ARTISTIC DIRECTORS Dorothy O’Shea Overbey | Gesel Mason NOVEMBER 12–16 AT 7:30 P.M. NOVEMBER 16–17 AT 2:00 P.M.
B. IDEN PAYNE THEATRE F. LOREN WINSHIP BUILDING
THEATREDANCE.UTEXAS.EDU
DANCE
CHOREOGRAPHER
have you seen me? what do you know about ghosts? Nostalgia Renaissance Futura Sinfonia Sunrise – Sunset
Khorii Tinson Libby Carr and Mackenzie Lawrence Elijah Alhadji Gibson Gesel Mason Dorothy O’Shea Overbey Rena Butler and Manuel Vignoulle
Stage Manager: Yessmeen Moharram Technical Director: David Tolin Production Coordinator: Georgina Garza
The Department of Theatre and Dance is a world-class educational environment that serves as the ultimate creative incubator for the next generation of artists, thinkers and leaders in theatre and performance.
COVER PHOTO: LAWRENCE PEART
There will be one 10-minute intermission. The videotaping, photography or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 2019 edition of Fall For Dance, presented by Dance Repertory Theatre, the performing ensemble of B.F.A., B.A. and M.F.A. in Dance artists within the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin. This fall we are thrilled to host three internationally celebrated guest artists: 2019 Princess Grace Award winner Rena Butler; Manuel Vignoulle, veteran of Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet; and Elijah Alhadji Gibson, founder of Social Movement Contemporary Dance. Faculty choreographer Gesel Mason seeks to depict a sisterhood that values courage, vulnerability and belonging in defiance of outdated social norms and violence toward “the other.” Dorothy O’Shea Overbey teams up with the new chamber music group Austin Camerata to meditate on the life of an artist making work in the context of a socially and politically oppressive environment. The works in this concert comment on past, present and future, examining how we as individuals and as a community respond to each other, ourselves and our surroundings. As always, the process of preparing for this concert has been a transformative process for the artists involved and we hope that our growth as artists and citizens brings life and energy to this pivotal cultural moment.
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have you seen me? Choreography: Khorii Tinson Costume Designer: Aaron Kubacak Lighting Designer: Amber Whatley Rehearsal Assistant: Azari Sumbler Production Assistant: Jodi DeAngelis Cast: Hanna Bailey, Cellise Brown, Georgina Garza, Atticus Griffin, Matthew James, Tori Loper, Madelyn Manlove, Briah Napier, Skylar Phan, Carolina Azteca Sirius, Emily Tolson Understudies: Allison Hamauei, Azari Sumbler From the Choreographer “If found today, [name] would be __ years old.” have you seen me? began as a night with my friends where all of our phones lit up with an amber alert and created a dead, unsettling silence. One of my friends told us to think about how people who go missing eventually just end up as another name on “the long list of missing persons”. This piece morphs concepts of parallel lives, bystanders of taken peoples, genuine group efforts, and the idea of disguising yourself amongst like-predators.
what do you know about ghosts? Choreography and Text: Libby Carr and Mackenzie Lawrence in collaboration with the dancers. Music: Heaven by Jenny Hval (Apocalypse, girl) Costume Designer: Aaron Kubacak Lighting Designer: Amber Whatley Rehearsal Assistant: Emma Steelman Production Assistant: Lizzy Blade Cast: Lindsay Ball, Ivana Castañeda, Bridget Caston, Andreina Hurtado, Mykaela Johnson, Myrah Porter, Taylor Schmuelgen, Ashley Stone From the Choreographer “I have heard all of the stories about girls like me, and I am unafraid to make more of them.” —Carmen Maria Machado, Her Body and Other Parties
NOSTALGIA Choreography: Elijah Alhadji Gibson Music: Gooey by Glass Animals; Cocoa Hooves by Glass Animals; Intruxx by Glass Animals; [Premade Sandwiches] by Glass Animals; Pools by Glass Animals; Youth by Glass Animals Costume Designer: Aaron Kubacak Lighting Designer: Amber Whatley Rehearsal Assistant: Matthew James Production Assistant: Makiah Galan Cast: Hanna Bailey, Kennedy Cannon, David Cruz, Greyland Goff, Avery Moore, Briah Napier, Skylar Phan, Khorii Tinson, Sarah Wales, Kayla White Understudies: Cellise Brown, Makiah Galan From the Choreographer I was just thinking about you‌ Remember all the moments for two? How we used to? Oh yeah! But the reality, honestly, you were never good for me and I was never good for you. I just remember what we used to do.
RENAISSANCE FUTURA Choreography and Text: Gesel Mason in collaboration with the dancers Music: Original music by Jovan Landry Text: Includes excerpts from The New York Times and Brené Brown Costume Designer: Harold Horsley Lighting Designer: Amber Whatley Dramaturg: Taylor Schmuelgen Rehearsal Assistant: Allison Hamauei Production Assistant: Mackenzie Lawrence Cast: Kelsey Bacic, Hanna Bailey, Mykaela Johnson, Avery Moore, Briah Napier, Addison Norman, Myrah Porter, Ciera Ray, Carolina Azteca Sirias, Khorii Tinson, Emily Tolson, Kayla White Understudies: Kialond Bronson-Smith, Hanna Bailey, Briah Napier From the Choreographer For Renaissance Futura, I asked the cast to consider: Who would you be if you had nothing to worry about? How would you move through the world if you could be “who you really are” without fear of retaliation or reprisal? What might you create? Inspired by recent events and our personal stories, I sought to depict a sisterhood that valued courage, vulnerability and belonging in defiance of outdated social norms and violence toward “the other.” In what feels like a pivotal cultural moment, how might we imagine a 21st century renaissance?
