Playbill | Meet the Creative & Production Team
DANICA JACKSON
Director | Fight Director
Danica is the assistant director of performance here at UT, serving as both acting teacher and director. Most recently, she directed Assassins for TheatreFEST. Upcoming productions include She Kills Monsters as the last show in the 2022-2023 UT Season, and [title of show] during this summer’s TheatreFEST. Immense gratitude and pride for this unbelievable cast, production staff and crew, and the work they have put forth to make this production one of Danica’s favorites to date.
MARK L. HOPPER
Musical Director
Mark is thrilled to join the Urinetown creative team for his first show with NC State. He is also thrilled to have the chance to share the pit with his sons Jack and Robert! Mark has directed and MD’d over forty shows across the southeast, frequently with his home companies at McGregor Hall, a new 1,000-seat PAC in Henderson where he is executive director. Mark is also organist and director of youth music and worship arts at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh. “Thanks to Sharon and Eva for understanding and supporting me, and to Matt for always being at my right hand for every project I take on!”
JESS BARBOUR
Choreographer
Jess holds a BFA in theatre from Elon University and studied at The William Esper Studio in NYC. Film: Most Wonderful Time, Oh Crappy Day (Best Actress nom- Madrid International Film Festival, Sunny Side Up Film Festival). Theater: The Play That Goes Wrong (Theatre Raleigh), Wit (NCT), Inherit the Wind (Justice Theatre Project), The Herd (Honest Pint). She has over 50 choreography credits spanning the last 13 years and is excited to add this production of Urinetown to the list. When she’s not at the theatre, she wears many hats as a SP trainer for the American Board of Anesthesiology, and adjunct professor at William Peace University. Thank you, Danica, Mark, and the cast for a wonderful time. Break all the legs! Strong and wrong!
JAYME MELLEMA
Scenic | Projection | Puppetry Design
ayme 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 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 performs 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.
JOSHUA REAVES
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.
PATRICK MATHIS
Sound Design | Associate Lighting Designer
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.
KEVIN WRIGHT
Sound Engineering
Kevin began working for University Theatre in 2001 as a sophomore in the College of Management. Upon graduation, he continued to work part time at Stewart Theatre while freelancing in technical theater throughout the Triangle. In 2012, Mr. Wright became the assistant technical director of Stewart Theatre. He enjoys working with the student crew and specializes in sound design and engineering.
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!
EMMA RAE FORNES
Assistant Director
Emma is a freshman in business administration with a minor in music studies. This is her first UT production, and she is beyond elated to take on the role of assistant director for the first time! Emma grew up training at the North Carolina Theatre Conservatory where she studied singing, acting, and dance, and performed in numerous “Live on Stage” productions, and Summer Theatre Arts School shows. Emma’s past regional credits at North Carolina Theatre (NCT) include: Les Mis (Young Eponine), Billy Elliot (Keely Gibson), The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, and Gypsy. Emma is also a singer-songwriter; you can check out her music on Instagram (@emmaraemusic). Emma would like to thank Danica for being an incredible mentor to study under, the cast and crew for being phenomenal to work with, and the Park Scholarship community for supporting her throughout this process. Go Pack!
JENNY FLOWERS
Stage Manager
Jenny is a junior in business administration with a minor in arts entrepreneurship. Jenny is so excited to be stage managing another production with UT! In the past, they have been involved with other productions, having been the stage manager for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and assistant stage manager for Devised 2020. They also enjoy working in the UT scene shop as much as they can; and has worked with some other great local organizations like the National Women’s Theatre Festival and Theatre in the Park. This show has been the product of a lot of hard work from everyone involved, and they hope you enjoy!
GABRIELLE NOAH
Assistant Stage Manager
Gabrielle is excited to be returning to University Theatre for her sixth show. Her previous show credits include The Crucible, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, and The SpongeBob Musical. Outside of theatre Gabrielle serves as a University Ambassador.
ELLIA JONES
Assistant Stage Manager
Ellia is a freshman in parks, recreation, and tourism management – event management. This is her first show with University Theatre. She has previously worked as an assistant stage manager for Carolina Ballet, production stage manager for her high school, and stage manager for Center Theatre Company. Ellia also works as an assistant wedding planner for C&D Events, and on the event operations crew at Stewart Theatre. She is super excited to be a part of Urinetown!
REBECCA ELIAS PEACE
Assistant Stage Manager
Rebecca is a sophomore in mathematics. This is her third production at University Theatre. She worked as a production assistant for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and as an assistant stage manager for The SpongeBob Musical. Rebecca is very excited to be working on her third show here at NC State.
KAT KIMBRELL
Assistant Stage Manager
Kat is a senior in criminology, psychology, and forensic science. She has worked on two shows at University Theatre as the stage manager for The SpongeBob Musical, and a sound board operator for The Crucible. Kat is also a member of stage crew for Stewart Theatre where she assists with the setup of different kinds of arts performances throughout the school year. She would like to thank her family and friends who continue to encourage and support her passion for theatre. Enjoy the show!