CREATIVE TEAM

JESSICA HOLT †

(Director) is thrilled to return to Virginia Stage Company after directing Fun Home last season and Venus in Fur in 2017. Selected directing include: The Daughters (San Francisco Playhouse); The Resting Place, Bright Half Life, The Lily's Revenge, Act 5 (Magic Theatre); Speech and Debate (Barrington Stage Company); Rich Girl (Florida Studio Theatre); and Ugly Lies the Bone (Alliance Theater). Additionally, she has developed and directed work at Santa Cruz Shakespeare, Berkeley Rep's Ground Floor, Rivendell Theatre, NYU, Pocono Mountains Music Festival, AADA, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Sewanee Writers Conference, Cutting Ball Theater, among others. She received her MFA in Directing from the Yale School of Drama where she directed Twelfth Night, The Seagull and The Children. Jessica is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Next up: The Comedy of Errors (Cal Shakes) in May 2020 and The Code, a new rock musical written by The Kilbanes (A.C.T.) this summer.

ALEXANDER WOODWARD§

(Scenic Designer) is so thrilled to be designing for VSC for the first time. Broadway: The Sound Inside, Off Broadway: Must, and the world premiere of Goldstein. Other projects include the world premiere of Tell Me I'm Not Crazy and The Sound Inside at the Williamstown Theater Festival, Weston: Oklahoma! and Two Trains Running,  Connecticut Repertory Theater: Cabaret and Drood. Additional credits include: The Moors (Yale Rep), Ugly Lies the Bone (Alliance) Once, A Doll’s House, and This Verse Business (Northern Stage) Mrs. Christie, Pride and Prejudice, Baskerville, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Dorset Theater Festival) Sunset Baby (Theaterworks) The Children, Don Juan, Othello (Yale); Ruby Place Nest on the Ground (Signature Theatre) Good Person of Szechwan at the Atlantic. Alexander teaches scenic design at UConn. MFA Yale, USA 829, and Wingspace Executive Committee Member. www.alexanderwoodward.com  

JENI SCHAEFER

(Resident Costume Designer and Costume Shop Manager) is the Resident Costume Designer and Costume Shop Manager at the Virginia Stage Company in her 18th season. Regional credits include: A Christmas Story at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Hound of the Baskervilles at The Hangar and White Heron Theatre, Always...Patsy Cline PCPA Theatrefest, World premiere of Tom Jones for Florida Studio Theatre, Wit for Playmakers Repertory Theatre and over 50 VSC productions including; Matilda, Secret Garden, Fun Home, Always…Patsy Cline, Crowns,The Hound of the Baskervilles, Pride and Prejudice, The Wiz, A Streetcar named Desire, Oliver, The Tempest, Grounded, Peter and the Starcatcher, All my Sons,The Great Gatsby, The Fantasticks, Death of a Salesman, Red, Around the World in 80 days, Crowns, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Hank Williams: Lost Highway and A Christmas Carol. Jeni Schaefer holds a MAC in Theatre/Costume Design from Wichita State University. Thank you to my family Tony, Sara and Ethan for being my inspiration and for always believing in me.

LYNNE M. HARTMAN§

(Lighting Designer), based in Norfolk, is delighted to collaborate on Sense and Sensibility at VSC. Other VSC designs: Pride and Prejudice, Venus in Fur, The Hampton Years, All My Sons, Peter and The Starcatcher, Taming of The Shrew, Honky Tonk Angels, The Tempest, and Swingtime Salute. Lynne is a freelance designer transplanted from Richmond. Virginia Repertory Theatre designs include Beauty and The Beast, Airline Highway, A Raisin In The Sun, Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical, Gypsy, Mame (Emily Skinner), Other Desert Cities, Shrek!, Spring Awakening, Suessical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Jeff McCarthy), Legacy of Light (2011 RTCC Award) and The Sound of Music (2010 RTCC Award). For over 35 years Lynne has designed regionally for Company of Fools (Idaho), TheatreVirginia, Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Richmond Ballet, The Lost Colony, McCarter Theatre, Barksdale Theatre, Porthouse Theatre, Theatre IV and the Kings Dominion & Carowinds theme parks among others. Proud member of USA, Local 829. For daughters Meredith and Allison: this Jane's for you!