INTERMISSION
SINFONIA Choreography: Dorothy O’Shea Overbey Music: Chamber Symphony for Strings in C minor, Op. 110a, Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) Costume Designer: Court Rogers Lighting Designer: Amber Whatley Scenic and Projection Designer: Jesse Easdon Rehearsal Assistant: Lindsay Ball Production Assistant: Bridget Caston Cast: Brooke Bower, Cellise Brown, Kennedy Cannon, Katherine Cornell, Greyland Goff, Atticus Griffin, Matthew James, Sarah Wales Understudies: Lindsay Ball, Bridget Caston, Ana Samantha Rosas-Mantilla, Gracyn Womeldorph Musicians: Ji-Yeon Lee (Violin, Concertmaster), Brian Choi (Violin), Sophie Verhaeghe (Violin), Ruth Chang (Violin), Nick Hammel (Viola), Ruben Balboa III (Viola), Cory Blais (Cello), Daniel Kopp (Cello), DoYoun Kim (Bass) From the Choreographer With this work, we honor the life and legacy of composer Dmitri Shostakovich, who, like countless artists throughout history, pursued his life’s work in the context of a socially, politically, psychologically oppressive environment. Throughout his career, Shostakovich fell in and out of favor with the Soviet State. Friends, relatives and family members were imprisoned and executed during the Great Terror of 1936, the same year Stalin personally denounced Shostakovich for an opera which was non-traditional in style. As this composition translates fear and uncertainty into music of unmitigated beauty, the dancers meditate on the journey from oppression and isolation to community and freedom.
SUNRISE – SUNSET PART I: SUNRISE Choreography: Rena Butler Costume Designer: Harold Horsley Lighting Designer: Amber Whatley Projection Designer: John Erickson Rehearsal Assistant: Andreina Hurtado, Millie Heckler Production Assistant: Ana Samantha Rosas-Mantilla Cast: Hanna Bailey, Lindsay Ball, Kennedy Cannon, Katherine Cornell, Georgina Garza, Greyland Goff, Matthew James, Tori Loper, Briah Napier, Emily Tolson, Kayla White From the Choreographer This work is about the uphill journey of life and the ways in which we find connectivity and coincidence as we push onward and upward.
PART II: – Choreography: Rena Butler and Manuel Vignoulle From the Choreographer The picture of the journey or an indispensable moment of self-actualization.
PART III: SUNSET Choreography: Manuel Vignoulle Costume Designer: Court Rogers Lighting Designer: Amber Whatley Projection Designer: Zoey Crow Rehearsal Assistant: Kialond Bronson-Smith Production Assistant: Lily Collins Cast: Kelsey Bacic, Makiah Galan, Atticus Griffin, Mackenzie Lawrence, Madelyn Manlove, Avery Moore, Addison Norman, Myrah Porter, Ciera Ray, Ashley Stone, Sarah Wales From the Choreographer On the downhill journey of life, natural forces affect us both physically and mentally. We may feel stronger and wiser, but also more hesitant and vulnerable. Eager to live each moment to its fullest extent, we share passionately with others and hope to leave an invisible trace in their hearts.
CREATIVE Lizzy Blade (Production Assistant – what do you know about ghosts?) is a first-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, she started dance training at age 14 at the Dancer’s EDGE She has trained in multiple genres including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop and tumbling and has participated in numerous intensives and conventions. Recent credits include Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019), Evolution and Dance Action’s S.E.E.D. as well as World of Dance Dallas with Redefined Dance Company.
interested in the intersection between hyperrealism, movement storytelling and devised theatre.
Rena Butler (Choreographer – Sunrise) hails from Chicago, Ilinois. She has danced in companies including Kyle Abraham/Abraham. In.Motion, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, David Dorfman Dance, Manuel Vignoulle/M-Motions and The Kevin Wynn Collection. Butler trained at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, studied overseas at Taipei National University of the Arts in Taiwan and received her B.F.A. from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. Butler's choreography has been presented at The New Orleans Museum of Modern Art in collaboration with Academy Award-winning jazz composer, Terrence Blanchard and CHTV Stories in Switzerland, among others. Butler currently serves on the consortium for Chicago Dancemakers Forum. In addition to dancing in the company, Butler is HSDC’s Choreographic Fellow and a 2019 Prince Grace Award Winner for Choreography.
Zoey Crow (Projection Designer – Sunset) is a first-year M.F.A. in Design and Technology candidate with a focus in integrated media for live performance. She received a B.A. in Theatre Design and Production with a focus in media design and filmmaking practices from Arizona State University. Previous credits include Six Stories Tall (ASU), The Magic Flute (ASU Lyric Opera Theatre) and multiple student written plays. Crow has also worked as an assistant video designer for the musical Heartbreak Hotel (Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse) and a production of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass (ASU Gammage). Most recently, she served as the assistant projection designer for 12 Ophelias (a play with broken songs) (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019).
