The Old Man and the Old Moon

CAST 

LIZ CHIDESTER (Old Woman/Ensemble) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: debut. Regional: Phantom Folktales (PigPen Theatre Company); Lizzie (title role), Queen of the Mist, Always, Patsy Cline (Firebrand Theatre Company, Company Member); Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (American Blues Theatre, Artistic Affiliate); Frederick, Green Mountain (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Sundown, Yellow Moon (Raven Theatre); High Fidelity (Refuge Theatre); Pump Boys and the Dinettes, Big River (Theatre at the Center); Ring of Fire (Mercury Theatre). lizandthelovelies.com AEA Member 

ANAND NAGRAJ (The Old Man) (He/Him/His) KCRep: debut. Chicago: Steppenwolf Theatre, Court Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Timeline Theatre, and Silk Road Rising. Regional: Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Great Lakes Theatre, Chautauqua Theatre Company, and the Utah, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Lake Tahoe, Hudson Valley, and Idaho Shakespeare Festivals. TV: Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire (NBC); Proven Innocent (FOX); The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS). Co-Author with Jonathan Spivey: the musical Murphy’s Law and the play Talmadge & Ray. Voiceover/Motion Capture: Tony the Tiger. Music: The Winchesters (Train & Taxi). Education: MFA, University of Delaware’s PTTP. anandnagraj.com AEA Member 

ASHLEY PANKOW (Mabelu) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: debut. Local: A Moon for the Misbegotten and The Realistic Joneses (Kansas City Actors Theatre); Million Dollar Quartet, Johnny and June, Boeing Boeing, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Narrator), Sister Act, Addams Family, Moon Over Buffalo, Fox on the Fairway (New Theatre); Next to Normal and South Pacific (Musical Theatre Heritage); Footloose (Starlight Theatre); Musical of Musicals, Judy Barbra Liza (Quality Hill Playhouse); Classic Crooners (Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre); Nelly Don: The Musical (Nelly Don in the World Premiere). National Tours: The Marvelous Wonderettes (First National) and A Christmas Carol. Regional Favorites: Shrek (Fiona), Les Misérables (Eponine), Annie (Miss Hannigan), Buddy Holly, and more. Upcoming: Being Seen with Mark Robbins at The Black Box. Ms. Pankow has a private music studio where she teaches voice, piano, and audition prep. ashleypankow.com AEA Member 

CODY PROCTOR (Matheson) (He/Him/His) KCRep: Noises Off!, A Christmas Carol. Local: Ragtime, Funny Girl (Musical Theater Heritage); Shakespeare in Love (Marlowe, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival); All is Calm (MTKC Pro); The Orphans’ Home Cycle (Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre). Regional: The Iceman Cometh (Goodman Theatre); Othello, Henry V (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Hatfield & McCoy (House Theater of Chicago); Stupid F***ing Bird, Idomeneus (Sideshow Theater); Machinal (Greenhouse Theater); Great Expectations (Strawdog Theater); The Mother (Oracle Theater); The Source (Route 66 Theater); three seasons at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Education: BFA Theatre Performance, Wichita State University. codyproctor.com AEA Member  

EDWARD ROSINI (Callahan) (He/Him/His) KCRep: debut. Regional: Bang! Bang!, Papermaker, Sheer Madness (Shadowland Stages, NY); Water Water Everywhere (Old Castle Theatre, CT); Ripcord (7 Angels Theatre, CT); Phantom Folktales (Virgin Voyages); In The Closet (Theatre Row, NYC); What Happened That Night, Twelfth Night (IRT, NYC). Education: BA in drama, Tufts University. AEA Member. 

