LIGHT UP THE SKY
Written by Moss Hart
Co-directed by Adia Spezza & Andy Brown
November 20, 21*, 22 @ 7:30 PM
November 22 and 23 @ 2:00 PM
in TheatreSpace
*ASL Interpreted, Audio Description, and Talk-back following
Recordings and photography of any kind are strictly prohibited.
Content Advisory
This production includes balloon popping and depictions of intimacy, alcohol consumption, brief police misconduct, mild violence, and limited use of coarse language and crude humor reflective of the play's era.
CAST
Montgomery Jones
Lake Rusch
Matteo Hope
Isaiah Clayton
Tommy Maxson
Katie Hindin
Katie Murchison
Jack Murphy
Jace Courrier
Ethan Hayes
Finn O’Connell
Liam Sutphin
Peyton Westmoreland
Keeley Allen
Zachary Kim
Production Team
Adia Spezza
Andy Brown
Emma Howard
Tess Tsolis
Emma Mitchell
Vika Hearne
Ollie Maxted
Holly Pulsifer
Irene
Stella
Peter
Carleton
Sidney
Frances
Miss Lowell
Sven Owen Tyler
Shriner 1
Shriner 2
Shriner 3
Swing
Swing
Co-Director
Co-Director
Dramaturg
Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Scenic
Designer
Properties Designer
Costume Designer
Production Team
Isabella Koontz
Kyle Crowne
Taylor Payne
Lena Salins
Lorraine Ressegger-Slone
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Hair/Makeup Designer
Production Manager
Fight/Intimacy
Choreographer
Arts Support Umbrella
Micah Stromberg
Carrie Cox
Ezekiel Ajibade
Ethan Osborne
Kai Yoffe
Adrienne Krauel
Vika Hearne
Tom Terlecki
Laurel Dunayer
Alexandria Beverina
Luisa Romero
Sarah Alspach
ASU Production Manager
ASU Technical Director
Assistant Technical Director
Scene Shop Supervisor
Lead Carpenter
Scenic Painter
Props Artisan
Venue Technical Director
Costume Shop Supervisor
Costume Shop Assistant
Costume Shop Assistant
Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor
Matthew Ray
Anna Higley
Justin Valentine
Luisa Romero
Onyx Dermott
Crew
Light Board Operator
Sound Board Operator
Deck Crew
Wardrobe Staff Lead
Wardrobe Crew
Scene Shop Interns
Production Interns
Anna Crowley
Tess Tsolis
Kai Yoffe
Paint Interns
Ollie Maxted
Johnny Vo
Costume Shop Interns
Anna Grace Connole
Arrieon Grovner
Shannon Harrel
Connor Kelley
Eli Nguyen
Holly Pulsifer
Molly Repetski
Bridget Santos
Brianna Zawicki
Biographies
Keeley Allen (She/Her) - Swing
Keeley (Swing) is in her third year at George Mason University studying Theater with a concentration in Performance. Her recent roles on stage include Texas in Cabaret, Frau's Understudy in Young Frankenstein at MC Summer Dinner Theater, and Susan in Antigone: as presented by the Girls of St. Catherine's at GMU. Previously, she also Assistant Directed 110 in the Shade at the Center for the Performing Arts and Directed Self-Help in Originals. Outside of school, she teaches theater at Imagination Stage and Acting for Young People.
Andy Brown (He/Him) - Co-director
Andy Brown is exhilarated to be co-directing Light Up The Sky with Adia Spezza. Andy is a senior at George Mason and is notorious for wearing a variety of hats both in and outside of the theater. Andy’s recent contributions to the Mason stage include The Tempest (Assistant Director), 110 in The Shade (Stage Manager), The Originals (Director), Twelve Ophelias (Stage Manager), and The Night Knights (Andy, The Silly). Some of his other credits include Upper Darby Summer Stage’s production of Godspell (Stage Manager) and The GhostLight Players’ production of The Peak (Director). Andy is a founding father of GMU’s chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, where he serves as the secretary. He also serves as the secretary of The GhostLight Players. Andy would like to take a moment to thank his friends and family for their continuous love and support. He would also like to thank Adia for her mind melding and work to bring this play to life!