Libby Carr (Co-Choreographer – what do you know about ghosts?) is a third-year B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in playwriting and directing at The University of Texas at Austin. Most recently, their work has been featured in Revolve: A Movement Display in collaboration with Mackenzie Lawrence and Taylor Schmuelgen, as well as at Ground Floor Theatre (Austin). Carr’s first play, Gay Bootcamp, was staged as part of The Cohen New Works Festival (2019) and Express Yourself Theater (Madison, Wisconsin). Their play transom, cowritten with Lane Stanley, recently premiered at Austin’s Ground Floor Theatre. They are
Lily Collins (Production Assistant – Sunset) started studying dance at the age of five under Eugene Slavin. She performed in many of Slavin’s works and participated in his preprofessional studio company. Upon his passing, Collins continued her training at Ballet Arts of Austin, appearing in original works by director Lori Benold. Collins is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin.
Jodi DeAngelis (Production Assistant – have you seen me?) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has danced with Ruidoso Dance ensemble and Ballet Pensacola before coming to Austin in the fall of 2018. DeAngelis is inspired by finding the intention of movement and enjoys exploring beyond the technical structure of dance by expanding her own artistic boundaries. Jesse Easdon (Scenic and Projection Designer) is an M.F.A. in Design and Technology candidate with a focus in integrated media for live performance at The University of Texas at Austin. Easdon grew up in Branson, Missouri, later moving to Florida where he attended EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University and majored in
CREATIVE electrical engineering. For the past 10 years, Easdon has led projects that help bridge the gap between engineering and theatre and for the last two years, he has been researching XR (extended reality) and its impact on engagement at UT. He has recently consulted leading tech companies and lectured around the world on XR and audience engagement.
from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. In 1999, Gibson joined the world-renowned Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago where he toured nationally and internationally for eight years. Gibson has been on faculty at Shenandoah University, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, and Sam Houston State University. Gibson has dabbled in every aspect of the arts.
John Erickson (Projection Designer – Sunrise) is a M.F.A. in Design and Technology candidate with a focus in integrated media for live performance. Since graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in theatre and media studies he has worked in NYC and internationally. Design credits include Less Than 50% (59 E 559 Theatre), The Signature Project (The Sheen Center), Cracked Orlando (Julliard Center for Innovation). Associate design credits include Be More Chill (Lyceum Theatre), The Magnetic Fields: 50 Song Memoir (International Tour) and Fireflies (The Atlantic Theatre). Programming credits include Bang On a Can All Stars: Road Trip (National Tour), Mima’s Tale (The Public Theatre) and Bridgman Packer Dance (Baltic Dance Festival).
Millie Heckler (Rehearsal Assistant – Sunrise), originally from Vermont, toured with Street Dance Theater pioneer, Rennie Harris, both nationally and internationally and currently dances for the acclaimed afro-contemporary company, Charles O. Anderson/dance theater X. Currently pursuing a M.F.A. in Dance at The University of Texas at Austin, Heckler’s artistic work centers on multi-disciplinary performance, collaborative art making and equitable community dialogue. She will be premiering an original, evening-length dance work alongside her first music album in Spring 2020.
Georgina Garza (Production Coordinator; Dancer – have you seen me?, Sunrise) is a fourth-year B.A. in Dance and Computer Science double major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has performed in Europe with Diverse Space Youth Dance Theatre (DSYDT) under the direction of Toni Bravo, locally with Andrea Torres Dance Company (ATDC) under the direction of Dre Torres and participated in S.E.E.D. (Dance Action). She has recently performed in Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fall For Dance (2018) and Fortitude (2019). Elijah Alhadji Gibson (Choreographer – Nostalgia) is the founder and Artistic Director of Social Movement Contemporary Dance. Originally from San Diego, California, he attended the San Diego School for the Performing Arts. Mr. Gibson continued his education at Sam Houston State University under the direction of Dana Nicolay and received his Master of Fine Arts in Dance
Aaron Kubacak (Costume Designer – have you seen me?, Nostalgia, what do you know about ghosts?) received his undergraduate degree in Radio-Television-Film from The University of Texas at Austin in 2001 and is currently a M.F.A. in Design and Technology candidate with a focus in costume design. Recent credits include Flora Circular (UTNT (UT New Theatre), 2019), Dance Repertory Theatre’s Momentum (2017) and Transcendence (2018); The Crucible (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2017); Performance as Public Practice Graduate Student Alliance’s Telephone (2017) and Mr. Burns, a post-electric play (2018); Henry VIII (Texas Ballet Theater, 2018). akubdesigns.com Mackenzie Lawrence (Co-Choreographer – what do you know about ghosts?; Production Assistant – Renaissance Futura; Dancer - Sunset) is a fourthyear UTeach Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and Gibney Dance in New York, New York. Recent credits include Ether Junk (ARCOS Dance, 2019) and Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019). Her work recently
