Program: Who’s Who in Holmes and Watson
GUS ALLEN
Watson
Gus returns for his seventh TheatreFEST production, previously appearing in The 39 Steps, Go Back For Murder, and The Hollow. Gus is an avid Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes nerd, so getting to step on stage into Victorian England is always a gift. This performance is dedicated to Gus’ friend and favorite actor, John Allore. “John, you gave me more than a friendship. You taught me artistry and you can never be forgotten.”
KATIE BARRETT
Matron
Katie is ecstatic to take her love of literature to the stage as she returns to TheatreFEST for a third time in what has been a show three years in the making thanks to Covid. Barrett has been fortunate enough to perform in over twenty productions during her time in the Triangle and has found her second home in the arts community. Personally, and professionally, you can always find Katie in the midst of many creative endeavors such as writing, acting, creating, and producing.
DARYL RAY CARLILES
Holmes #3
Daryl Ray is elated to be returning to TheatreFEST for his fourth time! — including the production of The 39 Steps opposite Watson himself, Gus Allen. Daryl Ray is a musical theater, film, TV, & commercial actor who currently has a Geico National spot playing, He is also the owner and co-founder of Back-to-One Acting Studio & Productions. “Working with Mia, Josh & this fantastic cast & crew has been an absolute delightful return to stage for me. Playing Sherlock Holmes has been a dream!”
ABBE FRALIX
Swing (Watson, Evans and Matron)
Abbe is a classically trained actor based in Raleigh. Favorite credits include Byck in Assasins (NCSU TheatreFEST), Macbeth in Macbeth (Steadfast Shakespeare), Hermione in The Winter’s Tale (Sweet Tea Shakespeare), and Elsa in The Road to Mecca (Burning Coal). Offstage, Abbe has acted as an adjunct professor, education artist, and freelance dramaturg throughout the Southeast. MFA Shakespeare and performance, Mary Baldwin University; BFA musical theatre William Peace University. Love and thanks as ever to Pat. abbefralix.com
JACKSON GRIFFIN
Holmes #2
Jackson, a senior majoring in history with a minor in theatre, is thrilled to be a part of TheatreFEST’s Holmes and Watson! He has acted in a couple of shows at University Theatre playing Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, French Narrator in The SpongeBob Musical, and most recently, Officer Lockstock in Urinetown the Musical. The last time he was involved in TheatreFEST was as an assistant stage manager for last year’s Assassins. Jackson wants to thank his family, friends, and every teacher along the way for their endless love and support!
JUSTIN BRENT JOHNSON
Orderly/Moriarty/Inspector
Justin is excited to return to TheatreFEST once again! Other TFest credits include Go Back For Murder (Meredith), Deathtrap (Clifford), and The Hollow (Inspector Colquehoun). Recently he played Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice at Raleigh Little Theatre. He previously played another Jane Austen man- Mr. Knightley in Emma with Sweet Tea Shakespeare. Other roles include It’s Only A Play (Gus) and Fuddy Meers (Millet/Hinky Binky) at Theatre in the Park, and BENT (Horst) with Justice Theatre Project. Justin graduated from Catawba College’s BFA acting program before receiving a MA in teaching from North Carolina State University. Thanks to Mia, the cast, crew, and everybody involved for the opportunity!
RYAN LIM
Holmes #1
Ryan is a sophomore at NC State. This is his first production with TheatreFEST. Ryan has appeared in four University Theatre productions – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Snout the Tinker), The SpongeBob Musical (Larry the Lobster/Gary), The Crucible (Giles Corey), and Urinetown the Musical (Hot Blades Harry). Ryan is very excited to participate in another theatre production.
DAN OLIVER
Dr. Evans
Dan, a retired writer/producer/director, spent many years at WRAL-TV and Horizon Productions. Triangle theater appearances include All the Way and Enemy of the People for Justice Theater Project, Dry Powder for Sonorous Road, Well Fed, Well Said for Seed Art Share, Heads Will Roll, True West, Maccountant, Hamlet, and Celebration for Little Green Pig, and Picasso at the Lapin Agile for the ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
MICHAEL PARKER
Swing (Orderly and Holmeses)
This is Michael’s third show with TheatreFEST, and he is so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented director, cast, and production team. Recent roles include Sebastian in The Tempest (Switchyard Theatre Co), Walter Jenkins in All The Way (Justice Theatre Project), Stasiek Eisenberg in Ogrodowa Street, and Edward Bennett in Death by Design (Cary Players). He also recently directed The Verge for Brave New Classics, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Switchyard Theater Company.