MEGUMI KATAYAMA

(Sound Designer) is a Sound Designer, Sound Artist, and Composer based in NYC and thrilled to make her Virginia Stage Company debut! Her recent credits include Off-Broadway: For Colored Girls… (The Public Theater). Regional: Pride and Prejudice (Long Wharf Theater), El Huracán (Yale Rep/The Sol Project, Connecticut Critics Circle Award Nomination), soft (Williamstown Theater Festival Fellowship), Associate for Field Guide (Rude Mechs), Assistant for Mary Jane and Seven Guitars (Yale Rep). BFA University of Central Oklahoma, MFA Yale School of Drama.

CHARLOTTE BYDWELL

(Choreographer) returns to Virginia Stage Company after playing Vanda in Venus in Fur, also directed by Jessica Holt. A trained actress and dancer, Charlotte has been working as a choreographer for stage and screen for over a decade. Most recently, she was the season choreographer on Comedy Central’s new series “Alternatino” (featuring Arturo Castro). Theater credits as a choreographer include; Much Ado About Nothing, Pericles Price of Tyre and As You Like It (The Old Globe), Terezin (Playwrights Horizons), Woman of Leisure and Panic (multiple venues across the USA, New York Innovative Theatre Award nomination for Outstanding Performance Art Production). Education: The Juilliard School, Dance BFA. The Old Globe/USD, Acting MFA. More info at www.charlottebydwell.com

KATE HAMILL

(Playwright) is an actor/playwright. Wall Street Journal’s Playwright of the Year, 2017. Her work includes her play Sense and Sensibility (in which she originated the role of Marianne)—Winner, Off-Broadway Alliance Award 2016; Nominee, Drama League Award; 265+ performances off-Broadway. Other plays include Vanity Fair at the Pearl Theatre (in which she originated the role of Becky Sharp; Nominee, Off-Broadway Alliance Award 2017), Pride and Prejudice at Primary Stages and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (originated the role of Lizzy Bennet; Nominee, Off-Broadway Alliance Award). Her plays have been produced off-Broadway, at A.R.T., Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie, Seattle Rep, Dallas Theater Center, PlayMaker’s Rep, Folger Theatre (8 Helen Hayes Award nominations; Winner, best production—S&S), Arvada Center and others; upcoming productions at Shakespeare Theatre of DC, A.C.T., Trinity Rep, Portland Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, Pittsburgh Public, Kansas City Rep, Dorset Theatre Festival and more. Upcoming world premieres: LITTLE WOMEN at the Jungle Theater and Primary Stages; MANSFIELD PARK at Northlight Theatre. She is currently working on new adaptations of “The Odyssey” and “The Scarlet Letter,” as well as several new original plays (PROSTITUTE PLAY, IN THE MINES, LOVE POEM). Kate was one of the top 20 most-produced playwrights in the country this season. http://www.kate-hamill.com

BINDER CASTING

(NY Casting) Binder Casting, now part of RWS Entertainment Group, was founded by Jay Binder, CSA in 1984. Binder Casting has cast over 80 Broadway productions, dozens of National Tours, off-Broadway shows, full seasons for over 25 regional theatres, as well as feature films, episodic television and commercials. Binder has cast for Encores! at New York City Center since its inception in 1994. The office was also featured in the documentary, Every Little Step. Binder Casting is a twelve–time recipient of the Artios Award. www.bindercasting.com

ADRIENNE WELLS*

(Resident Stage Manager) is pleased to be joining Virginia Stage Company, this year, for her first season as Resident Stage Manager. Ms. Wells has worked in live theater, educational tours and events, opera, jazz, fashion, television, special events, and festivals. Past work includes: Guys and Dolls and Native Gardens (Virginia Stage Company), 39 Steps, Baskerville, Laughter on the 23rd Floor (St. Michael’s Playhouse) Hair (Pentangle Arts), The Long Walk (Pittsburgh Opera), Sweat (Pittsburgh Public Theater), The Mask of Moriarty (Pittsburgh Irish and Classic Theater). Ms. Wells serves as the Corresponding Secretary for the Stage Managers’ Association, is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, and a proud member of Actors Equity Association. She is pleased to join international companies and organizations in celebrating 2020: The Year of the Stage Manager. @sminsta2020

