THE EFFECT
AN OREGON PREMIERE PRODUCTION
WRITTEN BY LUCY PREBBLE
DIRECTED BY ANDY CHRISTENSEN
Assistant Director.............................................................Ana Seisdedos
Stage Manager.........................................................................Lili Gudgel
Asst. Stage Managers...................................................Zora Richardson & Aly Romero
Dramaturg...........................................................................Riya Mathew
Intimacy Director.........................................................Andy Christensen
Scenic, Projection Designer...................................................Tyler Smith
Costume, Hair and Make-up Designer...........................Taylor Andreas*
Lighting Designer.................................................................Larry Larsen
Sound Designer, Composer..............................................Rowan Lowery
Marketing Director................................................................Emily Hogan
Marketing Assistant......................................................Ricardo Guevara
Theater Photographer.....................................................Rowan Lowery
*In Partial Fulfillment of the Senior Capstone for the BA in Theater
Content Notice: This story contains strong language and adult themes including: mental health, sexual content, physical aggression, depictions of seizures and references to depression, anxiety, and suicide.
Connie Hall............................................................................Laya Duguid
Tristan Frey...................................................................Ricardo Guevara
Dr. Lorna James........................................................Aria Sophia Hroma*
Dr. Toby Sealy....................................................................Joshua Mager
U/S Dr. Lorna James.......................................................Zoe Thyrza Diao
U/S Connie Hall......................................................................Keara Lowe
U/S Dr. Toby Sealy................................................................Ly’Le Pullom *In Partial Fulfillment of the Senior Capstone for the BA in Theater
Cast in Alphabetical Order
Zoe Thyrza Diao, she/her (U/S Dr. Lorna James), is a sophomore Biology and Theater double major with Neuroscience and Chemistry minors from Las Vegas, NV. She has been in theatre since her freshman year of high school, and you may have seen her as Dee Dee Allen in The Prom or as Maya in TBA. In the free time she has, she is heavily involved in FASA sa UP, who are preparing for their 11th Annual Pilipino Cultural Night on April 12. With The Effect meshing her two loves of theatre and science together, she hopes that you can leave this production contemplating the effect you have on others, and how you can exhibit empathy and human kindness in your own community. Enjoy the show!
Laya Duguid, she/her (Connie Hall), is a third-year Political Science and Global Affairs major from a small town near Dallas, Texas. This is her first stage production at the University of Portland, and she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with this talented group of artists. Laya serves as a student ambassador for the university, was recently featured on Amazon Prime’s The College Tour, and is a student representative on the National Alumni Board. She is also the Co-President of the university’s first Reproductive Justice and Education Club (RJEC). She is very proud to finally share the
work that herself and many others have been pouring into. Laya would like to thank Andy Christensen, her friends, and her puppy, Lady, for their ongoing support of her acting journey.
Ricardo Guevara, he/him (Tristan Frey), is a senior theater and marketing double major from Portland, OR. Ricardo is very excited to share his last production at UP with the world. Recent acting credits include various roles in Too Much Light..., Mr. Hawkins in The Prom, Finn in TBA, Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night, Somebody in Everybody, Brindsley in Black Comedy, and Don Carlos in Los Empeños de Una Casa (House of Desires). He would like to thank his family, friends, and everyone in the University of Portland theater department for supporting him in his artistic journey. He dedicates this, as well as all his work, to his late grandmother Blanca Estela Chavez Alcantara.
Aria Sophia Hroma, she/her (Dr. Lorna James). Aria has been filled with emotions working on The Effect. With this being her last show at UP, as well has her capstone, she has been putting in her all. This process has been equal parts exciting and terrifying, but also fulfilling. She has previously been seen on stage as Marta in Company, Fabian in Twelfth Night, in Peter
and the Starcatcher, and most recently in Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. She is so thankful to the whole cast and crew of this show and to her family and friends that have supported her along her journey. She couldn’t have done it without them.
Keara Lowe, she/her (U/S Connie Hall), is a freshman Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major with a double major in Arts Administration from Redding, CA. She hopes to become a pediatric oncologist while continuing her love for the arts but for now she is so excited to be a part of The Effect, her first production at UP. She is so happy to continue to embrace her love for performing in (hopefully) many more shows to come but this one will be hard to top. She has been involved in performing arts for the past 15 years as a dancer, singer, and actress and she is so happy to be in a production with such amazing and talented people. While this isn’t the most lighthearted show on the planet, as part of the Oregon Premiere cast of The Effect, she hopes you’ll enjoy it all the same. That being said she can’t wait for you all to see it! Enjoy the show!