JAKE SALEH (Cookie) (He/Him/His) KCRep: debut. Regional: Groundhog Day, Legally Blonde (Paramount Theatre); The Tempest (Chicago Shakespeare); Phantom Folktales (Pigpen Theatre Company). Education: BA in Music, BA in Theatre, Loyola University. AEA Member 

MARISA B. TAJEDA (Llewellyn) (She/They) KCRep: debut. Local: Four Children (Kansas City Actors Theatre); Shakespeare in Love (Heart of America Shakespeare Festival); Dolls House Part II (Unicorn Theatre); Brainstorm (The Coterie). Regional: A Christmas Carol, The Sunshine Boys (The Guthrie Theatre); Learned Ladies, The Winter’s Tale (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey). Might As Well Be Dead (Park Square Theatre); Hairspray (Artistry Theatre); Vanya, Sonya, Masha, and Spike (Paul Bunyan Playhouse). Education: MFA, UMKC; LAByrinth Theatre Intensive Ensemble; Chautauqua Conservatory; Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Apprentice Company. marisatejeda.com IG: @marisabee AEA Member 

CREATIVE TEAM 

PIGPEN THEATRE COMPANY (Creators) began creating their unique brand of theatre, music, and film as freshmen at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in 2007. They have since performed, produced, and licensed their original plays in New York City and all over the world – earning them critic’s picks from The New York Times, Time Out New York, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Boston Globe, and many more, ranking them in the top ten theatrical events of 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016. They were the first group to win the NYC Fringe Festival’s top honor for a play two years in a row (2010/11) and have gone on to win IRNE (2012, 2015) and Jeff Awards (2014) for their theatrical productions. In 2016, Sir Trevor Nunn invited PigPen to be a part of his first American acting company for a production of Shakespeare’s “Pericles”.  PigPen’s debut album, “Bremen”, was named #10 album of the year in The Huffington Post’s 2012 Grammy preview sending PigPen on tour playing to sold-out crowds across the country. American Songwriter premiered their follow-up EP, “The Way I’m Running”, in 2013 while the band was playing a series of concerts that became one of the most popular residencies of the past decade at the legendary Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago. In 2015, PigPen released their sophomore album, “Whole Sun”, performed at Mumford & Sons’ return to the Gentlemen of the Road Festival, and made their feature film debut in Jonathan Demme’s “Ricki and the Flash” starring Meryl Streep. In 2018, PigPen announced that they are creating two stage musicals based on beloved novels: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (in partnership with Universal Theatrical Group) and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (in collaboration with Rick Elice). The Tale of Despereaux world premiered at The Old Globe in the summer of 2019 and transferred to Berkeley Repertory Theatre to close out the year. In 2020, they will premiere their first interactive theatrical experience, “The Phantom Folktales”, for Richard Branson’s groundbreaking cruise line, Virgin Voyage 

STUART CARDEN (Artistic Director & Director) begins his third season at KCRep and is thrilled to be in partnership with our friends at the National World War I Museum and Memorial and share with you the beautiful love story, Mary’s Wedding. An arts leader, director, deviser, producer, educator and new play specialist, Stuart has worked across the United States building new plays, ensemble generated projects, reimagined classics, multidisciplinary performance and actor-musician driven theatrical storytelling. Including creating theatrical experiences with The Old Globe, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Second City, New Victory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Silk Road Rising, Victory Gardens, People’s Light, Northlight Theatre, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, ArtsEmerson, The Wallis Annenberg Center, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Virgin Voyages and PigPen Theatre Co. He is a member of the Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers and represented by Beth Blickers and the Agency for Performing Arts. Stuart is married to public art curator Neysa Page-Lieberman and dad to nine-year-old twins, Dashiell and Griffin.  

KATIE BEAZLEY (Associate Director) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: debut. Regional: The Container, Talley’s Folly (Burning Coal Theatre Company); Production Direction, Youth Ministry 3609. Educational: 26 Pebbles, Eleemosynary, The Crucible (Samford University). Education: BFA in Musical Theatre, Samford University. katie-beazley.com 

LYDIA FINE (Scenic, Costume, and Puppet Design) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: debut. Off-Broadway: The Old Man and The Old Moon (Pigpen Theatre Company). Regional: The Tale of Despereaux (The Old Globe, Berkeley Rep). Other: Phantom Folktales (Virgin Voyages); Glimpses of Narcisccus (Site-Specific Installation at Little Island, NY); The Hunter and The Bear (Writer’s Theatre) St. Ann’s Puppetlab (Participating Artist 2012, 2014); Lincoln Center Director’s Lab (Visting Designer). Film: Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s “That Life” (Music Video Featured at SXSW); Rover (Featured at Slamdance Film Festival, Portland Film Festival, Oaxaca Film Festival, Sun Valley Film Festival); SISTER>>D (Webby Award-Winning Campaign); Lucky Chops “Full Heart Fancy” (Music Video). Education: Carnegie Mellon University.  Ms. Fine’s studio name is Double Solitaire, a multi-disciplinary creative partnership with Tony Blahd. doublesolitaire.co,  lydiafine.com.   