TOM QUAINTANCE

(Producing Artistic Director) is the sixth Artistic Director and the first Producing Artistic Director in Virginia Stage Company’s 40 year history. At the Wells, Tom has directed Pride and Prejudice and The Santaland Diaries, and Matilda The Musical. Previously as Artistic Director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre (CFRT), Tom produced over 35 plays and directed the World Premiere of Downrange: Voices from the Homefront, a play based on interviews with military spouses from Fort Bragg. Tom is an Associate Artist at PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill where he directed An Enemy of the People, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and The Little Prince. He also directed The Little Prince at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. As the founder of FreightTrain Shakespeare in Los Angeles, he earned a Drama-Logue Award for his direction of Pericles. Other Los Angeles credits range from King Lear to The Devil With Boobs. A member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Tom is a graduate of Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) with a B.A. in Theatre and Economics, and the University of California, San Diego MFA directing program, where he was the assistant director on the original production of The Who’s Tommy. Tom and his wife Wallis are the proud parents of Mireille Julia and Annika Christine.

DAVID B. BYRD

(Managing Director) Virginia Stage’s 2019/2020 Season marks David’s third season as Managing Director. Prior to landing in Norfolk, David served as Managing Director at Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville, TN. He has also held leadership positions at Westport Country Playhouse, Triad Stage, Yale Repertory Theater, the Dwight/Edgewood Project, and the Guthrie Theater. David received an MFA degree in Theater Management from Yale School of Drama and a BA degree in Drama from UNC-Greensboro in his native North Carolina. During his tenure at the Clarence Brown Theatre, David also served as an Adjunct Professor in the UT-Knoxville department of theatre.  Additionally, David has held posts on the McClung Museum Academic Programs Advisory Board and the Great Schools Partnership Advisory Council. David has been a grants panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission and United Way of Greater Knoxville. He has served on the union negotiating team and various committees for the League of Resident Theatres (LORT). David was a 2016 Knoxville Business Journal 40 Under Forty Honoree and has guest lectured at Virginia Wesleyan University and Carson Newman University, among others. He currently serves on the Board of Downtown Norfolk Council.

PATRICK MULLINS

(Producer) is the Director of Public Works at Virginia Stage Company. Patrick's personal adaptation and directorial work explores where classical texts intersect with current community issues. Recent projects include: The Tempest, The Dream Clinic; The Wiz; Oliver Twist; The Taming of the Shrew, a synth-pop fantasia mixing Shakespeare's text and the music of Jacki Paolella; Swingtime Salute on the deck of the USS Wisconsin; Miss Kitty's House of Cosmic Love, an immersive experience at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens; Honky Tonk Angels, The Odd Couple, Romeo and Juliet, and many others at the Wells Theatre. For four years he has worked with FestEvents in producing  The Midsummer Fantasy Festival - an immersive Shakespearean festival/visual art installation/performance event in Towne Point Park. In addition to work at Virginia Stage Company, he has recently directed shows at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, NY and Ensemble Theatre Company in Santa Barbara, CA. Productions he has created for touring and young people include a video-heavy Romeo and Juliet that integrated high school students with professional actors, an R&B fueled tour of Julius Caesar and a reworking on A Christmas Carol that celebrated the music and instruments of Dickens' period. A veteran high school teacher of seven years, Patrick holds an MFA from the University of South Carolina and is an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University. In 2010 he was recognized by the Hampton Roads Cultural Alliance with the Bettie Minette Cooper Arts Educator Award. 

CAST

M. Elizabeth Dickerson

(Mrs. Jennings/Gossip)  Received her BA in theater arts from St. Louis Univerisity, and has performed in most of the Hampton Roads Theater venues. Some of her favorite roles are: Hester Thrale in Generous Rivals—Zeiders American Dream Theater, Diane in Little Dog Laughed—Generic Theater, and M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias—Little Theater of Virginia Beach. She is thrilled to be making her debut with the Virginia Stage Company and is grateful to Jessica Holt for the opportunity to bring the irrepressible Mrs. Jennings to life! 

