VENUS IN FUR
By David Ives
SEASON SPONSOR SHOW SPONSOR
Alice and Alfred Willis Sandra Skidmore
CAST
Dillingham
Chris Pio
CREATIVE TEAM
VENUS IN FUR
CAST
Eve Dillingham
is so excited to be making her Clear Space Theatre debut. She holds a BFA in Musical Theater from Syracuse University (go orange)! Eve is a Montclair, New Jersey native, but is now a New York City based actress where she is also involved in producing the BroadwaySingsconcert series. Eve will soon be performing in the upcoming production of ILoveYou,You’ rePerfect,NowChange with Pompano Players later this fall. Eve is thrilled to be playing the role of Vanda and is incredibly grateful to her family for their endless support, her agent Chondra, and to Carin and David for the opportunity!
Christopher Pio
is honored to be a part of VenusinFur . He has worked on numerous productions (stage & film) in both NYC and LA. Thank you everyone for taking the time to come out and be a part of this madness with us!
Wishing the best to Clear Space for another successful season! Rick Tedrick, Shawn Wright, and Hunter
CREATIVE TEAM
LORRAINE LEAVEL
(CostumeDesigner)
is thrilled to be costuming at Clear Space after designing 9To5,Grease,JamesAndTheGiant Peach,TheWeddingSinger,HelloDolly!,TheAddamsFamily,TheGraduate,AChristmas Carol,Heathers , and many others. She received her BFA in Music Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory. Lorraine has been a part of Clear Space for over a decade. She is very active in the local theatre community, on stage and off, including serving on various boards. Lorraine enjoys costuming (a skill she learned from her grandma) as well as managing the summer camp at Possum Point Players.
BRENDAN SMITH
(LightingDesigner)
has worked with Clear Space as the Lighting Designer since 2014, for which he has received multiple awards. He is mostly self-taught in the craft and refined his skills designing shows for the Dance Conservatory, Kent County Theatre Guild, Dover High School, The Schwartz Center, and Clear Space. He has two adoring sons, Jackson and Harrison.
ALETA THOMPSON
(StageManager/Properties)
has been active in Clear Space Theatre Company since its inception, as a board member, I nstructor, assistant to the director, director, actor, stage manager, and properties mistress. She performed for CSTC most recently in SisterActand directed the fall 2022 production of Our Townand the spring 2024 production of TheRoommate.Previously she worked in the theatre department at Cape Henlopen High School. She is employed by the University of Delaware’s School Success Center writing middle school curriculum.
CARIN JEAN WHITE
(Director/SetDesigner)
is a theatre and visual artist. Favorite projects include arranging and writing text for a location activated audio walk featuring Rhiannon Giddens and YoYo Ma (Artpark, Western NY), creative directing an immersive street-theatre festival for thousands (Artpark), resident directing Empire on Broadway (Speigelworld), and devising site specific dance-theatre pieces for Dumbo (Brooklyn) and the PragueQuadrennial(Prague). She has worked with Performance Workshop (Taiwan), Plasticien Volants (France), and Sundance Theatre Lab amongst others. She was co-artistic director of Excellent Creature Theatre Company (Garrison, NY). She holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from Columbia University.
Clear Space Theatre Company Leadership
DAVID BUTTON (Artistic Director)
is the Artistic Director of Clear Space Theatre and teaches as a member of the Arts Institute faculty, founding multiple classes including the Spotlight on Young Performers program and co-founding the Summer Acting and Musical Theatre Summer Stock Intensives. He received his B.A. in Theatre with a focus on Acting and Directing from DeSales University. David has worked regionally with the Main Street Theatre, City Theatre, the Chojinyobiko Theater Group, The Milton Theatre, and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. He directed this season’s TheMousetrap,MyFairLady,JerseyBoys , and TheProm ; and will direct SweeneyToddin the fall Past directing credits include: Carrie,FunHome,IntoThe Woods,JesusChristSuperstar,NextToNormal,Clue,Misery,Baskerville,SteelMagnolias,TheOdd Couple,Heathers,MammaMia!Priscilla,TheWeddingSinger,Cabaret,LaCageAuxFolles,Seussical,A ChorusLine,TheFullMonty,LittleShopOfHorrors,SpellingBee,KinkyBoots,Ghost,SisterAct,Joseph andtheAmazingTechnocolorDreamcoat,TheSpongebobMusical,Footloose,TheRockyHorrorShow, and many more.
JOE GFALLER (Managing Director)
joined Clear Space Theatre Company as Managing Director in late 2023. A seasoned performing arts professional, Joe has held leadership positions, as well as roles in marketing, development, and community engagement with such varied organizations as the Alliance Theater, the American Repertory Theater, Opera Theater of Saint Louis, 7 Stages, and Metro Theater Company. As a consultant, he has worked with the National Blues Museum, the documentary Flint:ThePoisoningofanAmericanCity , the Utah Symphony, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He has taught arts management in Webster University’s MFA arts leadership program and has taught acting at Berry College. His resume as a stage director includes over two dozen productions, including regional premieres by Caryl Churchill, David Mamet, Peter Sinn Nachtreib, and Addae Moon. He was a member of the Leadership St. Louis Class of 2013 and the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2006, and he graduated with honors from Harvard University. He is thrilled to have relocated to the Rehoboth Beach area to become part of the team at Clear Space.
STAFF
David Button
Joe Gfaller
Artistic Director Managing Director
Sydney Gray
Company Manager
Christopher Decker
Resident Costume Designer
Lorraine Leavel
Resident Costume Designer
Brendan Smith
Resident Lighting Designer
Todd Espeland
Director of Development & Community Engagement
Lara Bellistri
Box Office Manager
Evan Hrivnak
Digital Marketing Manager
Jadine Pilotti
House Manager & Development Coordinator
Clear Space Theatre Company
Clear Space Theatre Company, a 501(c)3 cultural organization founded in 2004, is committed to teaching, producing and presenting the performing arts. The term “clear space” refers to a focus on the process, knowledge, and humanity of arts performance: the idea that we find ourselves in what appears on the stage. Our Vision is to be a leader in the vibrant performing arts community of southern Delaware. Our Mission is to inspire audiences, artists, and students through high quality performance and educational experience.
Board Of Directors
Megan Nehrbas, Chair Joe Sterner, Vice Chair
Laura Howard, Secretary Alfred Willis, Treasurer
Jay Allen
Jess Bain
James Berry
John Cullen
Mike Moreland
Richard J. Perry, Jr.
Ida Rowe
Lisa Schlosser
Mindi Moore Tunnell
The Producers Circle serves as ambassadors for Clear Space Theatre Company to deepen its engagement within the community and to steward critical existing relationships in support of the organization. If you are interested in serving, please contact co-chairs Liz Leshine or Alice Willis or Managing Director Joe Gfaller.
Producers Circle
Liz Leshine
Jeffrey and Ida Rowe
Peter Keeble
Peter Pizzolongo
Linda Wolf
Jay Allen
Alice and Alfred Willis
Mary Jo Tarallo
Carl Schloegel
Judy Rayner
Joanne McGregor
Joelle Genevish
Mary Kay Ryan, Founder