SARAH REED (Scene Design Associate) (She/Her/Hers) 

ERIN EARLE FLEMMING (Light Design Associate) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: debut. Selected credits: Kiss (Yale Repertory Theatre); Tosca, The Medium (Northern Lights Music Festival); A Woman’s Life (Da Camera); Xander Xyst, Dragon:1 (ArsNova ANT Fest); Sweat, If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Mufucka: An Understanding of a West African Folktale, ‘Tis a Pity She’s a Whore, Blood Wedding, and Macbeth (Yale School of Drama); The Feels… (KMS); Re:Union, MoonSong, Current Location, Kaspar (Yale Cabaret); Les Enfants Terribles (Butler Opera Center); Bus Stop, Love and Information (Mary Moody Northern Theatre); Pinocchio, ScienceTricks (ZACH Theatre); Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Doctuh Mistuh Production); The Attic Space (Palindrome Theatre). Education: BA (Emphasis in Design), St. Edwards University; MFA in Design, Yale University School of Drama. Ms. Fleming is the Resident Associate Lighting Designer at Texas Ballet Theatre and teaches at Mississippi State University. erinearlefleming.com 

GEORGIANNA LONDRÉ BUCHANNAN (Costume Design Associate) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: An Iliad, When I Come to Die. Off Broadway: Lucky Duck (New Victory Theater, tour from The Coterie. Regional: Tamin’ of the Shrew, and 24 more as designer, plus 3 seasons as costume shop manager (Creede Repertory Theatre). Local: Pete the Cat, Spongebob the Musical, Electric Poe, and 70 more productions (The Coterie); Don’t Dress for Dinner, and 5 more (The New Theatre); The Pests, and 6 more (Kansas City Actors Theatre); Broadway Belters, Resident Costume Designer since 2014, Kindertransport (1999) (Quality Hill Playhouse); The Effect and 40 more (Unicorn Theatre); Jesus Christ Superstar (The Arts Asylum/This Happy Breed); Ragtime (Musical Theatre Heritage); The African Company Presents Richard III (Kansas City Black Repertory Theatre); The Turn of the Screw (Spinning Tree Theatre); Frida: A Self Portrait (The Living Room); Golden! Girls Gone Wild! and 25 more (Late Night Theatre). Other Credits: Kansas City Art Institute Fiber Department Lecturer 2007-2012. Upcoming: The Play that Goes Wrong (The New Theatre) and Alice’s Wonderland (The Coterie). 

BART CORTRIGHT (Light Design) KCRep: debut. New York: Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Newsies, Here Lies Love, Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder, Anastasia, Bring it On (Assistant Projection Designer and Animator). Film: Film works shown at Sundance, Venice Film Festival, SWSX, Berlinale, New York Film Festival, New Directors/New Films. Education: Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Cortright is a New York based cinematographer. bartcortright.com 

DAM WESCHLER (Music Consultant) KCRep: debut. Off-Broadway: The Old Man and the Old Moon (New Victory Theater). Regional: The Tale of Despereaux (Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Old Globe Theatre); The Hunter and the Bear (Writers Theatre); The Old Man and the Old Moon (Old Globe Theatre, Writers Theatre). Affiliations: Actor’s Equity Association. Education: Carnegie Melon University.

CURTIS GILLEN (Movement/Puppet Consultant) KCRep: debut. Off Broadway: The Old Man and The Old Moon (2012, 2014); Pericles (directed by Trevor Nunn, Theatre for a New Audience).  Regional: The Tale of Despereaux (Berkely Rep); The Hunter and The Bear (Writers Theatre); The Mountain Song and The Nightmare Story (NYC Fringe Festival); The Old Man and The Old Moon (Writers Theater, Williamstown Theater Festival, Arts Emmerson Paramount Center, The Old Globe, The Wallis).  Film: Ricki and the Flash, HairBrained. Director: The Phantom Folktales (Virgin Voyages). Affiliations: Founding member of PigPen Theatre Co.  Education: Carnegie Mellon University. 