Sean Patrick Grady

(John Willoughby/John Dashwood/Gossip) I'm stoked to be returning to my hometown, and to VSC, to tell such a joyful story! A couple previous credits include VSC's A Christmas Carol, the Broadway national tour of Mamma Mia! and the world premiere of Music City. For more on me, follow me @GradySP. This is for my family, friends, and Jacob. Lead with love.

Maggie Hatfield

(Mrs. Dashwood/Anne Steele/Gossip) is so ecstatic to be returning to Virginia Stage Company for the second time! Originally from Hampton Roads, she hails from Raleigh, NC and has made a wonderful home in its theatre community. Her theatre credits span a wide range of roles including playing Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing with Raleigh Women's Theatre Festival, Kitty Bennet in Pride and Prejudice with Virginia Stage, Trinculo in the Virginia Shakespeare Festival's collaboration with Jamestown Settlement's production of The Tempest, as well as many roles throughout her college career at Longwood University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. These roles include Queen Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Annie in Evil Dead: the Musical, Helen of Troy in Trojan Women, and Hedda in Hedda Gabler. Her film and T.V. credits include a collection of short films, independent films, and T.V. productions. Her other training includes many forms of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and partnering, as well as choreography and vocal performance.

Katie Hartke *

(Mrs. Dashwood/Anne Steele/Gossip): VSC debut! New York: Olivia (Twelfth Night), Lady Capulet/Lady Macbeth (Youth & Ambition), and Leena Breitwisch (Breitwisch Farm, world premier), Esperance Theater Company; Othello (Epic Theatre Ensemble); Wonder of the World (Core Theatre Comp.); Life Is A Dream (Flux Theatre Ensemble). Regional: Bedlam’s Sense & Sensibility (A.R.T.); 10 seasons with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, where favorite roles include Viola (Twelfth Night), Imogen (Cymbeline), Lucrece (The Liar), Rosaline (Love’s Labours Lost), and Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Blithe Spirit (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina); cul-de-sac (Half Moon); Love/Sick (Arc Stages); Love/Sick, Clybourne Park (Shadowland); A Christmas Carol (Portland Stage); Maggie in Cat on A Hot Tin Roof (Middlebury Actors Workshop). TV/Film: Succession, The Blacklist, Boardwalk Empire, Law & Order: SVU, Guiding Light, College Humor, The Circuit. Training: Catholic University, Circle In the Square Theatre School. Proud member of Actors’ Equity. Much love to her husband Ryan and daughter Zoë.

Drew Hirshfield *

(Colonel Brandon/Thomas/Lady Middleton/Gossip) is pleased to make his Virginia Stage Company debut. He has acted at regional theaters around the country. Favorites include: Magic Theater, Huntington Theatre Company, Geva Theatre Center, Florida Studio Theatre, American Conservatory Theater, Wilma Theatre, New Harmony Theatre, Alley Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, among others. New York credits include new plays with Ensemble Studio Theatre, Collaboration Town, New York Stage & Film, 59E59 Theaters. Drew once played a lemur, professionally. He teaches acting at the New York Film Academy. He earned his MFA from American Conservatory Theater. Thanks to AMF and SRFH.

Brendan Hoyle

(Edward Ferrars/Robert Ferrars/Lady Middleton/Gossip) is thrilled to be performing with Virginia Stage Company at the Wells Theater. He was most recently seen onstage playing the roles of Jason and his hand puppet Tyrone in Hand to God at Generic Theater. Additional roles include Broadway Bound, Biloxi Blues, The Mousetrap, and MASH. Brendan has also directed many shows all over Hampton Roads including Urinetown the Musical and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at Generic Theater and The Drowsy Chaperone and The Importance of Being Earnest at Little Theatre of Norfolk. Brendan is a proud founding member of the sketch and improv comedy group, Plan B Comedy. He is the Theater Director at Norfolk Collegiate School and holds a theater degree from Sarah Lawrence College. Lots of love to Tara, Emma, and Charlotte.

Ally Farzetta

(Elinor Dashwood) is delighted to be making her Virginia Stage Company debut. Most recently, Ally spent two seasons with the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA where her credits include Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), The Winter's Tale (Hermione), Sense and Sensibility (Elinor Dashwood), among many others. Additional regional credits include Guess Who's Coming to Dinner & Living on Love (Asolo Rep), It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Shadowland Stages), Boeing, Boeing (Theater at Monmouth), The Pitmen Painters (American Stage), and Theophilus North (Dog Days Theatre). MFA: FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.

