Charleston Stage Artistic Staff Biographies

CALEB S. GARNER (Lighting Designer)

Caleb is a lighting and sound designer based in Charleston, SC. A North Carolina native, Caleb received his B.A. and B.F.A. from Catawba College in Salisbury NC, and his M.F.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Garner’s designs, ranging from concerts to ballets to musicals to plays have earned him eight regional and national design awards. Caleb has been a featured designer from New York to Mississippi, designing in the Northeast, Midwest, East Coast and Deep South. Caleb enjoys turning large pieces of wood into smaller pieces of wood (sometimes mistakenly called furniture), screaming with students (often recognized as teaching), and playing with things that spark and smoke. Caleb currently serves as the Resident Lighting Designer at the Charleston Stage Company and serves as an adjunct lecturer at the College of Charleston.

CRYSTIN GILMORE (Director)

Crystin is ecstatic to be making her directorial debut with this production of Once On This Island! She was an R.A. with Charleston Stage many years ago and will forever call Charleston Stage family. Crystin last graced our stage in Black Pearl Sings! as Albert “Pearl” Johnson. You may also remember her in Mamma Mia! as Rosie, The Seat of Justice as Mrs. Ruby Cornwell, in Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle and in Chicago, The Musical as Matron Momma Morton. Some additional credits include School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play in the role of Headmistress, The Color Purple as Shug Avery where she received an IRNE and Arts

Impulse Award with Speakeasy Stage Co., The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin as Miss Pain with Progressive Theater, Letters from War as Mae with North Shore Theatre, Smokey Joe’s Cafe as Brenda with Show Palace Dinner Theater and Beehive! The 60’s Musical as Wanda with Greenbrier Valley Theatre. Crystin also enjoys being a motivational speaker, doing commercials, voiceovers and she hosts a podcast called POVwCrystinGilmore. Special thanks to her family, friends and the Lord. Philippians 4:6-8 Wanna connect? @crystingilmore www.crystingilmore.com

SAM HENDERSON (Music Director)

Sam is Charleston Stage’s Resident Music Director and Director of Music Education. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in Instrumental Music/Trumpet Performance from Baylor University in Waco, TX, as well as a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre/Opera Music Direction from Arizona State University. Sam has over 20 years experience teaching music professionally, and has been working as a theatre music director and conductor since 2005. Professionally, Sam has worked for The Phoenix Theatre Company, Childsplay, The Broadway Palm West Dinner Theatre, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Lyric Opera Theatre and Copperstar Repertory Company prior to coming to Charleston Stage.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to Charleston Stage’s Scene and Costume Shop volunteers, especially our Resident Professional Acting Company and the TheatreWings High School Apprentices.

SETH HOWARD (Scenic Designer)

Seth (he/him) is a freelance scenic designer based out of Orlando, FL. He has designed many regional productions and themed experiences across the country and is excited designed many regional productions and themed experiences across the country and is excited to be joining Charleston Stage for this production of Once On This Island. Some of his design credits include The Mountaintop and Deathtrap (Constellation Stage and Screen); Jersey Boys (Theatre Aspen); The Lightning Thief and Last Stop on Market Street (The Rose Theatre); Princess and Frog and The Wiz Jr. (The Children’s Theatre of CIncinnati). He received his B.F.A. in Stage Design, Props, and Scenic Art from the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music (CCM). Check out @sethhowarddesign on social media for more.

SYDNEY LARIBO (Acting Foundations Coach)

Sydney has joined our crew as the Acting Foundations Coach for the cast of Once On This Island. She began her acting career in elementary school and was cast in her first ever role as Fern in Charlotte’s Web with Charleston Stage. Sydney started her college career as a Musical Theatre, B.F.A., at Coastal Carolina University. Though she changed her major, she has always had a desire to return to her first love, the stage. Sydney is currently working as a Performing Arts Teacher at Meeting Street at Burns. She is forever grateful to the staff at Charleston Stage and the director, Crystin, for the opportunity to work with this beautifully and uniquely talented cast and crew.

RAVYN T. MEADOR (Stage Manager)

Ravyn is a graduate from the University of Memphis with a B.F.A. in Design and Technical Production, and a concentration in stage management. She is currently the Resident Stage Manager and High School Theatre Wings Program Co-Coordinator at Charleston Stage. During her time here, she has stage managed A Christmas Carol, The Play that Goes Wrong, Kinky Boots the Musical, Bright Star!, and Elf the Musical to name a few. When not stage managing (and often while stage managing) Ravyn co-coordinates the TheatreWings technical theatre high school apprenticeship program at Charleston Stage with responsibilities including teaching stage management, assigning and training students in crew positions where they work alongside IATSE stage hands, and coordinating events for and with the program. Continuing her work with Charleston Stage’s 45 season, Ravyn will be stage managing JFK and Inga Binga and Once On This Island.

COURTNI RIDDICK (Costume Designer)

Courtni (she/her/hers) has been designing and building costumes for more than 15 years. She graduated from Florida State University with an M.F.A. in Costume Design. She loves to create for the big and fantastical as well as the intimate and detailed, and she is thrilled to be a part of the historic Charleston Stage team.