Who’s Who in Blithe Spirit
CALLIE BANHOLZER
Elvira
Callie is a stage actor, voice actor, musician and educator. She is thrilled to be making her debut with TheatreFEST. Other show credits include Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio) and Arabella (Lucy/Katherine) with Scrap Paper Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (Brutus and others) with Sweet Tea Shakespeare, and As You Like It (Celia), Cymbeline (Posthumus/Cloten), and The Revenger’s Tragedy (Duchess) with Polaris Shakespeare. Callie graduated with a BFA and BA from UNCW before receiving her MFA from Mary Baldwin University.
NICHOLAS BARBATO
Charles Condomine
Nicholas is thrilled to return to NC State University Theatre, TheatreFEST 2025, where he appeared in The Great Beyond as Rex last summer. Before coming to North Carolina, he spent many years working as an actor both in New York and in regional theaters across the country. Favorite credits include Netflix’s Maniac, The Good Cop, HBO’s The Deuce, Paterno. He is the theater department head and drama instructor at Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro, NC. Much love and appreciation to Erika for her unyielding support.
SHELBY BARROS
Edith
Shelby is thrilled to be back for another summer of TheatreFEST after playing Susan in [title of show] in 2023! She graduated from Millikin University in Illinois with a BFA in musical theatre. Shelby is an elementary school music teacher, and her 700 kiddos are her entire world! In the Triangle, she was recently seen as Catherine in Pippin (Theatre in the Park), Portia in Something Rotten (Raleigh Little Theatre), Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (NRACT), Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof (Cary Players), and Antonia in Man of La Mancha (Justice Theatre Project). Regional theatre credits include Madagascar: A Musical Adventure (Maurice), and Mamma Mia. She hopes you enjoy this hilarious show!
LYNDA CLARK
Madame Arcati
Lynda is an accomplished actor, director, costume designer and coach with numerous film, television and commercial credits. She was one of a team of theatre professionals who originated the NC State University summer repertory program that became known as TheatreFEST, where she has been a leading actress for over thirty years. Favorite roles include NUNSENSE, FULL GALLOP, THE HOLLOW, LETTICE AND LOVAGE, FALLEN ANGELS, and SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER. She has appeared extensively across the region, including Theatre in the Park, NCT, Theatre Raleigh, Burning Coal, Temple and Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Lynda is widely recognized as one of the region’s most distinguished theatre artists, with a career spanning four decades. She dedicates this performance to the memory of John McIlwee.
ABBE FRALIX
Violet Bradman
Abbe is a classically trained actor based in Raleigh. For TheatreFEST: The Great Beyond (Rene), Holmes & Watson(Swing), Assassins (Byck). For Burning Coal Theatre: The Road to Mecca (Elsa), Evita (Mistress), Sunday in the Park with George (Frieda/Betty). For Sweet Tea Shakespeare: The Winter’s Tale (Hermione), Richard III(Tyrell/Murderer/Prince). For Scrap Paper Shakespeare: Prince Hal (Henry IV and Others). For Steadfast Shakespeare: Macbeth (Macbeth and Others), Q1 Hamlet (Gertred), The Alchemist (Mammon). Offstage, Abbe works as the development director for Burning Coal Theatre, as well as an adjunct professor, education artist, and freelance dramaturg throughout the Triangle. MFA Shakespeare and Performance, Mary Baldwin University; BFA Musical Theatre William Peace University. Love and thanks as ever to Pat. abbefralix.com
ELIZABETH ANN JOHNSON
Ruth Condomine
Elizabeth (she/her) is thrilled to make her TheatreFEST debut. She has most recently appeared as Edmund in King Lear(South Stream Productions); other favorite roles include Perdita in The Winter’s Tale (Tennessee Stage Company), Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor (Atlanta Shakespeare Company), and Thomasina Coverly in Arcadia (Theater Oxford). She would like to thank her non-theatre friends for their patience with her rehearsal schedule. Enjoy the show!
COLIN MAYHORN
Swing
Colin is a senior majoring in psychology and communication. He is making his debut at University Theatre. Colin is a member of the Student Film Society club and communication media department on campus where he’s directed, written, and acted in many short films, radio spots, and other forms of digital media. He would like to thank his family and friends who continue to encourage and support his passion for the arts. Colin hopes you all enjoy the show!
EMMA ROE
Swing
Emma graduated from William Peace University with a major in musical theatre in 2024. Emma is swinging the roles of Ruth, Elvira, Madame Arcati, and Edith for this production of Blithe Spirit. She has performed previously at University Theatre as Cora in The Ghost of Splinter Cove during TheatreFEST 2024. Emma would like to thank her family for supporting her since her first audition and her friends and boyfriend who have encouraged her passion for theatre every step of the way. Emma hopes you all enjoy the show!
BENJAMIN DAVID TARLTON
George Bradman
Benjamin (He/Him/His) is excited to return to the TheatreFEST stage. Benjamin studied dramatic art with a minor in music at UNC Chapel Hill. Additionally, Benjamin is an actor combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. Previous credits include Edgar in King Lear, Mark in A Chorus Line, Hal in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, Jeff Bowen in title of show, Hanschen in Spring Awakening, and Officer Lockstock in Urinetown.
DANICA JENELLE JACKSON
Director
Danica is the assistant director of performance with UT, teaching all levels of acting classes and directing productions. Most recently, Danica directed Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play, and Jekyll & Hyde, and was seen as Emily in UT’s TheatreFEST production of The Great Beyond. She is also an actor-combatant, intimacy director, and accent coach for various community productions. This summer, Danica will lead the second iteration of the Study Abroad ‘Shakespeare in Performance’ course in Prague, CR. Congratulations to this phenomenal cast and crew!
www.danicajenelle.com
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
LAURA J. PARKER
Costume, Hair and Makeup
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 and 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
DAVE 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 recent graduate of NC State with a degree in mathematics. This is her 13th show at University Theatre, and her third year participating in TheatreFEST.
SAGE S. CASTRO
Assistant Stage Manager
Sage is a rising junior in art studies with a theatre concentration. This is her fourth show this season with University Theatre, previously having worked on Teletype, Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play, and You on the Moors Now. She would like to thank her family and friends who continue to encourage and support her passion for theatre. She hopes you all enjoy the show!