CREATIVE premiered at The Cohen New Works Festival (2019) and Revolve: A Movement Display (2019). Gesel Mason (Co-Artistic Director, Choreographer – Renaissance Futura) joined the Department of Theatre and Dance as an Associate Professor of Dance Fall 2018. She is the artistic director for Gesel Mason Performance Projects and was a member of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and Ralph Lemon/Cross Performance Projects. Mason’s solo performance project, No Boundaries: Dancing the Visions of Contemporary Black Choreographers, has featured the work of Kyle Abraham, Robert Battle, Rennie Harris, Dianne McIntyre, Donald McKayle, Bebe Miller, David Rousséve, Reggie Wilson, Andrea E. Woods Valdéz and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Recently featured on NPR, Dance Magazine and Google Arts and Culture, No Boundaries is evolving into a digital humanities archive to illuminate the unique legacies and aesthetics of these prominent choreographers. A 2019 Rauschenburg artist in residence, Mason’s work has been supported by the Kennedy Center, American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, National Endowment for the Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts, National Performance Network and numerous colleges and universities. geselmason.com Yessmeen Moharam (Stage Manager) is a thirdyear B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in stage management also pursuing a minor in arts management and administration. She recently worked as the stage manager for Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fall For Dance (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018), Wellesley Girl and served as the assistant stage manager for ENRON (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018). This summer, she made her producing debut with the film Dear Leo. Moharram is also the fine arts representative in Student Government, the social communications co-chair in United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the vice president of the Fine Arts Council. Dorothy O’Shea Overbey (Co-Artistic Director, Choreographer - Sinfonia) is in her sixth year
on faculty in the Dance Area. Founder of Red Nightfall Productions and Artistic Advisor at Ventana Ballet, Overbey is interested in using emerging technologies to expand the reach of the performing arts while creating artistic communities that are inclusive, innovative, democratic, and collaborative. A native of Alaska, Overbey came to Austin at a young age. She studied classical piano with Professor Emeritus at the Butler School of Music Amanda Vick Lethco and trained with Ballet Austin, dancing corps de ballet roles from the age of 14. After receiving a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and B.A. in Philosophy from SMU, she danced with a variety of classical and contemporary companies in Colorado, California and New York. While in New York, Overbey studied at the Atlantic Theatre School and appeared in commercials, indie films and as a dancer in the film Black Swan. Overbey is currently choreographing and co-producing an immersive dance/theatre re-imagining of The Nutcracker entitled The Watchmaker’s Song, opening at The Neill-Cochran House Museum in December. Court Rogers (Costume Designer – Sinfonia, Sunset) is a first-year M.F.A. in Design and Technology candidate with a focus in costume design. Previous design credits include What’s Wrong with Alice (ISOMATA), King Henry V (ISOMATA), Swamp Dance Fest 18’ (University of Florida), as well numerous short films through CampusMovieFest. Emma Steelman (Rehearsal Assistant – what do you know about ghosts?) is a third-year UTeach Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She began training as a young dancer at Ballet San Antonio and has most recently studied with artists Daria Neidre and Sidra Bell. Recent credits include Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019) and Evolution (2019). Khorii Tinson (Choreographer - have you seen me?; Dancer – Nostalgia, Renaissance Futura) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Dance major originally from Washington state. Upon joining Dance Repertory Theatre, Tinson has performed in works by renowned dance artists including Rennie Harris,
CREATIVE Charles O. Anderson, Gesel Mason, Courtney Mazeika and Jenn Freeman, among others. Most recently, Tinson performed in DOPEFIT! (Two Weekends of Tap Dance at the Carver), a piece centered around the authenticity of blackness, choreographed by Michael J. Love and Kaitlyn B. Jones. Upon graduation in May of 2020, Tinson plans to move to Seattle, Washington, begin freelance work and continue her dance training. David Tolin (Technical Director) was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. He attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he received his B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in design/technology. In 2006, he interned with Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère (Treasure Island) and served as a stagehand for Desert Entertainment for several concerts, productions and events across Las Vegas. He received his M.F.A. in Scenic Technology from The University of Texas at Austin before teaching at Westlake High School for seven years. Tolin joined the staff of the Department of Theatre and Dance in 2017. Manuel Vignoulle (Choreographer – Sunset) a native of France, Vignoulle is an award-winning choreographer and the artistic director of Manuelle Vignoulle – M/motions, a project-based company based in New York. He studied at The Conservatoire National Supérieur de Danse de Paris and went on to work with different French contemporary companies including Claude Brumachon, Corinne Lanselle and Bernardo Montet. Vignoulle’s work has been performed in France, Switzerland, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Canada and the United States and has been commissioned by Ailey II, Whim W’Him, Satellite Collective, 10 Hairy Legs, DanceWorks Chicago, ABT soloist Alexandre Hammoudi’s Makers Dance Company, Chicago Repertory Ballet, The Ailey School and Antigel Festival. He is the recipient of two Grand Prize Awards at the 20th Anniversary and the 21st edition of McCallum Theatre Choreography Festival (Palm Desert, California) with BLACK & WHITE (2017) and EARTH (2018).
Amber Whatley (Lighting Designer) currently holds a B.F.A. in Projection Design with a concentration in lighting from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. She is currently honing her skills in design, drafting and programming as a M.F.A. in Design and Technology candidate with a focus in lighting design at The University of Texas at Austin. Whatley spent the past summer programming for the Pacific Conservatory Theater (Santa Maria, California). Recent design credits include black do crack (Ground Floor Theatre) and Blast Force Turbo, for which she received a SCAD Ovation award for best media design.
