CAST
Miranda Hunt #00
Michelle Cecchin #2
Alexandra Merkel #7
Lauryn Middleton #8
Sophia Albano #11
Natalie Murray #13
Giorgia Cozzo #14
Erin Fricker #25
Kelsie Paige Kasky #46
Mia Figueroa MOM
UNDERSTUDIES:
Patricia León de la Barra #2/#46
Eva Hesse #13/#7/#8
Cassidy O'Neil #25/#00/#11/MOM
Mia Figueroa #14
When people think of suburban high school girls, their minds might drift towards images of phone obsessed, social media driven, moody, self centered, cliquey teenagers. That is certainly the version that we often see the media push at us. But when reflecting on the development of THE WOLVES, playwright Sarah DeLappe shared, “I started to think of the characters as if they were in a war movie, but instead of young men in the trenches…they were young women on AstroTurf preparing for a soccer game.”
I invite you to set aside preconceived notions of teenage girlhood as you engage with this 90 minute, action packed drama about nine high school female soccer players. The play encourages us to step into the perspective of a sixteen - or seventeen-year-old female and to remember the complexities of being that age, how our worlds are constantly expanding and contracting, how much we yearn for independence and how little agency and control we have, the pressures felt from society to achieve or be more, and the expectations we place on ourselves. Presenting this piece with young actors brings forward the authentic rawness of these stories and characters even more. We see how each player functions independently and simultaneously as a part of the pack. THE WOLVES asks us to question what it means to be a part of a team, even in the face of competition, fluctuating friendships, love and loss. Even more, it leaves us wondering what it means to win.
Samantha Martinson, Director DIRECTORWelcome to our 2022 23 season that we’ve entitled EXPECTATIONS. And welcome to our second Second Stage Series and to seating you might not have expected! This year we are pleased to present this series as originally envisioned, with intimate seating that helps put the focus squarely on the acting. While we take pride in the beautiful sets and costumes that we regularly display, we feel it is just as important for our students to experience the kind of theatre that relies primarily on the actor’s abilities to create the magic of theatre. We hope that you enjoy this unique experience as well.
The other component of our Second Stage Series is the second show. Rehearsing and presenting two shows simultaneously is another great challenge for our department and a great opportunity for audiences. We hope you will take advantage of seeing both shows in this dynamic series.
Thank you as always for sharing your time with us and for contributing to our program by purchasing your ticket. Any additional donations you might care to give are truly appreciated and will go to our Marquette Theatre Support Fund. This fund will help us sustain the high-quality and entertaining performances that you have come to expect!
Jamie Cheatham, Artistic DirectorSophia Albano (#11)
Sophia is a Senior from Park Ridge, IL studying Physical Therapy. She is an ensemble member for the Comet Project, Event Organizer and member of MU Filmmakers Association, and a member of MUPS. She was in the MUPS Show, Mind Games, as Dr. Harriman. She is so excited to be in her first mainstage production! She sends lots of love to her family and friends for all their support. Sophia thanks you for coming and hopes everyone enjoys the show! Go Wolves!
Michelle Cecchin (#2)
Michelle is a junior double majoring in Marketing and Information Systems with a minor in Theater Arts. She is ecstatic to be in her first mainstage show! Some of her previous credits include Captain Anxiety (Understudy Anxiety) at Marquette, as well as Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth Bennet) and Sound of Music (Liesl) back home in Chicago, IL. Michelle would like to thank all her family and friends for cheering her on from the sidelines and being the best support system, as well as everyone who has taken the time to come see our show and support the arts!
Giorgia Cozzo (#14)
Giorgia is a senior from Chicago studying Speech Pathology & Audiology and Theatre Arts. She was last seen on the Helfaer Stage in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In fall 2023, she plans to begin her Master's in Speech Language Pathology here at Marquette! She is so excited to welcome you back for her final Mainstage production at MU, and thanks you for supporting the arts and arts education. Love to family, friends, past and current educators, and the whole Wolves team.
Mia Figueroa (Mom, understudy)
Mia is on stage for the first time at Marquette! She never imagined she would be a mother at such a young age. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the department, despite being a biochemistry major. Although she has never been seen on the Marquette stage before, past roles include Mother Superior in Sister Act and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Erin Fricker (#25)
Erin is a freshman from Brookfield, WI, majoring in Theatre Arts and Journalism. She is excited to participate in her first Marquette production with such amazing people! Erin was recently seen on stages across the state as a Singer/Dancer for the Kids From Wisconsin Big Bang Boom tour. Other favorite theatrical credits include Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney) and Godspell (Jesus). Erin thanks her family and friends for their continuous support in her artistic endeavors. Enjoy the show!