Isaiah Clayton (He/Him) - Carleton
Isaiah is a third-year student pursuing a BFA in performance with a minor in communications at GMU. Most recently juror 6 in Mason fringe production of 12 angry jurors, Isaiah is excited to be back on a mason stage playing Carleton.
Finn O'Connell (He/Him) - Shriner 1
Finn O’Connell is a sophomore game design major with plans to minor in theater. He enjoys singing and performing. His favorite actor is John Goodman and his favorite musician is Tom Waits. His favorite girl scout cookies are Samoas.
Biographies
Jace W. Courrier (He/Him) - Owen
Jace is a sophomore Musical Theatre Major and is thrilled to join the company of Light Up the Sky. Regional credits include A Few Good Men (Louden Downey), The Prom (Ensemble), Macbeth (Fleance/Young Siward), and The Outsiders (Ponyboy Curtis). He would like to extend his love to his family and the cast and crew for bringing this show to life.
Ethan Hayes (He/Him) - Tyler
Ethan is a Computer Science major at GMU. He is excited for Light Up the Sky to be his first 3-act performance. Ethan thanks his friends and family for encouraging him as a performer.
Katie Hindin (She/Her) - Frances
Katie Hindin is a third year Theater major at George Mason University. In the past, she has played in GMU's The Originals, with her most recent role being Leah in Preschool Hamlet. She is grateful to have worked with an incredible cast and crew and is excited to be a part of this show.
Matteo Hope (He/Him/His) - Peter Matteo is thrilled to be a part of this production. He has loved working with everyone in the cast and crew and he can’t wait for you to see the show!
Montgomery Jones (She/Her) - Irene
Montgomery Jones is a sophomore BFA Acting major at the School of Theatre. She has been acting for fourteen years and when not on stage can be found teaching at AFYP or missing her cats: shoutout to Maisie and Princess Amelia. She would like to thank her perfect, stunning, powerful, intelligent mother and hopes you enjoy the show!
Zachary Kim (He/Him) - Swing
Zachary Kim is a junior-year business accounting major with a minor in film. He previously performed for the 2025 edition of the Originals. He is absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to work with the cast and crew and hopes that everyone enjoys the show!
Biographies
Tommy/Ivy Maxson (She/They/He) - Sidney
Tommy is overjoyed to take part in this show with The Ghostlight Players! Working with Adia and Andy was a blast, and truly furthered their growth at GMU. Prior to this, they have appeared in The Originals, The Tempest, and shows with the Mason Improv Association. They hope you enjoy the antics that will surely ensue onstage!
Emma Mitchell (She/Her) - Assistant Stage Manager
Emma is thrilled to be working as assistant stage manager on this production! She is a junior this year, and this is her 4th production at Mason. She would like to thank the cast and crew for all of their hard work and her friends and family for their unwavering support!
Katie Murchison (She/They) - Miss Lowell
Katie is so excited to be a part of this production of Light Up The Sky! She is also thrilled to revisit the works of Moss Hart, having previously performed plays of his in high school. Katie was recently part of The Originals 2025 as both an actor and a playwright. She also recently played Kay Summersby in a digital staged reading of MISTRESSES: a new American play. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Jack Murphy (He/Him) - JJ/Sven/Parrot
He is a freshman at GMU currently majoring in Theater BA, however he plans to audition for the BFA program with a concentration in Theater Education. This is Jack's first production with the School Of Theater! He is originally from Highlands Ranch Colorado, and moved to Fairfax in August. He would like to thank his family and friends for always supporting him, no matter where they are.
Lake Rusch (They/Them) - Stella
Lake Rusch is so excited to be a part of this production! You might have seen their work most recently as a director for The Originals or as Adrian in the Tempest. They would like to thank their wonderful cast and directors as well as their family for everything they’ve done to support them!