CAST
Kelsey Bacic
Hanna Bailey
Lindsay Ball
Alexandra Behar
Lizzy Blade
Brooke Bower
Kialond Bronson-Smith
Cellise Brown
Kennedy Cannon
Ivana CastaĂąeda
Bridget Caston
Lillian Collins
Katherine Cornell
David Cruz
Jodi DeAngelis
Makiah Galan
Georgina Garza
Greyland Goff
Atticus Griffin
Allison Hamauei
Madelyn Manlove
Avery Moore
Ciera Ray
Ana Samantha Rosas-Mantilla
Azari Sumbler
Khorii Tinson
Andreina Hurtado
Matthew James
Mykaela Johnson
Mackenzie Lawrence
Tori Loper
Addison Norman
Skylar Phan
Myrah Porter
Taylor Schmuelgen
Carolina Sirias
Emma Steelman
Ashley Stone
Emily Tolson
Sarah Wales
Kayla White
Gracyn Womeldorph
Briah Napier
CAST Kelsey Bacic (Renaissance Futura, Sunset) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major with a minor in both business foundations and arts management and administration. She was born and raised in Plano, Texas and attended Plano West Senior High School. This is Bacic’s second year performing with Dance Repertory Theatre. Previous credits include Fall For Dance (2018), Fortitude (2019), Evolution (2019) and numerous performances presented by Dance Action's S.E.E.D. Hanna Bailey (have you seen me?, Nostalgia, u/s Renaissance Futura) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major. She has been dancing since age four and has studied a variety of dance styles. Throughout her dance career, she had the opportunity to work with worldrenowned choreographers including Broadway choreographer Kelli Barclay, Richard D’Alton, Raphael Xavier and Kirsten Russell. Recent credits include Fortitude, Spillage (The Cohen New Works Festival, 2019) and Evolution (2019). Lindsay Ball (what do you know about ghosts?, Sunrise, u/s Sinfonia) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She grew up in Sacramento, California and spent time training with the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Summer Lee Rhatigan. Recent credits include Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fortitude, Repairsive Objectification (Revolve) and Denial of the Fittest (The Cohen New Works Festival, 2019). Brooke Bower (Sinfonia) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has trained with Dance Theater Southwest and Magnify Dance Center, where she was featured in The Nutcracker, Firebird, Dracula, Coppelia, Christmas Joy, Balanchine’s Serenade, and Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie. She has also trained at Alonzo King LINES, the Rock School for Dance Education, Jillana’s and with Long Beach Ballet Company (China). This will be her second season performing with Dance Repertory Theatre. Kialond Bronson-Smith (u/s Renaissance Futura) is a UTeach Dance major at The University of
Texas at Austin. She began dance training at the age of 18. Recent credits include Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019) and The Cohen New Works Festival (2019) as a choreographer, artistic director and co-creator. Cellise Brown (have you seen me?, Sinfonia, u/s Nostalgia) is a second-year UTeach Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Originally from Katy, Texas, Brown has participated in numerous summer intensives, including Complexations Contemporary Ballet, Boston Ballet and Joffrey Ballet. She has earned an Intermediate Certificate from the Royal Academy of Dance, as well as a certificate for Grades One and Two in Cecchetti Ballet. Recent credits include Fortitude and Evolution. Kennedy Cannon (Nostalgia, Renaissance Futura, Sinfonia, Sunrise) is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She is currently a second-year B.F.A. in Dance double majoring in pre-occupational therapy at The University of Texas at Austin. Cannon has been dancing since the age of two and has been attending the Dallas Black Dance Theatre since the age of six. Cannon has been in three performing ensembles performing all over the metroplex and nation. Ivana Castañeda (what do you know about ghosts?) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Castañeda graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She has a background in various dance styles including African, flamenco, contemporary, ballet and latin ballroom. She has been to several summer intensives including Complexions Summer Intensive and recently attended the Dance Education Laboratory in New York City. Recent credits include Fall for Dance (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018), Revolve, Evolution and Transcendence (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018). Bridget Caston (what do you know about ghosts?, u/s Sinfonia; Production Assistant Sinfonia) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major
CAST and B.B.A. in Marketing major at The University of Texas at Austin. She began her dance training in Fort Worth, Texas at age five and later studied at Dian Clough West Dance Studio. Caston also spent extensive time training under former New York City Ballet principal dancer Jillana in Taos, New Mexico, as well as the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive Program. Her recent credits include Evolution (2019), Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019) and S.E.E.D. (Dance Action, 2018).
includes ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap and musical theater. He was previously seen in the 2018 production of Fall For Dance performing in works by Gregory Dolbashian, Addison Norman and Dorothy Overbey.
Katherine Cornell (Sinfonia, Sunrise) is a thirdyear B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin also pursuing a degree in business. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, she has an extensive background in ballet, modern, jazz and contemporary dance. In summer 2019, Cornell attended Hubbard Street’s Choreographic Intensive in Chicago and trained at the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam.
Atticus Griffin (have you seen me?, Sinfonia, Sunset) began his formal dance training at the age of 18 in Fort Worth, Texas. He continues to train in dance performance and choreography at the University of Texas at Austin, and he plans to graduate in the spring of 2020. He has worked with award-winning choreographers Charles Anderson, Sidra Bell and Gregory Dolbashian, among many others. During his time at UT, he has also worked as a freelance dancer around Texas, performing with Ballet Concerto, Chamacos Dance Company, NobleMotion Dance and Ventana Ballet. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in contemporary dance as a performer and choreographer.