Joshua Mager, he/him (Dr. Toby Sealy) Josh balances serious dedication and realism to his performances with jovial and lightheartedness off the stage. He made his UP theatrical debut all the way back in 2021 in House of Desires, and has since been seen in shows like "Peter and
the Starcatcher, These Shining Lives, and Too Much Light Makes the Baby go Blind. He's unapologetically himself. A senior mechanical engineering major, though he asks you do not hold it against him.
Ly’Le Pullom, she/they (U/S Dr. Toby Sealy) is currently majoring in both music and theatre with a concentration in performing. She's excited for everyone to be enveloped in the humanity of The Effect. She is also known for her role as Alyssa Greene in The Prom
Creative Team in
Alphabetical Order
Taylor Andreas, she/they (Costume Design), is a senior Theatre major who is fulfilling their capstone project with this production. She is very excited to be involved with University of Portland’s production of The Effect as this is her first main stage show that she has designed. Her past roles with UP Theatre include April in Company, Assistant Costume designer and hair and makeup designer for Twelfth Night, Ensemble in The Prom, and Costume Coordinator for Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.
Andy Christensen, he/him (Director), is a director, actor, and intimacy director who specializes in emergent forms of immersive and site-informed theatre that explore liveness at the intersection of place and time. He earned an MFA in Directing from the Lir Academy of Trinity College in Dublin/RADA. He is the current artistic director of Cascadia Theatre Company and is an associate member
of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Judah Frijole Juárez, she/her (Sound Engineer), is proud to be a sound engineer this season. She is studying Arts Administration and Spanish with a minor in Music. Previously at UP she created the sound design for These Shining Lives and Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. When she is not working in the theatre, she is working as a live sound engineer on campus and around Portland.
Larry Larsen, he/him (Lighting Design), has been involved with theater since 5th grade when he played Schroder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Larry has been the scenic and lighting design faculty for the University’s Theater Program for 31 years. Larry has also served as the Chair of the Department of Performing and Fine Arts and as an Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and is currently the Director of the Theater Program. Larry’s designs for last year’s shows included the lighting for Peter and the Starcatcher, and scenery for These Shining Lives and The Prom. Larry has been working professionally as a scenic and lighting designer in Portland since 1988 when he moved to town to be the Design Associate for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival –Portland. His current design work included Five Golden Rings at Broadway Rose Theatre Co., Nordic Fire for Portland Revels for whom he has been the resident scenic designer since 2001, and lights for The Maltese Falcon at Lakewood Theatre Co. Over the years he has designed shows at Artists Repertory Theatre, Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Northwest Children’s Theatre, Mocks Crest Light Opera for which he was the Producing Artistic Director, Portland Actors Conservatory, Portland Civic Theatre, Portland Repertory Theatre, Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival/ Portland. He has an
MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Washington.
Rowan Lowery, he/him (Sound Design), is a sophomore Arts Administration and Theater dual major. Outside of working on theater productions he is also involved in Choir and Orchestra on campus. He enjoys spending time in nature, exploring and doing photography.
Riya Mathew, she/they (Dramaturg), is a second-year Cell & Molecular Biology Major and Neuroscience Studies Minor passionate about all things in performing fine arts. She was especially excited about The Effect for the way it encapsulated her two loves of neuroscience and theatre; she's very grateful this powerful show got to be her dramaturgical debut. Previously at UP, Riya was in the ensemble of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, Shelby in The Prom, and Boy/Peter in Peter and the Starcatcher. Riya would like to thank Director Andy Christensen for bringing her into this project and allowing her to collaborate with the talented cast and artistic team to bring this moving show about love, loss, and the brain together.
Kayla Matsuoka, she/her (Production Technician) is a first-year double major in psychology and arts administration (with a theater emphasis) from San Jose, CA. She loves crocheting 3D amigurumi animals, singing along to musicals, and hanging out with friends. She is a huge extrovert and loves grabbing boba or going on a walk with those around her. She has always loved acting and is continuing her passion here at UP, with her most recent onstage performance being You Can See All The Stars as Kim Barrington. Throughout her onstage career, she has also loved the roles of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Clytemnestra from The Oresteia, and Little Becky Two Shoes in Urinetown. However, her love of theater goes
beyond the stage, as she has also been a part of tech in a variety of roles, including Assistant Director of Mamma Mia, Stage Manager for Trap, and Assistant Mic Master in Jesus Christ Superstar. She is so glad her love of theater has brought her this amazing UP community, and she hopes the next 3.5 years will be full of fun, joy, and art. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Lucy Prebble, she/her (Playwright), is a writer for film, television, games and theatre. Lucy is Co-Executive Producer and writer on the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning HBO drama Succession, for which she has also won a WGA Award. For theatre, Lucy has written the political and emotional meta-thriller A Very Expensive Poison, which was a huge five-star hit for the Old Vic in 2019 and Olivier nominated for Best New Play. It won the Critics Circle Award for Best New Play and Best New Production of a Play at the Broadway World Awards. Before that, The Effect, a study of love and neuroscience, was performed at the National Theatre and also won the Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play. Lucy also writes video games and is fascinated by new technology and storytelling. She contributes to major publications as a journalist and wrote a weekly Tech column for the Observer newspaper. In games, she was Head Scene Writer for Bungie’s massively successful first-person shooter video game, Destiny.