Manna Nichols *

(Marianne Dashwood) is excited to make her Virginia Stage debut! Broadway/Tour: Allegiance, The King & I (Tuptim); Regional/Off-Broadway: My Fair Lady (Arena Stage), The Music Man (Arizona Theatre Company), Guys & Dolls (Goodspeed), South Pacific (Guthrie), Austen’s Pride (5th Avenue), Miss Saigon (Walnut/Fulton/Kansas City Starlight), Les Miserables (Pioneer/Maine State), The King & I (Walnut/North Shore), Tokio Confidential (Atlantic Theatre), Death for Five Voices (Prospect Theatre), Allegro (APAC). Film: Cold Pursuit, Disney’s Live Action Beauty & the Beast. Concert Work: Fort Wayne Philharmonic Guest Soloist, USO Show Troupe. Gratitude to our entire show family! God is love. www.MannaNichols.com @manna_nichols

Sara Beth Schaefer

(Margaret Dashwood/Gossip) is so excited to be performing once again with VSC on this beautiful production. You may have seen her in this season's production of A Christmas Carol as Belle Fezziwig/Ensemble. She is a recent graduate of The Governor's School for the Arts, Theatre and Film Department. Some of her show credits include: Ariel Ensemble in The Public Works production of The Tempest, Cecily Cardew in The Importance of being Earnest, Marlene in Top Girls, #46 in The Wolves, Elizabeth in Playing with Fire (After Frankenstein), Karen/Ensemble in Maskerade, and Ensemble in Oliver Twist with VSC. She would love to thank Ricardo Melendez, Steve J. Earle, Ron Newman and Terry Jernagin for teaching her how to act professionally and how to have fun doing it. Her loving family for the constant support. As well as her partner in crime, Benjamin Salerno. Again, this one is for my love.

Nandita Shenoy *

(Lucy Steele/Gossip) makes her Virginia Stage debut.  Most recently she originated the role of Gulal in Madhuri Shekar’s House of Joy at California Shakespeare Theater. She has starred in the Off-Broadway production of her own play Washer/Dryer at Ma-Yi Theater Company and has originated roles in World Premieres of plays by Adam Szymkowicz, Chelsea Marcantel, Eric Pfeffinger,and Richard Dresser.  She spent a season in the Repertory Company of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  Television credits include season 3 of Netflix’ “Daredevil” and “The Last O.G.” on TBS.  She is also a playwright whose work has been performed in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. She is a proud member of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, the Dramatists Guild, Actors Equity, and SAG/AFTRA. Nandita holds a BA in English literature from Yale University. www.nanditashenoy.com

Julian Stetkevych *

(Sir John Middleton/Doctor/Servant/Gossip) is excited to return to the Virginia Stage Company after appearing as the ridiculous Mr. Collins in Pride & Prejudice. Off-off Broadway: Richard III and The Two Gentlemen of Verona with Oxford Shakespeare Co., Dog Act with Flux Theatre Ensemble, The Silent Concerto at NY Fringe Festival, and staged workshops and readings at Playwright’s Horizons, Classic Stage Company, and Ensemble Studio Theatre. Regional: A Christmas Carol at American Conservatory Theater, The Berlin Circle at Steppenwolf Theater, and Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Theo Ubique. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and an Assistant Professor of Acting at Christopher Newport University. He holds MFAs from the American Conservatory Theater and the University of Pittsburgh.

ADDITIONAL SHOW STAFF

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER MEG MORRILL
assistant director ruby farley
COSTUME INTERN CHELSIE CARTLEDGE ROSE
ASL INTERPRETERS DEBBIE NORTH, Ellen Stuffel, Robin Fary 

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Barnes and Noble, Slover Library, Prince Books, Charlotte Bydwell, Maggie Hatfield, Carolina Cupcakery, California Pizza Kitchen, Tinto's Wine and Cheese, The Junior League of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Ironclad Bourbon,  and Hunter House Victorian Museum for the antiques in our lobby display