David Cruz (Nostalgia) is a fourth-year B.F.A in Dance and B.S.A in Biology major at The University of Texas at Austin. He began his professional dance career in 2017, receiving training from Charles O. Anderson, Sara L. Paul and Lyn C. Wiltshire. Cruz has since worked with choreographers including Sidra Bell, Ray Eliott Schwartz and Andee Scott in Fall For Dance (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018) and Transcendence (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018). cruzdanceprojects.wixsite.com/website
Allison Hamauei (u/s have you seen me?) is a second-year B.F.A. Dance Major. Since the age of four, she has trained in a variety of styles and genres, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop. Hamauei has worked with choreographers including Erica Gionfriddo, Charles O. Anderson, Chaz Buzan, Scott Jovovich and Johnathan Campbell. Recent credits include Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019) and Evolution. Her work will be presented Dance Action’s upcoming S.E.E.D. performance.
Makiah Galan (Sunset, u/s Nostalgia; Production Assistant - Nostalgia) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. He graduated from The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. Galan has previously attended a community dance program called Xcape where he performed in Take the Stage in Emmaus, Musikfest, Sportsfest, Scottish Rite and Sands Casino.
Andreina Hurtado (what do you know about ghosts?) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has extensive training in classical ballet and focuses mainly on contemporary movement. She has been a part of Dance Repertory Theatre since spring 2018 and has been seen in multiple Dance Action’s S.E.E.D. performances.
Greyland Goff (Nostalgia, Sinfonia, Sunrise) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, his previous dance training
Matthew James (have you seen me?, Sinfonia, Sunrise) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major pursuing a minor in arts management and administration at The University of Texas at Austin. Coming from Fort Worth, Texas, he
CAST previously trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, hip hop and tap. He has worked with choreographers Charles O. Anderson, Raphael Xavier and Bridget Moore, among others and was most recently seen in Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019). Mykaela Johnson (Renaissance Futura, what do you know about ghosts?) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major pursuing a minor in educational psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. She attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas and trained with Dallas Black Dance Theater and Ozsoy’s School of Ballet. Johnson has worked with choreographers Rennie Harris, Kervin Douthit-Boyd, Gesel Mason and Erica Gionfriddo, among others. Tori Loper (have you seen me?, Sunrise) is a third-year UTeach Dance major pursuing a minor in business at The University of Texas at Austin. Recently, she has trained alongside and performed works by Gesel Mason, Gregory Dolbashion, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Sandra OrganSolis, Abby Loper and Andie Duong, among others. She has also choreographed for and performed student works in S.E.E.D, Revolve: A Movement Display, and various other student led projects. Loper has recently been seen in Fall For Dance (2018), Fortitude (2019), The Cohen New Works Festival (2019) and Evolution (2019). Madelyn Manlove (have you seen me?, Sunset) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major pursuing a minor in kinesiology at The University of Texas at Austin. She has been dancing since the age of three in San Antonio, Texas and has been seen in Dance Repertory Theatre’s Transcendence (2018), Fall For Dance (2018) and Fortitude (2019), working with Rennie Harris, Gregory Dolbashian and Kirven Douthit-Boyd, among others. Avery Moore (Nostalgia, Renaissance Futura, Sunset) is a third-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Her background in dance includes attending The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in
Houston, Texas where she trained with many choreographers. She has previously been featured in works by Rennie Harris, Sidra Bell, Gregory Dolbashian, Madison Hicks and Kirven Douthit-Boyd, among others. Briah Napier (have you seen me?, Nostalgia, Sunrise, u/s Renaissance Futura) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Napier is from Houston, Texas and is a graduate from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she worked and trained with various choreographers and dance faculty members. She has been seen in Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019) and has been featured and involved in works by Charles O. Anderson, Erica Gionfriddo and Bridget Moore, among others. Addison Norman (Renaissance Futura, Sunset) is a B.F.A. in Dance and B.S. in Exercise Science double major at The University of Texas at Austin. Norman attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and has attended summer programs at Northwest Dance Project and The American Dance Festival. Norman has worked with choreographers Yin Yue, Dwight Rhoden, Robert Battle, Sidra Bell, Bridget Moore, Gregory Dolbashian, Gesel Mason, Rennie Harris, Courtney Mazeika, Charles O. Anderson and Jennifer Freeman, among others. She has also choreographed for Fall for Dance (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018), Evolution (2019) and multiple performances as part of Dance Action’s S.E.E.D. Skylar Phan (have you seen me?, Nostalgia) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University Of Texas Austin. Phan hails from Carrollton, Texas and is a graduate from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts where she was mentored by several professional dancers and choreographers. Phan has been training in the areas of ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, modern and hip hop for almost 12 years. She has been seen in Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019) performing works by choreographers Charles O. Anderson, Erica
