK Prods), Inspector Hubbard in Dial M for Murder (NCSU), Coach Mayes in The Great Beyond (NCSU), and Walter Jenkins in All The Way (JTP).

DAMIEN REED

Swing

Damien is thrilled to be taking part in his first TheaterFEST show and connecting with the Raleigh theater community. He has previously performed at UT in Suessical, You on the Moors Now, Romeo and Juliet, and Stupid F##king Bird. He is also a staff writer at Technician, NC State’s student newspaper. He would like to thank his parents for paying for his gas for the commute.

TEDD SZETO

Superintendent Battle

Tedd, (he/him), is making his University Theatre debut. Previous NC credits: The Prom (Principal Hawkins), Natasha…Great Comet (Balaga), Forever Plaid (Smudge) – Theatre Raleigh; Madama Butterfly, Cinderella, Il Trovatore – NC Opera; Plaid Tidings(Smudge), The Bridges of Madison County (Charlie), Big Fish (Karl the Giant) – McGregor Hall. He is currently board president of North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre and spends his days serving the students at NC State’s Poole College of Management. Thanks to the cast, crew and creatives and to YOU for supporting University Theatre.

Production Bios

MIA L. SELF

Director

Mia is the assistant director of acting and directing at North Carolina State University. She has a BA in theatre from Catawba College and an MFA in directing from the University of Mississippi. Mia worked as a professional actor, voice and text coach, playwright, and director around the Southeast and Midwest before beginning her career in theatre education in 2004.

HEATHER J. STRICKLAND

Fight Director

Heather has worked in the triangle area for 25 years as a director, actor, and dance/fight/movement/intimacy choreographer. Recent acting credits include Soccer Mom in Peace University’s The Wolves and Patricia in Justice Theatre Project’s The Taming. Recent fight/intimacy choreography credits include Theatre Raleigh’s The Prom and Yellow Face, NC State University Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet, Jekyll & Hyde and She Kills Monsters, NRACT’s Appropriate and Parade, McGregor Hall’s Bridges of Madison County, and Theatre in the Park’s Hamlet and Pippin. Favorite projects include director for an all-female Titus Andronicus, EverScape, and What We’re Up Against and movement director for Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and The Wolves.

JAYME MELLEMA

Scenic Design

Jayme is the resident scenic designer, instructor, and theatre artist for North Carolina State’s University Theatre. Select designs at University Theatre include Ragtime, Men on Boats, Our Town, Bright Star, Cabaret, The Royal Family, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Love/Sick, The Secret Garden, The 39 Steps, Around the World in 80 Days, Little Shop of Horrors, The Burial at Thebes, The Heidi Chronicles, Chicago and Rent. Jayme has also worked as a freelance designer for such venues as The Peabody Institute – Johns Hopkins University, North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, The Princeton Festival, Wolftrap Opera, The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Guilford College, Duke University, and Calvin University. As a theatre artist and creator, Jayme has also been a projection designer, writer, director, devisor, puppet creator, and an alternative reality experience collaborator. He earned his MFA in scenic design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and prior to becoming a designer he was a professional scenic artist.
jaymemellema.com

ADRIENNE McKENZIE

Costume, Hair & Makeup

Adrienne McKenzie began her career with University Theatre as a student technician in the Costume Shop. She has interned with six-time Tony Award-winning costume designer William Ivey Long at his studio in New York City. Now, as the full-time costume technician, she holds a B.A. in creative writing from Seattle University and a bachelor of art + design – fibers and master of art + design – fibers from NC State University.

In addition to her work at University Theatre, Ms. McKenzie serves as a guest lecturer for the College of Design’s Art + Design Department where she has instructed courses on fashion illustration, period inspired garments, and sewing and construction. She is thrilled and thankful to be practicing her two passions in life, costuming and education, professionally each and every day!

ROBYN WARFIELD

Lighting & Sound Design

Robin holds an MFA with scenographic traditions from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in design concentrating in lighting and scenery. Prior to her becoming part of the University Theatre staff, she was the resident lighting designer and master electrician for the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. She was an integral part of the creative team for a new hip hop musical, Grimmz Fairytales, which was nominated for the 87th Drama League Awards in Outstanding Digital Theatre, Individual Production, for its filmed version during the winter of 2020. While at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, she had the pleasure to design and assist many shows that are new works that promote kindness and the ability to see growth and strength in each and every person including oneself. Not just working in Theatre for Young Audiences, she started out at theatre companies like Shakespeare Company in Lenox MA, that concentrate on classical and contemporary works. Robyn has also designed for various dance companies in the Northeast. 
rkwdesign.com

DAVID JENSEN

Technical Direction

David has been working at University Theatre since 2002. David attended Appalachian State University and UNC-Greensboro, where he studied theatrical design and production. He worked in Atlanta for seven years as a freelance theatre carpenter and technical director at most of the theaters in the metro area as well as many exhibit/design shops. David would like to remind everyone that the Arts NC State programs are open to any NC State student — Get involved!

THEO STEWART

Stage Manager

Theo is a senior in Psychology with minors in History and Sociology. He is excited to be a part of TheatreFest again, with previous credits including Stage Manager for “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “Teletype.” He also Assistant Stage Manager for “Seussical” and “You on the Moors Now.” He would like to thank his friends for supporting him!

BRIANNE CRAWFORD

Assistant Stage Manager