Playbill | Who’s Who in The Ghost of Splinter Cove
ALEX BARR
Swing
Alex is a rising junior at NC State studying psychology. This is her second TheatreFEST, and her 5th show with University Theatre. You may have seen her as the cat in Peter and The Starcatcher or in her one night swing performance as evil cheerleader Gabby in She Kills Monsters. She is ecstatic for you to see this spooky, heartwarming show and the incredible work the cast and crew has put into it!
GUS ALLEN
Tobias
Gus returns for his ninth TheatreFEST show, following last year’s Holmes & Watson (Watson). Other favorite TheatreFEST roles include The 39 Steps (Clown #1), The Hollow (Edward), and Tea with Edie & Fitz (multiple roles). Gus thanks Mia and the whole NC State team for the constant support and the incredible opportunities that come from working with a world-class team. Gus dedicates this performance to the late, great John Allore. God is good all the time!
BOLTON BLADE
Swing
Bolton is getting ready to transfer to Coastal Carolina University for a BFA in acting! They are incredibly excited to make their debut at NC State, where their girlfriend Maddie currently goes to school! Some of their previous show credits include Gomez in The Addams Family, CB in Dog Sees God, and Jeremy in Be More Chill! They would like to thank their family, friends, and partner who continue to support their career through all the scheduling and they hope you like the show!
AARON TYLER BOLES
Nate
Aaron is an experienced artist and collaborator in professional, community, and educational theatre across NC and beyond. Versatile performer, director, and designer, with aspirations in producing. Advocate for honest representation and theatre reform, prioritizing compassionate practices and fostering genuine connections. Excited to be a part of their first TheatreFEST.
DUSTIN BRITT
J
Dustin is a Durham-based actor, director, intimacy choreographer, designer, teacher, and writer with an M.A.Ed. from East Carolina University. This is his first appearance on the University Theatre stage. Other acting credits include Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Harding in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Poins in Henry IV, Henry Ford in Ragtime, and Alfie in One Man, Two Guvnors. Dustin wishes to thank Mia Self and Laura Parker for their encouragement, and his wife Alex for everything else.
DESIRE LORA
Sydney
Desire is thrilled to be a part of TheatreFEST for the first time! She received for B.F.A in musical theatre at William Peace University and has been an active participant in the Triangle theatre community since graduating. Prior credits include Ensemble in Curtains at RLT, Antigone in Burial at Thebes at WPU, Ensemble in In the Heightsat RLT, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at WPU, and many more! She hopes you enjoy the show!
EMMA ROE
Cora
Emma is a graduate of William Peace University with a degree in musical theatre. She is making her debut at TheatreFEST. Previous show credits include Victoria in Death by Design, Ismene in Antigone, and #8 in The Wolves. Emma would like to thank her family and friends for being wonderful supporters to her over her many years in theatre. Emma hopes that you all enjoy the show!
MIA 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. She is a proud board member of the North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC).
DANICA JANELLE JACKSON
Fight & Intimacy Director
Danica is the assistant director of performance at NC State. Danica also serves as a dialect coach and intimacy director for multiple companies in the area. She will also be bringing the first ever Shakespeare in Performance class to Prague this July! After a long hiatus from being on the stage, she is very excited to return alongside such a phenomenal cast. Extreme gratitude to family, friends, and students for your unwavering support. You make it all worthwhile. www.danicajenelle.com
JAYME MELLEMA
Scenic Designer
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
LAURA J. PARKER
Costume, Hair & Makeup Design
Laura has been with University Theatre since 2010. She has been designing and creating costumes for theatrical productions and historic re-enactors since 1999, with a focus on historically accurate clothing reproductions and historically inspired fantasy costuming. Previously, Ms. Parker was the resident costume designer and instructor of costume design at William Peace University. Her favorite costume design credits for University Theatre include Peter and the Starcatcher, The Spongebob Musical, Ragtime, Urinetown, Cabaret, The 39 Steps, and Jekyll & Hyde. An actor as well, she has designed or performed with area theaters including Honest Pint Theatre Company, Raleigh Little Theatre, Sweet Tea Shakespeare, Henderson Rec Players, South Stream Productions, and Bare Theatre. Ms. Parker holds a Bachelor of arts in anthropology from Georgia State University and a Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University.
ROBYN WARFIELD
Lighting & Sound Design
Robyn 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!
REBECCA PEACE
Stage Manager
Rebecca is a rising fourth year student at NCSU. She is very grateful to be working on her second TheatreFEST show, and her eighth show at University Theater. Rebecca is the stage manager for this production of The Ghost of Splinter Cove, having previously been the stage manager for She Kills Monsters and Jekyll & Hyde at University Theatre. She is very excited to continue participating in UT shows this summer as well as in her last year at NC State.
CHRISTY KIM
Assistant Stage Manager
Christy is an undergrad at NC State studying animation. This is her third show working with University Theatre as well as her second in TheatreFEST. She’s grateful for the amazing cast and crew who brought this show to life!