MIKHAIL FIKSEL (Sound Design) KCRep: The Royale. Broadway: Dana H. Regional and Off-Broadway: Tambo and Bones, The Treasurer, A Life (Playwrights Horizon); Cambodian Rock Band (Signature Theatre, LaJolla Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Mojada and We’re Only Alive A Very Short Amount of Time (The Public); Sweatshop Overlord (NYTW); and other numerous collaborations with The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Center Theater Group, The Old Globe, Victory Gardens, and Albany Park Theatre Project. Audio-centered work includes multiple audioplays for Audible, WBEZ, Studio Theatre and Make-Believe Association. Film: original scores for Glitch, The Wise Kids and In Memoriam. Awards: 3 Lucille Lortel Awards, multiple Jeff Awards, and the 2020 Obie Awards for Sound Design. Affiliations: USA-829 and Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA) mikhailfiksel.com  

MEGAN CULLEY (Sound Design Associate) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson Apt. 2B (Sound Design), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Associate Designer). Selected Credits: Antigone (Cleveland Playhouse); Cullud Wattah (The Public Theater); Grounded, Hurricane Diane, Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (Dobama Theatre); Terminus (New York Theatre Workshop); 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (ACT of CT); Stranger Sings! (Off-Broadway); Inanimate (The Flea Theater); The Last Match (B Street Theatre); Roan @ The Gates (Luna Stage); The Color Purple (Theatre Horizon). Associate Designer: Flying Over Sunset (Lincoln Center Theater, Broadway); for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf (The Public Theater). meganculley.com  

EMILY WHITE-WINTER (Production Stage Manager) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson Apt. 2B, A Christmas Carol, Mary’s Wedding, Ghost Light 2021. National Tours: Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, The SpongeBob Musical, Roger & Hammerstein’s The King & I, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast. New York: Best of TheaterWorks! (Working Theater); Elvis: The Musical (Stageworks Productions), Orlando (AADA). Regional: Godspell (Starlight Theatre); Assassins, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Spinning Tree Theatre); The Wizard of Oz (Theater League); Cabaret (Musical Theatre Heritage); Here Lies Joyland (KC Fringe); A Moon for the Misbegotten (Kansas City Actors Theatre); Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In A Play” (The Coterie); Rapunzel, Henry V, The Foreigner, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Women of Will (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival). Education: BS in Theatre, minor in Business, Kansas State University. emilywhitewinter.com AEA Member   

RACHEL M. DYER (Assistant Stage Manager) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep Production Stage Manager: Brother Toad, Man In Love, Lot’s Wife. KCRep Assistant Stage Manager: Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson Apt. 2B, A Christmas Carol (2021 and 2014-2019). Mary’s Wedding, Ghost Light 2021, Fun Home, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Pride & Prejudice, Last Days of Summer, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Between the Lines, Side by Side by Sondheim, Evita, The Diary of Anne Frank, Sunday in the Park with George, Hair: Retrospective, An Iliad. KCRep Head Production Assistant: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Romeo and Juliet, The Foreigner, The Living Room Theatre’s production of Carousel, Death of a Salesman, Mystery of Irma Vep; Production Assistant: Little Shop of Horrors, Great Immensity (world premiere). Local: Production Stage Manager: Morning’s at Seven (Kansas City Actors Theatre); Assistant Lighting Designer: High School Musical, The Wedding Singer, The Wizard of Oz (Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park). Education: BS in Theatre Design and Technology, Northwest Missouri State University. AEA Member 

CALEIGH MICHNOWICZ (Production COVID Compliance Officer) (She/Her/Hers) KCRep: A Christmas Carol. Local: Dragons Love Tacos (The Coterie); Blood Wedding, The Hollow Crown (UMKC Theatre). COVID Compliance Officer: Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson Apt. 2B, Mary’s Wedding, Ghost Light 2021, A Christmas Carol (KCRep). Education: BA in Theatre expected in 2022 

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