Eva Hesse (understudy)
Eva is a freshman from Sartell, MN, studying English and Theatre Arts at Marquette University. This is her first theatre production at Marquette. She is very excited to be a part of the theatre community here and is looking forward to growing closer to everyone involved. She would like to thank all her friends and family back home in Minnesota who provide endless support for her theatre dreams.
Miranda Hunt (#00)
Miranda is from Colorado and a senior majoring in Theatre Arts and History with a dance minor. Her recent credits include Rona Lisa Perretti in Marquette's ...Spelling Bee, Sheila Birling in An Inspector Calls at Sunset Playhouse, ensemble in Mamma Mia! at MU, and Charlotte Corday in The Revolutionists (an MU capstone project). While performing in The Wolves, she is also light designing From White Plains, so make sure and check out our other Second Series show! She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support, especially Nat, the world’s best little sister! Enjoy the show!!
Kelsie Paige Kasky (#46)
Kelsie is a Junior from Shorewood, IL who is triple majoring in Secondary Education, English, and Theatre Arts and minoring in Dance. Her most recent Marquette onstage credits include ensemble and co Dance Captain in Mamma Mia! and Sr. James in Doubt: A Parable. Kelsie is truly honored to be a part of telling this extremely important story. She would like to thank her family and friends for the endless support and Marquette Theatre for being another place to call home. WE ARE THE WOLVES!
Patricia León de la Barra (Understudy)
Patricia is a freshman from Caracas, Venezuela, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Theatre Arts. As this is her first time being involved in a production at Marquette, she is very grateful for having the opportunity to be a part of the cast. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Alex Merkel (#7)
Alex is a Junior studying Theater Arts and Business Administration. Alex was last seen on the mainstage as Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Lisa /Sophie understudy in Mamma Mia!, Jean understudy in Dead Man’s Cellphone, and some previous credits include the capstone production You’re Just Not my Type and the MUPS Cabaret. Alex is honored to be back on the mainstage with this all star cast. She would like to thank her family and friends for their endless support through every major change and major illness.
Lauryn Middleton (#8)
Lauryn Middleton is a freshman and this is Lauryn's first theater production. She is a Theater Arts and Advertising major. Lauryn wants to thank her parents for everything they have done for her. Lauryn is very excited for everyone to see this production. Enjoy the show!
Natalie Murray (#13)
Natalie Murray is a junior from St. Louis, MO, majoring in Writing Intensive English and Theatre Arts with minors in French and Digital Media. Her most recent MU credits include Leaf Coneybear in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as well as the capstone production You're Just Not my Type. She is Artistic Director of Marquette University Players Society, Dramaturg for the Comet Project, and a member of the Fugees comedy improv group and MU Filmmakers Association. She is thrilled to be a part of this beautiful play alongside such wonderful girls. She'd like to thank her friends and family for all their support, particularly her dad for always pushing her to give her all in softball who knows if she'd have been coordinated enough for this play otherwise! She hopes you enjoy the show!
Cassidy O'Neil (understudy)
Cassidy (She/Her/Hers) is a freshman Theatre Arts major. She is no stranger to the stage, having recently completed her 40th production! Her favorite roles include Babette in Beauty in the Beast, Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, and The Nachtkrapp in Old World Wisconsin’s Legends and Lore. Outside of acting, Cassidy is also passionate about writing and directing, including two of her multi award winning shows, Eclipse and The World Doesn’t Revolve Around You. Cassidy is a recent alumnus of the Kettle Moraine School for Arts and Performance, and can’t wait to continue her theatre studies here at Marquette University.
PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES (in alphabetical order)
Jamie Cheatham (Artistic Director)
Jamie is a professional actor, director, fight director, and theatre educator. He spent 17 years working professionally in New York City and has been teaching for over 30 years. He is the Head of Acting at Marquette Theatre Arts and a nationally recognized fight director with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD). Professional work includes such theatres as: Alley Theatre (TX), Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage (DC), Shakespeare Theatre (DC), The Cort Theatre (Broadway), and the Georgia, Illinois, and NY (Delacorte) Shakespeare Festivals. Locally, Jamie’s work has been seen at the Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Fireside Theatre and recently Skylight Music Theatre. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity (AEA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG AFTRA)
Stephen Hudson-Mairet (Professor, Prod. Manager, Tech. Director, Properties Coordinator)
This season marks Stephen’s 23rd at Marquette. Thank you so much for your support of Marquette Theatre and Marquette’s theatre arts students and your support of the arts across our community live performances help keep Milwaukee and Marquette amazing places to live and work. Thank you as well to student body for their artistry and energy in bringing the stories to life. Stephen lives quite happily in a very old house in Wauwatosa with his wife Heidi.
