Who’s Who

LUKE ANDERSON

Merriman

Luke is a senior in MAE and communication

ELLE BLAMY

Miss Prism

Elle is a sophomore studying Psychology and this is her first production at NC State! She is very excited and can’t wait for everyone to see it. In addition to her love for theater, she loves singing and is a member of Acappology, one of NC State’s a cappella groups. Elle would like to thank her friends and family for continuously supporting her passion for theater and hopes you all enjoy the show!

LYDIA BLANTON COCHRANE

Gwendolyn Fairfax

Lydia is a junior in communication and film studies with minors in creative writing and French.

ALEX HANDEST

Swing

Alex is a sophomore in environmental engineering and art + design. 

BRAYDEN SPENCER HEARN

Jack | Earnest

Brayden is a senior in arts studies. He is the business officer for the Alpha Psi Omega Psi Kappa Cast. Previous credits include directing the world premiere of the musical ALL ABOARD THE WATCHTOWER!, playing the title character in Hamlet with Elsewhere Shakespeare, and playing Gibson in Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play here at University Theatre. This fall, Brayden will go to Mary Baldwin University to pursue an MLitt and MFA in Shakespeare and Performance.

QUINN KINSER

Lady Bracknell

Quinn is a junior in wildlife biology with a minor in entomology. This is her sixth show with University Theatre! She performed as an ensemble member in Jekyll & Hyde and Ada and the Engine, Colleen in Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, Jane Eyre in You on the Moors Now, and most recently her role as Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet. What is that? She would love to thank her friends and family for their endless support of her passion for theatre and the wonderfully supportive University Theatre community for this opportunity. It’s approaching. She couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful cast and crew to work with. Don’t turn around. She hopes you earnestly enjoy the show!  

MAYA LENNON

Swing

Maya is a junior in textile engineering and vocal music performance. She was Mrs. Greene in The Prom and a Whoville Citizen in Seussical. She would like to thank her friends, family, and rabbits for all their support. She hopes you enjoy the show!

RYAN BYUNG-HOON LIM

Reverend Chausuble

Ryan is a senior in food science and theatre. Ryan has appeared in nine previous University Theatre productions – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Snout the Tinker), The SpongeBob Musical (Larry the Lobster/Gary), The Crucible (Giles Corey), Urinetown (Hot Blades Harry), Peter and the Starcatcher (Bill Slank/Mermaid), Jekyll & Hyde (Bishop of Basingstoke), Teletype (Dr. Thayles), Romeo and Juliet (Friar Lawrence) and The Prom (Mr. Hawkins). He has also appeared in one TheatreFEST production—Holmes and Watson(Holmes 1) as well as multiple community theater productions in the Raleigh area. In the Fall of 2026 Ryan will be attending NYU Steinhardt in pursuit of a master’s deg ree in vocal performance for musical theatre. Ryan hopes you enjoy the show.

ARIEL MODEEN

Swing

Ariel is a junior in psychology. She was in Dystopia! and All Aboard the Watchtower. She has also worked backstage as a dresser and wardrobe head for Jekyll & Hyde and Seussical, respectively. She has enjoyed being a swing for this production and hopes you enjoy the show!

LUKE MORAN

Algernon Moncrieff

Luke is a sophomore in biology. He has been in four other shows at University Theatre, performing as Lindsey Neeley in Teletype, Rochester in You on the Moors Now, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and Kevin in The Prom. He wants to thank his incredibly supportive family and friends. Luke is excited to continue working with University Theatre and all the amazing people involved. He hopes you enjoy the show! 

CONSTANTINA ANASTASIA PAPPAS

Lane

Constantina is a junior in elementary education. She is performing in her sixth UT production! Her past UT credits include Mash in Stupid F##king Bird, Quincy in Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play and many more! Her other credits include Viola in Twelfth Night and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III. She would love to thank her family and friends for their continued support for her work.  

DASHA ROYAL

Cecily Cardew

Dasha is a senior in international studies with a concentration in global relations. She has performed in multiple shows at University Theatre including Hawking Clam in Peter and the Starcatcher, Mary Somerville in Ada and the Engine, Player 1 in You on the Moors Now. Dasha is a member of Alpha Psi Omega here at University Theatre where they do service both in the theatre and the community. 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!

CONNOR YOUNG

Swing

Connor is a freshman in aerospace engineering. He is making his debut at University Theatre. Previous show credits include Shrek in Shrek the Musical Jr, Lumiere in Beauty and The Beast Jr, King Triton and Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid Jr. He would like to thank their family and friends who continue to encourage and support his passion for theatre. Connor hopes you all enjoy the show!

Production Bios

DANICA JENELLE JACKSON

Director

Danica is an award-winning director and teaching artist, serving as the assistant director of performance at NC State. She teaches Theory and Practice of Acting, Advanced Acting, Introduction to Theatre, Period Styles Acting, Shakespeare in Performance (Study Abroad in Prague, CR), Performing Shakespeare, and multiple additional workshops every year. Recent productions directed include Stupid F##king Bird, The Forest Night, Blithe Spirit (TheatreFEST), and You on the Moors Now. Danica also serves as an intimacy director, fight director and accent coach for multiple productions and companies across the Triangle. 
www.danicajenelle.com

HEATHER J. STRICKLAND

Intimacy 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

Set 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 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 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

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 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!

THEO STEWART

Stage Manager

Theo is a graduating senior in psychology. This is his third show as stage manager, with his previous shows being Teletype and Keely and Du. Outside of the theatre, he enjoys his time at work, where he helps children recover from eating disorders. 

LILLY BRUFFEY

Assistant Director

Lily is a sophomore in biology, with a minor in psychology. She has been a part of four other shows with UT, including Teletype (Swing) and You on the Moors Now (Swing), Romeo and Juliet (Apothecary/Watch), and The Prom (Ensemble). Lilly would like to thank her incredible family for always believing in everything she does, and her extraordinary friends for supporting her through everything. She hopes y’all enjoy the show!!

DARLA JEAN-CHARLES

Assistant Stage Manager

Darla is a sophomore in criminology major in her second year. Earnest is her first college level production in stage management. She hopes to continue to be a part of the crew for each year’s upcoming productions. She would like to thank her wonderful family and friends for this opportunity for even being a part of this production. She is beyond grateful to be continuing her passion in theater. Enjoy the show!

LU MARTIN

Assistant Stage Manager

Lu is a junior in marine science. They have worked on eight shows with the University Theatre in their three years. Most recently, as assistant stage manager for The Prom, as well as light board operator for Romeo and Juliet. Lu is a part of APO, where they do service both in the theatre and the community. She would like to thank her family and friends who continue to encourage and support her passion for theatre. Lu hopes you all enjoy the show!

BRIANNE CRAWFORD

Production Assistant

Brianne is a fifth year in computer science. She has participated in multiple shows at University Theatre including as a dresser for You on the Moors Now, and an ASM for Romeo and Juliet. She also stage managed an original musical written by Becket Patterson and Izzy Hedges, All Aboard the Watchtower. Brianne is a member of APO where they do service in the theatre community. She would like to thank her family and friends who continue to support her passion for theatre. Brianne hopes you all enjoy the show! 

CAITLYN LISTER

Production Assistant

Caitlyn is a freshman in political science. She would like to thank her family and friends who continue to encourage and support her passion for theatre. Caitlyn hopes you all enjoy the show!