CAST Gionfriddo and Bridget Moore, among others. Myrah Porter (Renaissance Futura, what do you know about ghosts?, Sunset) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Dance major originally from Houston, Texas where she attended Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Recent credits include Fall for Dance (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018), Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019) and in various other projects on campus. Ciera Ray (Renaissance Futura, Sunset) is a second-year B.F.A in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has previously trained at Dallas Black Dance Academy and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts with dance honors. This will be Ray’s first performance with Dance Repertory Theatre. Ana Samantha Rosas-Mantilla (u/s Sinfonia; Production Assistant - Sunrise) is a UTeach Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has trained in various forms of dance and has an extensive background of ballet training with El Paso Ballet Theatre. Rosas-Mantilla has recently performed with Dance Action, Ventana Ballet’s The Watchmaker’s Song and in Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019). Taylor Schmuelgen (what do you know about ghosts?; Dramaturg – Renaissance Futura) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Dance major also pursuing a B.S. in Exercise Science and a minor in arts management and administration at The University of Texas at Austin. Schmuelgen has been a member of Dance Repertory Theatre since 2017. Her choreography was recently presented as part of The Cohen New Works Festival (2019), Evolution (2019) and Revolve: A Movement Display. Carolina Azteca Sirias (have you seen me?, Renaissance Futura) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Dance major also pursuing a B.S. in Applied Movement Science and a certificate in computer science at The University of Texas at Austin. Her choreography has been show-
cased at FutureTraditions Festival (2019) and The Cohen New Works Festival (2019). Currently, she is working on a piece entitled 39 Inside, an immigrant story presented through collaboration with Butler School of Music. Ashley Stone (what do you know about ghosts?, Sunset) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. A Houston native, Stone studied ballet from The Royal Academy of Dance and has attended several summer intensives, including The American Ballet Theatre and The Joffrey Ballet Academy. She has performed a number of classical ballet variations from Coppélia, Don Quixote and The Nutcracker. Previous credits include Dance Repertory Theatre’s Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019). Azari Sumbler (u/s have you seen me?) is a B.A. in Theatre and Dance major with an emphasis in dance performance and choreography at The University of Texas at Austin. Recent credits include Matawan (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2018), Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019), Revolve: A Movement Display and DOPEFIT! (The Cohen New Works Festival, 2019). Emily Tolson (have you seen me?, Renaissance Futura, Sunrise) is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Her work has recently been seen in The Cohen New Works Festival (2019) and Revolve: A Movement Display. Tolson has worked with many notable choreographers including Sidra Bell, Jenn Freeman, Courtney Mazieka, Gesel Mason and Rennie Harris, among others. Sarah Wales (Nostalgia, Sinfonia, Sunset) is a second-year B.F.A. in Dance and B.S. in Exercise Science double major at The University of Texas at Austin. Originally from the Dallas area, she has performed with Bombshell Dance Project, SoulEscape and Moving Forward, among others. In addition, she has performed in Dance Action’s S.E.E.D. and Fortitude (Texas Theatre and Dance, 2019). She has worked with choreographers Raphael Xavier, Maleek Washington, Christie Partlow, Charles O. Anderson and Justin Giles.
CAST Kayla White (Nostalgia, Renaissance Futura, Sunrise) is a fourth-year B.F.A. in Dance major with a minor in arts management and administration. She has had the opportunity to work with choreographers Charles O. Anderson, Jennifer Freeman, Courtney Mazeika, Rennie Harris, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Gregory Dolbashian and Micaela Taylor, among others. Her choreography has been presented as part of Revolve: A Movement Display and Dance Action’s S.E.E.D. Most recently, she was commissioned to create work for Wanderlust Dance Project in Houston as a part of their Emerging Choreographer Program.
Gracyn Womeldorph (u/s Sinfonia) is a secondyear B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to Austin, Womeldorph trained for many years in Dallas, Texas where she was a member of the Dallas Repertoire Ballet. Womeldorph has worked with recognized choreographers Chaz Buzan, Jonathan Campbell, Scott Jovovich, Nicki Loud and Bree Hafen, among others as well as in Dance Action’s S.E.E.D. This will be her first performance with Dance Repertory Theatre.