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).
HEATHER J. STRICKLAND
Fight Director
Heather has worked for 20 years as a director, actor, and dance/fight/movement/intimacy choreographer. Recent fight/intimacy choreography credits include Theatre Raleigh’s Yellow Face, NC State University’s Assassins, and Raleigh Little Theatre’s The Mountaintop and Pippin. Favorite projects include director for Bare Theatre’s all-female Titus Andronicus and EverScape, director for RLT’s What We’re Up Against, choreographer for Justice Theatre Project’s Oliver!, movement director for RLT’s Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and Sonorous Road’s The Wolves.
ALEX BARR
Assistant Director
Alex is a rising sophomore at NC State. This is her third University Theatre show. She has done lights for Urinetown and was most recently a swing in She Kills Monsters. She is very excited for you to see all of the hard work these actors have put in and hopes you enjoy this thrilling mystery.
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 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 Hay Fever, The Secret Garden, Around the World in 80 Days, and Murder at the Howard Johnson’s. She has done freelance costume design for area theaters including Honest Pint Theatre Company, Sweet Tea Shakespeare, South Stream Productions, and Bare Theatre. She can often be found acting with local and regional theaters and performing improv comedy with Raleigh’s Village Idiots. Ms. Parker holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology from Georgia State University and a Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University.
PATRICK MATHIS
Lighting and Sound Design
Patrick holds an MFA in Theatre Design and Technologies from Utah State University and a BS in Information Science and Technology from Mercer University. They have worked in theatre and live entertainment across the nation and internationally in the areas of technical theatre, as well as lighting and media design. Outside of their academic and theatre focused work, Patrick is the founder and CTO of the Entertainment Engineering Collective, a group of international artists focused on bringing streaming and media support to emergent artists and theatre companies. Patrick is also a proud partner and tech specialist at subTEXT Solutions Dramaturgy, a member of CITT/ICTS, USITT, and Actors Equity. They are beyond excited to be a part of the NC State family and take part in the magic being made at the University Theatre.
LAGAN McGINNIS
Assistant Lighting Designer | Lead Electrician
Lagan is a senior in communications. This is their second year working on TheaterFEST, and last summer with the UT Program. They are immensely grateful for all the mentoring and opportunities they have received from the staff at University Theatre, especially from Patrick Mathis, as well as their friends and family for their continued support.
JOSHUA REAVES
Projection Design | Associate Lighting Designer
Joshua began work with NC State’s University Theatre in 2011 as the lighting and sound designer before being named director of the program in 2019. He obtained his MFA from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and a BFA from UNC-Greensboro. Before arriving at NC State, Mr. Reaves taught at Campbell University and the University of Cincinnati. He has freelanced for local and regional theatres including NCT, Raleigh Little Theatre, Manbites Dog, Justice Theatre Project, Burning Coal, NC Opera Company, The Alley Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, and New Harmony Theatre, among others. He is grateful to work next to such talented colleagues and thanks his wife Athena and two children, Piera and Aidan, for all their support during those long tech weeks.
DAVID JENSEN
Technical Director
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!
KAT KIMBRELL
Stage Manager
Kat is a senior at NC State majoring in criminology. This is her fifth show with University Theatre and first TheatreFEST. Kat would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her and encouraging her to pursue her dreams.
TEAGAN CAMBRIA HILL
Assistant Stage Manager
Teagan has loved the stage from before she could ride a bike, and this semester away from theatre couldn’t come to an end fast enough! She’s loved getting to know the inner workings of NC State’s theatre space, as well as working together with an incredibly talented cast and crew on this production. Her love and appreciation go out to her grandparents and her partner, Haven, and she hopes they all get fooled. She hopes that everyone enjoys this intersection of wonderful performance art and one of her favorite mystery detectives of all time!