Biographies
Adia Spezza (She/Her) - Co-director
Adia Spezza is exhilarated to be co-directing Light Up The Sky with Andy Brown. This is Adia’s final year at George Mason and she is honored to have had the opportunity to work on this production with all the wonderful people involved. Prior to Adia’s work on Light Up The Sky, some of her most recent theatre credits include Rose in The Originals, Anna in Antigone: Presented by the Girls of St. Catherine's, Mrs. Peacock in Clue, Dill in To Kill A Mockingbird, Director of The Several Spouses of Simon Spirelli, Stage Manager for Almost, Maine, and ASM for Fallen. Outside of performances, Adia has recently been a board member for Alpha Psi Omega, a Resident Assistant on campus, and the treasurer for the Ghostlight Players. Adia is eternally grateful for all of her family and friends' support throughout this entire process. She would also like to thank Andy for his mind melding and work to bring this play to life!
Liam R. Sutphin (He/Him/His) - Shriner 2
Liam R. Sutphin is a freshman at GMU. He’s previously performed in twelve assorted straight plays and musicals, and has also directed a show himself. Liam extends great thanks to his family and friends for supporting his passion for acting and pursuit of theater education.
Tess Tsolis (They/Them) - Stage Manager
Tess is excited to work as stage manager on this production! This is their third year at George Mason, and this is the second production they are stage managing. Tess would like to thank their family and friends for supporting them.
Peyton Westmoreland (He/Him) - Shriner 3
Peyton lives a simple life of picking up local wildlife and walking around campus completely confused about his location.
Dramaturg Notes
When Light Up the Sky premiered on Broadway in 1948, seasoned playwright Moss Hart was already celebrated for his artful writing blending humanity and humor. Raised from poverty in the Bronx to Broadway fame, Hart understood theatre as a place of aspiration and refuge. This satire pulls back the curtain to reveal the exhilaration and fragility of artists chasing meaning in a chaotic, postwar America yearning for connection and hope.
More than seventy-five years later, Light Up the Sky still feels uncannily relevant. In an era where the arts have never been more essential yet diminished, when the “highbrow” and “everyday” individuals are conditioned for division, Hart’s satire reminds us that collaboration and listening remain revolutionary acts. When comedy edges toward despair, William H. Gallegher, a Shriner and theatre enthusiast, renews faith in the arts and each other. He embodies the bridge between artist and audience, showing that art matters not because it is perfect, but because it is shared. Like Gallegher, we can choose empathy over ego, listening over cacophony, and community over cynicism.
As these artists and you, the audience, gather again, we partake in the collective faith that animates Hart’s play and our shared humanity. In a moment shadowed by conflict and disconnection, may we listen deeply, believe boldly, and create generously–in theatre, in art, in life.
In the darkness of our moment, the time is now to light up the sky.
Emma Howard
Directors’ Notes
Light Up the Sky offers an exhilarating whirlwind that celebrates the excitement and unpredictable challenges that arise when artists come together. Moss Hart’s quick-witted comedy invites us backstage, where ego, hope, insecurity, and creativity collide. The most magical moment in comedy is when everyone’s timing lands and the whole room lights up. Working with this cast to bring this world to life has been the most rewarding experience and I am deeply grateful for each moment.
My vision was to show the true heart and vulnerability of the piece. This delicate balance between humor and honesty reflects the strength of collaboration and the ways theatre mirrors the communities we build. This play reminds us that creating art requires courage and connection.
In a time when the arts are often questioned or overlooked, Light Up the Sky reminds us why we gather, laugh, reflect, and most crucially, why we come together.
Adia Spezza
What stuck out to me the most when I first read Light Up The Sky was how familiar it was. Moss Hart had created characters that I recognized within the many faces I’ve seen and worked with in the theater. When contemplating the value in producing this play, I think it serves as a perfect reminder that theater is an innately human art form that can only be created when people come together, sometimes despite our differences and disagreements. Ultimately, I hope Light Up The Sky serves as a tribute to the School of Theater community and everyone within it. I hope you enjoy the show.
Andy Brown
DRAMATURG'S NOTE
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