Samantha Martinson (Guest Director)
Samantha Martinson is a Milwaukee based theater artist and educator. She has worked in administration, education, and production at several regional theaters including Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage, Door Shakespeare, and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre. She currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement at Milwaukee Ballet. Upcoming, you can find her directing at Carthage College for FML: HOW CARSON MCCULLERS SAVED MY LIFE opening February 2023. Recent directing credits include: ‘NEATH THE HILLS OF BASTOGNE (Sunstone Studios MKE), LEONA LIONHEART SAVES THE WORLD (Kohl's Wild Theater), STITCHED WITH A SICKLE & HAMMER (Renaissance Theaterworks, Br!nk), THE TEMPEST (Mad Rogues), MISS LULU BETT (Voices Freed Reading Series), TWELFTH NIGHT (Milwaukee Youth Theater). Assistant Directing: THE ROOMMATE (Renaissance Theaterworks), MILWAUKEE CARRIES (Cooperative Performance). She is an alumnus of Marquette University with a B.S. in Writing Intensive English and Secondary Education. Many thanks to my family and partner for their support. The deepest love for MC & TC. samanthamartinson.com
Miranda McCauley (Assistant Stage Manager)
Miranda is a junior who is enjoying her first semester at Marquette University. This is Miranda’s first Marquette production and is excited to be a part of the team and theater program here at Marquette.
Connie L. Petersen (Costume Shop Manager)
Connie begins her 21st year with her family here at Marquette University. She received her B.S. degree in theatre from Northwest MO State University and M.F.A. degree in Costume and Scenic Design from SIU in Carbondale, IL. She has designed for Next Act Theatre, Des Moines Metro Opera, Denver Center Theatre Company, Door Shakespeare and Playmakers Repertory Company at UNC Chapel Hill. Connie is enjoying her spare time in Elm Grove with her daughters, Emma and Olivia.
Will Reames (Stage Manager)
Will is currently a sophomore majoring in Theatre Arts and Political Science. Last year, he made his main stage debut in Mamma Mia! and recently played Mitch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This is his first time stage managing; he's so excited and would like to thank Samantha for this opportunity. He is also involved in the Comet Project and Marquette University Student Government. Enjoy the show.
Josh Soape (Lighting Designer)
Josh is a sophomore from Dallas, Texas studying Psychology and Theatre Arts. He was previously on the Helfaer stage in as Lucentio in The Taming Of The Shrew and backstage as assistant light designer for Mamma Mia! This is his first solo light design and he could not be more excited with this amazing cast and production team. He hopes you have a great night of great theatre!
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
• A heartfelt thank you to John Sweeney, for providing the soccer balls;
• UW Parkside’s costume department for outfitting our players, • Kristin Summerall for her culture consultation,
• Deanie Vallone for dramaturgical assistance,
• Mary Creegan for providing soccer lessons,
• Marquette University for their support of the arts,
• and the entire theater department for their trust in me and the team to tell this story.
PRODUCTION STAFF
Production Manager/ Technical Director Stephen Hudson Mairet
Asst. TD/Shop Supervisor Lilliana Gonzalez
Costumer/Costume
Shop Manager Connie Petersen
Asst. Costume Shop Supervisor/Cutter/Draper Amelia Strahan
Stage Manager Will Reames
Assistant Stage Manager Miranda McCauley
Props Coordinator Stephen Hudson Mairet
Light Board Operator Matthew Torkilsen
Sound Board Operator Kynkade McLachlan Deck Crew Samantha Casey, Erin Cavendar, Jackson Sheerin
Wardrobe Supervisor Jay Roche
Wardrobe Crew Ellie Burger
Costume Shop Assistants Giorgia Cozzo, Lily Haugen, Eva Hesse, Michael Mingus, Lizzie Porter, Matthew Read, Nate Rodriguez, Sophie Stockhausen
Scene Shop Assistants Maaz Ahmed, William Bush, Miranda Hunt, Ethan Jacoby Henrickson, Kelsie Kasky, Josh Mains, Jack McMahon, Will Reames, Joshua Soape
Scenic Shop Build Crew Joseph Brown Jr., Ellie Burger, Michelle Cecchin, James Jett, Kynkade McLachlan, Lauryn Middleton, Michael Mingus, Natalie Murray, Jay Roche, Jake Samojla
Costume Shop Build Crew Erin Cavender, Erin Fricker, Eva Hesse, Caleb Kwasigroch, Naomi Kriege, Alex Merkel, Cassidy O’Neil, Nate Rodriguez, Jackson Sheerin
Administrative Assistants Carlos Alba, Cassidy O’Neil
Box Office Staff Cara Strauss, Cynthia Medina House Manager William Bush