CREW
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER BRISA SHAW ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNERS RON COLLINS SARA CHANEY PRODUCTION COORDINATOR GEORGINA GARZA SCENIC STUDIO SUPERVISOR J.E. JOHNSON SCENIC ART SUPERVISOR KAREN MANESS ASSOCIATE SCENIC STUDIO SUPERVISOR JASON HUERTA MASTER CARPENTER HANK SCHWEMMER ASSISTANT CHARGE SCENIC ARTIST ASHTON MURPHY GRADUATE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT ASHLEIGH BULLARD ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ALY REDLAND PRODUCTION LEADS JAKE JOSEPHI ALEX PASSANISI SARAH GOMEZ ZOE BIHAN PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS DAVID ALVAREZ ARJON BASHIRI ZOE BIHAN SARAH GOMEZ ANAPAULA GUAJARDO DAVID HERNADEZ ISABELLA HOLLIS TAYLOR JONES JAKE JOSEPHI JUAN LEYVA JULIO MUÑOZ NAVAJI DAVID NAVA ALEX PASSANISI BISHOP PEARSALL CHRISITIAN SCHELLER MADISON SHERIDAN KENNEDY THOMPSON HENRY WHEATLY-RUTNER PAINT CLASS AUSTIN ALVAREZ CLIFFORD BUNN STEPHANIE FISHER DAVID HERNANDEZ MIKAELA KELAREK ROXOLANA KRYWONOS JUAN LEYVA JESSICA SELL FRANCISCO URIBE PROP SHOP SUPERVISOR REBECCA SWITZER
ASSOCIATE PROP SHOP SUPERVISOR CAROLYN ALLINGHAM HARDIN
COSTUME CRAFTS ARTISAN TANYA OLALDE
PROP MASTER R. SWITZER
COSTUME CRAFTS ASSISTANTS JOSEPH HARRINGTON JANE PALACIOS
PROP ARTISANS MADELEINE HAYS DIAMANTE MARTINEZ MORGAN RIDDLE
COSTUME SHOP OFFICE ASSISTANTS JAMES HOAG ANIKKA FURNACE
PROP STOCK MANAGER INDIRA RAMPERSAD
COSTUME STOCK SUPERVISOR DESIREE HUMPHRIES
STAGEHANDS CHLOE DUPUY LISETTE HOTZ RISA ORTIZ CAMILLE WILLTZ
COSTUME STOCK ASSISTANTS AUSTIN ALVAREZ CAMRYN PATTERSON
COSTUME PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NANETTE ACOSTA
324P LIGHTING FACULTY SUPERVISOR ANNIE WRIGHTSON
COSTUME SHOP ASSOCIATE MANAGERS DARCY WEBERG DESIREE HUMPHRIES
TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS SUPERVISING ELECTRICIAN SARAH CANTU
DRAPERS PJ KELLY SARAH ALDRIDGE POUA YANG FIRST HANDS ANNIE ULRICH HSIAOWEI CHEN EMMA CRAIG AURORA KENYON STITCHERS MELISSA WONG-SIMPSON CARMEN MOSNIA IVEY SHOEMAKER PAIGE TAYLOR ADVANCED COSTUME PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES TEACHING ASSISTANT SAMANTHA COLE COSTUME PRODUCTION CREW AMAYA ARMSTRONG AYLA AZIZOGLU ADARA FELIX ANIKKA FURNACE KARYSHMA KHAN KACI PELIAS HAILEY ROBERTS OSCAR SALINAS JULEEANE VILLARREAL
TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS LIGHTING SUPERVISOR JEFF ELLINGER SENIOR LIGHTING TECHNICIANS RON COLLINS NINGMO LIU ALICE SHEA AMBER WHATLEY KENDRA WILEY TEXAS THEATRE AND DANCE LIGHTING CREW LEAH BENAIM CHRIS CLARK OSCAR DE LA GARZA BEN HARD CHANNING MILLER LINDSAY OLLINGER ATTIA RASUL TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS LIGHTING CREW CHARLOTTE BRUMBELOW ALYSSA FINGER LIBBY JANTZ ALEX JEREB ADRI LARA BRISA SHAW NOAH TUCKER LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR DIANA ACOSTA
WARDROBE SUPERVISOR ROXANNE ROHMANN
AUDIO SUPERVISOR MIKE MALAK
WARDROBE CREW CHIEFS HAROLD HORSLEY MATTISON GOTCHER
AUDIO PRODUCTION STUDENT CREW ANNALEE ABUHAMAD FRANCES GARNETT POLLYANAA OHAIR SEAN SMITH
WARDROBE CREW LILLY ANOTHONY JOSH MARTINEZ ESTRELLA MARTINEZ ALEXANDRA MCCOY CLAIRE PENCSAK SYDNEY ROKAS
TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS AUDIO CREW CHEYENNE CHESTER JESSICA CURNEAL HANNAH HURST
MIKAELA KELAREK BRIAN KELLEY MILA LUNA ALEJANDRO PALLANES JESSICA SELL WILLA SNOW WILLIAM SORDS MAX WESTLUND AUDIO BOARD OPERATOR MARINA TREVINO PRODUCTION SOUND ENGINEER ANNALEE ABUHAMAD MEDIA SHOP SUPERVISOR EARNEST MAZIQUE MEDIA GRADUATE ASSISTANTS MICHAEL BRUNER ZOEY CROW JESSE EASDON JOHN ERICKSON MEDIA SHOP CREW KENNEDY WOODARD MEDIA BOARD OPERATOR SKYLER TEPEDINO STAGE MANAGEMENT ADVISOR RUSTY CLOYES DIRECTING ADVISORS ALEXANDRA BASSIAKOU SHAW KIRK LYNN KJ SANCHEZ PATRICK SHAW COSTUME DESIGN ADVISOR MARA BLUMENFELD COSTUME TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR JAMES GLAVAN LIGHTING DESIGN ADVISOR MICHELLE HABECK INTEGRATED MEDIA DESIGN ADVISOR SVEN ORTEL SCENIC DESIGN ADVISOR WILLIAM BLOODGOOD SOUND DESIGN ADVISORS CAROLINA PEREZ BEN TRUPPIN-BROWN ACADEMIC PRODUCTION MANAGER JEFF GRAPKO PHOTOGRAPHER LAWRENCE PEART GRAPHIC DESIGNER JEFF GRAY SPECIAL THANKS DANIEL KOPP ORIGINAL CAST OF SHOSTAKOVICH SINFONIA AUSTIN CAMERATA ROBERT RAMIREZ