Zora Richardson, she/they (Assistant Stage Manager), is a Theater and Arts Administration major from The Dalles, OR. Their recent roles include Angie in The Prom and Ensemble in Peter and the Starcatcher. You may have also seen her galavanting about the Portland parks with Original Practice Shakespeare Festival over the summer. When not onstage, Zora loves hiking, baking, and watching RuPaul's Drag Race with her roommates. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Aly Romero, she/her (Assistant Stage Manager), is a second year Elementary Education and Theater Performance major from Anchorage, Alaska. She has been performing since she was three and has been a part of theatre since elementary school. After the head first introduction to tech being an ASM for TML, Aly wanted to venture back stage once more for The Effect. On state her recent roles include: Stage Directions in You Can See All the Stars, Mack/Ensemble in Peter and the Starcatcher, and Molly in Agatha Christie’s The Mouse Trap. In her very little free time, Aly enjoys singing, songwriting, thrifting, and relaxing with her dog. She hopes y’all enjoy the show!
Ana Seisdedos, she/her (Assistant Director), is very grateful to be assistant directing the Oregon state premiere of The Effect alongside Andy Christensen. Ana has been an actor for the past 6 years and this is her first time directing and she is glad it’s at UP. You might’ve seen her as Ronnie Grissom in You Can See All The Stars earlier this season or as sound board operator in Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. Continue to look out for her in future performances as she pursues her BA in Theater here at UP. She thanks her family and friends for their unconditional support. Eu amo todos vocês. Enjoy The Effect!
Parielle Shapard, she/her (Production Technician), is a Vancouver School of Arts and Academics graduate. She is passionate about stage management, photography and directing. She is majoring in Theatre, and this will be her third show at UP! Enjoy the show :)
Tyler Smith, he/him (Scenic Design), is an award winning designer, technical designer, and project manager with a variety of experience in the education, experiential marketing, regional theater, and custom fabrication industries. Tyler earned his MFA in
theater technology from the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign in 2001 and has taught at many large university theater programs including University of Arizona, University of Central Florida and his alma mater, UIUC. He has also served as a LORT Technical Director for Studio Arena Theater and the Milwaukee Rep. His background includes Project Management in the construction industry building performing arts centers, theaters, cafetoriums, concert halls and upgrading safety systems for roller coasters. Tyler spends his free time with his wife Tracey and their three nearly delightful cats Oso, Raven, and Tesla.
Branna Sundy, she/they (Projection Operator), is very excited to be in the booth for her first time at UP, getting her grubby mitts on the projection operations. They've done a lot of onstage stuff (too much? nah) and was most recently in the theatre club production of VHS Christmas Carol. You can often catch them somersaulting away from social situations, as ideally you will somersault towards experiencing more UP theatre. They hope you find meaning in the messy, blended beauty of science & art & love & existence. Peace and all that. Free Palestine.
Theater Faculty in Alphabetical Order
Andy Christensen
Directing
Larry Larsen
Theater Design
Mindi Logan Acting and Voice
Gregory Pulver
Costume and Makeup Design
Production Staff
Technical Director
Tyler Smith
Costume Studio Manager
Amanda Cardwell-Aiken
Light Board Operator
Jennele Josias
Projection Operator
Branna Sundy
Sound Board Operator
Amber Beeks
Sound Engineer
Judah Juarez
Automation Operator
Am Blank
Wardrobe Manager
Leah Reed
Dresser
Lily Wride
Production Technicians
Kayla Matsuoka, Parielle Shapard
Box Office Manager
Tre Shearer
House Manager
Mindi Logan
Ushers
Itzayana Chavez-Paniagua, Monae Cuellar, Fiona Haselton
OCTOBER 2-6, 2024
LEWIS BY MARTYNA MAJOK
OCTOBER 24-26, 2024
NOVEMBER 13-17, 20-24, 2024
FEBRUARY 19-23, 2025
